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The Origins and Early History of Professional Football

The Origins and Early History of Professional Football. 1892-1958. I. The Origins of Professional Football. First Professional Player --William “Pudge” Heffelfinger (1892) First contract signed (1893) First professional Black player (1904) Jim Thorpe goes pro (1913)

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The Origins and Early History of Professional Football

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  1. The Origins and Early History of Professional Football 1892-1958

  2. I. The Origins of Professional Football • First Professional Player --William “Pudge” Heffelfinger (1892) • First contract signed (1893) • First professional Black player (1904) • Jim Thorpe goes pro (1913) • Green Bay Packers are born (1919)

  3. II. Origins of the National Football League • Creation of the American Professional Football Conference (1920) • Member teams • Creation of the National Football League (1922) • Member teams • Marion Oorang Indians • The Significance of Red Grange to Professional Football

  4. III. The Growth of the NFL • Statistics and Rules During the 1930’s • Growing stability • NFL hits the TV screen • First NFL commissioner (1941) --Elmer Layden • Sammy Baugh • 2 1000-yard rushers in the same season (1949)

  5. IV. Exclusion of Blacks from Professional Football, 1934-1946 • A few Blacks played during the 1920’s and 1930’s --Robert “Rube” Marshall, Paul Robeson, Fritz Pollard, Joe Lillard • Denial of a racial ban by the owners --Art Rooney, George Halas, Tex Schramm

  6. IV. Exclusion of Black Players (cont.) • Racial Climate of the 1930’s • Organization of Black professional football teams • Reasons for absence of Black players from the NFL • Significance of WWII toward sports integration

  7. IV. Exclusion of Black Players (cont.) • New Leagues in 1944 --USFL --AAFC • The leverage of the Los Angeles Coliseum • Los Angeles Rams sign Kenny Washington (1946)

  8. IV. Exclusion of Black Players (cont.) • Paul Brown’s desire to integrate the NFL • Paul Brown’s background • Paul Brown’s innovations as a coach • The Black press and the desegregation of the NFL • Cleveland Browns set the example followed by other professional teams

  9. V. The Golden Years of the NFL • TV grows and Thorpe goes in early 1950’s • 1957 NFL Draft class • Jim Brown’s rushing record in 1958 • 1958 NFL Championship Game --Baltimore Colts defeat New York Giants, 23-17

  10. V. The Golden Years (cont.) • Vince Lombardi hired as Green Bay Packers Head Coach (1959) -- “Seven Blocks of Granite” • Lombardi’s Coaching Style • Establishment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (1961)

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