Football Daily

A look at the shortest-lived franchise, at least by games played, in the NFL's history, with Football Learning Academy founder Ken Crippen.

Football historian, author, and founder of the Football Learning Academy LLC, Ken Crippen is definitely a great resource of knowledge on the gridiron game.

Mr. Crippen is the former executive director of the Professional Football Researchers Association and has been researching and writing about pro football history for decades!

You can enjoy his football knowledge on the Football Learning Academy website and the Sports History Network by the same name hosted by Ken.

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We have heard of the famous lost NFL Championship of the Pottsville Maroons in 1925 and the controversy surrounding it. However, another Title controversy brewed a few seasons earlier concerning a now-defunct franchise when the League was still under its original American Professional Football Association banner.

Controversy is always good subject matter for a solid story, and what we have for today is solid. Back in 2021 we spoke with Football Learning Academies' Ken Crippen, speaking of a Buffalo All-Americans NFL title controversy with the Chicago Staleys and George Halas.

The 1921 APFA title, the precursor to the NFL championship, went to the Chicago Staleys (later Bears) in a controversial decision. Both the Staleys and Buffalo All-Americans finished the season with a 9-1-1 record. A tiebreaker game was played, but there's disagreement on its significance. Buffalo believed it was an exhibition, while Chicago argued it counted towards the standings. The Staleys won the game, and league officials ultimately awarded them the title. This decision, known as the "Staley Swindle" by Buffalo fans, remains a point of contention.

Big thanks to Ken Crippen for sharing the information and his time. Check out the Football Learning Academy https://www.football-learning-academy.com/.

Ken has written a few books on Buffalo Pro football too. We share some links through our Amazon Associates Account that gives some proceeds to the running of Pigskin Dispatch if purchased through. Kens books include:
The Original Buffalo Bills: A History of the All-America Football Conference Team, 1946-1949.

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The Original Baltimore Colts and their AAFC Team Story

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The bio of the gridiron historian, author, and founder of the Football Learning Academy, Ken Crippen, as found on the FLA website.