1969 Mexico Golden Aztecs Team Logo

The Mexico Golden Aztecs played in the 1969, and last, season of the Continental Football League.  This league was formed in 1965 and was aimed at being a minor league system for the NFL and AFL.  With the NFL playing the occasional preseason game in Mexico, it may not be that long before we see another American professional football league team playing south of the border.

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Happy 4th Of July!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many football players throughout history have been described as explosive. Something else that can be described as explosive is the Fourth of July. It stands to reason that many players born on this most explosive day in American history also play pro football. Here we’ll be looking at the interesting facts surrounding NFL players that were born on America’s Independence Day.

-The player born on the Fourth of July that has accumulated more pass completions (609), passing yards (6,582), passing touchdowns (35), and interceptions (40), than Josh McCown.

-The NFL player born on the Fourth of July that played in more pro games than any other player born on that day is La’Roi Glover who continues to play this season.

-Two players are tied for the most Pro Bowl appearances by a player born on Independence Day, Erich Barnes and La’Roi Glover both appeared in six Pro Bowls.

-Frank Lewis, who played for the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1970s and early 1980s, holds most of the receiving records for players born on the Fourth of July. His 397 receptions, 6,724 receiving yards, and 40 touchdown receptions sit atop all other players. He even caught the longest pass, 92 yards, of any player born on the Fourth of July.

-Fullback Rick Casares holds the record for longest run from scrimmage of any player born on Independence Day at 81 yards. This is just one yard longer than the 80 yard run that longtime Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little had during their career.

-The longest pass thrown by a player born on the Fourth of July went for 68 yards and was thrown by former Oakland Raiders quarterback Todd Marinovich.

Current NFL Players Born On The Fourth Of July:
Stanford Keglar – Linebacker
Eric Weems – Wide Receiver
Brock Berlin – Quarterback
Will Smith – Defensive End
La’Roi Glover – Defensive Line
Clinton Smith – Running Back
Josh McCown – Quarterback

Other Notable NFL Players Born On The Fourth Of July:
Erich Barnes – Defensive Back
Rosey Taylor – Defensive Back
Frank Lewis – Wide Receiver
Bob Breunig – Linebacker
Rick Casares – Fullback
Emerson Boozer – Running Back
Steve Bush – Tight End
Floyd Little – Running Back
Derek Loville – Running Back
Charlie Clemons – Linebacker
Stu Clarkson – Linebacker/Center
Elbert Foules – Defensive Back
Jammi German – Wide Receiver
Bob Sherman – Defensive Back
Todd Marinovich – Quarterback

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Next, there are actually three players tied for first place in this category with an 81 yard pass successfully completed.

-The most recent time this happened was in 2003 when Pittsburgh Steelers punter Josh Miller faked a punt and completed an 81 yard touchdown pass to Chris Hope. For Hope, a defensive back and special teams player, this is his only career reception to date.

-This also happened in 1992 when Denver Broncos wide receiver Arthur Marshall completed an 81 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cedric Tillman.

-Gary Hammond, who saw time at both running back and wide receiver during his career, also accomplished this feat. His pass took place in a 1974 game for the St. Louis Cardinals when he hooked up for an 81 yard pass with tight end Jackie Smith.

One of these three passes is actually the answer to a really obscure question. What non-quarterback threw the longest career pass that did not result in a touchdown. That would be Gary Hammond as after 81 yards, Jackie Smith was not able to get into the end zone.

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-Walter Payton’s #34 jersey is famous in NFL history. During his career he attempted 34 passes as well, completing 11 of them. While his completion percentage is not too impressive, his completed passes did average over 30 yards per catch. These 34 passing attempts are also the most of any non-quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

-The non-quarterback who has thrown for the most yards since 1970 is Hall of Fame running back and Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton who threw for 331 yards as a result of his 11 career completions.

-Walter Payton also has thrown for more touchdowns, eight, than any other non-quarterback since 1970. Close behind Payton though with seven career touchdown passes is San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

-The player who didn’t play quarterback but threw for the most interceptions in their career is also Walter Payton. During his career he threw six interceptions.

-During the 1983 season Walter Payton threw three touchdown passes.

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Let’s take a look at those romantic players who were born on Valentine’s Day!

-Two quarterbacks sit atop the list of players born on Valentine’s Day who have made the most Pro Bowls, Drew Bledsoe and Jim Kelly each played in four NFL Pro Bowls.

-No player born on Valentine’s Day has thrown for more passing touchdowns in their career than Drew Bledsoe who from 1993 to 2006 racked up 251 touchdowns passes. Bledsoe also hold a number of other records for players born on the most romantic day of the year including most passing attempts (6,717), most pass completions (3,839), most passing yards (44,611), longest touchdown pass thrown (86 yards), and most times sacked (467).

-Offensive lineman Jeff Dellenbach who played 15 years in the NFL, mostly for the Miami Dolphins, holds the record for most games played in the NFL by a player born on Valentine’s Day with 211.

