Legends of the NFL's "Greatest Game Ever"
On the fiftieth anniversary of the historic Colts Giants NFL Championship game, TIME takes a look at the roster of players, coaches, referees and announcers who helped turn pro football from a niche sport into the true national pastime
The Football Game that Changed It All
On December 28, 1958, at an icy Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23-17, to win the NFL championship. Back then, pro football was just a niche sport, but the "Greatest Game Ever" changed everything, setting it on a path to become the most successful pro sport in America. It was the first NFL game to go into sudden death overtime, and featured 12 players and three coaches who were bound for the Hall of Fame. Most importantly, the dramatic contest was broadcast to a national television audience, and ever since then football and the small screen have enjoyed a near-perfect marriage. Here's a look at some lasting legends of football's "Greatest Game Ever."
View the full list for "Legends of the NFL's "Greatest Game Ever""Latest Lists
Most Popular »
- The '00s: Goodbye (at Last) to the Decade From Hell
- The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting
- How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time
- Obama's 'Mistakes': Way Too Early to Judge
- In Italy, A Sex Scandal to Rival Berlusconi's
- Satyam Computer Fraud Grows to $2.5 Billion
- Germany's Doubts About Afghanistan Grow After Revelations About Air Strike
- Black Friday
- Will Dubai's Financial Problems Spread Around the Globe?
- Pie
- The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting
- The '00s: Goodbye (at Last) to the Decade From Hell
- How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time
- Is Gene Therapy Finally Ready for Prime Time?
- The Gospel of Glee: Is It Anti-Christian?
- Workers of the World vs. China Inc.
- Obama's 'Mistakes': Way Too Early to Judge
- In Italy, A Sex Scandal to Rival Berlusconi's
- Dearborn's Muslims Fear a Fort Hood Backlash
- Satyam Computer Fraud Grows to $2.5 Billion
RSS