The Negro League Football

Forgotten American Legacy

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The Untold Stories of African-American Football Heroes

Negro League Football was born out of necessity. While many are familiar with the Negro League Baseball, very few know about the segregation in professional football (1933-1946), which led to the formation of all black teams and leagues such as the Brown Bombers, the Chicago Comets, and the Harrisburg Trojans. Black men who wanted to play football in the United States in the early 1900s faced many challenges because of the color of their skin. Even in the face of overt discrimination, the irony is that some Black football players actually played professionally before the “official” racial ban. As you’ll learn these men came from diverse backgrounds and quite a few played multiple sports exceptionally well.

Negro League Football

Negro League Football was born out of necessity. While many are familiar with the rich history of Negro League Baseball, the story of Black football players remains largely untold. During a time when the NFL enforced a racial ban, talented Black athletes formed their own teams and leagues, demonstrating exceptional skill and determination. The Brown Bombers, the Chicago Comets, and the Harrisburg Trojans are just a few of the teams that emerged during this era, showcasing the incredible talent and resilience of Black players like ^[1]Duke Slater and ^[2]Joe Lillard, who not only excelled on the field but also became trailblazers in the fight for equality. In ^[3]1927 things changed drastically. The 1927 National Football League (NFL) season was the 8^th regular season. It was during this time Black players were eliminated from the NFL, foreshadowing an official racial ban from 1933 to 1946.

Untold Stories: heroes of the Negro league

Discover the untold stories of resilience, unity, and greatness from the pioneers of African-American football.

Charles Follis

^[4]Charles Follis, known as “The Black Cyclone” is recognized as the first Black professional football player. He played in the Ohio League from 1902-1906 with the Shelby Blues. The National Football League (NFL) wouldn’t come to be until 1920.

Frederick Douglass “Fritz” Pollard

In 1921,^[5]Frederick Douglass “Fritz” Pollard, a native son of Chicago, became the first African American head coach in the NFL. From 1918-1920, he was the football coach at Lincoln University, a historically Black university in Pennsylvania. Pollard would go on to establish his own professional Black football team, the Chicago Black Hawks in 1928 and later coach the Brown Bombers in New York in 1935.