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The Monumental NFL Championship of 1958: A Game That Changed Everything · Sports History Network

• 0:52
  On
• 0:52
  December
• 0:52
  28,
• 0:53
  1958,
• 0:54
  long
• 0:54
  before
• 0:54
  the
• 0:55
  super
• 0:55
  bowl
• 0:55
  of
• 0:55
  Monday
• 0:56
  Night
• 0:56
  Football
• 0:57
  and
• 0:57
  long
• 0:57
  before
• 0:57
  the
• 0:58
  NFL
• 0:58
  became
• 0:58
  the
• 0:59
  most
• 0:59
  profitable
• 1:00
  sports
• 1:00
  league
• 1:00
  on
• 1:01
  earth,
• 1:02
  64,185
• 1:04
  people
• 1:04
  packed
• 1:05
  into
• 1:05
  Yankee
• 1:06
  Stadium
• 1:06
  not
• 1:07
  for
• 1:07
  baseball
• 1:08
  game,
• 1:08
  but
• 1:09
  for
• 1:09
  a
• 1:09
  football
• 1:09
  game,
• 1:10
  the
• 1:10
  largest
• 1:11
  audience
• 1:12
  ever.
• 1:13
  As
• 1:13
  45
• 1:14
  million
• 1:14
  TV
• 1:15
  viewers
• 1:15
  watch
• 1:16
  professional
• 1:17
  football
• 1:18
  now,
• 1:18
  they
• 1:18
  were
• 1:18
  about
• 1:18
  to
• 1:19
  see
• 1:19
  something
• 1:19
  that
• 1:19
  no
• 1:20
  one
• 1:20
  had
• 1:20
  ever
• 1:21
  seen
• 1:21
  before.
• 1:22
  Because
• 1:22
  for
• 1:22
  the
• 1:22
  first
• 1:23
  time
• 1:23
  in
• 1:23
  league
• 1:24
  history,
• 1:24
  the
• 1:25
  championship
• 1:26
  of
• 1:26
  pro
• 1:26
  football
• 1:27
  would
• 1:27
  not
• 1:27
  end
• 1:28
  in
• 1:28
  a
• 1:28
  tie.
• 1:29
  It
• 1:29
  would
• 1:29
  end
• 1:29
  in
• 1:30
  sudden
• 1:30
  death.
• 1:31
  Welcome
• 1:32
  to
• 1:32
  the
• 1:32
  pig
• 1:32
  pen.
• 1:33
  We're
• 1:33
  covering
• 1:33
  year
• 1:34
  by
• 1:34
  year
• 1:34
  and
• 1:35
  1958
• 1:36
  as
• 1:36
  our
• 1:36
  subject
• 1:37
  year
• 1:37
  today.
• 1:40
  In
• 1:41
  1958,
• 1:41
  the
• 1:42
  National
• 1:42
  Football
• 1:42
  League
• 1:43
  was
• 1:43
  almost
• 1:43
  39
• 1:44
  years
• 1:44
  old,
• 1:44
  but
• 1:45
  it
• 1:45
  was
• 1:45
  was
• 1:45
  nowhere
• 1:46
  near
• 1:46
  the
• 1:47
  king
• 1:47
  of
• 1:47
  sports
• 1:48
  that
• 1:48
  it
• 1:48
  is
• 1:48
  today.
• 1:49
  That
• 1:49
  that
• 1:50
  title
• 1:50
  belonged
• 1:50
  to
• 1:51
  baseball.
• 1:51
  With
• 1:51
  Mickey
• 1:52
  Man,
• 1:52
  Willie
• 1:53
  Mays
• 1:53
  and
• 1:53
  Ted
• 1:53
  Williams,
• 1:54
  those
• 1:54
  were
• 1:54
  the
• 1:55
  names
• 1:55
  dominated
• 1:56
  the
• 1:56
  sports
• 1:56
  pages
• 1:57
  all
• 1:57
  across
• 1:58
  the
• 1:58
  country.
• 1:58
  The
• 1:59
  NFL
• 1:59
  was
• 1:59
  a
• 1:59
  regional
• 2:00
  curiosity,
• 2:01
  popular
• 2:02
  in
• 2:02
  Cleveland,
• 2:02
  Chicago
• 2:03
  and
• 2:03
  Green
• 2:03
  Bay,
• 2:04
  but
• 2:04
  largely
• 2:05
  ignored
• 2:05
  by
• 2:05
  the
• 2:05
  rest
• 2:06
  of
• 2:06
  the
• 2:06
  country.
• 2:06
  Television
• 2:07
  networks
• 2:07
  were
• 2:08
  not
• 2:08
  competing
• 2:09
  for
• 2:09
  broadcast
• 2:10
  rights.
• 2:10
  Players
• 2:10
  had
• 2:11
  had
• 2:11
  to
• 2:11
  hold
• 2:12
  second
• 2:12
  jobs
• 2:13
  in
• 2:13
  the
• 2:13
  off
• 2:13
  season
• 2:14
  just
• 2:14
  to
• 2:14
  make
• 2:14
  ends
• 2:15
  meet
• 2:15
  and
• 2:16
  because
• 2:16
  football
• 2:17
  alone
• 2:17
  wouldn't
• 2:18
  be
• 2:18
  able
• 2:18
  to
• 2:18
  pay
• 2:18
  the
• 2:18
  bills.
• 2:19
  But
• 2:19
  the
• 2:19
  league
• 2:19
  was
• 2:20
  changing
• 2:20
  as
• 2:20
  a
• 2:21
  new
• 2:21
  era
• 2:22
  of
• 2:22
  stars
• 2:22
  was
• 2:22
  emerging.
