Elmer Layden From Football Horseman...

Elmer Layden's football career can be summarized in three distinct chapters: his playing days as a bruising fullback for Notre Dame (1922-1925), his role as a College Coach (1925-1941), and his later role as the executive of the NFL.

May 4, 1903—Davenport, Iowa—Elmer Layden, the famous Notre Dame fullback from 1922 to 1924, was born. The National Football Foundation has a really good bio on Layden that says he was one of the famed Fighting Irish Four Horsemen. He was the heaviest of the four at 162 pounds, but his nickname was “thin man.”

Layden had a fantastic career in football, covering almost every aspect of the sport on multiple levels. He had an impact and made a name for himself at almost every stop along the way.

✦ Playing Career (1922-1925): A Dominant Force at Notre Dame

Layden was a crucial figure in Knute Rockne's legendary Notre Dame Fighting Irish teams of the early 1920s. Known for his power running and relentless determination, Layden earned the nickname "The Galloping Ghost" for his ability to break tackles and churn out yards. He played a pivotal role in Notre Dame's undefeated seasons in 1923 and 1924, contributing significantly to the program's rise to national prominence.

Layden played some spot promotional games professionally with the Notre Dame All-Stars exhibition team and even a game or two with some NFL-caliber squads, including joining his Four-Horseman mates on the Hartford Blues roster for one game in 1925.

✦ Coaching Career Blossoms

Elmer was the head football coach at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, for the 1925–26 campaign, holding a winning record. However, he moved back towards the East, and from 1927 to 1933, he was head coach at Duquesne University.

In 1934, he returned to his Alma Mater to become the Athletic Director and head football coach of Notre Dame, posts that he held for seven seasons. Layden's Irish teams sported a respectable 47–13–3 record.

✦ A Legacy of Impact

Though his coaching career was brief, Layden's influence on the game is undeniable. His innovative "man in motion" concept paved the way for future offensive strategies. As a player, he was a crucial figure in Notre Dame's early dominance, impacting the program's history. Elmer Layden's career represents a unique blend of on-field prowess and strategic innovation, securing his place as a noteworthy figure in the annals of football history.

✦ Quick Summary of the Football life of Elmer Layden

Born May 4, 1903, in Davenport, Iowa, was the famous Notre Dame Fighting Irish fullback of 1922 to 1924, Elmer Layden was born. Elmer was one of the famed Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. He was not only a player, but also served as a coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. After his collegiate playing days, he played pro ball in the original AFL in 1925 and in 1926 with three clubs, the Hartford Blues, the Brooklyn Horsemen, and the Rock Island Independents. He began his coaching career during the same two seasons at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College. Layden then served as the head coach at Duquesne University from 1927 to 1933 and at his alma mater, Notre Dame, from 1934 to 1940, where he also held the position of athletic director. From 1941 to 1946, Layden was the commissioner of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1951.