Pudge Heffelfinger, the first professional football player. On November 12, 1892, Heffelfinger received $500, plus $25 for expenses from the Allegheny Athletic Association to play in a game against the Pennsylvania Athletic Association. AAA won 4-0. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Running back Jim Thorpe of the Canton Bulldogs leaps into the fray during a 1915 game against the Columbus Panhandles. (Photo by NFL/NFL)

1926 Pottsville Maroon Football Team Photo (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

The 1920 Akron Pros professional football team had the distinction of having the first African American professional player, Fritz Pollard (seated far right). (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Jim Thorpe (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

John "Paddy" Driscoll played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1920 to 1925 and the Chicago Bears in 1926 to 1929 as a quarterback, running back, punter, and drop kicker, and was selected as a member of the All-NFL Team six times throughout his career. He was a enshrinee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, (L-R) quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, fullback Elmer Leyden, left halfback Jim Crowley, and right hafback Don Miller. George Strickler, Knute Rockne's student publicity aide posed the four players, dressed in their uniforms, on the backs of four horses from a livery stable in town. (Photo by Notre Dame University/NFL)

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1963 Earl "Curly" Lambeau founded and played for the Green Bay Packers in 1919 and continued coaching and managing until 1949. Lambeau revolutionized football by introducing the foward pass on offense, which became an integral part of the game. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Ernie Nevers (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Decatur Staley's quarterback Jimmy Conzelman circa 1921. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Five members of the pre-NFL Canton Bulldogs, one of pro football's first great teams, pose for a photo in 1919. From left to right - unidentified player, Pete Calac, Jim Thorpe, Joe Guyon, and Guy Chamberlin. Thorpe, Guyon, and Chamberlin are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

1920 Dayton Triangles compiled a 5-2-2 record in the NFL's inagural season. Manager Carl Storck (third row, standing) succeeded Joe Car as NFL President in 1939. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Antique football pants worn by the playes in the 1920s. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame/NFL Photos)

1920 Decatur Staleys team photo shot in September, 1920 in Decatur, Illinois. The team was ran by George Halas (middle, front row) and Edward Sternaman (second from left in back row). (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame/NFL Photos)

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 22: The University of Chicago Maroons plays Northwestern University Wildcats at Marshall Field on October 22, 1904 in Chicago, Illinois. The Maroons defeated the Wildcats 32-0. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 31: The 1900 Chicago Cardinals pose for their team photo on August 31, 1900 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

Jim Thorpe (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Jim Thorpe (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

The 1922 Oorang Indians, sponsored by the Oorang Aleredale Kennels in Laurie, Ohio, played their games in nearby Marion. The star of the team was Jim Thorpe (center, back row) and featured mostly native American players. the team folded after 1923. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Halfback Jim Thorpe of the New York Giants kicks a ball in 1925. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 1: The Carlisle Indians School football team was also known as Pratt's Indians pose for their team photo on August 1, 1913 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

TOLEDO, OH - AUGUST 1: The Toledo Maroons pose for their team photo on August 1, 1919 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

AKRON, OH - AUGUST 1: The Canton Indians pose for their team photo on August 1, 1910 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

SHELBY, OH - AUGUST 1: The Shelby Athletic Club pose for their team photo on August 1, 1902 in Shelby, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

LATROBE, PA - AUGUST 1: The Latrobe football team pose for their team photo on August 1, 1898 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

LATROBE, PA - AUGUST 1: The Latrobe football team pose for their team photo on August 1, 1900 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 1: The Canton Bulldogs pose for their team photo on August 1, 1922 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

WHEELING, WV - AUGUST 1: The Staats Athletic Club Football team pose for their team photo on August 1, 1909 in Wheeling, West Virginia. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

WHEELING, WV - AUGUST 1: The Pottsville Maroons pose for their team photo on August 1, 1925 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

Hunk Anderson (second from left), sits next to Hall of Famers Harold "Red" Grange (second from right), and George Trafton (far right) of the Chicago Bears during a 1925 game played during the team's barnstorming tour showcasing Grange. In the beginning of December, the Bears played eight games in 12 days, and then played nine additional games in the South and West. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Cycledrome in Providence, Rhode Island. The NFL Providence Steam Roller called this stadium home in the 1920s. This was also the site of the first ever NFL night game in 1929. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 1: The Canton Bulldogs pose for their team photo on August 1, 1919 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Pro Football Hall of Fame/NFL Photos)

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: Running back Red Grange #77 of the New York Yankees runs upfield against the Los Angeles Wildcats at the Polo Grounds on October 24, 1926 in New York, New York. The Yankees defeated the Wildcats 13-0. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos)

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 24: Running back Red Grange #77 of the University of Illinois signs his first professional contract on November 25, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL Photos/Getty Images)

Running back Harold Grange ("Red" Grange) of the Chicago Bears poses for a 1925 photo. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

John Victor McNally, the famed "vagabond halfback" was totally unpredictable funster on and off the field. He assumed the "Johnny Blood" alias from Valentino movie title, "Blood and Sand". A superb runner with breakaway speed, and an exceptional pass receiver, he scored 49 TDs, 297 points in 14 seasons with five NFL teams. (Photo by Pro Football Hall Of Fame/NFL)

Ralph E. Hay's automobile showroom is shown in Canton, Ohio, where Hay held the first meeting of American professional football teams in 1920 with the American Professional Football Conference which became the National Football League in 1922. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Early professional American Football in this undated image, circa 1910- 1920. (National Football League)

Early professional American Football fans attend a Frankford Yellowjackets game in this undated image, circa 1910- 1920.(Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Ralph E. Hay, owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1923, is seen here. Hay organized the first meeting of American professional football teams in 1920 with the American Professional Football Conference which became the National Football League in 1922. (Pro Football Hall of Fame)