Posts with players, coaches, and other topics from the Chicago Bears for The Football History Dude podcast, covering the history of the NFL.
It is now common in the National Football League to have quarterbacks who are bigger in size than linemen were in days gone by. Consider guys like Big Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton who both stand 6-5 and weigh over 240 pounds. A century ago, when the NFL was struggling to survive, it was rare … Read more
In the early days of the National Football League, it was not uncommon for pro teams to take on non-league teams from anywhere or at any time. If a local club could offer a decent financial proposal, it could almost guarantee that the pros would show up for a bit of cash and hopefully an … Read more
When an incredible football player is consistently overlooked for inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we often hear several reasons for this absence…things like: “He was OK, but he never led the league in anything.” “He was good, but he never won a title.” Or even: “He was great for his team, but … Read more
Imagine spending three or four days sandwiched between your burly teammates on a cross-country train trip just to play a football game. Perhaps we have become spoiled by the speed and comfort of travel today. For sports teams, even on the collegiate level, it is expected that the team will not only fly to its … Read more
It began over 100 years ago. An intense rivalry between two NFL teams like no other. Gunshots, riots, broken noses, stolen players, verbal sparring, and lost championships. They would argue over ineligible players, the height of the grass on a field, suspected spies watching their practices, and even the quality of post-game meals hosted by … Read more