Pro Football History.com Blog

January 27th, 2025

By Stephen Juza

The Cowboys announced last week that their new head coach for the 2025 season is going to be Brian Schottenheimer. While owner Jerry Jones has consistently run the franchise to the beat of his own drum, there are plenty of times where Cowboys fans are left wondering, “What are the Cowboy’s thinking?!?”

Cowboys fans looking for online gambling with 1000 free spins no deposit can play online while their team takes shape as the newly-promoted Schottenheimer forms his coaching staff. All the while wondering, “What is going on in Dallas?”

Cowboys’ Approach to Head Coaches

Before we dive into why Schottenheimer was an unusual pick, let’s cover how the Cowboys have an unusual approach to head coaches. For 31 other teams across the NFL, coaches end their employment two ways - they either retire, or they are fired. It doesn’t matter if you are a coaching legend like Bill Belichick, poor performance results in a firing.

Knowing this, it’s incredibly unusual for a head coach to enter the last year of his contract. It’s almost a given that a contract extension will come their way with a year to go. However, for the Cowboys, they have simply let their last two head coaches walk away as their contract ended. Jason Garrett frustrated Dallas fans throughout his tenure for how exceedingly mediocre the Cowboys were. Four of his nine seasons at the helm were 8-8, with only making the playoffs three times during his run.

McCarthy was a mild improvement, but still not what Jones is after. McCarthy led the team to three consecutive 12-win seasons, but only a single playoff win. Despite a high-powered offense, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, the team could never get it done when it mattered. At the conclusion of the season, McCarthy and Dallas were trying to work out a new contract, but could not come to an agreement.

Unfortunately for Cowboys’ fans, all of this took place after some of the top coaching candidates already started joining their new teams, leading the Cowboys to miss out on some prized candidates. Fans may feel that the team could have landed a better coach had Jones had a better vision. He even acknowledged that Schotty is a “risky” hire in his introductory press conference. So what makes him so risky?

Schottenheimer as a Risky Hire

Schottenheimer has been around the game for a very long time. Twenty five years in the league as a coach, fourteen years as a coordinator, and countless more around the game as the son of Marty Schottenheimer. With that long track record, you have to wonder why such an experienced coordinator has never gotten his shot at the top job.

The results don’t follow him. Only five of his fourteen seasons at the helm did the team rank in the top-10 in points scored. One season in Dallas, one season with the Jets, and three with the Seahawks. While he coached on teams with impressive defenses giving him shorter fields frequently, his offense couldn’t get the job done.

He also doesn’t exactly have a long track record of developing offensive playmakers under his tenure. Arguably the only season-award winner he has coached is Chad Pennington to the 2006 Comeback Player of the Year. No MVPs, no offensive players of the year, no rookies of the year. It certainly feels like the main reason why Jones wanted Schottenheimer was for the continuity, and his four year contract lines up with Prescott’s and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. After four years, it could be easier to hit the reset button if Jones is thinking like that.

25 years in the league, and stunning mediocrity. Maybe that’s why he’s a fit for the Cowboys.

January 27th, 2025

Point spreads play a vital role in sports betting today. They balance the odds between teams, making games more exciting. But how did point spreads become a part of football? Let's take a look at their history, evolution, and impact on professional football.

The Birth of Spreads

Spreads appeared in the 1940s, revolutionizing sports betting. Charles McNeil, a former math teacher turned bookmaker in Chicago, developed the idea. At that time, betting was straightforward. People simply wagered on who would win, and odds were tied solely to win probability. McNeil introduced a fresh approach. He calculated a "spread," the predicted victory margin. This shifted bettors’ focus to whether a team won "by enough points" or lost "by fewer points." Betting became more strategic, and underdogs gained relevance. The concept caught on rapidly. Bettors appreciated its appeal, while bookmakers favored its ability to balance wagers. Fans found joy in supporting weaker teams without expecting outright victories.

