By Darin How many men can say they were a Hall of Fame quarterback, a championship coach, a team owner, and a baseball executive—all while being the highest-paid player in the league? Jimmy Conzelman wasn’t just a participant in early professional football; he was one of its primary architects. From leading the Providence Steam Roller to a title in 1928 to pioneering the first-ever NFL night game under portable floodlights, Conzelman’s flair for innovation and leadership defined the gritty, formative years of the league. Discover the story of the man who wore every hat in the business and earned a gold jacket for doing it better than anyone else.
Football Bio
March 6, 1898 – St. Louis, Missouri – Jimmy Conzelman, the quarterback of the Great Lakes Navy Blue Jackets in 1918 and the Washington University of St. Louis Pikers in 1919, was born.
Jimmy Conzelman was an early NFL legend, playing 10 seasons as a quarterback, halfback, placekicker, and coach. He was a traveler in the young League as he spent playing times for many teams, including the Decatur Staleys in 1920, the Rock Island Independents from 1921-1922, the Milwaukee Badgers in the years of 1922 to 1924, the Detroit Panthers for the seasons of 1925 and 1926, and finally for the Providence Steam Roller in the years of 1927 through 1929. We talk about Jimmy with Detroit in our book Marooned: The Rise, The Fall, and The Redemption of the NFL’s Pottsville Maroons.
He was also a team owner in Detroit and, as player-coach, led the 1928 Providence Steam Roller to an NFL championship, per MOSportsHallofFame.com. Yes, on December 16, 1928, the Providence Steam Roller franchise won the National Football League Championship, posting an 8-1- 2 record. In that era of NFL football, the team with the best record at the end of the season was declared the champs. According to an NFL.com article, the Steam Roller had plenty of star players from that era of football on its roster.
Men like Jimmy Conzelman, the Cronin brothers Bill and Jack, Heavyweight Champ Gus Sonnenberg at running back, and one of my personal favorites, tailback George “Wildcat” Willson. Providence had an awesome defense, too, allowing only 42 points all season, including 5 complete shutouts.
Let me share the story of how Jim was part of another piece of gridiron history on November 6, 1929, in Providence, Rhode Island. Just days after the 1929 Stock market crash, signalling the start of the Great Depression, the Providence Steam Roller became the first NFL team granted permission by the NFL to host a game at night under floodlights, and they scheduled it at the Cycledrome in Providence. The Steam Rollers had enjoyed success the season before, winning the 1928 National Championship. Still, multiple key players had left for better-paying jobs before the 1929 season, so a gimmick like a night game might bring paying fans into the stands. The highest-paid man on the team was Conzelman, who doubled as quarterback and coach, earning a $ 292-per-game salary. Due to heavy flooding at the Cycledrome, the game against the Chicago Cardinals was moved to Kinsley Park to avoid losing revenue. The portable floodlights were moved to Kinsley, too, and the first NFL night game was played. The Steam Roller lost 0-16 but were satisfied that 6,000 fans attended after a season of low attendance. In 1930, floodlights were permanently installed in the Cycledrome, but the players “received a pay reduction for night games…to help pay for the cost of floodlight installation.” He served as head coach of the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals from 1940 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1948. He led the Cardinals to an NFL championship in 1947 and Western Division championships in 1947 and 1948. He was also an executive with the St. Louis Browns of baseball from 1943 to 1945. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined the football legacy of Jim Conzelman, both as a quarterback and a contributor, during 1964’s ceremonies at the Canton, Ohio, Museum.
Conclusion
Jimmy Conzelman’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of the NFL’s survival and growth. As a player-coach who commanded a top salary of $292 per game, he proved that professional football could be a viable, star-driven enterprise even during the economic turmoil of the Great Depression. Whether he was guiding the Providence Steam Roller to their only championship or orchestrating the Chicago Cardinals’ title run nearly two decades later, Conzelman remained a winner. He was a visionary who understood that the game belonged under the lights, and his 1964 Hall of Fame induction correctly honors him as one of the sport’s greatest “Renaissance Men.”
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1964.
- 3× NFL Champion: Won as player-coach of the Providence Steam Roller (1928) and as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals (1947). Note: Also a member of the 1921 Chicago Staleys.
- NFL 1920s All-Decade Team: Named as one of the era’s premier quarterbacks.
- First NFL Night Game: Orchestrated and played in the first game under floodlights (1929).
- Decatur Staleys Original: Member of the charter 1920 team (now the Chicago Bears).
- Multi-Team Owner: Former owner of the Detroit Panthers.
- Coach of the Year: Recognized for his leadership with the Chicago Cardinals.
- Missouri Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted as a legendary contributor to St. Louis sports history.
