Yale Bulldogs Inducted Into the College Football Hall of Fame

Step back in time to the very foundation of American football! Long before the era of million-dollar television deals and packed super-stadiums, the game’s roots ran deep through the hallowed grounds of Yale University. The Yale Bulldogs weren’t just a dominant force—they were pioneers, responsible for many of the rules and traditions we cherish today. If you’ve ever wondered which Eli legends are cemented in the sport’s most sacred shrine, you’re in the right place. We’re celebrating every player and coach from New Haven who has earned a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame, highlighting Yale’s unmatched historical impact on the gridiron!

List Yale Bulldogs in the College Football Hall of Fame

• Albie Booth
• Tom Shevlin
• Art Howe
• Lee McClung
• Ted Coy
• Larry Kelley
• John Kilpatrick
• Hank Ketcham
• Doug Bomeisler
• Pa Corbin
• Herbert Sturhahn
• Amos Alonzo Stagg
• Bill Hickok
• Gordon Brown
• Clint Frank
• Sam Thorne
• Mal Aldrich
• Dick Jauron
• James Hogan
• Bill Mallory
• Pudge Heffelfinger
• Frank Hinkey
• Carmen Cozza
• Alex Kroll

Conclusion

From the innovations of Walter Camp to the exploits of later legends, the incredible number of Yale Bulldogs enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame tells the story of the sport itself. Their dominance in the game’s formative decades laid the essential groundwork for every program that followed. While the focus of college football has shifted over the generations, the legacy of these Eli greats remains permanent. Their contributions—both on the field and in the rule book—ensure that Yale’s crimson traditions are forever woven into the fabric of American gridiron history.

Check out where the Eli lies on our list of schools represented in the College Football Hall of Fame.