Early Adoption in Football

Football adopted the spread in the 1950s. The NFL was gaining popularity, and betting added a new level of excitement. With spreads, each game seemed closer and more competitive. Fans began to care about how much their team won or lost. Spreads also helped bookmakers. Before spreads, uneven betting created risk. Bookmakers could lose a lot if most bettors were betting on one team. Spreads solved this problem by equalizing the bets. They encouraged even betting on both teams, making profits more predictable. As spreads became more common, they began to influence the way people watched football. Every play, point, and goal mattered, even in games with a clear winner. Fans and players found new reasons to stay interested in every moment.

Modern technology has greatly expanded access to betting, making it easier and faster. Today, as in the past, spreads remain a key element that attracts fans. Users can easily find an online bookmaker or turn to the best online casinos Europe that offer a wide range of bets and games. Such platforms continue to maintain the excitement that began with the first spreads and attract millions of new players, keeping them interested in every detail of the game.

The role of the media in popularizing spreads

The media helped spread to become popular among a wider audience. In the 1950s and 1960s, newspapers began publishing spreads for games. This data accompanied match reviews and expert predictions. Ordinary fans had access to betting information.

Radio and television also played a role. Commentators discussed spreads live on air. They explained how events in the game affected the bets. This added drama to the broadcasts and kept viewers glued to their screens.

By the 1970s, spreads had become part of football culture:

1. Newspapers published spreads for every match.
2. Radio explained them live.
3. Television analyzed the impact of spreads on games.

Fans began to discuss spreads as much as match results.

Controversy and Controversy

Spreads did not grow without controversy. In the 1980s, scandals such as point-fixing rocked the sports world. Players or referees sometimes manipulated games to influence spreads. These scandals made leagues wary of the influence of gambling. The NFL distanced itself from betting. Teams avoided public ties to bookmakers. Leagues focused on maintaining integrity. However, fans continued to bet. Spread betting remained popular despite the stigma. At the time, sports betting regulations were strict. Most states banned sports betting. Players relied on underground bookmakers or travelled to places like Las Vegas. Despite these obstacles, football and spread betting remained closely linked.

Internet Revolution

The Internet completely changed sports betting in the 2000s. Online bookmakers made the process more accessible. Now, players can place bets right from home. Websites provide detailed information about spreads and odds. Transparency and convenience attracted new participants.

Spread betting has become a global trend. Fans from all over the world began to bet on NFL games. Social media and forums increased interest. Players exchanged tips and strategies, which made the process more exciting.

Changes in legislation also had an impact:

1. In 2018, the United States lifted the federal ban on betting.
2. States began to legalize gambling.
3. Leagues, including the NFL, made deals with bookmakers.

These moves brought betting into the mainstream and entrenched spreads in sports culture.

Spreads and Modern Football

Today, spreads are an important part of football. Bookmakers use advanced tools to calculate them. Algorithms analyze team performance, injuries, and other factors. This ensures that spreads are accurate and fair. Fans often keep a close eye on spreads. A late touchdown in a one-sided game can still change the outcome for bettors. It creates excitement in moments that might otherwise seem meaningless. Spreads keep fans engaged throughout the game. Fantasy football and mobile apps have also embraced spreads. Bettors use spreads to make decisions and compete with friends. Betting apps include real-time updates, making it easier to follow bets during games. These tools make spreads more accessible and interactive.

Conclusion

Spreads have changed football and betting alike. They started as a clever idea from a Chicago bookmaker. Over the decades, they have become a key part of the sport. They have shaped the way fans watch games, how leagues operate, and how the media covers football. From the 1940s to this day, spreads have made football more exciting and unpredictable. They have brought strategy to betting and kept fans interested. As betting evolves, spreads will remain the key point of professional football.

January 24th, 2025

By Stephen Juza

As the head coaching carousel spins this offseason, we look at the seven head coaching openings and the incoming coaches looking to turn around the franchises. While not every franchise moved as quickly as the Patriots to replace their outgoing coach, there is no doubt that many teams have been waiting for certain teams to wrap up their playoff run before they can hire a coach away from one of the final teams.

