What was the Hammond Pros' win-loss record in the NFL?
The Hammond Pros finished their seven-year NFL career with a combined record of 5-26-4 across 34 games played from 1920 to 1926.
Questions about Hammond Pros
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who founded the Hammond Pros football team?
The Hammond Pros were founded by local businessman Paul Parduhn and Dr. Alva Young, a boxing promoter and owner of a racing stable who also served as the team's doctor and trainer.
Who was Fritz Pollard and what was his connection to the Hammond Pros?
Fritz Pollard played halfback and served as head coach for the Hammond Pros in 1923 and 1925, making him the first African-American head coach in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Did George Halas play for the Hammond Pros?
George Halas played as an end for the Hammond Bobcats in 1919, a predecessor team. He left the following year for the Decatur Staleys, the franchise that became the Chicago Bears, which he stayed with as player, coach, and owner until his death in 1983.
Why did the Hammond Pros rarely play home games in Hammond?
A. Murray Turner Field in Hammond was built for baseball and seated only a few thousand spectators. The Pros played just two regular-season NFL games there over seven years, using Cubs Park in Chicago as their unofficial home stadium instead.
Why were the Hammond Pros dropped from the NFL?
After winning its 1926 battle with the rival American Football League, the NFL scaled down to 12 teams and eliminated several smaller franchises, including the Hammond Pros, ending the team's existence after the 1926 season.