Akron-Canton Football Heritage

Football in the Akron-Canton area can be traced back to the 1890s with Buchtel College and John W. Heisman. In the early 1900s, multiple professional teams sprouted throughout the eastern Ohio region. Major powerhouses included the Canton Bulldogs, Akron Indians, and Massillon Pros. In 1920, the Akron Pros became the first modern-day national champions of organized football. With the formation of the American Professional Football Association and the National Football League, many players and coaches with ties to the Akron-Canton region have become synonymous with football excellence. Today football in this area continues to play an integral part of life from the high school level to the college ranks to all types of professional football.

Akron-Canton Football Heritage traces the rich and storied history of football in the region as well as the contribution of local players, coaches, and teams through pictures obtained from multiple collections.