On December 18, 1932, the Chicago Bears defeated the
Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans, 9-0, in the NFL’s first playoff
game—and first game played indoors. The victory gave the
Bears the championship and lead to a playoff system for
the first time.

1932 NFL Championship Game Program –
One of Few to Exist!

(FOX NEWS) – Former Denver Broncos defensive lineman
Harald Hasselbach has died after a six-month bout with
cancer.  

The two-time Super Bowl champion’s family announced
his death Thursday, saying he was "free of pain."

According to the family, Hasselbach had been diagnosed
with metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma.

George Gipp (February 18, 1895 – December 14, 1920)

The Notre Dame football team, inspired by late gridiron star
George Gipp and the most famous halftime pep talk in sports
history, rallied to upset undefeated Army in front of 85,000
fans at Yankee Stadium on this day in history, Nov. 10, 1928.

Legendary head coach Knute Rockne’s impassioned "Win one
for the Gipper" speech echoed through the decades — far
beyond the football field — and entered American cultural,
political and military lore. 
(FOX NEWS)

Knute Kenneth Rockne
(March 4, 1888 – March 31, 1931)

On October 25, 1964, after recovering a fumble against the 49ers
in San Francisco, Minnesota Vikings star defensive end Jim
Marshall ran 66 yards the wrong way into his own end zone.

The four-year veteran believes he has scored a touchdown, so
he throws the ball out of bounds in celebration, resulting in a
safety for San Francisco and putting an exclamation point on
one of the worst blunders in NFL history. Despite Marshall’s
error, the Vikings win, 27-22.

“It was the nuttiest thing I’d ever seen,” said Vikings offensive
tackle Grady Alderman. 

Marshall recovers the fumble (1) before running
in the wrong direction (2).

Born: December 30, 1937 (age 85)

CHICAGO (WICS/WICD) — Illinois and Bears great Dick
Butkus passed away on Thursday. 

The Chicago Bears confirmed the news of the passing.

The team said Butkus died in his sleep overnight at his
home in Malibu, California. 

In August 2001, Butkus underwent quintuple bypass
surgery to remove blockages in his arteries.