Ya gotta love that guy, but football was around before him.
The date was November 12, 1892, a day that would forever be etched in sports history, although no one involved that day could possibly have recognized the importance of the occasion. It was the day that the Allegheny Athletic Association football team defeated the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. The game in itself was not a momentous event. But one of the circumstances of the game did make it a never-to-be-forgotten moment in sports history – one of the AAA players, William (Pudge) Heffelfinger, was openly paid $500 to play the game. Thus pro football made its debut more than 100 years ago in comparatively obscure surroundings that could not possibly have provided the slightest clue to the world-wide popularity the sport would be destined to enjoy, particularly in the waning decades of pro football's first century.
American football was never banned nationwide in the United States, but it faced significant opposition and temporary bans at the collegiate level due to its violent nature. In the late 19th century, the sport was so brutal that it led to widespread protests and calls for its abolition. For example, Yale University banned football in 1860 under pressure from the city of New Haven due to the violence associated with the "mob" style games. Similarly, in 1898, the Knoxville Tribune published a full-page editorial calling for a ban on college football after several deaths and serious injuries were reported, including incidents where players died from head and neck injuries during games.
Despite these concerns, football did not become illegal. Instead, reforms were introduced to make the sport safer. A major turning point occurred in 1905 when President Theodore Roosevelt intervened, urging college football leaders to clean up the game or face a potential ban, which led to significant rule changes such as the legalization of the forward pass and the banning of dangerous formations like the flying wedge. Over time, the introduction of protective equipment, stricter rules, and better coaching helped transform football into the modern sport played today. While some states have considered legislation to restrict youth participation in tackle football—such as the proposed "Dave Duerson Act" in Illinois—these measures aim to limit, not ban, the sport.
