Football Daily Card Tribune
Read and learn about the history of the gridiron, through cards. Remember... you heard it here first!
ROOKIE SENSATION BREAKS RECORDS
Tennessee wanted momentum heading into the 2021 playoffs and decided to play its starters in a Week 18 matchup against Houston. Tannehill looked sharp, dicing up the defense and doing so efficiently. He completed 71.8 percent of his passes, fired four touchdowns and led the Titans to a 28-25 win.
Named AFC Defensive Player of Week with season-high seven tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble against Lions (11/22) last season... Posted career highs in interceptions and fumble recoveries.
Texas A&M played an SEC-only schedule in 2020. With a chance to prove himself against elite competition, Spiller aced it. The rusher romped for 174 yards against Florida, 134 against LSU and 120 at Auburn to highlight a scintillating sophomore campaign against the elite college conference.
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Jack was a star quarterback with the San Diego Chargers before he joined the Bills. With the Chargers, he completed 376 of 770 passes. In 1960, Jack led the American Football League with 211 complete passes and 20 touchdowns. Last year, his first full season with the Bills, Jack gained 2914 yards through the airways.
FOOTBALL TRIVIA
Q: Who is this player? He is a Packers guard.
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Q: Who is this coach?
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One of three ex-Colorado stars on the team, Bob is starting his fourth season with Denver. Bob is considered to be the best pulling guard in the league. He mows down would-be tackles and allows his backs to go for long gains. Filled with desire and spirit, he helps keep the offense rolling. Big Bob is looking forward to another year of blasting holes through the defense.
Bob helped Colorado win the Big 8 Championship in 1961.
RUSHING RECORD
18,355 Rush Yards
Emmitt Smith rushed for 18,355 yards in his NFL career, breaking Walter Payton's long-standing record. His durability and vision made him a Hall of Fame legend.
Football History Highlight
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CLASSIC PLAYER
Reggie won a starting job in Bengals' linebacking corps as a rookie in 1976 and has so lidified his position the past 2 seasons with solid performances. Scored TD on blocked punt recovery during 1977.
In second pro year. Recognized as one of the top linemen of the league. Was guard and tackle for Notre Dame. Unanimous All-America selection last 2 college years. Winner of the Knute Rockne and John H. Outland trophies. In East-West and Chicago All-Star games. Sports in high school were football and wrestling. Nicknamed "Moose" because of size.
Atlanta acquired this sure. handed end from the Minnesota Vikings. Paul has fine speed and is an extremely elusive receiver. Once Paul gets clear in the open field, it's a sure six points for this high flying Falcon.
Paul averaged 15.3 yds. per catch in 1968.
In addition to being the best blocking back on the Cardinals, Willis was the top rushing back for St. Louis last season as he chewed-up 813 yards for a lofty 4.0 average. Willis is also effective on screen passes.
Willis led the Cardinals with 7 TD's in '68.
RETRO CORNER
John is a top pass protector. He's tops, too, in a running game because of his size and speed. In the Army in '61, he still played full time with Detroit.
Top offensive end for Bears since joining the team in 1940. Second highest scorer in club's history. Ranks 4th in most touchdowns scored during lifetime in National Football League. All-American, Louisiana State University. Served in Army Air Force. Flew many missions. Decorated for bravery. Lives on cattle ranch near Sacramento.
The Cowboys clinched second place in the Eastern Conference by beating the Giants twice in '65. This gave them the chance to perform in the Playoff Bowl, in Miami, against the Colts. Dallas went down to a 35 to 3 defeat in the game.
This veteran is a dual threat. Used as a defensive back, Clendon has also seen duty with the Steelers on offense too. A good tackler who can cover anyone in the NFL, Clendon is dangerous as a punt return specialist.
Clendon's 12 years with Pittsburgh makes him the old man on the squad.
MODERN ERA
NFC cornerbacks will have to get used to seeing Nabers signal a first down. The star rookie did it at a high rate in 2024, logging 55 receiving first downs in just 15 contests. The only other Giants rookie to move the chains that many times on receptions in a season was Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 (58).
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen neatly summed up why Mack remained an elite force at linebacker after putting together another quality campaign for the Chargers in 2024. "He can heat up the pocket," Bowen said. "With 107.5 career sacks and steady play speed, Mack is still a three-down force based on the tape."
One of two players drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 1967 college draft, (the other being Jim Lynch), Willie won seven letters at Morgan State, four in football and three in track. He was captain of the Morgan State team in 1965 and 1966 and was selected as a Small College All-American the same two years. Willie picked off a pass against the Chargers in 1968 and returned it 75-yards for a touchdown, the longest interception of that season for the Chiefs. Nicknamed "Contact" by his teammates for his ferocious style of tackling, Willie intercepted a key pass in the fourth quarter of the 1970 Super Bowl game against the Vikings and Joe Kapp at the Kansas City 34-yard line to halt a drive.
Willie's hobby is listening to music.
80s-90s ERA
Vance totalled 134 Receiving Yards with an 86-yard Reception vs. Raiders, 9-26-88. He made conversion from running back to wide receiver during 1985 season.
Go online and search for a video containing the best hits in NFL history. You're quaranteed to see at least one clip of Alwater. Bounding sideline to sideline from his strong safety spot, the eight time Pro Bowl selection consistently flattened foes with remarkable smackdowns.
Kent is rugged and fast, a combination which makes him a natural enemy of opposing quarterbacks. Played in the 1966 All-Star game!
Kent was originally drafted by the Houston Oilers.
The lanky end has the speed, moves, hands and running ability to become a top receiver. Gary ranked 11th in receptions in his rookie season.
Gary was San Diego's no. 1 choice in 1965.
CLASSIC vs. MODERN
CLASSIC ERA
Art was picked for the Pro Bowl Game last season for the 3rd straight year. The popular, powerful Colt lineman is one of the smartest competitors in the League. Art spends most of the game in the enemy's backfield scattering ball carriers and dumping passers for big losses. He comes from an athletic family - Art's grandfather was World's Middleweight Champ and his dad was a famous boxing referee. In '54 and '55 he was All-League Tackle.
MODERN ERA
Lewis changed everything about the franchise in Baltimore and created the blueprint for the "Ravens mentality" in the eyes of former defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. "Every single person who has stepped in that building since tries to live up to that standard," Weaver said of the legendary linebacker.
After a slow start in his pro football career, Bryan came into his own in 1967 as he wound up second on the Bears to Gale Sayers in rushing. 1965 was his "roughest year"... he sat it out because of a severe leg injury.
Bryan led the nation in scoring and rushing with Wake Forest in '64.