JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

The Oakland Raiders experienced a good degree of glory during the 1970s, as they participated in the NFL playoffs in seven of their first eight seasons in that decade. Their offense had a lot of quality depth at several positions, most notably at the tight end position.

By the end of the 1977 season, the Raiders’ roster had tight ends such as Dave Casper, Raymond Chester, Ted Kwalick, Bob Moore, and Warren Bankston in their lineup. Each of them enjoyed a good amount of pro success in Oakland.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sports History Theme Song

This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic?usp=sharing

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

There was a semi-famous movie that came out in 1981 starring Kurt Russell and Lee Van Cleef titled Escape from New York. It was a futuristic film about the protagonist trying to get out of the big metropolis in less than 24 hours. In the NFL during the 1970s, there were plenty of protagonists who were trying to do the same thing, albeit in a slightly longer time than just 24 hours. But be it the New York Giants, the New York Jets, or the Buffalo Bills, there turned out to be quite a few pro football players who found a way out of the Empire State to what they felt were greener pastures.

There were quite a few Hall of Famers who left their New York teams and went to other NFL teams during the 1970s, with mixed results......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sports History Theme Song

This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic?usp=sharing

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

In the 1970s, John Cameron Swayze would advertise Timex wristwatches with the slogan, “They Took a Licking but Kept on Ticking.” The same could be said for several NFL running backs during the 1970s. Some of those runners achieved the ultimate honor of being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Others, perhaps upon retrospection, should be....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

The 1972 Miami Dolphins established a standard that has not been equaled since. They are the NFL’s only perfect team of the league’s modern era. They finished that 1972 season with an unblemished 17-0 record. There is a lot to say about that team and their accomplishments, but I recently asked the followers of my Facebook page, The NFL in the 1970s, if they could put their thinking caps on and answer a question based solely on conjecture and their personal opinions......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

The 1973 Denver Broncos were indeed a special team.  They were the first Denver team to earn a winning record.  The Broncos finished the 1973 campaign with a 7-5-2 mark, which gave them a sense of optimism for the future.  Their offense was indeed a cause for hope for their future.  Their offensive attack scored a total of 354 points in 1973, which stood out as the third-best amount in the entire NFL......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

As many of you may know, I recently wrote a book about Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame offensive guard Larry Little.  In today’s podcast episode, we will take a brief look at his pro football career.  My book is entitled From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little.  It’s an aptly titled book, because when he first began playing organized football, practically nobody would have expected him to make it as far as he did in the annals of the sport......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

How many NFL teams during the 1970s do you remember that lost all six of their preseason games, yet still went on to earn a playoff spot in the same season? I know of one…the 1972 Cleveland Browns.  Yes, they were coming off a playoff season in 1971, but the 1972 Browns looked like a team that had its share of troubles…especially at the beginning of that year.  They lost their regular season opener to the Green Bay Packers, and it appeared as if this might not be the year for Cleveland to expand on their past winning pedigree.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

When George Allen became the new head coach for the Washington Redskins in 1971, the rebirth of the team occurred.  They had for many years been a mediocre team at best.  But when Allen got there, he changed the culture of that team in a very abrupt fashion.  Almost overnight, the ho-hum Redskins became the vibrantly emotional Redskins.  Allen knew that the sport of football was a sport primarily of emotion, so he stressed that to his players.  A trademark of Allen’s teams was the sight of them jumping up and down, yelling out their support to their teammates, etc.  It was pure emotion.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

There are many great pro linebackers who are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.  But there are quite a few more who are not, but who probably should be.  I will try to mention just a few of them in this episode of this podcast. 

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

There were several prominent NFL players during the 1970s who were traded or waived by one team and then managed to reestablish themselves as outstanding components to their new teams.  The reasons behind their departure from their previous teams are varied, but they are all encompassed by the desire from their previous team to go in a new direction.  As it turned out, many of these discarded athletes decided to wear a chip on their shoulders as a motivational factor when going to their new team.  They were simply going to play harder than ever before, as they made the best of a new chapter in their pro careers.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

The 1973 Minnesota Vikings dominated the NFC and nearly won it all. Here's why that team stands as the franchise's best of the 1970s.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

Were it not for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys would undoubtedly be called the Team of the 1970s in the NFL.  But despite finishing in second place in that distinction, during the 1970s, Dallas enjoyed many outstanding seasons.  I believe that their best year of that decade was 1977.  It was a season that saw the Cowboys post an impressive 12-2 record, en route to a victory in Super Bowl XII......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

In this episode, Joe dives into the 1971 Atlanta Falcons—a team often overlooked in NFL lore, but one that carved out a special place in franchise history. Joe breaks down how head coach Norm Van Brocklin molded a young, underdog roster into Atlanta’s first-ever winning team. From Bob Berry's steady arm to Ken Burrow’s record-setting plays and a defense that thrived on turnovers, the '71 Falcons showed that grit, leadership, and timing could turn a struggling team into a contender.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

The American Football Conference’s Central Division was unquestionably the best division in pro football during the 1975 season.  Three of its four teams earned at least 10 wins in a 14-game regular season.  The Pittsburgh Steelers finished that year with a league-best 12-2 record.  The Steelers would eventually go on to win their second straight Super Bowl championship at the end of the 1975 season.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

To complete the 1975 NFL season, the annual Pro Bowl game pitted the best players of both conferences, the AFC and the NFC. It also featured someone who was -- and still is -- considered to be the best punter in the history of the pro game, Oakland's Ray Guy.

