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Football Before the NFL Trivia Quiz

This quiz is all about football history before the incarnation of the NFL in 1920.

A multiple-choice quiz by Tee14. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Tee14

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
211,244

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
477

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which two colleges played in the first American football game? Hint

Princeton and Yale

Yale and Harvard

Rutgers and Yale

Princeton and Rutgers

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who is known as the father of American football? Hint

George Halas

Walter Camp

Jim Thorpe

Teddy Roosevelt

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Question 3 of 15

3. Who was the first person paid to play in a football game? Hint

John Brallier

Jim Thorpe

William Heffelfinger

Grant Dibert

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Question 4 of 15

4. Who paid the first player who received money for playing? Hint

Allegheny Athletic Association

Jeannette Athletic Club

Pittsburgh Athletic Club

Latrobe Athletic Association

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Question 5 of 15

5. What was the first team comprised entirely of professional players? Hint

Pittsburgh Athletic Club

Morgan Athletic Club

Latrobe Athletic Association

Duquesne Country and Athletic Club

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Question 6 of 15

6. How many points did a touchdown originally count for? Hint

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which of these teams was still in operation as part of a 2005 NFL franchise? Hint

Morgan Athletic Club

Allegheny Athletic Association

Pittsburgh Athletic Club

Latrobe Athletic Association

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Question 8 of 15

8. How many points did a field goal originally count for? Hint

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which year was the forward pass legalized? Hint

1909

1906

1902

1908

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who threw the first completed forward pass? Hint

George Parratt

Charles Follis

Dan Riley

Christy Mathewson

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Question 11 of 15

11. Who was the first black pro football player? Hint

Dan Riley

William Temple

Dave Berry

Charles Follis

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which year did a touchdown become six points? Hint

1910

1912

1915

1913

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Question 13 of 15

13. In 1915, Jim Thorpe signed with which team? Hint

Dayton Triangles

Cleveland Indians

Akron Pros

Canton Bulldogs

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Question 14 of 15

14. In 1919, the Green Bay Packers franchise was formed. What were they named? Hint

the meat packing industry in general

Acme Packing Company

Indian Packing Company

Green Bay Packing Company

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Question 15 of 15

15. On what day was the meeting to form the NFL held? Hint

August 20, 1920

September 26, 1920

September 17, 1920

October 3,1920

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which two colleges played in the first American football game?

Answer: Princeton and Rutgers

Rutgers and Princeton played the first college football game ever on November 6, 1869. The rules were similar to modern rugby rules.

2. Who is known as the father of American football?

Answer: Walter Camp

Camp became involved with football at the 1876 Massasoit convention, where the first set of rules for football were written.

3. Who was the first person paid to play in a football game?

Answer: William Heffelfinger

Former Yale All-American guard William Heffelfinger was paid to play in a game on November 12, 1892.

4. Who paid the first player who received money for playing?

Answer: Allegheny Athletic Association

Heffelfinger was paid by the Allegheny Athletic Association to play in a game against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club.

5. What was the first team comprised entirely of professional players?

Answer: Latrobe Athletic Association

In 1897, the Latrobe Athletic Association football team became the first team to play a full season with only professionals.

6. How many points did a touchdown originally count for?

Answer: 4

In 1898, a touchdown was changed from four points to five.

7. Which of these teams was still in operation as part of a 2005 NFL franchise?

Answer: Morgan Athletic Club

In 1899, Chris O'Brien formed the Morgan Athletic Club, which later became known as the Normals, then the Racine Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals, and finally the Arizona Cardinals.

8. How many points did a field goal originally count for?

Answer: 5

In 1904, a field goal was changed from five points to four, later in 1909, a field goal dropped from four points to three.

9. Which year was the forward pass legalized?

Answer: 1906

The first forward pass completion in a pro game came on October 27, 1906, by George Parratt of Massillon.

10. Who threw the first completed forward pass?

Answer: George Parratt

The first pass completion came when George Parratt of Massillon threw a completion to Dan Riley.

11. Who was the first black pro football player?

Answer: Charles Follis

Halfback Charles Follis signed a contract with the Shelby Athletic Club, making him the first known black pro football player.

12. Which year did a touchdown become six points?

Answer: 1912

In 1912, a touchdown was increased from five points to six.

13. In 1915, Jim Thorpe signed with which team?

Answer: Canton Bulldogs

In 1915, Jack Cusack signed Thorpe to play for Canton.

14. In 1919, the Green Bay Packers franchise was formed. What were they named?

Answer: Indian Packing Company

Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun organized the Green Bay Packers. The Indian Packing Company provided money for equipment and allowed the team to use the company field for practices.

15. On what day was the meeting to form the NFL held?

Answer: August 20, 1920

The meeting was held at the Jordan and Hupmobile auto showroom in Canton, Ohio, August 20, 1920. This meeting resulted in the formation of the American Professional Football Conference, which later became the NFL.

Source: Author Tee14

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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