• 2:23
  In
• 2:24
  Cleveland,
• 2:24
  a
• 2:24
  fullback
• 2:25
  named
• 2:25
  Jim
• 2:25
  Brown
• 2:25
  was
• 2:26
  running
• 2:26
  through
• 2:26
  defenses
• 2:27
  like
• 2:27
  they
• 2:27
  were
• 2:27
  made
• 2:27
  of
• 2:28
  paper.
• 2:28
  1527
• 2:30
  yards,
• 2:30
  nearly
• 2:31
  double
• 2:31
  the
• 2:31
  next
• 2:32
  man
• 2:32
  in
• 2:33
  just
• 2:33
  12
• 2:33
  games.
• 2:34
  In
• 2:34
  Baltimore,
• 2:35
  a
• 2:35
  crew
• 2:35
  cut
• 2:36
  quarterback
• 2:36
  named
• 2:37
  Johnny
• 2:37
  Unitis
• 2:37
  was
• 2:38
  building
• 2:38
  something
• 2:38
  special
• 2:39
  for
• 2:39
  with
• 2:39
  head
• 2:40
  coach
• 2:40
  Weave
• 2:41
  Eubank.
• 2:42
  And
• 2:42
  in
• 2:42
  New
• 2:42
  York,
• 2:42
  the
• 2:43
  Giants
• 2:43
  had
• 2:43
  assembled
• 2:44
  one
• 2:44
  of
• 2:44
  the
• 2:44
  most
• 2:44
  brilliant
• 2:44
  coaching
• 2:45
  staffs
• 2:45
  in
• 2:45
  history.
• 2:46
  Offensive
• 2:47
  coordinator
• 2:47
  Vince
• 2:48
  Lombardi
• 2:48
  and
• 2:48
  defensive
• 2:49
  coordinator
• 2:49
  Tom
• 2:50
  Landry.
• 2:50
  Yes,
• 2:51
  those
• 2:51
  two
• 2:52
  on
• 2:52
  the
• 2:52
  same
• 2:52
  sideline.
• 2:54
  The
• 2:54
  1958
• 2:55
  season
• 2:55
  opened
• 2:55
  with
• 2:56
  a
• 2:56
  promise
• 2:56
  of
• 2:56
  change.
• 2:57
  The
• 2:57
  Los
• 2:57
  Angeles
• 2:58
  Coliseum
• 2:58
  was
• 2:59
  filled
• 2:59
  with
• 2:59
  over
• 2:59
  100,000
• 3:00
  people.
• 3:01
  Twice
• 3:02
  that
• 3:02
  season,
• 3:02
  the
• 3:03
  Lions
• 3:03
  sold
• 3:03
  42,000
• 3:05
  season
• 3:05
  tickets
• 3:06
  before
• 3:06
  a
• 3:06
  single
• 3:07
  snap.
• 3:07
  And
• 3:07
  something
• 3:07
  was
• 3:08
  brewing.
• 3:08
  But
• 3:09
  no
• 3:09
  one
• 3:09
  could
• 3:09
  have
• 3:09
  predicted
• 3:10
  that
• 3:10
  the
• 3:10
  final
• 3:11
  game
• 3:11
  of
• 3:11
  the
• 3:11
  season,
• 3:12
  played
• 3:12
  in
• 3:12
  the
• 3:12
  freezing
• 3:13
  cold
• 3:13
  of
• 3:13
  Yankee
• 3:13
  Stadium
• 3:14
  in
• 3:14
  New
• 3:14
  York
• 3:14
  City
• 3:15
  and
• 3:16
  broadcast
• 3:16
  into
• 3:17
  millions
• 3:17
  of
• 3:17
  living
• 3:17
  rooms
• 3:18
  for
• 3:18
  the
• 3:18
  first
• 3:18
  time,
• 3:19
  would
• 3:19
  have
• 3:19
  the
• 3:19
  trajectory
• 3:20
  that
• 3:20
  had
• 3:21
  on
• 3:21
  sports
• 3:22
  forever.
• 3:22
  The
• 3:23
  Baltimore
• 3:23
  Colts
• 3:23
  were
• 3:23
  still
• 3:24
  a
• 3:24
  young
• 3:24
  franchise
• 3:25
  founded
• 3:26
  in
• 3:26
  1953.
• 3:27
  They
• 3:27
  had
• 3:27
  only
• 3:27
  had
• 3:28
  one
• 3:28
  winning
• 3:28
  season
• 3:29
  prior
• 3:29
  to
• 3:30
  1958.
• 3:31
  But.
• 3:31
  But
• 3:31
  they
• 3:32
  had
• 3:32
  something
• 3:32
  changing
• 3:33
  too.
• 3:33
  They
• 3:33
  had
• 3:33
  a
• 3:33
  young
• 3:34
  quarterback
• 3:34
  named
• 3:35
  Johnny
• 3:35
  Unit,
• 3:35
  who
• 3:36
  just
• 3:36
  a
• 3:36
  few
• 3:36
  years
• 3:37
  earlier
• 3:37
  was
• 3:38
  playing
• 3:38
  semi
• 3:38
  pro
• 3:39
  football,
• 3:39
  earning
• 3:40
  $6
• 3:40
  a
• 3:40
  game
• 3:41
  after
• 3:41
  being
• 3:41
  cut
• 3:42
  by
• 3:42
  the
• 3:42
  Pittsburgh
• 3:42
  Steelers,
• 3:43
  one
• 3:43
  of
• 3:43
  the
• 3:44
  traditionally
• 3:44
  worst
• 3:45
  teams
• 3:45
  in
• 3:46
  the
• 3:46
  league.
• 3:46
  But
• 3:47
  the
• 3:47
  Colts
• 3:48
  had
• 3:48
  stormed
• 3:48
  out
• 3:49
  of
• 3:49
  the
• 3:49
  gate
• 3:49
  with
• 3:49
  six
• 3:50
  straight
• 3:50
  wins.
