Rock Island Independents

From SportsPaper Wiki
Rock Island Independents
First Season
1907
Team History
Rock Island Independents (1907-26)
Conference/Division
American Football League (1926)
National Football League (1920-25)
Independent (1907–1919)
Venue
Douglas Park (1907-26)
Key People
Players • Head Coaches • Executives


The Rock Island Independents were a professional American football team, based in Rock Island, Illinois. The Independents were a founding National Football League franchise. They hosted what has been retrospectively designated the First National Football League Game on September 26, 1920 at Douglas Park. The Independents were founded in 1907 by Demetrius Clements as an independent football club, hence the team was named the "Independents."

In 1926, the Independents left the NFL to become a charter member of the first American Football League, the only NFL team to do so. The Independents then folded along with the entire league in 1927. A second, unrelated Rock Island Independents played at the Northwest Football League in 1936.

Publications

Home programs by season

1920s

Week Date Opponent Venue
1920
Week 1 October 24 vs. Chicago Cardinals Douglas Park

See also

List of defunct NFL franchises

Franchise.png Franchises Portal


National Football League
AFC East North South West
Buffalo Bills (Highmark Stadium)
Miami Dolphins (Hard Rock Stadium)
New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium)
New York Jets (MetLife Stadium)
Baltimore Ravens (M&T Bank Stadium)
Cincinnati Bengals (Paycor Stadium)
Cleveland Browns (FirstEnergy Stadium)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Heinz Field)
Houston Texans (NRG Stadium)
Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium)
Jacksonville Jaguars (TIAA Bank Field)
Tennessee Titans (Nissan Stadium)
Denver Broncos (Empower Field at Mile High)
Kansas City Chiefs (Arrowhead Stadium)
Las Vegas Raiders (Allegiant Stadium)
Los Angeles Chargers (SoFi Stadium)
NFC East North South West
Dallas Cowboys (AT&T Stadium)
New York Giants (MetLife Stadium)
Philadelphia Eagles (Lincoln Financial Field)
Washington Commanders (FedExField)
Chicago Bears (Soldier Field)
Detroit Lions (Ford Field)
Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field)
Minnesota Vikings (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Atlanta Falcons (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Carolina Panthers (Bank of America Stadium)
New Orleans Saints (Caesars Superdome)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Raymond James Stadium)
Arizona Cardinals (State Farm Stadium)
Los Angeles Rams (SoFi Stadium)
San Francisco 49ers (Levi's Stadium)
Seattle Seahawks (Lumen Field)
Defunct franchises Akron Pros/Akron Indians • Baltimore Colts • Brooklyn Dodgers • Buffalo NFL teams • Canton Bulldogs • Cincinnati Reds • Dallas Texans • Detroit Wolverines • Frankford Yellow Jackets • Kansas City Cowboys • Orange/Newark Tornadoes • Pottsville Maroons/Boston Bulldogs • Racine Tornadoes • Rock Island Independents • All defunct franchises
Related American Football League • League publications • League records • Pro Bowls • Seasons • Stadiums • First overall draft picks • American Bowl • NFL International Series • Pro Football Hall of Fame Game