-The career leader in rushing touchdowns for a player born on Valentine’s Day is actually a quarterback. During his career with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, Steve McNair ran for 37 touchdowns. McNair also leads in the category of career rushing yards for a player born on Valentine’s Day with 3,590.

-The longest pass reception ever by a player born on Valentine’s Day was 93 yards and was caught by the Oakland Raiders‘ Dobie Craig in 1963.

-No player born on Valentine’s Day caught more touchdown passes than wide receiver Jeff Graham who racked up 30 career TDs while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Diego Chargers.

Current NFL players who were born on Valentine’s Day:
Justin Harrell – Defensive Tackle – Green Bay Packers
Justin Miller – Defensive Back – Oakland Raiders
Tank Tyler – Defensive Tackle – Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Ramsey – Quarterback – Denver Broncos
David Garrard – Quarterback – Jacksonville Jaguars

Notable NFL players born on Valentine’s Day
Jeff Dellenbach – Offensive Lineman
Drew Bledsoe – Quarterback
Derrick Brilz – Offensive Lineman
Steve McNair – Quarterback
Jim Kelly – Quarterback
Jeff Graham – Wide Receiver
Larry Seiple – Tight End/Halfback
Lionel Aldridge – Defensive End
John Anderson – Linebacker
Roy Barker – Defensive Lineman
Dan Lewis – Halfback/Fullback
Lance Mehl – Linebacker
Lonnie Johnson – Tight End
Harry Colon – Defensive Back
Morris Owens – Wide Receiver
Courtney Brown – Defensive End
Kenny Shedd – Wide Receiver
David Garrard – Quarterback
Patrick Ramsey – Quarterback
Herman Hunter – Running Back
Derrick Witherspoon – Running Back
Anthony Wright – Quarterback

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Two point conversion are rare in the NFL, it is especially rare to score more than one two point conversion in one season. In 1998, Steelers wide receiver Charles Johnson did just that though. Over the course of that season he scored on two two-point conversion plays. As amazing as that was, it is one of the all time great Steelers wide receivers that sits above him. In 2002, Hines Ward scored on three two-point conversion plays during the season. Another amazing way that Ward has worked his way into the Steelers record books.

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-No player in NFL history has scored more touchdowns than former NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice. This would make Rice the leader in touchdowns scored from players born in Mississippi. Who has scored the fewest touchdowns but still leads their state in touchdowns scored? Phil Sarboe scored two touchdowns in his NFL career, no player from Alaska has scored more touchdowns than him.

-Players from Texas have scored more NFL touchdowns than players from any other state.

-Texas also has more football players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than any other state. Pennsylvania is a very close second place.

-14 states in the USA have never produced a Hall of Fame player: Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Here is a list of every state, and what player born in that state has scored more NFL touchdowns than any other player born in that state.

Alabama – Terrell Owens
Alaska – Phil Sarboe
Arizona – Amos Marsh
Arkansas – Don Hutson
Califorina – Marcus Allen
Colorado – Dutch Clark
Connecticut – Joe Horn
Delaware – Tim Wilson
Florida – Emmitt Smith
Georgia – Jim Brown
Hawaii – Arnold Morgado
Idaho – Merril Hoge
Illinois – Bill Brown
Indiana – Mark Clayton
Iowa – Roger Craig
Kansas – John Riggins
Kentucky – Shaun Alexander
Louisiana – Marshall Faulk
Maine – Thurlow Cooper
Maryland – Chuck Foreman
Massachusetts – Don McCauley
Michigan – Jerome Bettis
Minnesota – Dave Casper
Mississippi – Jerry Rice
Missouri – James Wilder
Montana – Frank Akins
Nebraska – Ahman Green
Nevada – Max McGee
New Hampshire – Greg Landry
New Jersey – Franco Harris
New Mexico – Tommy McDonald
New York – Art Monk
North Carolina – Torry Holt
North Dakota – Pete Retzlaff
Ohio – Cris Carter
Oklahoma – Steve Largent
Oregon – Jerry Smith
Pennsylvania – Marvin Harrison
Rhode Island – Tom Mitchell
South Carolina – Stanley Morgan
South Dakota – Pug Manders
Tennessee – James Stewart
Texas – LaDainian Tomlinson
Utah – Steve Young
Virginia – Tiki Barber
Vermont – Jim Laird
Washington – Corey Dillon
West Virginia – Randy Moss
Wisconsin – Elroy Hirsch
Wyoming – Jack Snow
Washington DC – Brian Westbrook

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As you recover from the New Year’s Eve festivities, we at IQFB.com are going to take a look at the many former pro football players born on New Year’s Day. There are indeed some unique football facts related to these gentlemen.

-Doak Walker, the Hall of Fame halfback of the early 1950s Detroit Lions, holds the record for most touchdown passes thrown by anyone born on January 1st. During his NFL career he threw two touchdown passes. His career 75 yards passing is also a record for players born on New Year’s Day.

