The Story And Significance Of Red Grange To Professional Football

Harold Edward "Red" Grange nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost" and "The Wheaton Iceman", was an American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League.

Grange played for the team from 1923 to 1925. In his first collegiate football game, he scored three touchdowns against Nebraska. In seven games as a sophomore, he ran for 723 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, and led Illinois to an undefeated season and the Helms Athletic Foundation national championship. His younger brother Garland also played football for the school.

He drew national attention for his performance in the October 18, 1924, game against Michigan, in the grand opening game of the new Memorial Stadium, built as a memorial to Illini students and alumni who had served in World War I. The Michigan Wolverines entered the game as favorites, having won a national title the previous year. Grange returned the opening kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown and scored three more touchdowns on runs of 67, 56, and 44 yards in the first 12 minutes, the last three in less than seven minutes. On his next carry, he ran 56 yards for yet another touchdown. In the second half, Grange scored a fifth touchdown on an 11-yard run and also threw a touchdown pass. On defense, he intercepted two passes.

Considering Grange's popularity, rumors began surrounding his future after completing his senior year, including professional football and acting. A petition was also created to convince him to run for the Republican Party's at-large nomination for the 70th United States Congress; although he was only 22 years old at the time, supporters argued he would be within six months of the minimum age of 25 when the Congress opened in December 1927. Despite the speculation, Grange and those connected with him tried to dodge any inquiries that might affect his college athlete eligibility; when approached about a career in pro football, he denied it. He also turned down a potential college coaching career owing to low pay.

In his 20-game college career, Grange ran for 3,362 yards, caught 14 passes for 253 yards, and completed 40 of 82 passes for 575 yards. Of his 31 touchdowns, 16 were from at least 20 yards, with nine from more than 50 yards. He scored at least one touchdown in every game he played but the Nebraska game. He earned All-America recognition three consecutive years and appeared on the cover of Time on October 5, 1925.

After the 1925 Ohio State game, Grange formally announced his intention to sign with the Bears, but other NFL teams also expressed interest in signing him. The Rochester Jeffersons made a last-ditch effort to sign him at a salary of $5,000 per game, but were unable to do so, a key factor in the team's demise. The New York Giants also reportedly offered $40,000 to him, a claim denied by team executive Harry March while owner Tim Mara noted the NFL did not allow college players to sign with teams and also had limits on how much money a team could offer. Still, Mara visited Chicago the same day that Grange signed with the Bears and secured a game against them in December.

On November 22, he formally hired Pyle as his agent and signed with the Bears. The contract earned him a salary and share of gate receipts that amounted to $100,000, during an era when typical league salaries were less than $100/game. Prior to joining his new teammates, he attended the Bears' game against the Green Bay Packers at Cubs Park, a game they won 21–0. Former Yale player Tim Callahan also announced he had secured Grange for a December Florida league he had organized.

Grange is the last player to play both college football and in the NFL in the same season. In 1926, the NFL passed the "Red Grange Rule" to forbid further players from doing the same, along with requiring NFL hopefuls' graduating classes to have left college, though both clauses would be tested in various instances. In 1930, the Bears signed Notre Dame fullback Joe Savoldi although he had withdrawn from school and been kicked off the team, a violation of the Grange Rule's graduating class prerequisite. The Bears argued that since Savoldi had been expelled, he was technically no longer a member of his Class of 1931; the team would be fined $1,000 for each game Savoldi played in. The NFL also maintained the rule prohibiting players from appearing in college and NFL games in the same season when TCU running back Kenneth Davis attempted to join the league after being suspended one game into his senior year in 1986.

Grange made his NFL debut on November 26, Thanksgiving Day, against the Chicago Cardinals. With only three days of practice in the Bears' T formation (he had played in the single wing offense in college), he recorded 92 rushing yards and an interception in the scoreless tie. A crowd of 40,000 attended the game. In the next game against the Columbus Tigers, he threw a touchdown pass and recorded 171 yards as the Bears won 14–7. Shortly after, Britton signed with the Bears, reuniting him with Grange.

