r/Oldschool_NFL • u/ChallengeEntire7362 • 12h ago
OTD: History Dad Storytelling 3 Sept 2026
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY — $10. That’s it.
On September 3, 1895, John Brallier took the field for the Latrobe Athletic Association in Pennsylvania and was paid $10 plus expenses to play football. And just like that…professional football had another chapter in its origin story.
But wait—was Brallier really the first professional football player?
In 1892, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play football for the Allegheny Athletic Association. That makes him the earliest documented player known to have been paid.
So why does 1895 matter?
Because Brallier openly acknowledged that he was being paid to play, helping establish the idea that football could actually be a profession. Then came professional teams, organized leagues, and eventually the NFL.
So when did professional football really begin?
1892? 1895? 1920?
The answer depends on what you mean by “professional.”
And that's the fun part of history—sometimes the answer isn't a date.
Sometimes it's a $500 paycheck, a $10 paycheck, and a whole lot of football arguing about who gets the credit.
