Vintage logo, used from 1941 until 1945, of a college football team that plays in the Big 12 Conference, the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program began play in 1890 and has won 6 conference titles. The list of former Jayhawks who have gone on to play pro football is long, and includes Nolan Cromwell, Gilbert Brown, Larry Brown, Galen Fiss, Bobby Douglass, Ron Jessie, John Hadl, Dana Stubblefield, Aqib Talib, John Zook, Delvin Williams and Pro Football Hall of Famers Mike McCormack, Gale Sayers and John Riggins.
Classic Sports Card of The Day
1984 Topps football card of former pro football running back John Riggins, who enjoyed a long 15 career in the NFL with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Inexplicably he was only named to the Pro Bowl once in his career. He was NFL Comeback Player of The Year in 1978 and MVP of Super Bowl XVII when he led the Redskins to a win in the big game against Miami. Nicknamed “The Diesel”, Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He has dabbled in acting and sports commentating in his later life, including doing color analysis for Sunday Night Football radio broadcasts on Westwood One.
Classic Team Logo of The Day
Logo of a small college football team that plays in the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Mount Union Purple Raiders. The Division III team first started play in 1893 and has won 30 conference championships and 13 small college national titles over the years. Former Purple Raiders who have gone on to play or coach in pro football include Pierre Garcon, Cecil Shorts, Kyle Miller, Jim Ballard and Dom Capers.
Classic Sports Card of The Day
1962 Post Cereal football card of former pro football fullback Jim Taylor, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, 9 for the Green Bay Packers and a single season with his hometown New Orleans Saints in their inaugural year of 1967. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, member of 4 NFL title teams, NFL Most Valuable Player in 1962 and named to the NFL’s All Decade Team for the 1960s. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He was a successful businessman after his playing days ended and stayed in good physical condition, jogging 5 miles a day and competing in the Superstars event. Taylor passed away in 2018.
Classic Team Logo of The Day
Logo of a Division III college football team that plays in the Ohio Athletic Conference, the John Carroll University Blue Streaks. The program, which began play in 1920, has won 11 conference titles, and play their home games at Don Shula Stadium. Notable former JCU alumni who have played pro football include Shula, Carl Taseff, Ed Ecker and London Fletcher. Besides Shula, the school has provided numerous coaches and front office personnel to the NFL, including Greg Roman, Josh McDaniels, Nick Caley, Tom Telesco, Brian Polian, Nick Caserio and David Caldwell.
Classic Sports Card of The Day
1981 Topps football card of former pro football wide receiver John Jefferson, who enjoyed an 8 year career in the NFL, most notably playing for the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns in 1980. Jefferson was named to the Chargers’ 50th Anniversary All-Time team. He remained involved in football after retiring, serving as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas and director of player development with the Washington Redskins until 2009.
Classic Team Logo of The Day
Logo of a Division III college football team that plays in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks. Coach Lance Leipold guided the team to 6 Division III national championships in his tenure, including 4 undefeated seasons, before moving on to the University of Buffalo. A perennial small school powerhouse, the Warhawks own an impressive 51-9 record overall in small college playoffs. They have sent a few players on to pro football, including Matt Turk, Jake Kumerow, Derek Stanley and Joe Panos.