In December, the Bears' schedule grew with eight games between December 2 and 13, including three against local all-star teams. The first game, against the Donnelly All-Stars at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, saw Grange score four touchdowns in a 39–6 blowout. On December 5, he scored two touchdowns including the game-winner against the Frankford Yellow Jackets. The next day, between 65,000 and 73,000 people showed up at the Polo Grounds to watch Grange, helping save the Giants' franchise from financial debt. Grange scored a touchdown on a 35-yard interception return in the Bears' 19–7 victory. Offensively, he ran for 53 yards on 11 carries, caught a 23-yard pass, and completed two of three passes for 32 yards. Before their next game against a Washington, D.C. all-star team, Pyle and Grange elected to remain in New York to promote themselves, receiving various endorsements. 
After a December and January tour, Pyle approached George Halas and Dutch Sternaman about buying an interest in the Bears, but was turned down. In response, he and Grange attempted to form their own team, the New York Yankees, and gain entry into the NFL. Although they acquired a five-year lease to play at Yankee Stadium, Mara intervened as he felt the Yankees infringed on his Giants' territorial rights.

To challenge the NFL, Grange and Pyle formed the nine-team American Football League. Wilson, who had been approached by Pyle about becoming his client, joined the league as a member of the Wildcats, while Grange's Bears teammates Mohardt and Joey Sternaman played for the Chicago Bulls. In 1926, the Yankees went 9–5 to finish second in the standings.

After the season, the team embarked on a ten-game barnstorming tour to Texas and California alongside Wilson's Wildcats. In late December, in what Grange wrote was "about the only memorable part of the tour", he and his teammates were arrested in Dallas for disturbing the peace and reportedly being intoxicated, the latter of which the group denied; Grange explained the incident transpired when the team visited a hotel at 4 AM after being recommended the spot as a nightlife location by a local policeman. After the players were ordered by the hotel manager to leave the lobby for the noise they were creating, the police confronted them, including throwing teammate Pooley Hubert in an argument. They were eventually arrested and jailed, but were released after paying $10 as they had to play a game in Beaumont that day.

The AFL shut down after one season and the Yankees were added to the NFL. On October 17, 1927, the Yankees were shut out 12–0 by the Bears in Chicago. With a minute remaining in the game, Grange suffered a severe knee injury when he was hit by center George Trafton while trying to catch a pass from Eddie Tryon. As he landed, Grange's cleat caught in the field, causing him to twist his knee when Trafton fell on him. Revealed to be a torn tendon, he underwent a diathermy to treat it after water started to form. The injury ultimately affected Grange's speed and running ability, though he remained serviceable for the rest of his career. "After it happened, I was just another halfback," Grange commented.

Four weeks after the Bears game, Grange returned against the Cardinals at quarterback to honor his contract. Although his injury worsened, the Yankees won 20–6 and he ultimately finished the season. After the year, he and the Yankees participated in another barnstorming tour against West Coast teams led by Wilson and Benny Friedman. Grange explained his decision to keep playing in his autobiography: "At the young age of twenty-four, I refused to believe that I couldn't bounce back to my old form. I was positive I could play myself back into shape. But those additional games only served to further aggravate my condition and, when the tour was ended, it became apparent I had done irreparable damage to the knee.

The contract between Pyle and Grange expired in January 1928, but Grange decided not to renew due to his injury and withdrew his stake in the Yankees. Without Grange, the Yankees went 4–8–1 before shutting down for financial reasons. Grange missed the entire 1928 season before returning to the Bears for 1929.

The two highlights of Grange's later NFL years came in consecutive championship games. In the unofficial 1932 championship, Grange caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Bronko Nagurski. It was argued the pass was illegal. In the 1933 championship, Grange made a touchdown-saving tackle that saved the game and the title for the Bears.
He was a very modest person, who insisted that even the ordinary plumber or electrician knows more about his craft than he does. He said he could not explain how he did what he did on the field of play, and that he just followed his instincts.

