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Sunday 21 August 2011

American Football Player

When William "Pudge" Heffelfinger participated in his first paid game for the Allegheny Athletic Association on November 12, 1892, he was paid $500, becoming the first professional American football player on record. The payment for Heffelfinger's play was not published or admitted at the time.

William Heffelfinger in his en:Yale university football photograph, 1888-1891.

Paul D. Hubbard was a deaf American football player who played football at Gallaudet University (an all-deaf school) from 1892 to 1895. Hubbard was a quarterback on the Gallaudet football team and he is credited with inventing the modern huddle to prevent the opposing team (another deaf school) from reading their sign language.

Indiana Normal's Quarterback John Brallier became the first openly professional American football player on September 3, 1895, when he was paid $10 by manager David Berry, to play for the Latrobe Athletic Association. Brallier arrived in Latrobe the night before the game and practiced with the team under a street light. Latrobe went on to win the game with Brallier kicking two field goals for a final score of 12–0.

Image of John Brallier.

On October 24, 1920, Joe Fitzgerald appeared in the Detroit Heralds' game against the Columbus Panhandles as the team's starting left end. Fitzgerald scored the only points of the game, as he intercepted a pass from Frank Nesser and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. Fitzgerald's score against Columbus was the first interception return for a touchdown in NFL history.

The last NFL player to play without a helmet was Dick Plasman in 1940.

1964 Olympic 100m champion “Bullet Bob” Hayes went on to win a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The first woman to play professional football was Patricia Palinkas, who got into a game for three plays with the Orlando Panthers on August 15, 1970.

In 1973 Fred Dryer of the then Los Angeles Rams became the first player in NFL history to score two safeties in the same game.

Bubba Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end between 1967 and 1976. He was selected All-Pro one year, All-Conference two years, and went to two Pro Bowls. Smith later found fame on screen playing Hightower in the Police Academy movies.

Former American football star OJ Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman on October 3, 1995. His trial came after 95 million American TV viewers watched police chase his white Ford Bronco to arrest him.

Simpson in 1990

In 1997, Simpson was found liable for their wrongful deaths in civil court, but to date he has paid little of the $33.5 million judgment.

In 2007, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, and charged with the felonies of armed robbery and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment, with a minimum of nine years without parole.

In 1996 Miami Dolphin Dan Marino became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 50,000 yards.

In 1997 Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in nine straight seasons. In the same game Sanders passed former Dallas Cowboy Tony Dorsett for third place on the all-time rushing list.

At 44 years and 131 days Tom Brady is the oldest player to score a touchdown. He achieved the record  on December 12 2021 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against Buffalo Bills.

In Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the New England Patriots won 13–3 over the Los Angeles Rams. At 41 years, 6 months, Tom Brady became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

In 2020, Brady left New England Patriots and signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 25, 2020, Brady's four touchdown passes took his all-time tally to 559, breaking Drew Brees' all-time record.  


American football running back Derrick Henry rushed for a mind boggling 12,124 yards in high school, the all time record. He's also the only ever football player  to rush for 2000 yards in a season in High School, College, and the NFL. 

Former American football wide receiver Terrell Owens is the only NFL player to score a touchdown against all 32 NFL teams. (actually has at least two against each team).

NFL has no written rule against female players; women would in fact be allowed if they met the league's eligibility requirements.

Only 1 in 4,233 U.S. high school football players eventually make it to the NFL.

The average player's career in the NFL is only 3.3 years.

82% of retired NFL athletes have abnormal narrowing and blockages in their arteries, which increase the risk of heart disease and strokes.

A 2009 study found that 78% of NFL players go bankrupt or end up facing serious financial stress within two years of ending their playing careers.

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