War Football: WWI and the Birth of the NFL

Trading their cleats for boots and game balls for bayonets, many athletes – amateur, collegiate and professional – became players in an entirely new game during the First World War. To raise the morale of servicemen, along with millions of dollars in funding for the war effort, each branch of the United States military created competitive football teams. The camaraderie fostered between military players, along with spectator interest in these types of all-star teams, lingered long after the Armistice, leading to the founding of the National Football League in 1920.

As we look forward to April’s NFL Draft on the grounds of the Museum and Memorial, join author Chris Serb for a timely lecture on the history of America’s favorite pastime – from the front to the field.

Free with RSVP | Auditorium and YouTube Live