Upon ending his playing career in 1934, Grange became the backfield coach for the Bears. Although Halas had offered him the team's head coaching position, he declined as he "never had any ambition to be a head coach in either the professional or college ranks." He remained in the position until 1937.
In college, Grange was a three-time consensus All-American and led his team to a national championship in 1923. He was the only consensus All-American running back in 1924 who was not a member of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. The same year, Grange became the first recipient of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the Big Ten Conference's most valuable player. In 2008, Grange was named the best college football player of all time by ESPN, and in 2011, he was named the Greatest Big Ten Icon by the Big Ten Network.

Shortly after his final college game in 1925, Grange joined the Bears and the NFL, embarking on a barnstorming tour to raise the league's attention across the country. When his rookie contract expired, he and agent C. C. Pyle formed the American Football League in 1926, with Grange playing for the Yankees. The league lasted just one year before shutting down and the Yankees were assimilated into the NFL. Grange suffered a serious knee injury in 1927 that prevented him from playing the following season, and he returned to the Bears in 1929. He remained with the team until he ended his playing career in 1934, from which he became a backfield coach for the Bears for three seasons.

He helped gain popularity to professional football and for that he is a charter member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sources

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

https://www.profootballarchives.com/index.html

https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Football_Wiki

https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=main

https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/

Grange, Red; Morton, Ira (1953). The Red Grange Story: An Autobiography. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252063295.

Carroll, John M. (2004). Red Grange and the Rise of Modern Football. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252071662.

Sullivan, George (1972). The Great Running Backs. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 22–31. ISBN 0-399-11026-7.

"Red Grange, Football Hero of 1920s, Dead at 87". The New York Times. January 29, 1991.

 Rosenthal, Phil (December 3, 2009). "Chicago Tribune Silver Football, the Big Ten's MVP award, is headed to TV". Tower Ticker. Chicago Tribune

 "About Harold "Red" Grange". Wheaton High. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2008.

 Allen, Frederick Lewis (January 1, 1931). Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780471189527 – via Google Books.

 "The Galloping Ghost". American Heritage. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2008.

 "IHSA Boys Track & Field Medalists".

 Schwartz, Larry. "Galloping Ghost scared opponents". ESPN. Retrieved June 15, 2019.

 Dodson, Don (July 19, 2015). "10 things to know about Jos. Kuhn & Co". The News-Gazette. Retrieved June 26, 2019.

 "Red Will Be Offered Bout on Boxing Card In City Friday Night". The Tampa Tribune. December 27, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Ghost of Illinois". ESPN. Retrieved May 18, 2008.

 "Football Matches". Time. Time Inc. November 8, 1927. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved December 27, 2008.

 "Football Hero Keeps Warm and Shuns Memories". The New York Times. January 1, 1988.

 Tribune, Chicago (October 10, 2014). "90 years ago: Red Grange's amazing game". Chicago Tribune.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 91–92.

 Harold (Red) Grange, "How I Turned Pro," Pro Football Illustrated, 1948. Mt. Morris, IL: Elback Publishing Co., 1948; pp. 16-17.

 Halas, George (January 26, 1967). "Galloping Ghost's U.S. Tour Got Pro Football Off and Running". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Carroll 2004, p. 92.

 Crusinberry, James (September 30, 1925). "Pro Leaders seek Red Grange for Eastern games". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 70.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 71.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 75.

 Runyon, Damon (November 1, 1925). "Penn Trampled Under Flying Feet of Red Grange, Score 24-2". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "20,000 Welcome Illini Home; Red Greeted Like Emperor". Chicago Tribune. November 2, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Illinois Football History: Retired Numbers". Illinois Fighting Illini. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2010.

 Woodruff, Harvey (November 8, 1925). "Illini Wade To 13-6 Victory Over Chicago: Maroon Line Stops Grange, But Fumbles Cost 'Em Game". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Gallivan Star as Illini 2ds Defeat Wabash, 21-0". The Decatur Herald. AP. November 15, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 93.

 Carroll 2004, p. 94.

