This Week in NFL History: June 22 - June 28; Elway turns 60

Published: Jun 21, 2020 at 02:24 PM

Welcome to This Week in NFL History! Every week, the NFL Research team spotlights the anniversaries of notable events and birthdays.

June 22

Happy 49th birthday to Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner

Four-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time first-team All-Pro
Super Bowl XXXIV champion and MVP (414 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 99.7 passer rating in game)
Two-time NFL MVP (1999, 2001)
2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year
Played for the Rams (1998-2003), Giants (2004) and Cardinals (2005-2009)

Happy birthday to the late Davey O'Brien

Born: June 22, 1917, Died: Nov. 18, 1977
Played for the Eagles (1939-1940)
1938 Heisman Trophy Winner
The Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Davey O'Brien Memorial Trophy were founded in 1977 to recognize outstanding student-athletes for their achievements both on and off the field
The Bengals' Joe Burrow, the Cardinals' Kyler Murray, the Browns' Baker Mayfield and the Texans' Deshaun Watson (twice) are the most recent recipients of the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award

Notable birthday: Hall of Famer Champ Bailey

June 23

Happy 41st birthday to Hall of Fame RB LaDainian Tomlinson

Five-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time first-team All-Pro
2006 NFL MVP and 2006 AP Offensive Player of the Year
2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year
Scored 31 scrimmage touchdowns in 2006, most in a single season in NFL history
162 career scrimmage TDs, third-most in NFL history
Played for the Chargers (2001-2009) and Jets (2010-2011)

Happy 43rd birthday to Shaun O'Hara

Three-time Pro Bowl selection
Super Bowl XLII champion
Started 135 of 151 career games
Played for the Browns (2000-2003) and Giants (2004-2010)

June 24

On this day in football history, the American Professional Football Association changed its name to the National Football League in 1922. The American Professional Football Association (formerly American Professional Football Conference) was formed in 1920 in Canton, Ohio.

June 25

Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese announced his retirement in 1981 at age 36

Eight-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time first-team All-Pro
Two-time Super Bowl champion (Super Bowl VII, Super Bowl VIII)
1977 Bert Bell Award Winner
Career: 25,092 passing yards, 192 touchdowns
Member of undefeated 1972 Dolphins
Spent entire career with the Dolphins (1967-1980)

June 26

NFL Charities, now the NFL Foundation, was created in 1973. A nonprofit organization, NFL Charities was set up to support education, charitable activities and support those no longer in football. It was created as a way for the NFL and 32 clubs to collectively make grants to charitable and worthwhile causes on a national scale. Since its inception, NFL Charities has granted more than $148 million to more than 1,400 different organizations.

Happy 52nd birthday to Hall of Fame TE Shannon Sharpe

Eight-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time first-team All-Pro
Two-time Super Bowl champion (Super Bowl XXXII, Super Bowl XXXIII and Super Bowl XXXV)
Retired as the NFL's all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), receiving yards (10,060) and receiving touchdowns (62)
Played for the Broncos (1990-1999, 2002-2003) and Ravens (2000-2001)

Notable birthdays: Michael Vick, Chad Pennington

June 27

In 1999, Hall of Fame FB Marion Motley died at age 79

Three-time Pro Bowl selection
One-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time first-team All-Pro
1950 NFL Champion
One of four African-American pioneers to break the color barrier of pro football in the 1946 reintegration after NFL owners had informally agreed to ban Black players
Led league in rushing in 1950
Played for the Browns (1946-1953) and Steelers (1955)

Notable birthday: Bobby Wagner

June 28

Happy 60th birthday to Hall of Fame QB John Elway