• 3:51
  With
• 3:52
  Unitis.
• 3:53
  In
• 3:53
  week
• 3:53
  seven,
• 3:53
  they
• 3:53
  faced
• 3:54
  the
• 3:54
  New
• 3:54
  York
• 3:54
  Giants
• 3:55
  and
• 3:55
  they
• 3:55
  lost
• 3:55
  the
• 3:55
  game
• 3:55
  24:21.
• 3:57
  But
• 3:57
  there's
• 3:57
  a
• 3:57
  little
• 3:57
  bit
• 3:57
  of
• 3:57
  an
• 3:58
  asterisk
• 3:58
  on
• 3:58
  this
• 3:58
  game.
• 3:59
  But
• 3:59
  because
• 3:59
  Unitis
• 4:00
  didn't
• 4:00
  play
• 4:01
  when
• 4:01
  he
• 4:01
  returned
• 4:02
  three
• 4:02
  weeks
• 4:02
  later
• 4:03
  trailing
• 4:04
  the
• 4:04
  San
• 4:04
  Francisco
• 4:05
  49ers
• 4:06
  277
• 4:06
  at
• 4:07
  halftime,
• 4:07
  he
• 4:08
  staged
• 4:08
  one
• 4:08
  of
• 4:08
  the
• 4:08
  greatest
• 4:09
  comebacks
• 4:10
  in
• 4:10
  football
• 4:10
  history
• 4:10
  to
• 4:11
  that
• 4:11
  point.
• 4:12
  Four
• 4:13
  unanswered
• 4:13
  touchdowns,
• 4:14
  a
• 4:14
  35
• 4:15
  to
• 4:16
  27
• 4:16
  victory,
• 4:17
  and
• 4:17
  the
• 4:17
  western
• 4:18
  title
• 4:19
  was
• 4:19
  clinched.
• 4:20
  With
• 4:20
  that
• 4:20
  game,
• 4:22
  the
• 4:22
  New
• 4:22
  York
• 4:22
  Giants
• 4:23
  took
• 4:23
  a
• 4:23
  little
• 4:23
  bit
• 4:23
  of
• 4:23
  a
• 4:23
  harder
• 4:24
  road.
• 4:25
  After
• 4:25
  a
• 4:25
  2
• 4:25
  and
• 4:26
  2
• 4:27
  record
• 4:27
  after
• 4:27
  four
• 4:28
  games,
• 4:28
  they
• 4:29
  clawed
• 4:29
  their
• 4:29
  way
• 4:29
  back
• 4:30
  to
• 4:30
  9
• 4:30
  and
• 4:30
  3,
• 4:31
  forcing
• 4:31
  a
• 4:31
  tiebreaker
• 4:32
  playoff
• 4:32
  against
• 4:33
  the
• 4:33
  Cleveland
• 4:33
  Browns.
• 4:34
  A
• 4:34
  game
• 4:34
  played
• 4:34
  in
• 4:35
  20
• 4:35
  degree
• 4:35
  weather
• 4:35
  at
• 4:36
  Yankee
• 4:36
  Stadium,
• 4:37
  which
• 4:37
  the
• 4:37
  Giants
• 4:38
  won
• 4:38
  10
• 4:39
  to
• 4:39
  nothing.
• 4:39
  In
• 4:40
  a
• 4:40
  defensive
• 4:40
  struggle
• 4:41
  that
• 4:42
  Tom
• 4:42
  Landry
• 4:43
  was
• 4:43
  very
• 4:43
  proud
• 4:44
  of,
• 4:44
  Lombardi
• 4:45
  had
• 4:45
  hoped
• 4:45
  a
• 4:45
  little
• 4:45
  bit
• 4:46
  more
• 4:46
  from
• 4:46
  his
• 4:46
  offense.
• 4:47
  The
• 4:48
  Landry's
• 4:48
  unit
• 4:48
  had
• 4:49
  only
• 4:49
  allowed
• 4:49
  183
• 4:50
  points
• 4:51
  all
• 4:51
  season
• 4:51
  long.
• 4:52
  That
• 4:52
  was
• 4:52
  the
• 4:52
  best
• 4:52
  in
• 4:53
  the
• 4:53
  league.
• 4:53
  That's
• 4:54
  quite
• 4:54
  a
• 4:54
  tough
• 4:55
  defense
• 4:55
  there
• 4:55
  with
• 4:56
  that
• 4:56
  umbrella
• 4:56
  defense
• 4:57
  that
• 4:57
  he
• 4:57
  has
• 4:57
  staged
• 4:57
  out.
• 4:58
  And
• 4:59
  so
• 4:59
  the
• 4:59
  stage
• 4:59
  was
• 5:00
  set
• 5:00
  with
• 5:00
  Baltimore
• 5:01
  to
• 5:01
  play
• 5:02
  at
• 5:02
  New
• 5:03
  York,
• 5:04
  the
• 5:04
  Colts
• 5:04
  explosive
• 5:05
  offense,
• 5:05
  Unitis,
• 5:06
  Lenny
• 5:06
  Moore,
• 5:07
  Raymond
• 5:07
  Berry
• 5:08
  against
• 5:08
  the
• 5:08
  giants.
• 5:09
  Immovable
• 5:09
  defense,
• 5:10
  three
• 5:10
  and
• 5:11
  a
• 5:11
  half
• 5:11
  point
• 5:11
  favorites,
• 5:12
  16
• 5:12
  future
• 5:13
  hall
• 5:13
  of
• 5:13
  Famers
• 5:13
  on
• 5:14
  the
• 5:14
  field
• 5:14
  and
• 5:14
  a
• 5:14
  national
• 5:15
  television
• 5:15
  audience
• 5:16
  watching
• 5:16
  on
• 5:17
  NBC
• 5:18
  for
• 5:18
  the
• 5:18
  first
• 5:18
  time
• 5:19
  an
• 5:19
  NFL
• 5:20
  championship
• 5:20
  game
• 5:21
  had
• 5:21
  ever
• 5:21
  been
• 5:21
  broadcast
• 5:22
  from
• 5:22
  coast
• 5:23
  to
• 5:23
  coast.
