Gridiron America Radio

The 1972 Miami Dolphins were getting antsy. Their title as the league's only undefeated team was in jeopardy. With just three games left in the 1998 season, the 13-0 Denver Broncos played relentlessly and boasted a Hall of Fame talent in exactly the right spot. At quarterback, 38-year-old John Elway played with the joy of an athlete in the prime of his career. Plus, star tailback Terrell Davis was on his way to becoming just the fourth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season. Add to this mix the Orange Crush defense, and the Broncos believed they had the stuff for an unbeaten season. But it wasn't to be. The New York Giants upset the Broncos in Week 15. Still, Denver didn't allow the letdown affect them for very long. The Broncos may not have matched the '72 Dolphins, but they did wallop the '98 Dolphins and the Jets in the playoffs en route to Super Bowl XXXIII. There, John Elway won MVP honors in his final game, throwing for 336 yards as Denver won back-to-back world titles. 

This documentary chronicles a team which posted the NFL's best regular-season record before losing in the NFC Championship Game. Their story is told by former head coach Dennis Green, wide receiver Cris Carter, and defensive tackle John Randle.

By 1997, there was little else for John Elway to prove. Entering his 15th NFL season, the Denver quarterback was in third place in most major passing categories, behind only Dan Marino and Fran Tarkenton, and had made the two-minute offense into his own personal playground. But something was missing from Elway's resume: a Super Bowl ring. The Broncos no longer relied on Elway to win games by himself. Terrell Davis, a former sixth-round draft choice, led the AFC in rushing with 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns. The defense, led by Steve Atwater and Pro Bowl newcomer Neil Smith, had plenty of star power. Even better, head coach Mike Shanahan was considered one of the most innovative minds in the NFL. Denver finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, and then won three playoff games as a wild card entry to reach Super Bowl XXXII. There, against the defending champion Green Bay Packers, Elway captured that elusive championship.

Scott and Greg put on their parachute pants and fire up the Commodore 64 as they sit down with prolific sports author Jeff Pearlman to talk about the United States Football League and stories from his book, "Football for a Buck," about the wild times of a league that left us way to soon and whose impact has gone beyond the field and with us still today, be it in the form of an attempted coup or the two point conversion.  We do discuss, albeit briefly, the topic of the new Fox Sports league coming in 2022 that is planning on using the USFL's logos and names. During the conversation Scott represented his Birmingham Stallions, and Greg his Chicago Blitz, as Jeff tells tales of a league that, had the owners not listened to one thinned skinned man and foolishly sued the NFL and put a drunk Howard Cosell on the witness stand, at least a few of the teams might still be around today, except for teams like definitely neither the New Jersey Generals or "the Gunslingers of San Antoin..."  The book, as Jeff tells it, was inspired by a high school term paper project, which goes to show that no matter our age, football truly is a sport that keeps all of us fans forever young.

The Lombardi Trophy was on its way back to Lombardi Country. Vince Lombardi's Packers won Super Bowls I and II in the mid-1960s by playing with confidence and faith. Nearly 30 years later, Green Bay's 1996 team, led by coach Mike Holmgren, used those same virtues to carry the franchise to its third Super Bowl title. Holmgren was known for his intensity on game days, and an ability to mentor quarterbacks, qualities that would serve him well with the Packers. By '96, Holmgren had molded Brett Favre into an NFL MVP who could use his West Coast system in spectacular fashion. Statistically speaking, the Packers had never played better. Led by Favre and All-Pro defensive end Reggie White, Green Bay tied a franchise record for wins, led the league in scoring, and gave up the fewest points. But on a team renowned for its star power, it was return man Desmond Howard -- considered a disappointment in the pros at that point - who made the greatest impact against New England in Super Bowl XXXI. Yes, there was a 29-year wait between celebrations. But in Titletown, U.S.A., it was worth it.

Dominance in the NFL starts at the very top. There have been only five NFL dynasties during the Super Bowl era -- four of them were forged by the vision of a single head coach. The 1995 Dallas Cowboys were the exception. They won their third world championship of the 1990s under new leadership in Barry Switzer. Despite being without Jimmy Johnson, who had led the Cowboys to two Lombardi Trophies, and being burdened with free agent losses, off-the-field distractions and injuries, Dallas was determined to capture its third title in four years. The Cowboys overcame these obstacles thanks largely to the stellar play of "the Triplets" -- Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin -- and the acquisition of a fourth superstar, All-Pro cornerback Deion Sanders. Still, it was the player opposite Sanders who made the biggest impact in Super Bowl XXX. Cornerback Larry Brown became one of the unlikeliest MVPs in Super Bowl history, intercepting two passes in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. At last, Dallas was a dynasty.

Prior to the 1994 season, quarterback Steve Young had already enjoyed great success in the NFL. A two-time All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers, Young was considered one of the NFL's most nimble and accurate passers. But Niners fans felt differently about him. In their estimation, Young had a flaw that was difficult to overcome: He wasn't Joe Montana. Montana led San Francisco to four Super Bowl victories. Young, as the starter, had yet to win one. So the team was determined to build a champion around their talented quarterback in '94. The front office went on a shopping spree in the free agent market, landing, among others, superstar cornerback Deion Sanders. Those additions -- and a career year from Young -- helped put the team in the same class as any of the 49er clubs from Montana's era. San Francisco went 13-3 to earn home-field advantage in the playoffs, where it swept past the Chicago Bears, and its chief rival, the Dallas Cowboys, to reach Super Bowl XXIX. There, Young surpassed his legendary predecessor with a record-breaking performance against the San Diego Chargers. 

