Check out PA’s PIGSKIN PROWESS in the PRO FOOTBALL Edition.

Not a lot of people associate PA with professional football, but the state holds SEVEN Lombardi Trophies, has produced an NFL commissioner and invented pro football itself. Many professional football legends get started here – GO PA! We produce Hall of Fame Quarterbacks like a machine. Some of these are rather obvious, while other will make you say “They’re from PA?”

The Birth of Pro Ball

Texas may have the most expensive football stadium and claim the gridiron in their blood, but Professional Football began in Pittsburgh in 1892. 41 years before the Steelers (or the Eagles) came to be, Pittsburgh hired players to compete against rivals in Ohio. “Pop” Warner wasn’t from Texas either. He was born in New York and did the bulk of his work at schools in PA – including Carlisle and Temple University. Tell my friend JR. He’s from Houston and thinks Texas invented everything that has to do with football.

The First Night Game

The same year that Pittsburgh started paying football players, Mansfield held the very first Lighted Night Football Game. It wasn’t entirely successful, but keep in mind this is 1892. Most of the surrounding area didn’t have electricity until decades later. This historic game is re-enacted every year at Mansfield’s 1890’s weekend. I know, because I live 15 minutes from there.

Pottsville Maroons

Fast-forward to 1925 and the NFL Championship went to the… Philadelphia… no… Pittsburgh… no… Pottsville Maroons!. That’s right, the home of Yuengling was a pro football power back in the day. Some kind of controversy ensued and the title was revoked, but the Maroons didn’t cry until things went their way like Bill Belichick does. Their locally made trophy carved from coal exists to this day.

Joe Montana

Possibly the greatest quarterback that doesn’t have sissy rules named after him, Joe Montana is from New Eagle, PA. He has 4 Super Bowl Rings, 3 Super Bowl MVP’s, 2 NFL MVP’s, 8 Pro Bowls, Athlete of the Year and more in his collection. And this was a time when the defense was actually allowed to touch the quarterback.

Raiders Hall of Famers

Hey Raiders fans, did you know you have some Hall of Famers from PA? Fred Biletnikoff played for Oakland from 1965 to 1978. When the Raiders won Super Bowl XI, Erie PA native Biletnikoff was MVP. George Blanda is a quarterback from Youngwood, PA. This Hall of Famer played for Oakland from 1967 to 1975.

Johnny Unitas

Once upon a time, the Colts weren’t in Indy and Baltimore’s Dirty Cheating Ratbirds were actually the original Cleveland Browns. That’s when we had Pittsburgh native quarterback Johnny Unitas racking up records like crazy – 3 NFL Championships, 10 Pro Bowls and the Super Bowl V ring. Unitas threw at least one touchdown in every game from ’56 to ’60. That record stood until Drew Brees in 2012.

More Colts and Cardinal Stars

Lenny Moore played Halfback for the Baltimore Colts with Johnny Unitas. Born in Reading PA, Moore was Rookie of the Year, holds 2 NFL Championships and is in the Hall of Fame since 1975. Charley Trippi is from Pittston and set tons of records and an NFL Championship with the Chicago Cardinals. He has been in the Hall of Fame since 1968.

Dan Marino

Dan Marino is the man. He was born in Pittsburgh and played his college ball at Pitt. Marino is a nine-time Pro Bowler and an NFL MVP. Although he has never won a Super Bowl ring, Marino is considered one of the greatest NFL Quarterbacks of all time and has a spot in the Hall of Fame to prove it.

Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles

PA may be relatively small, but we have 2 NFL teams. The Philadelphia Eagles were founded in 1933 and even continued to play during WWII by temporarily merging with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Eagles won Super Bowl LII against all odds, hold 3 NFL Championships and 4 Conference Championships. Fly Eagles, Fly (about once a cen-tu-ry… lol – sorry Dad).

NFL Commissioner

PA even produced an NFL Commissioner! Unlike modern commissioners, Bert Bell worked to improve the game for players and fans alike. Born in Philly, Bell was Head Coach and Owner of both the Eagles AND the Steelers before serving as NFL Commissioner from 1946 to 1959.

Mike Ditka

He won the Super Bowl playing for the Dallas Cowboys and won another one coaching the Chicago Bears. Mike Ditka is a force to be reckoned with. Besides the 2 Super Bowl rings, Ditka has an NFL Championship, 2 Coach of the Year awards, 5 Pro Bowls, and more. He was born in Aliquippa and played college ball at Pitt. Ditka has been in the Hall of Fame since 1988.

Jack Ham

With 4 Super Bowl rings, 8 Pro Bowls and Defensive Player of the Year, Jack Ham is considered one of the greatest Outside Linebackers of all time. Ham is 100% PA – born in Johnstown, college ball at Penn State, and a career with the Steelers from 1971 to 1982. As impressive as his Hall of Fame pro career is, PSU went 11-0 with Ham two years in a row.

Joe Namath

Born in Beaver Falls, PA on the same day as… ME, Joe Namath became a star both on and off the field. Namath played for the New York Jets from 1965 to 1976 and holds an AFC Championship as well as a Jets Superbowl III win at which he was named MVP. Known as ‘Broadway Joe’, Namath performed on TV, movies, plays and even had his own show after his football career.

Bears and Packers

Still going at the age of 93 (as of June 2018), Johnny Lujack from Connellsville PA is a Heisman Trophy winner and a pro football Hall of Famer who played with the Chicago Bears. Philadelphia native Herb Adderley has played for both the Packers and the Cowboys. He has 3 Super Bowl rings, 5x NFL Champ and 5 Pro Bowls. Adderly is in the Hall of Fame – the only player to appear in 4 of the first 6 Super Bowls.

How ’bout Them Cowboys

Some Dallas Cowboys legends come from PA. Running back Tony Dorsett was born in Rochester PA and went to Pitt. He has a Super Bowl ring and 4 Pro Bowls. Born in Pittsburgh, Randy White played defensive tackle and linebacker. He holds a Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, a Super Bowl Ring, Super Bowl MVP and 9 Pro Bowls.

LeSean McCoy and Revis Island

LeSean McCoy is from Harrisburg and played his college ball at Pitt. He played for the Eagles from 2009 to 2014 and The Bills since 2015. He is a 6 time Pro Bowler and sure to become a Hall of Fame Running Back. Also from PA and a Pitt Panther, Darrelle Revis became famous for ‘Revis Island’ as a cornerback for the Jets. He has a Super Bowl ring for his time with the Patriots and is a 7x Pro Bowler.

Jim Kelly

Just when you thought PA was out of legendary quarterbacks, here comes Jim Kelly. From Pittsburgh, Kelly led the Buffalo Bills to FOUR CONSECUTIVE Super Bowls. They lost each one, but Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame the very first year he was eligible, is a 5x Pro Bowler, and unfortunately is not related to me.

So much more

Every name on these two lists is a NFL Professional Football Player or Coach – all from Pennsylvania. They all know that there is a huge difference between performing well in high school against kids from down the road and an NFL career. Just ask these guys…

Steelers Nation

The greatest professional football team on the planet is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Founded in 1933 and holder of 6 Super Bowl Championships, 8 Conference Championships, 23 Division Championships, and 31 playoff appearances. Pittsburgh has been winning consistently since 1972. They accomplished all of this without constantly cheating or having the league make rules to cater to their players. Unlike most other franchise’s regional fans, the Steelers Nation spans the globe whether they are holding trophies or not.