• 5:24
  What
• 5:24
  followed
• 5:24
  was
• 5:25
  not
• 5:25
  a
• 5:25
  masterpiece
• 5:26
  of
• 5:26
  clean
• 5:26
  execution.
• 5:27
  It
• 5:27
  was
• 5:27
  something
• 5:28
  better.
• 5:28
  A
• 5:29
  raw,
• 5:29
  brutal,
• 5:29
  unforgettable
• 5:30
  football
• 5:30
  game.
• 5:31
  The
• 5:31
  two
• 5:31
  teams
• 5:32
  combined
• 5:32
  for
• 5:32
  six
• 5:32
  turnovers
• 5:33
  in
• 5:33
  the
• 5:33
  first
• 5:34
  half
• 5:34
  alone.
• 5:35
  Fumbles,
• 5:35
  interceptions,
• 5:36
  a
• 5:36
  blocked
• 5:37
  field
• 5:37
  goal,
• 5:37
  and
• 5:38
  the
• 5:38
  Giants
• 5:38
  drew
• 5:38
  first
• 5:39
  blood
• 5:39
  with
• 5:39
  a
• 5:39
  pass
• 5:40
  Summerall
• 5:41
  36
• 5:41
  yard
• 5:41
  field
• 5:42
  goal,
• 5:42
  taking
• 5:42
  a
• 5:43
  3
• 5:43
  nothing
• 5:44
  lead.
• 5:44
  But
• 5:44
  then
• 5:45
  the
• 5:45
  Colts
• 5:45
  responded.
• 5:46
  Defensive
• 5:47
  end
• 5:47
  Ray
• 5:47
  Krause
• 5:48
  recovered
• 5:48
  a
• 5:48
  Frank
• 5:49
  Gifford
• 5:49
  fumble,
• 5:50
  setting
• 5:50
  up
• 5:50
  a
• 5:50
  two
• 5:51
  yard
• 5:51
  touchdown
• 5:51
  plunge
• 5:52
  by
• 5:52
  Alan
• 5:52
  Amici.
• 5:53
  Second
• 5:53
  seven
• 5:54
  three
• 5:54
  Baltimore.
• 5:55
  Moments
• 5:56
  later,
• 5:57
  another
• 5:57
  Giants
• 5:57
  fumble
• 5:58
  and
• 5:58
  this
• 5:59
  time
• 5:59
  Gifford
• 6:00
  again,
• 6:00
  forced
• 6:00
  by
• 6:01
  the
• 6:01
  Colts
• 6:01
  defensive
• 6:02
  back
• 6:02
  Milt
• 6:03
  Davis,
• 6:03
  who
• 6:04
  was
• 6:04
  playing
• 6:04
  the
• 6:04
  game
• 6:04
  with
• 6:05
  two
• 6:05
  broken
• 6:05
  bones
• 6:05
  in
• 6:06
  his
• 6:06
  right
• 6:06
  foot.
• 6:06
  The
• 6:07
  Colts
• 6:07
  drove
• 6:07
  86
• 6:08
  yards
• 6:08
  and
• 6:08
  15
• 6:08
  plays,
• 6:09
  ending
• 6:09
  with
• 6:09
  a
• 6:10
  15
• 6:10
  yard
• 6:11
  United
• 6:11
  Staber
• 6:12
  touchdown
• 6:12
  pass
• 6:13
  at
• 6:13
  halftime.
• 6:14
  Baltimore
• 6:14
  led
• 6:15
  14
• 6:15
  to
• 6:15
  3.
• 6:16
  The
• 6:16
  Giants
• 6:17
  look
• 6:17
  like
• 6:17
  they
• 6:17
  were
• 6:18
  finished.
• 6:19
  In
• 6:19
  the
• 6:19
  third
• 6:20
  quarter,
• 6:20
  the
• 6:20
  Giants
• 6:20
  mounted
• 6:21
  a
• 6:21
  goal
• 6:21
  line
• 6:21
  stand,
• 6:22
  stopping
• 6:22
  Amici
• 6:23
  on
• 6:23
  fourth
• 6:23
  down
• 6:24
  at
• 6:24
  the
• 6:24
  one
• 6:24
  yard
• 6:24
  line.
• 6:25
  It
• 6:25
  was
• 6:25
  kind
• 6:25
  of
• 6:25
  a
• 6:25
  moment
• 6:26
  that
• 6:26
  turns
• 6:26
  a
• 6:26
  game.
• 6:27
  Four
• 6:27
  plays
• 6:27
  later,
• 6:28
  Charlie
• 6:28
  Connolly
• 6:29
  dropped
• 6:29
  back
• 6:30
  deep
• 6:30
  in
• 6:30
  his
• 6:30
  own
• 6:31
  end
• 6:31
  zone
• 6:31
  and
• 6:31
  uncorked
• 6:32
  an
• 6:32
  86
• 6:33
  yard
• 6:33
  pass
• 6:34
  to
• 6:34
  Kyle
• 6:34
  Rowe,
• 6:35
  who
• 6:35
  wrote.
• 6:35
  Who
• 6:36
  broke
• 6:36
  tackles
• 6:36
  at
• 6:36
  midfield
• 6:37
  before
• 6:37
  being
• 6:37
  stripped
• 6:38
  from
• 6:38
  behind
• 6:39
  at
• 6:39
  the
• 6:39
  Colts
• 6:39
  25
• 6:40
  yard
• 6:40
  line.
