Rob Vanstone: Principal player in 1958 NFL classic concluded football career with Roughriders
A photo of Steve Myhra adorned the cover of Life magazine on Dec. 5, 1960.
Not even two years later, he was a Saskatchewan Roughrider.
Myhra’s time in the Canadian Football League consisted of a mere five games, but he is nonetheless one of the best-known players to have worn green and white.
The enduring fame stems from his time with the Baltimore Colts, who on Dec. 28, 1958 — 65 years ago today — posted a 23-17 overtime victory over the New York Giants in what has often been termed The Greatest Game Ever Played.
(OK, The Greatest Game was actually the 1989 Grey Cup, but whatever …)
Overtime became necessary when Myhra, then a second-year National Football League player, kicked a 20-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in regulation time.
Myhra’s clutch three-pointer was preceded by a 73-yard drive that had been engineered by quarterback Johnny Unitas, who subsequently handed off to Alan Ameche for the game-winning touchdown in overtime at Yankee Stadium.
Three more NFL seasons ensued for Myhra before he was released by the Colts on Sept. 11, 1962, when teams pared their rosters to 36 in advance of the regular season.
Myhra fielded overtures from the San Diego Chargers, then of the American Football League, before joining the Roughriders on Sept. 27, 1962.
The 6-foot-1, 245-pounder enjoyed an auspicious CFL debut, registering 10 points — courtesy of two field goals, three singles and one convert — as Saskatchewan defeated Edmonton 28-20 at Taylor Field on Oct. 8, 1962.
Just five days later, Myhra — starting at middle linebacker — made two interceptions in a 29-21 road victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders.
By then, as it turned out, Myhra had already exhausted his CFL quota of field goals and interceptions.
In five games with the Roughriders of 1962, he was 2-for-7 on field-goal attempts and 12-for-14 on converts.
He was waived by the Roughriders in the winter of 1963. Thus ended a professional football career that is notable for more than one kick — as memorable as it was.
Oddly enough, Myhra’s final season with Baltimore was his finest.
In 1961, he established what were then Colts single-season records for points (98) and field goals (21). The previous record in the latter category had been 10, set by Bert Rechichar in 1955.
Myhra’s career-long 52-yarder as time expired gave Baltimore a 34-33 victory over the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 1, 1961.
Three weeks later, Myhra split the uprights from 45 yards away with eight seconds left to give Baltimore a 17-14 victory over the Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium.
Minus Myhra, the Colts’ kicking was a rumour in 1962. Dick Bielski, a tight end, made only 11 of 25 field-goal attempts and moonlighting defensive back Wendell Harris was 1-for-3.
Even in Myhra’s absence, his name has long been linked to the Colts.
There was, as referenced earlier, the Life cover photo. He is shown charging toward the football, wearing No. 65 for Baltimore, near an overline that reads:
THE GREAT SPECTATOR SPORT
Pro Football Breaks Away for Big Gains
A list of other athletes who were pictured on the Life cover includes Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Nadia Comaneci, Joe DiMaggio, Ben Hogan, Mickey Mantle, Joe Namath and Jackie Robinson.
For Myhra, life after football was spent primarily in and around Fargo, N.D.
Born in Wahpeton, N.D., he attended the University of Minnesota and University of North Dakota before ascending to the NFL.
He has been enshrined in the UND Athletic Hall of Fame (1976) and North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame (2000).
Myhra was only 60 years old when he suffered a fatal heart attack on Aug. 4, 1994.
