How many NFL games did the Muncie Flyers play?
The Muncie Flyers played exactly three official NFL (then called American Professional Football Association) games: one in 1920 and two in 1921. Their overall APFA record was 0-3-0.
Questions about Muncie Flyers
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When were the Muncie Flyers founded and when did they stop playing?
The Muncie Flyers trace their origins to the Congerville Athletic Club, which dates back to at least 1905. The team played its final recorded game in 1926, giving the franchise a history of over two decades.
Why are the Muncie Flyers historically significant in NFL history?
The Muncie Flyers are the third-shortest-lived team in NFL history, having played only three official league games. They are the shortest-lived franchise not from the state of New York, behind only the original New York Giants (two games) and the Tonawanda Kardex Lumbermen (one game).
What was the Muncie Flyers' worst NFL loss?
In just the second game in professional football association history, the Rock Island Independents defeated the Muncie Flyers 45-0. That crushing defeat in 1920 was their first and most lopsided NFL result.
Who was Cooney Checkaye and what was his role with the Muncie Flyers?
Cooney Checkaye was a local hero from Muncie who served as both a star player and long-time coach for the Flyers. He captained the 1919 team as coach and then coached continuously from 1921 through 1925, making him the central figure in the franchise's post-NFL years.
Why did the Muncie Flyers not play in 1918?
The Flyers did not field a team in 1918 due to United States involvement in World War I and the influenza epidemic. In September 1917, organizer Earl Ball had announced a team but canceled it a week later, on the 9th of September 1917, citing the war.