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Dallas Cowboys:

Previous Head Coach - Mike McCarthy (7-10 in 2024, 49-25 overall with the Cowboys)

Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys parted ways at the end of the season when the two sides could not come to a new contract. McCarthy left after five seasons and several division titles, but could never get it done in the playoffs.

New Head Coach - Brian Schottenheimer, promoted from the team's offensive coordinator

While the team couldn't work out a new contract with McCarthy, keeping Schottenheimer on staff will help provide consistency for the offense to continue building around Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.

Chicago Bears:

Previous Head Coach - Matt Eberflus (4-8 in 2024, 14-32 overall with the Bears)

Eberflus was fired by the Bears during the season after a season when the NFC North was arguably the toughest division in the league. Caleb Williams showed flashes throughout the season, but it was not enough to fuel an offense to compete with three playoff teams sharing the same division.

New Head Coach - Ben Johnson, former Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator

After several wildly successful years of running a high-powered offense in Detroit, Johnson will take over the Bears franchise. After helping to turn former first-round pick Jared Goff from castoff to potential All-Pro. Johnson oversaw one of the most potent offenses in the league. Bears fans hope that Johnson can work his magic with Williams and replicate the high-scoring offense in the Windy City.

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Previous Head Coach - Doug Pederson (4-13 in 2024, 33-39 overall with the Jaguars)

Pederson was let go at the end of his third season in Jacksonville, as the team declined each season under his stewardship. After taking the AFC South title in his first season, the team regressed to second last year, and finished third in 2024, leading to his ouster.

New Head Coach - Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2024

Coen had an awkward departure from the Bucs - first he was interested in the position, but turned it down, and only returned to the Jaguars after they fired their GM. While Coen may be a successful head coach, his experience in the league could show through. He has not coached anywhere in consecutive seasons above an assistant position coach. He has some impressive players he has coached, but it’s hard to get a read on where the Jaguars will go under him.

Las Vegas Raiders:

Previous Head Coach - Antonio Pierce (4-13 in 2024, 9-17 overall with the Raiders)

Pierce was fired after his sole season as the head coach - a disappointing 4-13 season following a rather successful 2023 where he took over midseason as their interim coach. However, he wasn’t able to continue the momentum into 2024, leading to his outing.

New Head Coach - Pete Carroll, Seahawks head coach from 2010-2023

Carroll was fired by the Seahawks after last season and sat out coaching for the 2024 season. Carroll is joining the Raiders in what is now one of the most accomplished divisions for coaching success. Between Carroll, Reid, Payton and Harbaugh, they have won eight championships between the NFL and College

New Orleans Saints:

Previous Head Coach - Dennis Allen (4-13 in 2024, 9-17 overall with the Saints)

Allen was fired after a disappointing two years after he took over for now-Broncos head coach, Sean Payton. The Saints never were able to gain traction under Allen, finishing below .500 both seasons.

New Head Coach - Kellen Moore, Eagles offensive coordinator

New York Jets:

Previous Head Coach - Robert Saleh (2-3 in 2024, 20-36 overall with the Jets)

A firing that may be considered long overdue, Robert Saleh was fired after four seasons. After some big swings to turn the franchise around, the Jets are hitting the reset button. With a new head coach and general manager coming in this offseason, there will be a potential to hit reset quickly.

New Head Coach - Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator from 2021-2024

The Jets had targeted Glenn early in the process. Glenn is a typical for the Jets head coaching role, since they have consistently hired only defensive-minded head coaches. Glenn also patrolled the Jets secondary during his playing days, and was eager to return to the team that drafted him.

New England Patriots:

Previous Head Coach - Jerod Mayo (4-13 in 2024 in only season with the Patriots)

Mayo was fired at the conclusion of his only head coaching season after finishing 4-13. Mayo was long considered the head-coach-in-waiting behind former head coach Bill Belichick, but the team could not get it done.

New Head Coach - Mike Vrabel, Titans head coach from 2018 - 2023

After a disastrous one-and-done season by Jerod Mayo, the Patriots quickly turned to the former Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel. He brings six years of experience as a head coach, but the most crucial question will be if he can put the offensive coaching staff together to help second-year quarterback Drake Maye be successful. Vrabel returned to Foxboro where he played for many seasons.