• 6:41
  The
• 6:41
  ball
• 6:41
  bounced
• 6:41
  and
• 6:42
  hit
• 6:42
  the
• 6:42
  turf
• 6:42
  and
• 6:42
  Alex
• 6:43
  Webster
• 6:43
  scooped
• 6:44
  it
• 6:44
  up
• 6:44
  and
• 6:44
  carried
• 6:45
  the
• 6:45
  ball
• 6:45
  down
• 6:45
  to
• 6:45
  the
• 6:46
  one.
• 6:46
  Now
• 6:47
  Mel
• 6:47
  Triplett
• 6:48
  punched
• 6:48
  in
• 6:48
  from
• 6:48
  there
• 6:49
  and
• 6:49
  in
• 6:49
  the
• 6:49
  next
• 6:49
  snap,
• 6:50
  early
• 6:50
  in
• 6:51
  the
• 6:51
  fourth
• 6:51
  quarter,
• 6:51
  Connerly
• 6:52
  found
• 6:52
  tight
• 6:53
  end
• 6:53
  Bob
• 6:54
  Schnelker
• 6:54
  for
• 6:55
  46
• 6:55
  yards
• 6:55
  and
• 6:55
  hit
• 6:56
  Frank
• 6:56
  Gifford
• 6:56
  on
• 6:56
  a
• 6:57
  15
• 6:57
  yard
• 6:57
  touchdown
• 6:58
  pass.
• 6:58
  The
• 6:58
  Giants
• 6:59
  had
• 6:59
  their
• 6:59
  first
• 6:59
  lead
• 7:00
  of
• 7:00
  the
• 7:00
  day,
• 7:00
  17:14.
• 7:01
  And
• 7:02
  it
• 7:02
  was
• 7:02
  the
• 7:02
  first
• 7:02
  time
• 7:02
  in
• 7:02
  NFL
• 7:03
  championship
• 7:03
  history
• 7:04
  that
• 7:04
  a
• 7:04
  team
• 7:05
  had
• 7:05
  erased
• 7:05
  a
• 7:05
  double
• 7:07
  to
• 7:07
  take
• 7:07
  a
• 7:08
  lead
• 7:08
  in
• 7:08
  the
• 7:08
  fourth
• 7:08
  quarter.
• 7:09
  Baltimore
• 7:10
  moved
• 7:10
  into
• 7:10
  scoring
• 7:10
  range
• 7:11
  twice
• 7:11
  more
• 7:11
  and
• 7:12
  came
• 7:12
  up
• 7:12
  empty
• 7:12
  both
• 7:13
  times.
• 7:13
  A
• 7:13
  missed
• 7:14
  46
• 7:14
  yard
• 7:14
  field
• 7:15
  goal,
• 7:15
  a
• 7:15
  drive
• 7:15
  killed
• 7:16
  by
• 7:16
  back
• 7:16
  to
• 7:16
  back
• 7:17
  sacks
• 7:17
  from
• 7:17
  Andy
• 7:17
  Robestelli
• 7:18
  and
• 7:18
  Dick
• 7:19
  Maguleski.
• 7:20
  The
• 7:20
  Colts
• 7:20
  championship
• 7:21
  hopes
• 7:21
  were
• 7:21
  slipping
• 7:22
  away.
• 7:22
  With
• 7:22
  just
• 7:23
  two
• 7:23
  minutes
• 7:23
  remaining,
• 7:24
  the
• 7:24
  Giants
• 7:25
  faced
• 7:25
  fourth
• 7:25
  and
• 7:25
  inches
• 7:26
  on
• 7:26
  their
• 7:26
  own
• 7:27
  40
• 7:27
  yard
• 7:27
  line
• 7:28
  and
• 7:28
  they
• 7:28
  punted.
• 7:29
  The
• 7:29
  Colts
• 7:29
  took
• 7:30
  over
• 7:30
  at
• 7:30
  their
• 7:30
  full
• 7:30
  and
• 7:31
  14
• 7:31
  yard
• 7:31
  line
• 7:31
  with
• 7:32
  two
• 7:32
  minutes
• 7:32
  to
• 7:32
  play.
• 7:33
  And
• 7:33
  what
• 7:33
  happened
• 7:34
  next
• 7:34
  would
• 7:34
  change
• 7:35
  football
• 7:35
  forever.
• 7:36
  Johnny
• 7:36
  Unit
• 7:37
  started
• 7:37
  the
• 7:37
  drive
• 7:37
  with
• 7:38
  two
• 7:38
  incompletions,
• 7:39
  third
• 7:39
  and
• 7:40
  10
• 7:40
  from
• 7:40
  his
• 7:40
  own
• 7:40
  14.
• 7:41
  One
• 7:41
  more
• 7:42
  miss
• 7:42
  in
• 7:42
  a
• 7:42
  championship.
• 7:43
  Along
• 7:43
  to
• 7:43
  New
• 7:43
  York,
• 7:44
  he
• 7:44
  dropped
• 7:45
  back
• 7:45
  and
• 7:45
  fired
• 7:45
  an
• 7:45
  11
• 7:46
  yard
• 7:46
  strike
• 7:46
  to
• 7:47
  Lenny
• 7:47
  Moore.
• 7:47
  First
• 7:48
  down.
• 7:48
  After
• 7:49
  another
• 7:49
  incompletion,
• 7:50
  he
• 7:50
  went
• 7:50
  to
• 7:50
  Raymond
• 7:51
  Barry.
• 7:51
  Three
• 7:52
  straight
• 7:52
  completions,
• 7:53
  62
• 7:53
  yards.
