Football Attic

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week I interview my father, a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles Fan.

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

Since today is Christmas Day, I thought it would be fitting to spend today's episode looking back on the first National Football League games to be played on Christmas, and the circumstances that led to those games being the only ones of their kind for almost 20 years. Today, we're going back to 1971.

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

Today, we're going to talk about another one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history: the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. That defense allowed only 165 points in the regular season, less than even the 1985 Bears and the 1972 Dolphins. Just like those two teams, the Ravens won the Super Bowl that year, but with a competent offense, they could have joined the '72 Dolphins by going undefeated. Instead, they finished 12-4. You'll hear why shortly.

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

Today, we're going to talk about one of the greatest NFL defenses in recent memory, one that doesn't get its fair remembrance due to a lack of Hall of Famers and a lack of playoff wins. That would be the New Orleans Saints' defense of the late 1980s and early 90s, particularly the linebacking corps, who earned the moniker of the "Dome Patrol."

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode covers a little about the history of college football on Black Friday.

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

Since a certain holiday is this Thursday, it seemed right to tell a story involving the National Football League on Thanksgiving, one of America's great traditions. Today, we're going to talk about a game that put the "turkey" in Turkey Day, but also left a big impact on the NFL: a 1968 clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. This episode will focus more so on the Eagles, and how they sabotaged their own chances for a #1 draft pick.

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

EPISODE SUMMARY

The 1992 San Diego Chargers season was not a normal one. They made the playoffs for the first time in awhile, so it should have been great, right? You'll see. Just listen.

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

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

FOOTBALL ATTIC BACKGROUND

My name is John Gidley, and as I’m looking on my bookshelf, I see a lot of books about the National Football League.

There’s a book about the 72 Dolphins, one about the 85 Bears, another about the Immaculate Reception. Let’s be honest with ourselves, though: how many times have we heard these stories?

Where are the tales of the men who aren’t as prominent? Stories of the dominant Washington team of 1991, or of the stonewall defense of the 1977 Atlanta Falcons, or of the days when the Philadelphia Eagles wore white helmets? Well, there’s only one place to find those, right here in the Football Attic.

Each week, I’ll tell you about games, players, coaches, and teams who aren’t necessarily forgotten but are not as well-known as they should be. This isn’t just a podcast for those whose memory will be jogged by these retellings.

I’m 22 years old, and I’m an advocate for a greater historical perspective among younger NFL fans. So come join me as I take my weekly trip upstairs into the Football Attic. Just be sure to watch your step!

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

To learn more about this episode, head here to the website.

Football Attic is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

To learn more about this episode, head here to the website.