Hartford Blues NFL Franchise

July 10, 1926 - The Hartford Blues franchise is accepted into the NFL and survives only during the inaugural season in the League. According to the ConnecticutHistory.org website, the Blues were the only NFL team to have called the State of Connecticut their home, except for the New York Giants, who played at the Yale Bowl in New Haven in 1973 and 1974, awaiting the completion of their new Meadowlands stadium.

The Blues team started in Waterbury, Connecticut, but according to writer Andy Piaskic, in the article. George Mulligan a local sports promoter started the Waterbury Blues in 1924 as an independent pro football team. In 1926, Mulligan relocated the team to Hartford and paid the NFL entry fee, making them a member of the League. It was a rough year as they played against some great players including Ernie Nevers and Johnny Blood of Duluth, Guy Chamberlin of the Frankford Yellow Jackets, Harry Stuhldreher (one of the famed Four Horsemen of Notre Dame) who played for Brooklyn in 1926, Steve Owen of the Giants,  and Pete Henry of Canton. They were supposed to also face Jim Thorpe when playing against the Bulldogs but he was injured for that game and did not participate. The Blues only manage to finish the season with a 3-7 record despite playing all home games save two.

In 1927, the NFL sought to reduce its number of teams; thus, after a vote, Hartford was dropped from its ranks. The Blues did play as an independent team one more season, posting a 7-1 record as the Hartford Giants, and then disbanded shortly after the season. It is interesting to note that, according to an advertisement in the Hartford Courant on September 25, 1926, a person could purchase a season ticket for the Blues' home games for $17.25. Isn't that about the cost of a beer and a hot dog at an NFL game now?