The Pro Bowl game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 26, 1976, also featured a very unique occurrence. The Superdome at that time had a six-sided gondola with scoreboard monitors on it, and it was situated just underneath the interior of the top of the stadium's roof. Fans looked at the gondola as another form of entertainment. Ray Guy looked at it as another challenge.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

On January 4, 1976, the Cinderella Dallas Cowboys traveled to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the championship of the National Football Conference.  Dallas was expected to tamely submit to the favored Los Angeles team.  The Rams had pounded the St. Louis Cardinals in their divisional playoff game the previous week, while the Cowboys had needed a miracle to upset the Minnesota Vikings in their divisional playoff tilt. 

This NFC Title Game between the Rams and the Cowboys was considered by many to be a one-sided affair for the Rams......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

This episode is a repeat episode when Joe Zagorski was interviewed on the Pigskin Dispatch, another podcast here on the Sports History Network. Below is the description from this episode. To learn more about the show, head to the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Pro football just after World War I was an interesting period in gridiron history indeed. As what would become the NFL was just starting up there were other, and I say this loosely, "leagues" where paid football players took the field. One of those was a short-lived group of teams in the Coal Region of Eastern Pennsylvania fondly called the Anthracite League. Historian Joe Zagorski visits to talk about this and more.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

On January 4, 1976, the Oakland Raiders traveled into Three Rivers Stadium to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for the championship of the American Football Conference.  This game would mark the fourth of what would be five straight seasons where both teams met each other in the AFC playoffs.  This particular contest would decide which team would advance to play in Super Bowl X.......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

On one of my recent posts on my Facebook page The NFL in the 1970s, I questioned everyone who follows that page about the prospect of replacing a legendary head coach.  It only happened a few times during the decade of the 1970s, with mixed results.  But it started in grand fashion, right at the beginning of the decade......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

On one of my recent posts on my Facebook page The NFL in the 1970s, I questioned everyone who follows that page which NFL team from the 1970s won the greatest number of games against their divisional opponents.  From 1970 to 1979, which team accumulated more victories over their common foes…. the teams that they would play twice each season on a home and away basis....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

There were four years where pro football fans got to witness several examples of ultimate futility.  These were the teams that could only win one game during a 14-game regular season.  This category also continues one team that could not win a single game in a hapless and somewhat legendary inaugural campaign.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

ABOUT THE HOST - JOE ZAGORSKI

Joe Zagorski is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.  He has also spent many years watching and writing about pro football and has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. He has also worked for quite some time as a former sportswriter in his home state of Pennsylvania.  He has written five books on the sport and is currently in the process of writing his sixth pro football book.   Be sure to catch the next installment of Pro Football in the 1970s, only on the Sports History Network.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

Offensive football as we know it today employs a pass-first approach, and that is true across the NFL.  But during the 1970s, that was not the case, especially before 1978, when all the new rules that greatly benefited the pro-passing strategies came about. 

I wondered which team from the 1970s might be able to fit in and exist in 2024, based on the offensive plays that they used in the 1970s?  I approached this topic on my Facebook page, The NFL in the 1970s.  I received so many positive responses from my post on that page, that I felt that discussing the topic here on my podcast would be worthwhile....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

ABOUT THE HOST - JOE ZAGORSKI

Joe Zagorski is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.  He has also spent many years watching and writing about pro football and has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. He has also worked for quite some time as a former sportswriter in his home state of Pennsylvania.  He has written five books on the sport and is currently in the process of writing his sixth pro football book.   Be sure to catch the next installment of Pro Football in the 1970s, only on the Sports History Network.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

 There were a couple of very competitive playoff games in the NFL during the 1970s, and many people have largely forgotten them…if they really paid much attention to them at all.  One occurred in 1973, and the other took place in 1975.  Let’s tackle the 1973 playoff game first.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

JOE ZAGORSKI'S OTHER WORK

"JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER" WEBSITE

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

On January 14, 1973, the Miami Dolphins completed a seemingly impossible dream by defeating the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII by a score of 14-7.  The win put a capper on Miami’s perfect 17-0 season, a record of success that has yet to be equaled in pro football history. 

That 1972 undefeated season of the Dolphins has been dissected by many over the years.  In this episode of my podcast, I would like to take a closer look at that Super Bowl VII game, and to address some unique aspects to it.  Keep in mind that the points that I discuss here rank in no particular order of importance...

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

Just as in today’s NFL, the teams of the 1970s all wanted to be playing their best brand of pro football while they were going down the home stretch of their schedule. They all wanted to be “peaking towards the playoffs.” No team wanted to enter the postseason tournament with a losing streak hovering over them to muffle their chances to advance.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

Pro football has provided a showcase for the many different wide receivers who buckled up their chinstraps during the 1970s. Prior to the 1978 rules changes which great benefitted those pass catchers, however, pass receiving was a very difficult job. Defensive backs enjoyed a lot of freedom to practically annihilate everyone of their foes who attempted to roam through their zone coverages downfield…before the NFL’s competition committee decided to make things a bit easier for the league’s passing offenses.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

It is perhaps the least appreciated, or probably the least understood position in a football game.

