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First Football game at Rutgers University vs Princeton University
The first games known as "football" were being played at colleges and universities in the United States in the first half of the 19th century -
Rugby-style games were introduced to the United States
In 1871 Rugby-style games were introduced to the United States when an international match between Harvard's football team and a rugby team from McGill University in Montréal played a game of rugby but with Harvard's house rules of football. -
Walter Camp "Father of American Football" changing the rules
One of the most notably the changes in the rules was introduced by Walter Camp, who was known to be the "Father of American Football." Among these substantial and critical changes was the introduction of the line of scrimmage and of down-and-distance rules -
Origin of professional footbal
1892 was origin of professional football, with William "Pudge" Heffelfinger was first well known pro-football player. He was given a $500 contract to play in a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association and played against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. -
First African America pro-football player
In 1902 Charles Follis "The Black Cyclone,” was believed to be the first African America pro-football player. He however wasn’t paid till two years into his career On September 16, 1904 he signed a contract with Shelby making him the first African-American contracted to play professional football. -
The first game played in the APFA
The first game played in the APFA (American Professional Football Association) was in Dayton, Ohio, on October 3, 1920. The Home team was the Triangles playing against the victories, the Columbus Panhandles. The Triangles won 14-0, and was the first official blow out ever in APFA. -
Creation of the NFL on Saturday June 4, 1922
Creation of the NFL on Saturday June 4, 1922 -
Native Americans were allowed to play
However the NFL seem to be less strict on Native Americans playing in the league, there were numerous Native Americans in the NFL through the 1920s -
"The Black were first to go"
By 1926, after the creation of the NFL or the National Football League , there were a total of 5 five African American in the league, However several teams were kicked out of the league that year, and with a large number talented white players, generally the black players were the first to be removed and replaced with other white players. -
George Preston Marshall was brought into the league
George Preston Marshall was brought into the league in 1932. Marshall openly refused to have black athletes on his Boston Braves/Washington Redskins team -
Last two Black Players in the 1933 season
By 1933, Joe Lillard and Ray Kemp were the last two Black NFL Players, they were both gone unfortunately by the end of the season. -
Total Segragtion in the NFL
At the demand of Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall, the NFL imposes a “new de facto policy” of total racial segregation. This meant that no African American would be allowed to be in the NFL till the end of WW II. -
ending of the 13 years of whites-only football in the NFL.
1946 The Los Angeles Rams sign former UCLA college football stars Kenny Washington and Woody Strode, who became the first African Americans to play in the NFL after the Marshal “new de facto policy.” This ended the 13 years of whites-only football in the NFL. -
six of the l eight teams had signed African American football players to play professionally
by the time the AAFC or the (All-America Football Conference ) merged with the NFL in 1950, six of the l eight teams had signed African American football players to play professionally -
NO more segregation!
The Redskins had no African American players until they were threaded by civil-rights legal action by the Kennedy administration. The Redskins finally signed Bobby Mitchell and two other African American players by 1962.