• 7:54
  Barry
• 7:54
  caught
• 7:55
  12
• 7:55
  passes
• 7:55
  that
• 7:55
  day
• 7:56
  for
• 7:56
  178
• 7:57
  yards,
• 7:57
  a
• 7:57
  championship
• 7:58
  record
• 7:58
  that
• 7:59
  stood
• 7:59
  for
• 7:59
  55
• 8:00
  years.
• 8:00
  And
• 8:00
  United
• 8:01
  through
• 8:01
  for
• 8:01
  349
• 8:03
  yards,
• 8:04
  also
• 8:04
  a
• 8:04
  championship
• 8:05
  record.
• 8:06
  Imagine
• 8:06
  that,
• 8:06
  a
• 8:06
  300
• 8:07
  yard
• 8:07
  passing
• 8:07
  game
• 8:08
  back
• 8:08
  in
• 8:08
  the
• 8:08
  1950s.
• 8:09
  With
• 8:10
  seven
• 8:10
  seconds
• 8:11
  remaining,
• 8:11
  Baltimore
• 8:12
  kicker
• 8:13
  Steve
• 8:13
  Myra,
• 8:14
  who
• 8:14
  had
• 8:14
  missed
• 8:14
  two
• 8:15
  kicks
• 8:15
  earlier
• 8:15
  in
• 8:16
  the
• 8:16
  day,
• 8:16
  lined
• 8:17
  up
• 8:17
  for
• 8:17
  a
• 8:17
  20
• 8:17
  yard
• 8:18
  field
• 8:18
  goal
• 8:18
  attempt.
• 8:18
  The
• 8:19
  snap
• 8:19
  was
• 8:19
  clean,
• 8:20
  the
• 8:20
  hold
• 8:20
  was
• 8:20
  good,
• 8:21
  the
• 8:21
  kick
• 8:21
  Split
• 8:22
  the
• 8:22
  uprights.
• 8:23
  17
• 8:23
  17.
• 8:24
  The
• 8:25
  first
• 8:25
  overtime
• 8:26
  game
• 8:26
  in
• 8:26
  NFL
• 8:27
  playoff
• 8:27
  history
• 8:28
  had
• 8:28
  commenced.
• 8:29
  Back
• 8:29
  in
• 8:29
  Baltimore,
• 8:30
  the
• 8:30
  television
• 8:30
  sets
• 8:31
  flickered
• 8:31
  with
• 8:32
  a
• 8:32
  sight
• 8:32
  no
• 8:32
  one
• 8:32
  had
• 8:32
  ever
• 8:33
  witnessed
• 8:34
  In
• 8:34
  New
• 8:34
  York,
• 8:34
  64,000
• 8:35
  fans
• 8:36
  stood
• 8:36
  in
• 8:37
  stunned
• 8:37
  silence.
• 8:38
  NBC's
• 8:39
  national
• 8:39
  broadcast,
• 8:40
  which
• 8:40
  had
• 8:40
  briefly
• 8:41
  gone
• 8:41
  dead
• 8:42
  when
• 8:42
  a
• 8:42
  cable
• 8:42
  was
• 8:43
  accidentally
• 8:43
  unplugged,
• 8:44
  was
• 8:44
  restored
• 8:45
  just
• 8:45
  in
• 8:45
  time,
• 8:46
  allegedly
• 8:47
  after
• 8:47
  an
• 8:47
  NBC
• 8:48
  employee
• 8:49
  ran
• 8:49
  onto
• 8:50
  the
• 8:50
  field
• 8:50
  to
• 8:51
  stall
• 8:51
  play.
• 8:52
  The
• 8:52
  Giants
• 8:52
  won
• 8:53
  the
• 8:53
  overtime
• 8:53
  coin
• 8:54
  toss
• 8:54
  and
• 8:54
  received
• 8:54
  the
• 8:54
  kickoff.
• 8:55
  Don
• 8:55
  Maynard
• 8:56
  muff
• 8:56
  the
• 8:56
  catch,
• 8:57
  but
• 8:57
  recovered.
• 8:58
  Three
• 8:58
  plays
• 8:58
  later
• 8:59
  they
• 8:59
  punted
• 9:00
  and
• 9:00
  the
• 9:00
  Colts
• 9:00
  took
• 9:00
  over
• 9:01
  at
• 9:01
  their
• 9:01
  own
• 9:01
  20
• 9:01
  yard
• 9:01
  line.
• 9:02
  Then
• 9:02
  Unitis
• 9:03
  did
• 9:03
  what
• 9:03
  Unitis
• 9:04
  does,
• 9:04
  13
• 9:05
  plays,
• 9:05
  80
• 9:06
  yards,
• 9:06
  8
• 9:07
  minutes
• 9:07
  and
• 9:07
  15
• 9:08
  seconds
• 9:08
  of
• 9:08
  methodical,
• 9:09
  relentless
• 9:10
  football.
• 9:10
  Ameche
• 9:11
  caught
• 9:11
  a
• 9:11
  critical
• 9:11
  pass
• 9:12
  on
• 9:12
  third
• 9:12
  and
• 9:12
  eight.
• 9:13
  Barry
• 9:13
  hauled
• 9:14
  in
• 9:14
  two
• 9:14
  more
• 9:14
  for
• 9:15
  33
• 9:15
  yards.
• 9:16
  And
• 9:16
  on
• 9:16
  third
• 9:16
  and
• 9:17
  goal
• 9:17
  from
• 9:17
  the
• 9:17
  one
• 9:17
  yard
• 9:18
  line,
• 9:18
  Ameche
• 9:19
  plunged
• 9:19
  into
• 9:19
  the
• 9:19
  end
• 9:19
  zone
• 9:20
  behind
• 9:20
  the
• 9:21
  avalanche
• 9:21
  of
• 9:21
  Baltimore
• 9:22
  to
• 9:22
  blockers.