I’m speaking about the occupation of punter. It is their job to—in effect—give the ball back to their team’s opponents by kicking it long distances out of their own territory…if possible. There were quite a few exemplary punters in the NFL during the decade of the 1970s. Each possessed their own special talents which made them unique. The list of some of those great punters are mentioned here in this episode. Keep in mind that this is a random list, and not a complete list of great punters of the decade......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

In 1973 and 1974, a couple of terrible passing performances by a couple of very young quarterbacks somehow equaled victory for their respective teams. Both outings came about with different circumstances, and they both rank as a couple of the most unique quarterbacking efforts of the decade.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

 There have been two documented cases that I know of during the 1970s where a team’s gameplan has been found by their opposing team on the eve of a game. In 1974, in one of the most exciting playoff games in NFL history, the Oakland Raiders came from behind to defeat the defending world champion Miami Dolphins, 28-26. 

But on the day before that epic contest, the Oakland Raiders’ gameplan was discovered by someone in the Miami organization. It might have been a Dolphins player or a coach who found the group of papers somewhere at the Oakland Coliseum...I don’t really know who came up with this “gift.” 

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

Well, I have refrained from discussing this topic, because I know that it will inspire plenty of debates, but I must give in and talk about it here. It’s probably one of the most common topics for any pro football historian who studies this time period. Who were the greatest quarterbacks in the decade of the 1970s? And among them, who was the best? I know that I am opening a Pandora’s Box of sorts, but it is time that I gird my loins, as it were, and address the issue head-on.

I believe that there were nine truly great quarterbacks in the NFL during the 1970s. I’m going to list them in random order here, then at the end of this podcast, I’m going to make my case for who I feel is the greatest of the ones that I list here. The finalists are, in random order....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

In 1976, the nation we call the United States of America was celebrating its 200th birthday. It was a grand celebration from sea to sign shining sea, for 365 days. It almost seemed appropriate that the New England Patriots would invest in the patriotic fervor of that time by having their best season so far in the decade of the 1970s. You could make an argument that the Patriots and not the Dallas Cowboys were the real America's team.

They naturally had red, white, and blue uniforms, their team played their home games in the region of the country where the American Revolution began, and for their logo, they had a continental soldier perched as a center ready to snap the football. What more could you ask for in the form of patriotism?.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

During the first half of the 1970s, the Miami Dolphins had a couple of starting safeties who brought their own distinctive talents to the team’s defense. That unit was called the “No-Name Defense,” and appropriately so. If you asked anyone today “…who were the starting safeties in Miami during their championship years of the early 1970s?”…you would probably see a blank stare or a quizzical shrugging of one’s shoulders as the likely response. But in reality, both free safety Jake Scott and strong safety Dick Anderson should be much more famous and much better remembered today........

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

By the time of the 1972 NFL Player Draft, the Green Bay Packers, in particular their head coach Dan Devine, had had enough. Divine's first year at the helm of the Packers would end up with a poor 4-8-2 record.

There were plenty of reasons for this, one of the most prominent of which came with the team's inability to successfully convert field goals. A total of nine different place kickers attempted at least one field goal from 1968 to 1971. There was simply no consistency in the team's kicking position to be found.

None. Many people would voice their displeasure over Green Bay’s kicking woes, as they asked themselves during this time “How tough could it be to find a kicker?” Well, it took several years, but Green Bay and Dan Divine in particular, finally found a good place kicker......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1979 AFC Playoffs brought an unsung hero, Vernon Perry of the Houston Oilers, into the spotlight. Despite being relatively unknown, Perry's defensive prowess came to the forefront in a memorable game against the highly-favored San Diego Chargers. Riddled with injuries, the Oilers' chances seemed slim, but Perry's exceptional performance completely shifted the narrative.

During the game, Perry astonishingly intercepted four passes from San Diego's Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts, effectively derailing the Chargers' typically high-scoring offensive drive. Perry’s interceptions and his pivotal block of a field goal attempt led to a Houston field goal, eventually providing the Oilers with their margin of victory, 17-14. These efforts confounded the Chargers and played a crucial role in keeping them scoreless in the final quarter of the game.

Vernon Perry's performance during the 1979 AFC Divisional Playoffs is now a part of pro football trivia. He remains the only player in the league’s modern era to intercept four passes and block a field goal in a single playoff game. His exceptional display of defensive skill proved to be the spark the injury-ridden Oilers needed to advance to the AFC Title Game, cementing his place in football history.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

During the 1970s, there were several outstanding rookie running backs whose first year in the NFL were extraordinary. Any one of the following six players would have been a great addition to any team. Some of them were famous from their college days. Others gained national attention only when they produced in the pros. John Brockington of the Green Bay Packers, Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Don Woods of the San Diego Chargers, Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys, Earl Campbell of the Houston Oilers, and Terry Miller of the Buffalo Bills, each began their pro careers during the decade of the 1970s by breaking 1,000 yards rushing.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The decade of the 1970s had numerous great plays in the NFL. Now this is not an exact science. I won’t be trying to list every single great play of the decade, because there were so many of them, and because I didn’t want to leave any out if I could help it. But I will try to look at some of them. One of the first great plays during the 1970s involved a placekicker…and not just any place kicker, mind you. Rather, it involved a handicapped placekicker.

