Chris Red Cagle

Born May 1, 1905, in De Ridder, Louisiana, was the Louisiana-Lafayette (1922-25 ) and with Army from 1926 to 1929, halfback Chris “Red” Cagle. The National Football Foundation states in their bio of Red that Chris while at  Southwestern Louisiana chalked up 235 points by scoring touchdowns, kicking extra points and converting field goals.

This was a school record that lasted until 1989! He was able to play in college for 8 seasons as he split the balance of his NCAA career with the Army Cadets. Red was an All-America halfback the last three seasons at West Point. His longest runs were 75 yards against Yale, 1928; 70 yards against Ohio Wesleyan and 65 yards against Yale, 1929. In four years at Army he scored 169 points, averaged 6.4 yards per attempt in rushing and 26.4 yards on kickoff returns.

Our friend Chris Willis from NFL Films wrote in an article for the Pro Football Journal website that Cagle was on the cover of Time Magazine in 1929 while with Army. He was often seen playing with either his chin strap undone or with no helmet at all. Chris Cagle was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes. C. Willis goes on to tell us that Cagle played 5 steady but uneventful seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants. Red Cagle did however own an NFL franchise, the Brooklyn Dodgers, for a couple of seasons with his partner John “Shipwreck” Kelly. 

Chris "Red" Cagle (1905-1942) was a prominent figure in American football during the early 20th century. Cagle's college football career spanned eight years, beginning at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) from 1922 to 1925. There, he set a school record by scoring 235 points.

Cagle then transferred to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played from 1926 to 1929. He quickly became a star halfback for the Army Black Knights, earning All-America honors in his final three seasons (1927-1929). Known for his speed and agility, Cagle was a dangerous runner and a key player in Army's offense.

After his college career, Cagle played professional football in the NFL. He played for the New York Giants and later became a co-owner and player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cagle's impact on the game extended beyond his playing career. He was one of the founders of the Touchdown Club of New York.

Cagle's achievements in college football cemented his legacy. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.