• 9:22
  Final
• 9:23
  score,
• 9:23
  Baltimore
• 9:24
  23,
• 9:25
  New
• 9:25
  York
• 9:25
  17.
• 9:26
  The
• 9:26
  Colts
• 9:27
  were
• 9:27
  the
• 9:27
  National
• 9:27
  Football
• 9:28
  League
• 9:28
  champions,
• 9:29
  and
• 9:29
  professional
• 9:29
  football
• 9:30
  would
• 9:30
  never
• 9:31
  be
• 9:31
  the
• 9:31
  same.
• 9:32
  Historians
• 9:32
  point
• 9:33
  to
• 9:33
  December
• 9:33
  28,
• 9:34
  1958,
• 9:35
  as
• 9:36
  the
• 9:36
  precise
• 9:36
  moment
• 9:37
  when
• 9:37
  professional
• 9:38
  football
• 9:39
  began
• 9:39
  its
• 9:39
  ascent
• 9:40
  to
• 9:40
  the
• 9:40
  top
• 9:40
  of
• 9:40
  American
• 9:41
  culture.
• 9:41
  The
• 9:42
  numbers
• 9:42
  tell
• 9:42
  part
• 9:43
  of
• 9:43
  the
• 9:43
  story.
• 9:43
  45
• 9:44
  million
• 9:44
  viewers,
• 9:45
  a
• 9:45
  national
• 9:46
  television
• 9:46
  audience
• 9:47
  that
• 9:47
  dwarfed
• 9:47
  anything
• 9:48
  the
• 9:48
  league
• 9:48
  had
• 9:49
  achieved
• 9:49
  before.
• 9:50
  But
• 9:50
  the
• 9:50
  deeper
• 9:51
  impact
• 9:51
  was
• 9:52
  psychological.
• 9:53
  Americans
• 9:54
  had
• 9:54
  seen
• 9:54
  football
• 9:55
  as
• 9:55
  a
• 9:55
  gritty
• 9:56
  regional
• 9:56
  pastime,
• 9:57
  something
• 9:57
  played
• 9:58
  in
• 9:58
  the
• 9:58
  mud
• 9:58
  by
• 9:58
  men
• 9:59
  with
• 9:59
  blue
• 9:59
  collar
• 9:59
  day
• 10:00
  jobs.
• 10:00
  The
• 10:01
  1958
• 10:01
  championship
• 10:02
  showed
• 10:03
  them
• 10:03
  something
• 10:03
  entirely
• 10:04
  different.
• 10:05
  Drama,
• 10:05
  artistry,
• 10:06
  and
• 10:06
  a
• 10:07
  narrative
• 10:07
  arc
• 10:07
  that
• 10:08
  rivaled
• 10:08
  anything
• 10:09
  Hollywood
• 10:10
  could
• 10:10
  produce.
• 10:11
  This
• 10:11
  was
• 10:11
  not
• 10:11
  just
• 10:12
  a
• 10:12
  sport.
• 10:13
  This
• 10:13
  was
• 10:13
  a
• 10:13
  spectacle.
• 10:14
  Within
• 10:15
  five
• 10:15
  years,
• 10:15
  the
• 10:15
  NFL
• 10:16
  would
• 10:16
  sign
• 10:16
  its
• 10:16
  first
• 10:17
  major
• 10:17
  television
• 10:18
  contract.
• 10:18
  Within
• 10:19
  a
• 10:19
  decade,
• 10:20
  the
• 10:20
  super
• 10:20
  bowl
• 10:21
  would
• 10:21
  be
• 10:21
  born,
• 10:21
  and
• 10:22
  the
• 10:22
  league's
• 10:22
  popularity
• 10:23
  would
• 10:23
  surge
• 10:23
  past
• 10:24
  baseball,
• 10:25
  eventually
• 10:25
  becoming
• 10:25
  the
• 10:25
  most
• 10:26
  profitable
• 10:26
  sports
• 10:27
  enterprise
• 10:27
  in
• 10:27
  the
• 10:28
  world.
• 10:28
  And
• 10:28
  it
• 10:29
  all
• 10:29
  traces
• 10:29
  back
• 10:30
  to
• 10:30
  one
• 10:30
  frozen
• 10:31
  afternoon
• 10:31
  in
• 10:31
  the
• 10:31
  Bronx
• 10:32
  in
• 10:33
  2019.
• 10:34
  A
• 10:34
  nationwide
• 10:35
  poll
• 10:35
  of
• 10:35
  66
• 10:36
  media
• 10:36
  members
• 10:36
  voted
• 10:37
  this
• 10:37
  game
• 10:38
  as
• 10:38
  the
• 10:38
  greatest
• 10:39
  in
• 10:39
  the
• 10:39
  NFL's
• 10:40
  first
• 10:40
  100
• 10:40
  years.
• 10:41
  Not
• 10:41
  a
• 10:41
  Super
• 10:41
  bowl,
• 10:42
  not
• 10:42
  a
• 10:42
  playoff
• 10:43
  classic,
• 10:44
  a
• 10:44
  championship
• 10:45
  game
• 10:45
  from
• 10:45
  1958
• 10:46
  played
• 10:46
  in
• 10:47
  an
• 10:47
  era
• 10:47
  before
• 10:48
  instant
• 10:48
  replay,
• 10:49
  before
• 10:49
  dome
• 10:50
  stadiums,
• 10:50
  and
• 10:50
  before
• 10:51
  football
• 10:51
  was
• 10:51
  America's
• 10:52
  religion.
• 10:53
  It
• 10:53
  remains
• 10:53
  the
• 10:54
  gold
• 10:54
  standard
• 10:56
  now.