Tom Dempsey was kicking for the New Orleans Saints in 1970 when he had a chance to win a game with a field goal. No big deal you say? Well, when you consider that he would be trying to connect on a kick that would set a new league record, it would definitely be considered to be a great play......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

 The featured halfback for the Los Angeles Rams in 1975 was Lawrence McCutcheon, a runner who delivered the unabashed punch of a fullback, with the speed and the shifty moves of a quality halfback. During the regular season that year, McCutcheon had rushed for a total of 911 yards, which was a regression from the 1,097 yards that he gained in 1973, and the 1,109 yards that he gained in 1974.

Despite his falling short of the 1,000-yard plateau in 1975, the Rams still managed to win the NFC Western Division title with an impressive 12-2 record. Los Angeles head coach Chuck Knox had to rely mostly on McCutcheon in the first round of the 1975 divisional playoffs.

This was due primarily because Knox’s quarterback situation still had not been resolved. Knox vacillated between James Harris and Ron Jaworski to be his starting signal caller, especially as the 1975 regular season neared its end.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

In 1978, a bunch of new rules geared to improve the passing game showed up along the landscape of the NFL. The public for the most part clamored for the news rules because they wanted to see more scoring in the game. Former Hall of Fame Miami head coach Don Shula differed from their opinions, however.

Shula was a long-time member of the league’s competition committee, and as the decade of the 1970s wore on, he eventually became one of just a token few standouts who preferred to keep the rules the same. But Shula faced plenty of pressure from the game’s owners and from the majority of his fellow competition committee members. He eventually relented, hence the advent of the rules changes of 1978.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Pro football in the current day and age seems to produce one or two different Cinderella teams every year. But that was not always the case, however. In the 1970s, you might see one Cinderella team every two or three years. They just were not that common during that era. A definite Cinderella team was the 1974 St. Louis Cardinals.

That season was not expected to bring a whole lot of success to the Cards. They had finished the previous three seasons with identical 4-9-1 records, and there were plenty of experts who suspected that a fourth straight losing campaign was going to be their lot in 1974.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

During the 1970s, there were many men who played the position of quarterback in the National Football League. During the same time, there were also quite a few men who played that position fairly well, to the point that they had winning records, admirable statistics, and possibly had even won a championship or two....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Pro football’s longest-enduring rivalry naturally involves two of its oldest teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.

Their first meeting began way back in 1921. In the 1970s, the rivalry blossomed into its sixth decade. These two natural rivals in the old NFC Central Division (now it’s the NFC North Division) met each other 20 times during the 1970s, with the Bears winning 11 of those games. I will try to take a closer look at some of the more entertaining of those 20 contests......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is sent to cover the Pitt-Penn State “Keystone Classic” of 1924; in so doing, he discovers a throughline of the football-on-Thanksgiving tradition going back to 1621 (okay, actually, that’s going back to 1869) and reminds us that high-level football games on Thanksgiving are nearly as old as the official Thanksgiving holiday itself.  

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network.

Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) script & story by Os Davis.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) co-stars, in order of appearance, Caedmon Holland, Forrest Hartl and Wayne Brett.

Additional direction by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver.

The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith. 

Other tracks in this episode include

•  “Jazz Club” by Kriss (available through fair-use agreement via FreeMusicArchive.org);

•  “Litany of the Street” by Silverman Sound Studios;

•  “Bimini Bay” (1921) by the Benson Orchestra of Chicago; and

•  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs.

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

EPISODE SUMMARY

Perhaps no other era in the sport of pro football has seen the renewing and regurgitation of head coaches quite as much as what we are witnessing in this current era. It seems that when a head coach gets fired in the 21st century, his next opportunity to wear a headset on the sidelines is just around the corner. But did you know that during the 1970s, head coaches were moving around from team to team almost as often? It’s true!

This episode of Pro Football in the 1970s does not necessarily contain the best head coaches to go from one team to another during the decade. But it does contain the most noteworthy head coaches who traded one team’s colors for another. Let’s start at the beginning of the 1970s, and at the pinnacle of victory, which was simply put as winning the Super Bowl.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

It was certainly a long wait, but in 1977, the wait was finally over. The Denver Broncos came into existence in the old American Football League back in 1960. 

A total of 18 years later, in 1977, pro football’s Rocky Mountain team finally made the playoffs. They had suffered through many losing seasons, and once in a rare while, a mediocre season. But that 1977 season was certainly glorious, as the Broncos indeed made it all the way to Super Bowl XII. But before they could go to the biggest game of the year, Denver would first have to handle the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mile High Stadium in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. It would be the very first postseason game in the team’s history, and even though it is largely forgotten today, would be celebrated, because it was their initial playoff contest.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

If you are in your 50s like me, you probably grew up watching the variety of shows that were produced by one of the greatest companies in America, NFL Films. I remember visiting it when I was a teenager in the 1970s, when the establishment was located on North 13th Street in downtown Philadelphia. What I remember most from my first visit there was a big stairway as you walked in, and a giant mural of Ben Davidson of the Oakland Raiders at the top of those stairs.....

The mural of Davidson was even larger than the real Ben Davidson. But I digress.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

A good friend of mine who enjoys listening to my podcast here on the Sports History Network commented to me recently that he would like to hear me discuss the worst trades that occurred during the 1970s in pro football. It is definitely a topic that I had not addressed before, so to my good buddy Tom Edell, this one’s for you!

The worst trades in the NFL during the 1970s.

