Viewpoint A Review of the NFL’s Growth in the United States: Which Games Made the Biggest Difference?

The growth of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States of America has been frequently documented in the literature (Oriard 1993; Burton, 1999a) but little has been done to explore the social or cultural impact of specific historic games. These contests, such as the Baltimore Colts ’ sudden death victory over the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship, not only produced dramatic winners on the field but also frequently initiated notable change in American society. Certain games showcased football’s perceived importance to America’s well-being such as the Sunday immediately following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, listening to the advice of numerous dignitaries, authorised the playing of NFL Games. Other contests helped establish regular radio and television audiences or made particular days of the week or holidays, such as Monday night or Thanksgiving, more important. Finally, but not least among these games, certain Super Bowl contests helped establish that championship as one of America’s largest ‘holidays ’ for television viewing and advertising significance. While there is always room for researched debate, the purpose of this study is to attempt to identify the most important NFL games as they relate to sport, business and society. It will not attempt to rank them in significance but rather to comprehensively present the League’s most dramatic contests based on their off-the-field relevance. Given that professional football, including the NFL, NFL Europe, various World Bowls, is now a multi-billion dollar, multicultural phenomenon, it stands to reason certain games have been the building blocks for the NFL’s growth and current position as America’s most popular sport