Gary Collins, the pride of Williamstown, Pa., makes history 54 years ago today by scoring the first points in the first Monday Night Football game.
Collins’ moment comes at 7:04 of the first quarter as he catches an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cleveland quarterback Bill Nelson to give the Browns a 6-0 lead in their 31-21 victory over the New York Jets at Cleveland’s old Municipal Stadium.
Collins, who plays collegiately at the University of Maryland, spends 10 seasons with the Cleveland Browns from 1962-71.
He finishes his career with 331 total receptions for 5,299 yards and 70 touchdowns.
Collins catches another 19 passes in seven career postseason games with five TDs – three coming in the Browns’ 27-0 victory over the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL championship game.
Arguably, Collins’ most memorable catch – at least the one most talked about in bar bets – remains the one he makes 54 years ago tonight.