When you actually think about it, you have to conclude that it isn’t all that easy of a subject. And somewhat surprisingly, those trades are not necessarily inclusive to just players, however. I’ll expand on that later. But when exploring the worst player trades, the focus is often on a large amount of players or draft picks being given for the services of just one player. Randomly, when that one player in question is well past his prime…well, that gives you the blueprint for the worst trade in the NFL during the 1970s.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

A former running back for the 1972 Undefeated Miami Dolphins spoke to me recently about his team’s efforts to win Super Bowl VII back at the conclusion of the 1972 NFL season. As it turned out, it took losing the biggest game of the year to enable them to win the biggest game of the year. Miami’s 24-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI was both humbling and embarrassing, at least for the players on the Dolphins roster. But it was also beneficial, although at the time, it certainly did not appear to be so.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The NFL saw two of its muddiest playoff games of all time during the decade of the 1970s. In 1970, the Miami Dolphins played on a certifiable quagmire at the Oakland Coliseum, and in 1977, the Minnesota Vikings competed against the Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on a field that could be aptly described as a drenched bog. Both of those stadiums had a natural grass surface, and when water mixed with those fields, a sopping mud was the visible result.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

After I wrote my book on the 1970s in Pro Football, practically everyone who interviewed me would ask me what was so special about that decade. I would inevitably respond that there were so many unique occurrences during the 1970s that made that decade very special. The occurrence described in tonight’s episode is just one such special event.

The year was 1975, and the date was October 20. The New York Giants would be visiting the Buffalo Bills, and the National Football League would be treated to a very competitive contest that a winner was not decided until the final play of the game. ....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

This episode of Pro Football in the 1970s is dedicated to the late Frank Reading, who sadly passed away just before Super Bowl LVI. May he rest in God’s eternal peace.

EPISODE SUMMARY

To say that the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers had a quality offseason is an extreme understatement. Well, their front office management and coaching staff certainly had a quality offseason. They earned that designation for what they accomplished in the annual player draft and in their signing of free agents. The Steelers acquired five rookies during the 1974 offseason who would one day be honored with the ultimate professional football honor, that of enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

All throughout the 1973 NFL season, pro football’s offensive strategy revolved around the running game, regardless of what team you talked about. Two of the best running teams in the league found themselves as competitors in Super Bowl VIII on January 13, 1974, at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. Both the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings came to the ultimate game from different directions. But they both featured the art of running the football as their primary method of travel....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

At this time of the year, the NFL playoffs are on the minds of many thousands of pro football fans across the nation. The same goes for the teams that are preparing for the playoffs. In the 1970s, there were fewer playoff teams than there were today. One of the reasons for this is that there were fewer overall teams in the NFL back then. Today, we have a total of 32 NFL teams. Back in the 1970s, the total number of teams was 26 and then beginning in 1976, the league had 28 total teams, with the addition of Seattle and Tampa Bay in our nation’s Bicentennial year. Back in the 1970s, the NFL had a total of eight playoff teams until 1978, when the total number of playoff teams increased to 10, with five playoff teams representing each conference.

And just like today, the playoffs during the 1970s brought out the best and most spirited play in those teams that were vying for a chance to move on towards a championship. But on occasion, it could also bring out the worst in a team......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

I know that I will be getting a lot of feedback for this topic, and perhaps rightly so. I may even receive a lot of arguments as well. So be it. But let me begin by stating that this subject has at least some amount of stretching to it.

For example, no one really believes that some of the quarterbacks that I am listing here actually have a shot at becoming a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All I am saying with this episode is that there is a category or two where these quarterbacks did manage to excel, and as such, they deserve at least some recognition over the span of several decades in time. Maybe not in the Hall of Fame, but in some sort of acceptance and honor, nonetheless.

I’m just going to begin by listing these 1970s quarterbacks, in a non-alphabetical manner, and in a random way, by their names.

I will then discuss with you, their achievements. Those signal callers are: John Hadl, Ken Anderson, John Brodie, Earl Morrall, Craig Morton, and Roman Gabriel..........

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1974 Baltimore Colts were a typical losing team. They suffered from poor coaching, an inordinate number of mistakes, and an incredibly high amount of just plain bad luck. They finished the 1974 season with a dismal record of 2 wins and 12 losses.

Fast forward to the end of the 1975 season, and the same team records a 10-4 mark and the championship of the AFC Eastern Division. How did they do it? What was the secret to their success?

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Pro Football in the 1970s is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer

A Different way to hear sports history.

I am Orville Mulligan and yes the career journey I took was as a Sports Writer. My story will fill the listener’s ears with my journey of perhaps the greatest time in sports history, the roaring 1920s. I was fortunate enough to rub elbows with the greatest legends of sport in the era and attend some of the most iconic events in sports history.

The tales are complete with the music, people, places and slang used at the time to place the listener into the feelings that we experienced as I started my epic career.

Join us in the adventure of a lifetime, Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer, found here on Sports History Network, on OrvilleMulligan.com or your favorite podcast provider.

Head to the ORVILLE MULLIGAN OFFICIAL WEBSITE for more information.

NETWORK SPONSOR

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer

A Different way to hear sports history.

I am Orville Mulligan and yes the career journey I took was as a Sports Writer. My story will fill the listener’s ears with my journey of perhaps the greatest time in sports history, the roaring 1920s. I was fortunate enough to rub elbows with the greatest legends of sport in the era and attend some of the most iconic events in sports history.