• 10:56
  17
• 10:56
  men
• 10:57
  who
• 10:57
  played
• 10:57
  or
• 10:57
  coached
• 10:58
  in
• 10:58
  that
• 10:58
  game
• 10:59
  now
• 10:59
  reside
• 10:59
  in
• 10:59
  a
• 11:00
  pro
• 11:00
  football
• 11:00
  hall
• 11:00
  of
• 11:00
  fame
• 11:00
  in
• 11:01
  Canton.
• 11:01
  But
• 11:01
  the
• 11:02
  game's
• 11:02
  true
• 11:02
  legacy
• 11:03
  lives
• 11:03
  in
• 11:04
  every
• 11:04
  fourth
• 11:04
  quarter
• 11:05
  comeback,
• 11:06
  every
• 11:06
  overtime
• 11:07
  thriller,
• 11:07
  every
• 11:08
  moment
• 11:08
  when
• 11:08
  a
• 11:09
  quarterback
• 11:09
  looks
• 11:10
  at
• 11:10
  the
• 11:10
  clock
• 11:10
  and
• 11:10
  knows,
• 11:11
  hey,
• 11:11
  there's
• 11:12
  still
• 11:12
  time.
• 11:14
  Now,
• 11:15
  thanks
• 11:15
  for
• 11:15
  joining
• 11:16
  us
• 11:16
  here.
• 11:16
  Next
• 11:16
  time
• 11:17
  on
• 11:17
  the
• 11:17
  gridiron
• 11:18
  timeline,
• 11:18
  we
• 11:18
  travel
• 11:19
  back
• 11:19
  to
• 11:19
  September
• 11:20
  17,
• 11:20
  1920.
• 11:21
  A
• 11:21
  car
• 11:22
  dealership
• 11:22
  in
• 11:22
  Canton,
• 11:23
  Ohio,
• 11:23
  where
• 11:24
  14
• 11:24
  men
• 11:24
  gathered
• 11:25
  in
• 11:25
  a
• 11:25
  showroom
• 11:26
  and
• 11:26
  did
• 11:26
  something
• 11:26
  that
• 11:27
  no
• 11:27
  one
• 11:27
  else
• 11:27
  in
• 11:27
  the
• 11:27
  room
• 11:28
  fully
• 11:28
  understood
• 11:29
  at
• 11:29
  the
• 11:29
  time.
• 11:30
  They
• 11:30
  created
• 11:31
  the
• 11:31
  National
• 11:31
  Football
• 11:32
  League.
• 11:32
  Now,
• 11:33
  we're
• 11:33
  going
• 11:33
  to
• 11:33
  be
• 11:33
  doing
• 11:33
  this
• 11:34
  a
• 11:34
  lot.
• 11:34
  We
• 11:34
  have
• 11:35
  our
• 11:35
  timeline.
• 11:35
  Pigskindispatch.com
• 11:37
  Click
• 11:37
  on
• 11:37
  a
• 11:37
  timeline,
• 11:38
  you
• 11:38
  can
• 11:38
  go
• 11:39
  year
• 11:39
  by
• 11:39
  year
• 11:40
  and
• 11:40
  see
• 11:40
  all
• 11:40
  the
• 11:41
  great
• 11:41
  events
• 11:41
  that
• 11:41
  happen
• 11:42
  in
• 11:42
  each
• 11:42
  year.
• 11:42
  If
• 11:43
  you
• 11:43
  prefer
• 11:43
  to
• 11:43
  look
• 11:43
  at
• 11:44
  each
• 11:44
  day,
• 11:45
  you
• 11:45
  just
• 11:45
  click
• 11:46
  the
• 11:46
  toggle
• 11:46
  at
• 11:46
  the
• 11:46
  top
• 11:46
  of
• 11:47
  the
• 11:47
  timeline.
• 11:47
  You.
• 11:47
  You
• 11:47
  go
• 11:48
  to
• 11:48
  every
• 11:48
  day
• 11:48
  of
• 11:48
  the
• 11:48
  year.
• 11:49
  We're
• 11:49
  building
• 11:49
  this
• 11:50
  for
• 11:50
  you
• 11:50
  to
• 11:51
  be
• 11:51
  the
• 11:52
  research
• 11:52
  and
• 11:52
  see
• 11:53
  how
• 11:53
  football
• 11:53
  history
• 11:54
  was
• 11:54
  shaped.
• 11:54
  It's
• 11:55
  not
• 11:55
  just
• 11:55
  the
• 11:55
  National
• 11:55
  Football
• 11:56
  League.
• 11:56
  It's
• 11:56
  College
• 11:57
  Game
• 11:57
  two.
• 11:58
  And
• 11:58
  all
• 11:58
  the
• 11:58
  rules,
• 11:59
  revisions,
• 12:00
  and
• 12:00
  evolution
• 12:01
  along
• 12:01
  the
• 12:01
  way,
• 12:02
  we're
• 12:02
  building
• 12:02
  this.
• 12:02
  It's
• 12:03
  dynamic.
• 12:03
  It's
• 12:03
  building
• 12:04
  each
• 12:04
  and
• 12:04
  every
• 12:04
  day.
• 12:04
  We're
• 12:05
  adding
• 12:05
  things
• 12:05
  and
• 12:05
  we'd
• 12:06
  love
• 12:06
  to
• 12:06
  have
• 12:06
  you
• 12:06
  there.
• 12:06
  Pigskindispatch.com
• 12:08
  thanks
• 12:09
  for
• 12:09
  joining
• 12:09
  us
• 12:09
  today.
• 12:10
  You
• 12:10
  can
• 12:10
  find
• 12:10
  more
• 12:11
  football
• 12:11
  history
• 12:11
  at
• 12:12
  your
• 12:12
  portal
• 12:12
  to
• 12:12
  gridiron
• 12:13
  history.
• 12:13
  Pigskindispatch.com.