 Willis, Chris (August 19, 2010). "The Galloping Ghost and Pottsville Controversy (1925)". The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810876705.

 "NCAA Football's Finest" (PDF). NCAA. 2002. Retrieved July 2, 2010.

 Carroll, Bob. "THE TOWN THAT HATED PRO FOOTBALL". Archived from the original on March 19, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2012.. Pro Football Researchers Association Coffin Corner: Vol. III, 1981.

 "World knocks at Grange's door". The Morning News. AP. November 12, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 89.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 96.

 Carroll 2004, p. 104.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 97.

 "Reports still conflict on plans of Red Grange". Atlanta Constitution. November 21, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "'Red Grange Rule' stops Davis' entry". Latrobe Bulletin. AP. October 12, 1985. Retrieved May 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Bears Liable to $1,000 Fine and Loss of Franchise for Using Joe Savoldi, Claim". Green Bay Press-Gazette. November 27, 1930. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Joe Savoldi Signs to Play with Bears". Chicago Tribune. November 23, 1930. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Willis, Chris (August 19, 2010). The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr. Scarecrow Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-0810876705.

 "TCU's Davis drops lawsuit against NFL". The Salina Journal. AP. October 18, 1985. Retrieved May 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 D'Angelo, Robert (September 13, 1987). "At 84, NFL savior Red Grange prefers baseball". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2019.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 99.

 "'Red' Grange plays bang-up game but bets his team can do is tie". The Morning Call. AP. November 27, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "35,000 cheer as Grange batters Columbus Tiger". The Evening News. November 30, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Britton, Illinois Star, Joins Chicago Eleven". The Evening News. November 30, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Carroll, John M. "The impact of Red Grange on pro football in 1925" (PDF). Pro Football Researchers Association. Retrieved June 15, 2019.

 Alexander, John H. (December 3, 1925). "Grange's shifty running delights crowd of 5300 as Bears win". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Hunt, Marshall (December 6, 1925). "Chicago Bears beat Frankford at Shibe Park". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Neft, David S., Cohen, Richard M., and Korch, Rick. The Complete History of Professional Football from 1892 to the Present. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994 ISBN 0-312-11435-4 p. 52

*Gottehrer, Barry. The Giants of New York, the history of professional football's most fabulous dynasty. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1963 OCLC 1356301 pp. 35–6

*Vidmer, Richard. 70,000 See Grange in Pro Debut Here, The New York Times, December 7, 1925, accessed December 3, 2010.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 102.

 ""Where Do You Live?" Coolidge Asks Grange". The Tennessean. December 9, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Pegler, Westbrook (December 9, 1925). "Bears Beat Washington by 19-0; Harold Stopped". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Carroll 2004, p. 115.

 "Red Grange Bubble is nearing the bursting point". Davenport Daily Times. United News Service. December 10, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Experts disappointed in Braves Field game". The Boston Globe. December 10, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 103–104.

 "Grange, Like President, Expected to Have Personal Physician / Red Grange Insists On Father Taking $1000 From First Receipts". The Boston Globe. AP. December 10, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Carroll 2004, p. 116.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 104.

 "Pittsburgh All-Stars Hand Trouncing To Chicago Bears, 24-0". Montgomery Advertiser. December 11, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 105–106.

 "Grange on his way to play at Detroit". Lincoln Journal Star. UP. December 11, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Bears harmless". The Butte Miner. AP. December 13, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Bears defeat Redless Bears by 9 to 0 score". Quad-City Times. December 14, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 107.

 "Grange, Bears invade Florida". The Des Moines Register. December 21, 1925 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Grange act billed for San Francisco today". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1926. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Red Grange Presents Bears With Touchdown And Helps Defeat Coral Gables Team". Pensacola News Journal. AP. December 26, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Red Grange Refuses to Take Boxing Contract". The Minneapolis Star. December 29, 1925. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Speed Cop Throws Grange for Loss". Orlando Sentinel. AP. January 1, 1926. Retrieved January 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 McCarthy (January 2, 1926). "Grange comes through with touchdown". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Carroll 2004, p. 121.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 110.