The tales are complete with the music, people, places and slang used at the time to place the listener into the feelings that we experienced as I started my epic career.

Join us in the adventure of a lifetime, Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer, found here on Sports History Network, on OrvilleMulligan.com or your favorite podcast provider.

Head to the ORVILLE MULLIGAN OFFICIAL WEBSITE for more information.

NETWORK SPONSOR

Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans!

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer

A Different way to hear sports history.

I am Orville Mulligan and yes the career journey I took was as a Sports Writer. My story will fill the listener’s ears with my journey of perhaps the greatest time in sports history, the roaring 1920s. I was fortunate enough to rub elbows with the greatest legends of sport in the era and attend some of the most iconic events in sports history.

The tales are complete with the music, people, places and slang used at the time to place the listener into the feelings that we experienced as I started my epic career.

Join us in the adventure of a lifetime, Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer, found here on Sports History Network, on OrvilleMulligan.com or your favorite podcast provider.

Head to the ORVILLE MULLIGAN OFFICIAL WEBSITE for more information.

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Row 1 Sports - historic wall art prints, unique sports gifts, and retro apparel designs

EPISODE SUMMARY

There have been some really great pro football Thanksgiving Day games throughout the course of pro football history during the 1970s. This episode of Pro Football in the 1970s will revisit one of those great Turkey Day contests for football historians and just your casual fans alike. It is usually referred to as the greatest Thanksgiving Day game in pro football history. On November 28, 1974, the Dallas Cowboys would play their division rivals, the Washington Redskins, at Texas Stadium. Both teams were still alive for a possible playoff berth, but only one of them would actually go to the playoffs. The Cowboys had been experiencing their worst year in the past nine years, as they entered this Thanksgiving Day game with a dismal (for them) 6-5 record.......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

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PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

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EPISODE SUMMARY

Every pro football fan knows that the Minnesota Vikings went to four Super Bowls during the 1970s. They lost them all. After each, the questions why flourished. You heard excuses such as Their front lines on offense and defense weren’t strong enough. Or their overall team speed wasn’t fast enough or quick enough. Or their play-calling was abysmal. Or they were unable to make adjustments at halftime. Or they made far too many mistakes or committed far too many turnovers to win. Believe me, you heard it all, and Vikings fans from across the nation had good reasons to despair.

This podcast addresses that despair, and we determine the one Super Bowl that the Vikings could have and should have won…if only. That Super Bowl was Super Bowl IX versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in New Orleans’ old Tulane Stadium on January 12, 1975. Now the Steelers were brand new to the Super Bowl, making their first appearance ever in the big game. For the Vikings, this would be their third appearance in the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh possessed a roster filled with young, aggressive players. Minnesota’s players had many more years of experience, but they were older and just slightly slower in several key spots......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

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EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1970s ushered in a new birth of competition in pro football. As with many new things, a new idea sparked the entire pro football landscape at the very beginning of the decade. A new television contract was obtained by all three major television networks to televise the newly formed league of 26 teams. One of those television stations – ABC – was given the contract to televise a whole new idea, the idea of Monday Night Football. Today, we in 2021 look upon Monday Night Football as something that we have always had. But no, the idea had to have a start sometime, and that time was back in 1970......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Prior to 1978, pro football was regarded as primarily a running game. The objective of the forward pass was still not as refined and as perfected as it would become in the years after 1978. In 1972, with the advent of the hash marks moving closer to the middle of the field, the largest number of runners to ever eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in a season (10) would make NFL history. But to close out the 1971 season, one team used a Super Bowl to show off their multi-back backfield’s avenue of setting records and of the ultimate success…victory in the ultimate game of the year............

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

During the 1974 NFL season, pro football fans in New York suffered. I mean they really suffered. Both the Jets and the Giants were having horrible seasons as they entered week nine. Both teams were being dealt with more than their fair share of problems, injuries, and ineptness. The Giants could claim only two wins at this stage of the year, while the Jets could only collect one victory.

On November 10, 1974, the Jets would meet the Giants at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, in what was deemed as “The Battle of New York.” Well, the Giants were playing their home games that year at the Yale Bowl, while they waited for Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands (or swamplands if you will) to be built. Bragging rights were at stake in this contest, and just like in other highly pitched rivalries, one seems to throw out the records and statistics......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

In 1972, the NFL got a chance to see a quarterback duel of a different nature, one the likes of which the league, at least after 1950, had not previously seen. The teams involved were the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions, two long-time division rivals from the old Black and Blue Division, otherwise known back then as the NFC Central Division. The quarterbacks in this duel were none other than Bobby Douglass of the Bears and Greg Landry of the Lions. Both Douglass and Landry were runners, not scramblers, and there’s a difference.......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The NFL is replete with numerous teams over the years who have had good starts to a season, and bad endings to the same season.

But perhaps none of those “Best of Times, Worst of Times” seasons can compare to what the New England Patriots had to deal with in 1974. The Patriots of 1974 were saddled with the toughest schedule of any of the (then) 26 teams in the NFL. The teams on their 1974 slate averaged over eight wins during the previous year.

Moreover, the Patriots had to play five playoff teams from 1973 in their 1974 season, and that did not count for the Miami Dolphins, who the Patriots had to play twice in 1974..........

