The Iron Giant of the Early Gridiron: Pete Henry

Wilbur “Pete” Henry revolutionized line play in early American football, combining brute strength, elite speed, and clutch special teams prowess to anchor NFL championship dynasties.

Football Bio

October 31, 1897 – Mansfield, Ohio – Wilbur “Pete” Henry was a 3-year All-American tackle from Washington and Jefferson College. Standing nearly six feet tall and weighing around 245 pounds—massive proportions for his era—Henry paired exceptional power with sprinter speed, laying the blueprint for the modern offensive and defensive tackle. His size earned him another nickname, “Fats.”

Pete signed to play with the Canton Bulldogs, coincidentally on the same day that the NFL’s precursor, the American Professional Football Association, was formed in Ralph Hay’s Hupmobile Showroom in Canton. A focused beast on the gridiron replaced the good-natured Henry off the field.

Pete’s most notable season was in 1923 with the Bulldogs, according to the National Football Foundation’s website. Henry booted a 94-yard punt, blocked a punt, scored a touchdown, and kicked nine field goals via drop kick. Oh, and by the way, the Canton Bulldogs won their second consecutive NFL Championship that year due in part to his outstanding play.

In the NFL for a total of 8 seasons, not only with Canton, but also a member of the Pottsville Maroons and the New York Giants. Pete Henry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Pete in the 1963 class of inductees.

College Career

Henry attended Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, competing on the varsity football team from 1915 through 1919. Dominating at tackle, he became a two-time consensus All-American in 1918 and 1919. Known as “Fats,” Henry possessed agility that bewildered opponents, often sprinting downfield on coverage units, executing crushing blocks, and serving as the Presidents’ primary kicker and punter. His dominant play elevated Washington & Jefferson into a national collegiate powerhouse.

Football Journey After College

When professional football organized into the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the NFL) in 1920, Henry signed with the Canton Bulldogs to play alongside Jim Thorpe. He served as the defensive and offensive cornerstone for Canton across two stints (1920–1923, 1925–1926).

Under player-coach Guy Chamberlin, Henry anchored Canton’s back-to-back undefeated NFL championship squads in 1922 and 1923. In 1924, rather than relocating to Cleveland when Canton’s franchise was bought out, Henry starred for the independent Pottsville Maroons, capturing the Anthracite League title. He returned to Canton after helping repurchase the franchise in 1925, split the 1927 season between the New York Giants and Pottsville Maroons, and closed out his NFL playing career with Pottsville in 1928 as player-coach.

Football Legacy

Henry helped legitimize professional football during its turbulent formative decade. Beyond opening running lanes and stuffing line scrimmages, he was a lethal kicking weapon. On October 28, 1923, Henry blasted a 94-yard punt against Akron—an NFL record that stood untouched for 46 years until 1969. After hanging up his cleats, he returned to Washington & Jefferson, serving as head coach and later athletic director, permanently ingraining his name into collegiate and professional football heritage.

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats

• NFL Championships: 2 (Canton Bulldogs, 1922, 1923)
• All-Pro Honors: 4-time First-team All-Pro (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923)
• All-Decade Team: NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
• Hall of Fame: Charter inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1963); College Football Hall of Fame (1951)
• Career Games: 86 games played (79 starts) across 8 seasons
• Scoring & Kicking Stats: 14 field goals made, 40 extra points made, 67 punts for 2,511 yards (37.5-yard average), and 1 receiving touchdown (1923).

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