January 16th, 2025

“What a game!” It’s a phrase we’ve all uttered after witnessing one of the NFL’s breathtaking playoffs. Few moments in sports reach the level of drama and pure exhilaration that NFL playoff games bring to the table. Today, we’re breaking down five of the most iconic playoff showdowns that changed NFL history forever.

1. 2021 Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

If you watched this one live, chances are your jaw is still somewhere on your living room floor. Dubbed one of the greatest playoff games of all time, this bout between two of the AFC’s top dogs was something else.

Picture this—THREE go-ahead touchdowns in the final two minutes of regulation. Patrick Mahomes threw for an insane 188 yards AFTER the two-minute warning, while Josh Allen countered with 329 total passing yards. And don’t forget Gabriel Davis! He made NFL history as the first player to rack up four touchdown receptions in a postseason game.

But here’s the cherry on top—Mahomes needed only 13 seconds. Seriously, 13 SECONDS to march downfield and set up a game-tying field goal. Then, in overtime, Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce for the game-ending TD. Chiefs fans went bananas, and the rest of us just sat in awe.

This year, the Chiefs are again in the Divisional Round, but now against the Texans. The wagerline NFL odds hint at a comfortable win for Kansas City, but given the team’s magic last year, anything is possible.

2. 1981 NFC Championship Game: San Francisco vs. Dallas Cowboys

If you’re an NFL diehard, you don’t need an intro. The Catch is exactly what it sounds like—a play so legendary it doesn’t even need additional description.

The stakes? A trip to the Super Bowl. With the clock winding down, Joe Montana did what Joe Montana does—he orchestrated an 89-yard drive. On a nail-biter third down, he flicked a high pass to Dwight Clark, who leaped up for an impossible catch, sealing the deal for San Francisco.

That one six-yard touchdown KO’d “America’s Team” (yes, the Cowboys) and sent the 49ers on their way to glory-town. Fun fact? Eric Wright later made a game-saving tackle that’s often overshadowed by The Catch.

3. Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

The 18-0 Patriots looked unstoppable. Tom Brady was in the zone, Randy Moss was basically a cheat code, and the team was minutes away from completing the NFL’s second perfect season. Then the Giants said, “Not today.”

Down 14-10 with less than 2 minutes left, Eli Manning escaped what can only be described as a surefire sack of doom. But no—Eli Houdini’d his way out, bombed it downfield, and connected with David Tyree for the Helmet Catch. Yep, Tyree PINNED the ball against his helmet while tumbling down.

Moments later, Plaxico Burress caught the game-winning touchdown, and the Giants knocked the mighty Patriots off their lofty undefeated perch. Somewhere, the 1972 Dolphins popped champagne in celebration (again).

4. 1981 AFC Divisional Round: San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins

Nicknamed appropriately “The Epic in Miami,” this NFL game was pure chaos in the most glorious way. Featuring wild momentum swings, absurd stats, and a finish for the ages, this game remains one for the purists.

The Chargers bolted to a 24-0 lead, but Miami wasn’t going down quietly. Don Strock subbed in for the Dolphins, tossed four touchdowns, and evened the game at 38-38. Enter Kellen Winslow.

Winslow didn’t just make plays—he BLOCKED a potential game-winning Miami field goal and helped force overtime. Struggling to even stand by the end, Winslow finished with 13 catches, 166 yards, and pure exhaustion (the image of teammates literally helping him off the field says it all).

Overtime saw more drama when the Chargers’ kicker MISSED a chip-shot field goal—only to later redeem himself with a 29-yarder to seal the deal. One word? Epic.

5. Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks

When people talk about baffling decisions in sports history, this game is Exhibit A. With the Seahawks just one yard away from a championship—they didn’t hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch. Repeat. They. Did. Not. Hand. It. To. Beast Mode. Instead, Russell Wilson threw a pass that Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler picked off in the end zone. And just like that, New England snagged yet another Super Bowl ring.

