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American Football League
The Pro Football Hall of Fame provides a look at the American Football League before it merged with the National Football League. This page includes information regarding events, athletes, and statistics.
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: May 28: Jim Thorpe
This is a biographical sketch of American athlete Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was a versatile athlete who is regarded as "the greatest American athlete of the first half of the twentieth century".
A&E Television
History.com: Tailgating: How the Pre Game Tradition Can Be Traced to Ancient Times
The ritual grew as ownership of automobiles and then mass production of portable grills and plastic coolers soared. Tailgating before college and professional football games is an American tradition. Temporary tent cities pop up in...
A&E Television
History.com: How Jim Thorpe Became America's First Multi Sport Star
Decades before Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders starred in baseball and football, Jim Thorpe was America's original multi-sport athlete. A two-time college football All-American and charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Thorpe...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Sports and Leisure
Read about the options for leisure time in the Gilded Age for the typical American. Baseball, vaudeville, and bicycling all came into their own in the 1890s.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Paul Robeson
Examine the life of renown scholar, athlete, singer and actor Paul Robeson and his influence on Pennsylvania's history.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Paul Robeson
Examine the life of renown scholar, athlete, singer and actor Paul Robeson and his influence on Pennsylvania's history.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Kenny Washington
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Kenny Washington, one of the first African American college gridiron football stars on the West Coast and one of two black players to reintegrate the National...
Stephen Byrne
History for Kids: Jim Thorpe
History for Kids presents an overview of the life story of Jim Thorpe, a Native American from Oklahoma who was a superb athlete competing in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics before moving on to play professional baseball and football.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Bob Hayes
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bob Hayes, an American sprinter who, although he was relatively slow out of the starting block and had an almost lumbering style of running, was a remarkably powerful sprinter with as much...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Jerry Rice
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Jerry Rice, an American professional gridiron football player whom many consider the greatest wide receiver in the history of the National Football League (NFL). Playing primarily for the...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Bruce Smith
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Bruce Smith, an American professional gridiron football defensive end who holds the National Football League (NFL) career record for quarterback sacks (200).
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Steve Mc Nair
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Steve McNair, an American gridiron football player who threw 174 touchdown passes during his 13 National Football League (NFL) seasons (1995-2008), primarily while playing for the...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: o.j. Simpson
Biographical details on O.J. Simpson, American collegiate and professional gridiron football player who was a premier running back known for his speed and elusiveness. His trial on murder charges in 1995 was one of the most celebrated...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Marion Motley
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Marion Motley, an African American gridiron football player who helped desegregate professional football in the 1940s during a career that earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Deion Sanders
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Deion Sanders, an American gridiron football player and baseball player who is the only person to have played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Known for his flashy personality and...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Emmitt Smith
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Emmitt Smith, an American gridiron football player, who in 2002 became the all-time leading rusher in National Football League (NFL) history. He retired after the 2004 season with 18,355...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Eric Dickerson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eric Dickerson, an American professional gridiron football player who was one of the leading running backs in National Football League (NFL) history.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Woody Strode
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Woody Strode, an American character actor who was part of director John Ford's "family" of actors, appearing in nearly a dozen of Ford's films. Strode also had a brief career as a...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Jim Parker
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Jim Parker, an American professional gridiron football player who, during his 11-year career with the Baltimore Colts, established himself as one of the finest offensive linemen in...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: La Dainian Tomlinson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features LaDainian Tomlinson, an American professional gridiron football player who was one of the most productive running backs in National Football League (NFL) history.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Lawrence Taylor
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Lawrence Taylor, an American collegiate and professional gridiron football player, considered one of the best linebackers in the history of the game. As a member of the New York Giants of...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Randy Moss
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Randy Moss, an American professional gridiron football player who is considered one of the greatest wide receivers in National Football League (NFL) history.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Reggie White
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Reggie White, an American professional gridiron football player who was one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the history of the sport. In his 15-year National Football League...