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

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

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

4. III. The Growth of the NFL Statistics and Rules During the 1930’s Statistics and Rules During the 1930’s Growing stability Growing stability NFL hits the TV screen NFL hits the TV screen First NFL commissioner (1941) First NFL commissioner (1941) --Elmer Layden Sammy Baugh Sammy Baugh 2 1000-yard rushers in the same season (1949) 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 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 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 Racial Climate of the 1930’s Organization of Black professional football teams Organization of Black professional football teams Reasons for absence of Black players from the NFL Reasons for absence of Black players from the NFL Significance of WWII toward sports integration Significance of WWII toward sports integration

7. IV. Exclusion of Black Players (cont.) New Leagues in 1944 New Leagues in 1944--USFL--AAFC The leverage of the Los Angeles Coliseum The leverage of the Los Angeles Coliseum Los Angeles Rams sign Kenny Washington (1946) 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 desire to integrate the NFL Paul Brown’s background Paul Brown’s background Paul Brown’s innovations as a coach Paul Brown’s innovations as a coach The Black press and the desegregation of the NFL The Black press and the desegregation of the NFL Cleveland Browns set the example followed by other professional teams 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 TV grows and Thorpe goes in early 1950’s 1957 NFL Draft class 1957 NFL Draft class Jim Brown’s rushing record in 1958 Jim Brown’s rushing record in 1958 1958 NFL Championship Game 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) Vince Lombardi hired as Green Bay Packers Head Coach (1959) -- “Seven Blocks of Granite” Lombardi’s Coaching Style Lombardi’s Coaching Style Establishment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (1961) Establishment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio (1961)