The game was already a stunner before "The Play That Shall Not Be Named." The Patriots climbed back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth, courtesy of Tom Brady slinging two TDs. But that game-ending INT—it’s still talked about in barbershops, forums, and during “what if” debates everywhere.

Why These Games Are NFL Gold

All five of these playoff games weren’t just matches; they were full-blown dramas complete with unpredictable twists, jaw-dropping moments, and heroes stepping up under immense pressure.

These are the games that live in NFL fans' memories forever—whether you were biting your nails as your team fought for their season or just enjoying the madness unfolding. They also remind us why we tune in every single weekend - and why the NFL is taking the world by storm.

January 13th, 2025

Most of our memories, allegiances, and hopes related to the NFL come from the Super Bowl era. However, this is but a portion of what constitutes the history of the National Football League. In fact, the league’s genesis happened more than a century ago. As such, there are plenty of names that are distant history in the steps of this sport’s professional pathway.

This article will try to disentangle this distant history and identify the heroes of the dawn. The NFL has been through way too many expansions to mention the entire history. As a result, we ought to look specifically into the starting days of this phenomenon.

Meek clubs turned into franchises that have their own lore, relocation, and morphing elements that define their history. Some of them survived difficult times in one way or another, while others have been victimized by the tides of time.

Our article is a celebration of the early days of the NFL. As Jim Harbaugh, a certified football geek, would say, this celebration is all about being ‘grateful to be alive in a football sense.’

How the league came to be

Things can be somewhat subjective when tracing the real beginning of the relevant league that would serve as the birthplace of various franchises. Some teams trace their origin from the AAFC (the 49ers) while many others are the result of AFL’s pre-merger existence. However, we will account for the American Professional Football Association, later renamed the National Football League.

Things started out quite modestly shortly after the conclusion of the First World War. While the sport had had its professional associations since at least 1892, the year 1920 was the first when the basis of a sustainable league had been placed. The beginning was a formality that underwent in a car dealership in Canton, Ohio.

The way things went during the early era of the NFL (a name adopted in 1922) was notoriously chaotic. From 1920 to 1932, the winner was the team with the most won games, a model that sparked plenty of controversies due to inconsistent and asymmetrical scheduling, unorthodox practices, and an overall lack of structure.

Teams didn’t have the usual practices that followed the usual franchise model, with volatile ownership and continuous changes in both league rosters and player acquisition. For example, the draft only started in 1936. This era was unstable from many points of view, but the rise in popularity was due to its increasingly attractive product.

Survivors from the before Championship Game era

The Championship Game, inaugurated in 1933, came into effect, becoming the progenitor of what we know today as the Super Bowl. The winner was the contestant from either the Eastern or Western Division. As a result, the league added one of its defining characteristics. Since this is a turning point, we will discuss the teams that came before this time. As such, the teams that have been around since before 1933 will be part of this initiative.

As the name of this chapter of our article suggests, we will highlight the teams that have survived the first 12 years of the NFL:

• The Racine Cardinals, later known as the Chicago Cardinals, are the direct descendants of today’s NFC West franchise, Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals won the title at the end of the 1925 season. However, this victory is still marred in controversy for reasons like shoddily scheduled games and the controversial final season victory of the Pottsville Maroons. This franchise’s early history is also well-known for its rivalry with the Canton Bulldogs, one of the first high-profile rivalries in the early stage of the league.

• The Decatur Staleys, who renamed themselves the Chicago Bears due to their affiliation with the hometown Cubs, are the creation of an effort spearheaded by the most important person in their history: George Halas. Papa Bear fought through and through to help the Bears rise to the occasion of this new league, winning their first title in 1922. Moreover, the 1932 and 1933 championships made them the back-to-back winners of the last old-league fashion and the new model.

• Green Bay Packers are the creation and longstanding legacy of Curly Lambeau, the one who we all remember by virtue of the eponymous stadium. Despite being founded in 1919, the Packers didn’t join the league until 1921, narrowly missing out on the founder status that the previous clubs could claim. Their arrival in the league also meant a new ascendance at the end of the 20s. The 3-peated from 1929 to 1931 and have racked up a slew of pre-merger titles. Moreover, they can boast a consistent location, name, tradition, and status as a community-owned team. The Packers have been the same institution for over 100 years.