-When it comes to receiving statistics put up by players who were born on New Year’s Day, the player holding the record for the most touchdown receptions is two time Pro-Bowler and lontime Chicago Bears receiver Dick Gordon who racked up 36 receiving TDs during his ten year career. At 93 yards, Gordon also holds the record for longest career reception by a player born on January 1st.

-David Hill who played tight end from 1976 to 1987 for both the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams put up more career receiving yards, with 4,212, than any other player born on New Year’s Day.

-When we look at rushing statistics, Hall of Famer Doak Walker is back at the top of a couple of categories for players born on January 1st. He scored more touchdowns (12), carried the ball more times (309), and ran for more yards (1,520) than any other player born on New Year’s Day.

-Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, who played from 1989 to 1999, holds the record for most Pro Bowl appearances by a player born on the first day of the year. During his eleven year career, he made the Pro Bowl nine times.

-The longest run from scrimmage by a player born on New Year’s Day is 54 yards and was done by wide receiver Billy Parks in 1971 during his rookie season with the San Diego Chargers.

-Andy Heck, an offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins from 1989 to 2000 played in more NFL games (185) than any other player born on New Year’s Day.

Current players in the NFL who were born on New Year’s Day:
Steve Johnson – Wide Receiver – Buffalo Bills
Jon Corto – Linebacker – Buffalo Bills
Alex Hall – Defensive End – Cleveland Browns
William Gay – Defensive Back – Pittsburgh Steelers
Ray Edwards – Defensive End – Minnesota Vikings
Stephen Tulloch – Linebacker – Tennessee Titans

Other notable players born on New Year’s Day
Andy Heck – Offensive Line
Lance Smith – Offensive Line
Bob Brudzinski – Linebacker
David Hill – Tight End
Derrick Thomas – Linebacker
Marlin McKeever – Linebacker/Tight End
Irv Eatman – Offensive Tackle
Kevin Mitchell – Linebacker
Harry Galbreath – Offensive Line
Frank Minnifield – Defensive Back
Dick Gordon – Wide Receiver
Pierce Holt – Defensive Line
Carl Birdsong – Punter
Doak Walker – Halfback/Defensive Back
Justin Armour – Wide Receiver
Chet Brooks – Defensive Back

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About a month ago we took a look at interesting facts involving players born on Thanksgiving, today we’ll take a look at some of the little known info regarding NFL players born on Christmas Day. It’s bad enough that they have to share their birthday with everyone else, but occasionally some of them have had to spend their birthday and Christmas on the football field.

-The most career NFL games played by any player born on Christmas is 184, this was accomplished by legendary Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken “The Snake” Stabler.

-Ken Stabler also threw for more yards (27,938) and touchdowns (194) than any other player born on Christmas Day.

-No player born on Christmas caught more passes (360) for more yards (5,619) and more receiving touchdowns (44) during their career than Wide Receiver / Tight End Dave Parks who split his career between the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints, before ending it with one final year with the Houston Oilers.

-The player who scored more rushing touchdowns (64) and put up more rushing yards (8,081) than any other player born on Christmas is Hall of Fame running back Larry Csonka.

-Running back Larry Csonka, who spent his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, played in more NFL Pro Bowl games than any other player born on Christmas.

Current NFL player born on Christmas Day:
Marcus Trufant – Defensive Back – Seattle Seahawks
Limas Sweek – Wide Receiver – Pittsburgh Steelers
Thomas Williams – Linebacker – Jacksonville Jaguars

Other notable NFL players that were born on Christmas Day:
Chris Naeole – Offensive Line
Corey Widmer – Defensive Line
Hanford Dixon – Defensive Back
William Andrews – Running Back
Ken Stabler – Quarterback
Larry Csonka – Running Back
Howard Twilley – Wide Receiver
Bob Scholtz – Offensive Line

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Most of this information is only available for players playing since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

-No non-quarterback has completed more passes in the NFL since 1970 than former Pittsburgh Steelers and current Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El. This should be no surprise considering that in college he played quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers football team.

-The non-quarterback who has thrown the most passes (34), thrown for the most passing yards (331), thrown the most touchdowns (8), and thrown the most interceptions (6) since 1970 is Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.

-Three players are tied for the longest career pass thrown by a non-quarterback. Gary Hammond, Arthur Marshall, and Josh Miller have all completed 81 yard passes during their careers.

-A number of players who don’t play quarterback have a 100% completion percentage because they’ve only attempted and completed one pass during their career. There are even a number of players that have a 100% completion percentage and have thrown more than one pass. But, how many non-quarterbacks have a 100% completion percentage, have completed more than one pass, and all of their completed passes have gone for touchdowns? The answer is three, they are:

Arthur Marshall – 2 for 2 with two touchdowns
Kevin Lockett – 2 for 2 with two touchdowns
Curtis Martin – 2 for 2 with two touchdowns

-Marcus Allen has been sacked more times than any other non-quarterback, during his career with the Raiders and Chiefs he was sacked six times.

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