 "Grange Will Play in New Orleans". The Town Talk. January 6, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "George Wilson To Play With L.A. Grid Team". Oakland Tribune. AP. January 4, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Grange is pushed for spotlight". The Anniston Star. AP. January 17, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 111.

 Borba, Harry J. (January 25, 1926). "Slashing S. F. Tigers Cramp Grange's Style". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Grange's star dimmed; Wilson outplays him". Albuquerque Journal. AP. January 25, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "5,000 see Bears triumph". The Standard Union. January 31, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Grange Bears smother Portland eleven, 60-3". Los Angeles Times. January 31, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Bears Romp Over Portland Loggers, 60-3". Chicago Tribune. January 31, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 112.

 "Red and Bears Beat Seattle All-Stars, 34-0". Chicago Tribune. AP. February 1, 1926. p. 25. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Rocene, Ray (February 1, 1926). "Sports Jabs". Missoulian. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Maxwell, Don (February 1, 1926). "Speaking of Sport". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Stellino, Vito (February 3, 1991). "Don't let facts tarnish the Red Grange myth Pro career was less than a runaway hit". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 4, 2019.

 Underwood, John (September 4, 1985). "Was He the Greatest of All Time?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 4, 2019.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 114.

 Eaton, Foster (February 6, 1925). "Red Grange Leases Yank Stadium For Pro Eleven". The Herald-Palladium. Retrieved June 16, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "profootball history1".

 "Grange's manager makes pro offer to Huskies' star". Pittsburgh Daily Post. January 28, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "J. Sternaman to Run Grange League Eleven In Chicago". Green Bay Press-Gazette. July 17, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 121.

 ""Red" Grange And Members Of New York Professional Eleven Deny Being Drunk". The Arizona Republic. AP. December 21, 1926. Retrieved June 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Record Crowd Out To See Red Grange Play". Decatur Daily Review. October 17, 1927. Retrieved June 16, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Diathermy Cure Planned For Grange's Bad Knee". Brooklyn Times-Union. November 3, 1927. Retrieved July 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Bell, Jim (September 24, 1971). "A 'Butkus' of yesterday". The Telegraph. Retrieved June 16, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 136.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 139.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 143.

 "Red Grange Returns To Pro Football". Tampa Times. June 20, 1929. Retrieved July 4, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Lapointe, Joe (January 31, 2006). "PRO FOOTBALL; Super Bowl's Precursors Have Lively History" – via NYTimes.com.

 Tribune, Chicago (August 2, 2023). "Red Grange". Chicago Tribune.

 Bodanza, Mark C. (September 17, 2010). 1933: Football at the Depth of the Great Depression. iUniverse. ISBN 9781450245258 – via Google Books.

 "Red Grange Will Be Bears' Backfield Coach". The Gazette. UP. June 20, 1935. Retrieved June 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 165.

 Reinmuth, Gary (January 29, 1991). "Red Grange: Greatness and Humility". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 26, 2019.

 "C.C. PYLE DIES; EX-MANAGER OF RED GRANGE (February 4, 1939)". August 4, 2023.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 125–126.

 Taaffe, Agnes (October 15, 1926). "Football Star Scores in Fast Moving Film; 'Paradise' at Garrick". The Minneapolis Star. Retrieved June 13, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 131–132.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 145.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. 145–146.

 "Milestones, Aug. 16, 1937". Time. August 16, 1937. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved December 10, 2022.

 "Red Grange To Speak At F. H. S. Athletic Banquet April 12". The Journal Standard. April 1, 1948. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

 Jordan, Jimmy (December 5, 1944). "Red Grange Head of New Pro Grid League". Pampa News. AP. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Pro Football Loops Fold Up As NFL Ties Up N. Y. Fields". Tucson Citizen. UP. June 5, 1945. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Red Grange Gets Softball Position". The Salt Lake Tribune. AP. April 27, 1947. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Maybe This Isn't Such a Good Job". Scranton Tribune. UP. March 12, 1948. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Wolfe Heads National Girls Baseball League". Chicago Tribune. March 4, 1949. Retrieved August 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

 "Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees" (PDF). University of Illinois. Retrieved April 1, 2020.