Talent is a cure-all in the NFL. That's the lesson of the 1993 Dallas Cowboys. That season, the Cowboys were saddled with injuries, a key holdout, and tension between the owner and head coach. But Dallas overcame all those distractions thanks largely to the star power of its roster. For starters, the Dallas "Triplets" were in their primes. Quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin were among the best at their positions. In all, 11 Cowboys were named to the Pro Bowl, including eight on offense. Still, the Cowboys got off to a discouraging start, losing their first two games while Smith sat out due to a contract dispute. From there, Smith got his new deal, and the team had new life. Dallas became the first team to begin a year 0-2 and go on to win a Super Bowl. Join NFL Films as they retell the story of the '93 Cowboys, a club that never succumbed to controversy. 

In 1992, many pundits felt that the Dallas Cowboys were too young to contend for a Super Bowl title. But head coach Jimmy Johnson and team knew otherwise. The Cowboys set out to prove they were already a force to be reckoned with. And so they did. Dallas shined thanks in part to its "Triplets" on offense: quarterback Troy Aikman, receiver Michael Irvin, and the NFL's leading rusher, Emmitt Smith. The defense was just as impressive. Linebacker Ken Norton Jr. and pass rusher Charles Haley inspired a stingy unit to become a championship-caliber one by the playoffs. The Cowboys then peaked at the right time, beating the 49ers in an epic NFC Championship Game in San Francisco, and dominating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. 

In 1991, Joe Gibbs took note of Mark Rypien's ability to throw an accurate, deep pass which, combined with the speed of wide receivers Art Monk, Ricky Sanders and Gary Clark, helped lead the Redskins to victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.  The story of Super Bowl XXVI champion Washington Redskins. Featuring interviews with head coach Joe Gibbs, Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, and defensive lineman Charles Mann. Narrated by Donald Sutherland.

This audio documentary focuses on the team that was defined by a missed 47-yard field goal that kept them from winning the big one in Tampa. Bills fans know the story of the team's rise from oblivion in the 1970s and 1980s to AFC superpower in the 1990s, when it lost four Super Bowls in a row. But even knowing the downer ending, the hour special narrated by Alec Baldwin manages to be suspenseful, humorous and loaded with history lessons. Much of the entertainment is supplied by former Bills linebacker Darryl Talley, the self-proclaimed Rodney Dangerfield of the defense who always got media respect for being a quote machine. Early on, Talley recalled the dark days of the Bills, when the team was the target of knock-knock jokes. When asked who was there, the answer would be "Owen. Like 0-8." Whether he is explaining his nickname for quarterback Jim Kelly (Heathcliff), what he would have called the Bickering Bills or envisioning coach Marv Levy charming aliens, Talley is a super entertainer.  "If we had aliens on this planet," praised Talley, "I bet Marv could sit down and talk to them."

When Phil Simms sprained his foot against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, an unproven Jeff Hostetler was thrust to the forefront. Hostetler exceeded expectations by winning four straight starts, including two playoff games, to reach Super Bowl® XXV. Veteran Otis Anderson, a fill-in for the hobbled Rodney Hampton, rushed for 102 yards as New York beat Buffalo, 20-19, in one of the most thrilling Super Bowls ever.

What's the best way to replace a coaching legend? Quietly. When Bill Walsh retired from the San Francisco 49ers following the 1988 season, the team opted not to sign a big name as his successor. Instead, the organization stayed in-house, hiring defensive coordinator George Seifert. It was perfect casting. The stoic Seifert promptly led the team to new heights in his first year on the job. The 49ers were already a dynasty, winning three Super Bowls over the decade, so Seifert wasn't pressed to make any great changes. The team's West Coast offense then kept humming along. Joe Montana completed over 70 percent of his passes, a personal best, while throwing to one of the NFL's greatest receiving tandems: Jerry Rice and John Taylor. The 49ers were a force against the pass as well, with Charles Haley leading the defense with 10.5 sacks. Blessed with all that firepower, the Niners went 14-2 during the regular season, and then rolled through the playoffs to reach Super Bowl XXIV. There, San Francisco was at its best on both sides of the ball against the Denver Broncos. 

The story of the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals, considered one of the best teams to fall just short of winning a Super Bowl. Featuring interviews with quarterback Boomer Esiason, head coach Sam Wyche, and defensive lineman Tim Krumrie. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright.

A world championship was at stake, and the San Francisco 49ers were in a panic. Trailing 16-13 late in Super Bowl XXIII, the offense was 92 yards away from a championship. It was a moment for legends. Bit by bit, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana marched the 49ers the length of the field. His 10-yard scoring strike to John Taylor with 34 ticks left on the clock lifted the Niners to a third Super Bowl title. The drive was a culmination of a season's worth of execution, raw athleticism, and tenacity for the '88 49ers. Despite a quarterback controversy and a 6-5 start, the team never lost their focus.