JFK 50 Years Later: The NFL’s Darkest Weekend

SI Staff | Nov 20, 2013

JFK 50 Years Later: The NFL’s Darkest Weekend

The Kennedys were famed for their touch football games, which brought a spirit of youthful fitness to the nation’s highest office. (Paul Schutzer/Time-Life Pictures/Getty Images)

The Kennedys were famed for their touch football games, which brought a spirit of youthful fitness to the nation’s highest office. (Paul Schutzer/Time-Life Pictures/Getty Images)

A 10-year-old John F. Kennedy (bottom right, legs crossed) suited up for the Dexter School in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/ HO courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library)

A 10-year-old John F. Kennedy (bottom right, legs crossed) suited up for the Dexter School in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo/ HO courtesy of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library)

At Choate Hall prep school in Wallingford, Conn., in 1928, Kennedy (kneeling, second from right) played left end and tackle for the junior boys. (Bettman/CORBIS)

At Choate Hall prep school in Wallingford, Conn., in 1928, Kennedy (kneeling, second from right) played left end and tackle for the junior boys. (Bettman/CORBIS)

The 1936 Harvard freshman team, with JFK, third row, third from left. (AP)

The 1936 Harvard freshman team, with JFK, third row, third from left. (AP)

Kennedy flips the coin before the 1961 Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. (AP)

Kennedy flips the coin before the 1961 Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. (AP)

After sitting on the Cadet side for the first half, the president was escorted across the field to sit among the Midshipmen for the second half of the ’61 Army-Navy game.

After sitting on the Cadet side for the first half, the president was escorted across the field to sit among the Midshipmen for the second half of the ’61 Army-Navy game

Watching Army-Navy at Philadelphia Stadium. The venue, which hosted the service academy showdown from 1936 to ’79, was renamed John F. Kennedy Stadium in 1964. (AP)

Watching Army-Navy at Philadelphia Stadium. The venue, which hosted the service academy showdown from 1936 to ’79, was renamed John F. Kennedy Stadium in 1964. (AP)