Logo of an independent college football team, the New Mexico State Aggies. Their program began in 1893 and they have been members of various conferences in the past, most recently the Sun Belt Conference in 2017. The school is undefeated (3-0-1) in bowl games. Aggie alumni who have gone on to play pro football include Duriel Harris, Charley Johnson, Pervis Atkins, Leo Barker, Andy Dorris, Roy Gerela, Walter Johnson, Fredd Young, Joe Pisarcik and Danny Villenueva.
Classic Sports Card of The Day
1961 Fleer football card of former quarterback Milt Plum, who played 13 seasons in the NFL for 4 different teams. He started his career in Cleveland in 1957 when the Browns drafted him in the second round, after choosing Jim Brown in the first round. Plum quarterbacked the Browns for 5 years, engineering an offense built around the running of Brown and Bobby Mitchell, but he still was able to make the Pro Bowl twice. He was traded to Detroit in a six-player deal in 1962 and guided the Lions’ offense for 5 years there. Plum holds a unique NFL record – the longest pass completion to himself – 20 yards.
Classic Team Logo of The Day
Logo of a defunct football team that played in the Arena Football League from 2001 until 2013, the Chicago Rush. They made playoff appearances in 10 of their years of existence and won the Arena League title in 2006. Former pro quarterback Mike Hohensee served as their head coach for all but 3 years and the franchise retired the jersey numbers of 2 players who played for them – John Moyer and Bob McMillen, who is also a member of the Arena League Hall of Fame.
Classic Sports Card of The Day
1986 Topps football card of former wide receiver Dennis McKinnon, who enjoyed an eight year career in the NFL, all but one season with the Chicago Bears. Most of his glory with the Bears was earned as a punt returner and in postseason play. He still is second all time in career punt return yards for the Bears, and holds a team record for playoff receiving touchdowns with 4. He recently wrote a book about his time playing for the Bears titled Silky D Bares All.
Classic Team Logo of The Day
Not a team logo, but the logo of the National Football League used from the first season as the NFL, in 1921, until 1929. The league was known as the American Professional Football Association when it organized into a single league and began play in 1920, and became the NFL in 1922. Teams came and went in the early years, but some lasted until today, including the Chicago Staleys, who became the Bears, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cardinals, who currently reside in Arizona.
Classic Sports Card of The Day
1963 Topps football card of former pro football defensive back Eddie Meador, who played 12 seasons in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 1960s. He split his career between cornerback and safety, and excelled at both spots. Ram teammate Merlin Olsen once called him “the best defensive back I have ever seen.” He still holds the Rams’ career record for interceptions with 46, for blocked kicks with 10 and for fumble recoveries with 18. He served as the Players’ Association president for 2 years prior to retiring, and is considered to be a player who has been overlooked for Hall of Fame consideration.
Classic Team Logo of The Day
Has anyone ever seen the 1963 alternate Chicago Bears’ logo and their former coach, Mike Ditka, in the same room together? Many people say they resemble each other. All joking aside, Ditka not only was a star tight end for the ’63 Bears, who won the NFL Championship, but also went on to coach them to a Super Bowl title following the 1985 season. Other than founder/owner/coach George “Papa Bear” Halas, Ditka may be the man most closely associated with the franchise.