Pudge Heffelfinger Becomes First Paid American Football Player in 1892
On November 12, 1892, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger made history by becoming the first paid American football player. This monumental moment took place at a game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Heffelfinger received $500 from the Allegheny Athletic Association. This payment changed the course of American football, marking the birth of professional football as we know it today.