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

 In 1975, the Redskins failed to make the NFL playoffs. They finished that year with a record of 8-6, a record that many teams wished that they would have attained. No big deal on missing the playoffs, except that it was the first year since Allen became Washington’s head coach, way back in 1971, that his team failed to take part in the NFL postseason. And if you know anything about Coach Allen’s history, you know how much he valued older veterans over younger players. Well, by 1975, those older veterans were getting older and slower.

In a sport where a team’s overall speed often makes the difference between winning and losing, a lot of pro football observers felt that Allen would not get within sniffing distance of the playoffs in 1976 unless by chance he would abruptly change his method of thinking and begin favoring some younger players over his older rank and file veterans.

In 1976, Allen held strong to his core beliefs, at least for the majority of his roster. He did take a little more of a bite at the potential promise of youth, however.............

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

 Most pro football historians who study the past Super Bowls will tell you that the greatest goal-line stand in Super Bowl history came in the third quarter of Super Bowl XVI. That goal-line stand by the San Francisco 49ers did detrimental harm to the chances of the Cincinnati Bengals to score what would have been a very important touchdown. The 49ers prevailed in a 26-21 win.

I happen to agree with most folks that the Super Bowl XVI goal-line stand was certainly the greatest one in Super Bowl history. But I am reminded of the goal-line stand in Super Bowl V. The goal-line stand in Super Bowl V, you say? Well, do not feel bad.

Most pro football fans (and perhaps quite a few pro football historians) would be hard-pressed to remember it.

That could be because it occurred late in the first half in a tight contest between the Baltimore Colts and the Dallas Cowboys in Miami’s Orange Bowl Stadium. And quite a lot of people have forgotten it because it did not really play a decided point in the winning or losing of that game for either team…or did it?....................

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

Get a 1-week free trial to Newspapers.com to learn about this topic and so much more.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Rounding out this Playoff Redemption series for the year 1973 are a couple of teams which are two of the most memorable of that decade. When talking about the 1970s in the NFL, the discussions will often include the likes of the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those two teams accumulated five world championships during the decade of the 1970s. In 1973, however, their rivalry was really only in its second year. The year before, that epic season of 1972, saw what the most memorable play in pro football history was arguably, and maybe even in all of sports history, the Immaculate Reception. The Raiders felt that they had been screwed by the referees in that game, and they vowed to get their revenge........

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1973 Dallas Cowboys were expected to be competitive, having been only one year removed from a world championship. They made it as far as the NFC Title Game in 1972. The Los Angeles Rams, however, had never got that far in their recent history, but they certainly got more competitive in 1973 with the addition of a couple of new/old players. The Rams obtained the services of quarterback John Hadl in a trade from the Chargers, and wide receiver Harold Jackson, who came to Los Angeles in a trade from the Eagles.  Then they started winning..........

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Seemingly every year in pro football, or at least every few years, a couple of teams that meet each other in the regular season, will then go on to meet each other again in the playoffs.  In 1973, that occurrence happened three times in the NFL postseason. This first of three segments to this story begins with the incumbent world champions at the beginning of the 1973 season, the Miami Dolphins.  The Dolphins were fresh off of their historic perfect season from the previous year, and all the talk around the league wondered just how long Miami would keep their winning streak going. As it turned out, in the second week of the 1973 season, the Dolphins discovered the answer to that question. 

The Oakland Raiders upended Miami, 12-7, thanks to the placekicking of old pro George Blanda, who booted four field goals for Oakland’s points. The Raiders defense did yeoman’s work on this day, limiting the Dolphins to just 105 total rushing yards on 24 carries. They also limited Miami quarterback Bob Griese to just 90 total passing yards......................

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

           The term “journeyman quarterback” is an unmistakable term. It means simply a quarterback who goes from team to team, trying to help each team, as he tries his best to stay in the league. Some journeyman quarterbacks have played for a half dozen different teams, while others only play for two or three. I feel that a journeyman quarterback is one who can still play the game well enough, even if some teams don’t feel that he can, to the point of trading him to another team.

This edition of the Pigskin Past is a look back at some of the most noteworthy Journeyman Quarterbacks of the 1970s. I will try to break them down and briefly discuss them here. There was probably no better – or none who traveled more – than Earl Morrall. Before the decade of the 1970s, where Morrall helped both the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins to win Super Bowls, he had also previously played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Lions, and the New York Giants from 1956 to 1967. Six teams! Now that’s a journeyman......... 

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Why is it so difficult for teams in this day and age to repeat as Super Bowl Champions? It rarely happens more than once every one and a half to two decades anymore. But in the glorious decade of the 1970s, two different teams accomplished the feat, and one of them managed to do it twice! Why is there such a disparity for the difference between then and now? Is there more than just one reason?

 The most reasonable place to try to answer this question is to go back to the wonderful pro football decade of the 1970s, where winning more than just one Super Bowl was much more common than the current decade. In 1972, the Miami Dolphins achieved the unexpected, a perfect 17-0 season and a Super Bowl VII victory. If you ask any members of that team, to a man, they would say that the 1973 Miami team was a better team than what they were in their undefeated season of 1972. The ’73 Dolphins managed to lose twice during the regular season. And they had a tougher schedule of opponents in 1973 than they had in 1972. But the ’73 Dolphins repeated to win Super Bowl VIII. They were thus the first team since the 1967 Green Bay packers to repeat as world champions.....

