The Origins of Football's Infamous 'Doink': A Historical Exploration

Sports History Network · Apr 7, 2026 · 16m · transcript

The term "doink," a phrase synonymous with the disheartening sound produced when a football strikes the goal post, has a rich historical lineage that we meticulously explore in this episode. Our esteemed guest, Timothy B. Brown of footballarchaeology.com, delineates the etymology of "doink," tracing its usage back to a pivotal John Madden broadcast during the 1986 playoffs. We delve into the evolution of this term, which originated from the 1870s when hitting the goal post resulted in a missed opportunity, referred to as a "poster." Through an engaging dialogue, we analyze the cultural and…