 Grange & Morton 1953, p. Foreword.

 Abington High School

The First NFL Draft | The 1936 NFL Draft

The 1936 National Football League Draft was the first draft of the National Football League. It took place on February 8, 1936, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The draft was instituted in an effort to end bidding wars among teams of college players entering the league. This was the only draft to have nine rounds; the number increased to ten for the 1937 draft. The first player ever drafted, Jay Berwanger, who had previously been awarded the initial Heisman Trophy, never played in the NFL. His rights were traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Chicago Bears, as the Eagles felt they would be unable to meet Berwanger's reported demand of $1000 per game. The Eagles received tackle Art Buss from the Bears who lasted four years in the NFL as an offensive tackle in exchange for Berwanger's rights. George Halas was unable to convince Berwanger to sign with the Bears. Riley Smith, the second pick, was the first player drafted to play in the NFL. Stanford had the most players drafted with seven players from this class.

There are four HOFers to be drafted from the first NFL Draft class. Dan Fortmann, who was an offensive guard from Colgate taken 9th round 78th overall by the Chicago Bears. Playing for Chicago from 1936 to 1943, he was selected as an All-Pro for seven consecutive years from 1937 to 1943. He was the Bears' team captain starting in 1940 and led the team to NFL championships in 1940, 1941, and 1943.Inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1965. 


Joe Stydahar, tackle from West Virginia taken 1st round 6th overall by the Chicago Bears. Played nine seasons for the Bears from 1936 to 1942 and 1945 to 1946. He was selected as a first-team All-Pro five consecutive years from 1936 to 1940 and helped the Bears win NFL championships in 1940, 1942, and 1946 NFL Championship Games. After his playing career ended, Stydahar was the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams during the 1950 and 1951 seasons and the Chicago Cardinals during the 1953 and 1954 seasons. His 1950 and 1951 Rams teams both advanced to the NFL Championship Game, and the 1951 team won the championship. Inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1967. 

Wayne Millner, end from Notre Dame taken 8th round 65th overall by the Boston Redskins. He was a major component to winning a league championship. After losing to the Green Bay Packers in the title game in 1936, the franchise moved to Washington, D.C. in 1937 and defeated the Chicago Bears 28–21 to win the title. Millner played a big role in the victory, catching touchdown passes of 55 and 78 yards from Sammy Baugh. His clutch plays is a big reason why he was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1968. 

Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans, back from George Washington University taken 2nd Round 18th overall by the New York Giants. One of the premier backs of his era. Led the league in rushing yards as a rookie at fullback. Was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 1936 and 1939. He was also selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 1938 and 1941 and helped lead the Giants to the 1938 NFL Championship and the 1939 and 1941 NFL Championship Games. Was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1978.

Besides these four great players many of the other players had either mediocre careers or decided to not play a single down in the NFL which is unheard of in today's game. The draft has become one of the biggest sports events of the year every year but it had its humble beginnings in a hotel in Philadelphia.

Sources

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

https://www.profootballarchives.com/index.html

https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Football_Wiki

https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=main

https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/

 "History: 1936 Draft". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 30, 2012.

 "NFL Draft Locations". www.footballgeography.com. October 2, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2014.

 Salomone, Dan (October 2, 2014). "NFL Draft headed to Chicago in 2015". Giants.com. New York Giants. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.

 "Chicago Bears Granted Option on Jay Berwanger". Milwaukee Journal. February 10, 1936. p. D4. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2011.

 "Outstanding Pro Linemen Coming Here With Eagles". Reading Eagle. October 29, 1936. p. 24. Retrieved May 9, 2011.

 Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.

 Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 "Heisman Trophy". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2011.

 "List of 1960s Hall of Fame Inductees". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2011.

 "List of 1970s Hall of Fame Inductees". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 31, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2011.