• The New York Football Giants, now only known as the New York Giants, are another team whose location (if one were to ignore their NJ-based stadium) and name are the same. Tim Mara associated himself with a local baseball team, as was the custom back then for stadium-housing reasons. While the baseball Giants moved to San Francisco, the football Giants remained in the NYC metro area. The team found early success, winning the title in 1927 after joining the league in 1925.

• The Portsmouth Spartans may not have been Detroit originals like the other 4 pro football clubs from the Motor City, but they morphed into the only representative that survives to this day. The team started operations in 1928, joined the league in 1930, and found success in the mid-30s right after renaming themselves to the Detroit Lions. The team may have a complicated history with winning, but the team that started out in Ohio is now the heartbeat of Detroit’s sports scene.

• The Boston Braves are the last one worth mentioning since they joined in 1932, the last season of eligibility in our criteria. The team eventually adopted the Native American iconography, then adopted the Redskins name due to playing at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The Native American symbol remained, as did the name. After moving to Washington D.C. in the mid-30s, the team finally became the Washington Redskins, nowadays being the Commanders.

The teams that only remain in history

Such a section would benefit from a quicker rewind because of the revolving door of teams that came and went in quick succession. Back then, getting to have a pro club was akin to a casino bonus: the incentive was there, but it likely required an investment, yet the spoils weren’t always profitable guarantees.

Despite the unmistakable reality, we need to at least mention them for the sake of posterity, but also respect for their belief in a sports model that has taken over America’s sports preferences:

• The Pros – a couple of teams from Akron, OH, and Hammond, IN, have adopted this name. Both teams joined in 1920 and folded in 1926. Quite famously, the Akron Pros were the first champions of this new league.

• The Dayton Triangles were a successful team of the predecessor Ohio League, were in the mix from the founding of the NFL, but disappeared after the 1929 season, when the team became the football Brooklyn Dodgers – another defunct franchise.

• The Maroons – this is a different situation to the Pros since this is the same team formed as two separate clubs. The team started out in Toledo, OH, joined the NFL in 1922, and moved to Kenosha, WI, for the 1924 season. The team disappeared after its only year in Kenosha.

• The Tigers – one club was from Chicago and folded after competing in the inaugural season, while the other was from Cleveland, renamed to the Indians in 1922, and went extinct after that season. The third was from Columbus, who were initially known as the Panhandles before going away in 1926.

• The Rochester Jeffersons played in New York State during the 1920-25 period, being a traveling team in their last season.

• When they entered the league, Buffalo’s team was the All-Americans, changed its name to the Bisons in 1924, tried the Rangers name in 1926, reverted to the Bisons in 1927, skipped the 1928 season, and folded in 1929. Both the iconography and turbulence are notable legacy points to their eventual spiritual successors in the city of Buffalo.

• The Rock Island Independents was another Illinois team that was in the NFL from the start, but moved to the AFL after the 1926 season before going away.

• The Racine Legion were spotty participants from the town in Wisconsin, playing between 1922 and 1926 with the exception of the 1925 season. The Legion wasn’t their only name.

• The Muncie Flyers team in 1920 only played a season in the NFL before departing for other pastures and meeting their end in 1925 as the Jonesboro Flyers.

• Finally, we will mention the team that Jim Thorpe was leading at the start of the league: the Canton Bulldogs. The mothballed team returned for a few years but has a couple of NFL titles in its history, with championships won in 1922 and 1923.

Conclusion

The path to Canton’s Hall of Fame began at the start of the roaring 20s. This timeline begins with a passionate set of football fanatics that we must remember for the sake of our sports. Given the extraordinary circumstances in the first decade-and-some of the NFL, this history is outright impressive.

As true closing words, we invite you to do some more reading on the specific clubs and personalities that may be adjacent to your favorite team!