By Darin Can you imagine a player returning 18 kicks in a single game? Long before the era of specialized rosters and protected quarterbacks, Art Howe was the tactical engine behind one of the most dominant dynasties in gridiron history. As the field general for the Yale Bulldogs during their “Golden Era,” Howe orchestrated an undefeated season where the defense didn’t surrender a single point. From game-winning touchdown passes to setting endurance records that still baffle modern fans, Howe’s legacy is a testament to the toughness of early 20th-century football.
Football Bio
March 3, 1890 – South Orange, New Jersey – The brilliant Yale Quarterback from 1909 to 1911, Art Howe, arrived in the world. The FootballFoundation.org website states that Howe was the sophomore quarterback on a Yale team that went 10-0 and out-scored its opponents 209-0.
Art followed that season up in his junior year of 1910, where he threw a touchdown pass to John Kilpatrick to edge out a tough Princeton squad by the score of 5-3. On November 18, 1911, against Princeton, Howe set a collegiate record by returning 18 kicks. Art Howe was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
Conclusion
Art Howe represented the pinnacle of the “Ivy League Era,” a time when Yale sat at the very center of the football universe. His ability to impact the game as both a passer and a return specialist made him one of the most versatile threats of his generation. While his 18-kick return record remains a fascinating statistical anomaly, his true greatness lay in his leadership during Yale’s 1909 perfect season. Inducted into the Hall of Fame over sixty years after his final snap, Howe’s contributions remain a foundational part of college football history.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1973.
- National Champion: Quarterback of the undefeated 10-0 Yale team in 1909.
- 1909 Defensive Milestone: Led a Yale offense that supported a defense that allowed 0 points the entire season.
- NCAA Record Holder: Set the record for most kick returns in a single game (18) against Princeton on November 18, 1911.
- All-American Honors: Recognized as one of the premier quarterbacks of the early 1910s.
- Yale Team Captain: Served as the leader of the Bulldogs during the 1911 season.
- Big Three Dominance: Instrumental in key victories over rivals Princeton and Harvard during his three-year tenure.