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

 This series on unheralded NFL games attempts to recall a game that stands out for a particular team. When talking about the Miami Dolphins, well, there are plenty of games to choose from that are still being talked about today. Both of their Super Bowl victories come to mind, and perhaps their epic Christmas Day victory in the AFC Playoffs over the Kansas City Chiefs in 1971. Also that infamous Hook and Lateral playoff game versus San Diego in 1981. But I decided to focus on a game from 1970 as one of the most unheralded games of the Dolphins’ past. Ask any Dolphins fan when they played their first playoff game, and who they played in that game, and you’re likely to get a blank stare. That is because few people ever recall the game that this Pigskin Past program is about.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this third installment of the "Unheralded Games of the 1970s," we cover the 1975 matchup between the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins were one of the powerhouses of the league, while the Colts were coming off a 2-win campaign (tied for worst in the entire league). With that, you'd think the game was a blowout. Let's just say it was closer than on paper.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1979 San Diego Chargers were considered by most pro football experts to have one of the most explosive passing attacks in NFL history, and certainly up to that time in history. Their roster included the likes of quarterback Dan Fouts, tight end Kellen Winslow, and wide receiver Charlie Joiner. All three of them have a bust in Canton, Ohio. The Chargers registered a total of 411 points in 1979, one of the highest marks in the league. San Diego, as the AFC Western Division Champion, was slated to be at home for their first-round playoff game against the Houston Oilers. The Chargers were declared as 8 and ½ point favorites over Houston.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

For the next several Pigskin Past programs, I will try to talk about and re-explore some of those thrilling games.

The first of these unique games occurred way back in 1972, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 1972, pro football was still primarily a running game.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

Perhaps no other team throughout the entire decade of the 1970s in the NFL was as hard to figure out as the 1979 Los Angeles Rams. They had suffered throughout the year with injuries to many of their key players. In fact, a total of 19 of their players had injuries during that year, many of which kept those players out of action for much of the season. They were soundly defeated by the likes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New Orleans Saints. What is even more incredible about this Rams team is that they were able to win enough games to make the playoffs, even though they were akin to virtual NFL nomads. They were soon to be evicted! Their lease with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum would run out at the end of the year, and they would be moving to nearby Anaheim to begin the 1980 season. 

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

It was a year that will never be forgotten in the environs of the Rocky Mountains. It was 1977, and it was the first year that the Denver Broncos ever made the NFL playoffs. So what you might say? Well, the Broncos did not just go to the playoffs in 1977. Rather, they went all the way to the Super Bowl. It’s a rarity for any team throughout NFL history to have never (ever!) gone to the playoffs, and then in just one year, end up in the Super Bowl. 

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

 The next few editions of The Pigskin Past will explore great teams in great years. They will all have one thing in common, however. They will all be teams that had a super season and went to the Super Bowl, only to lose that Super Bowl. The first of these teams that I would like to discuss is the 1972 Washington Redskins. Yes, in 1972, the Washington Football Team was actually called the Washington Redskins. In 1971, their new head coach George Allen, told his players after losing their first playoff game in years that the next year, they would be a championship team. Allen did not lie. In 1972, Washington managed to win the NFC Championship. 

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

There are few occurrences more unique than watching a pro football game where the field gets hit with snow flurries, then driving snow, then a full-scale blizzard. Such a snowy game was held on November 27, 1977, when the Minnesota Vikings visited the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Vikings were involved in another season of robust contention for the NFC Central Division title. They owned a 6-4 record going into their meeting with the Packers, and they could ill-afford to lose this game. They were only one game ahead of the division-rival Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions at this point of the 1977 season. Both the Bears and the Lions were holding a 5-5 record at this stage of the year, and both of them were poised to take over the lead in the old Black and Blue Division, as the NFC Central was then known.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

On December 24, 1978, the extension of the NFL’s very first 16-game regular season and two more playoff teams resulted in the league’s very first Wildcard Playoff Weekend. Two more teams would increase the total number of teams per conference to make the playoffs to five each. You would have your three division winners in both the AFC and the NFC in the playoffs, and then you would also have the two teams with the best overall record, but who didn’t win a division, meet each other in a conference wild card game. Thus all three division winners in each conference got a much needed and much deserved bye week at the conclusion of the new 16-game regular season.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode covers a little history of 14 of the greatest tight ends to play in the NFL in the 1970s. . A tight end must be able to run pass routes and catch the ball. But he also must be big and strong enough to stay in and block a charging defensive end or linebacker. Indeed, tight ends in the NFL earn their pay.

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PIGSKIN PAST BACKGROUND

PIgskin Past is a podcast dedicated to teaching fans about the history of the NFL during the 1970s, a time when the host (Joe Zagorski) grew up as a rabid fan of the game. Joe is also an author of multiple NFL books. See Joe's books below.

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

To learn more about this topic, head here to the episode's home page.

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Music from https://www.purple-planet.com/

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons.  NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today.  Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade.  Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s.  Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic. 

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before.  Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast. 

Joe Zagorski is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.  He has also spent many years watching and writing about pro football and has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. He has also worked for quite some time as a former sportswriter in his home state of Pennsylvania.  He has written five books on the sport and is currently in the process of writing his sixth pro football book.   Be sure to catch the next installment of Pro Football in the 1970s, only on the Sports History Network.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com