In what US state was the first professional football game played?

CrazeeTracy

The first professional football game played in the U.S. was in 1895 at a place called Latrobe, Pennsylvania, between a Latrobe team and one from Jeannette, Pennsylvania. http://www.senioryears.com/football.html Jan 17 08, 7:56 AM

AyatollahK

The state is right: Pennsylvania. And the story of Latrobe (perhaps best known as the home of Arnold Palmer) was accepted until the 1960s -- the Latrobe quarterback had received $10 for playing in the game. However, in the 1960s, the account books for the Allegheny Athletic Association for 1892 became public, and the world found out that the first pro game that could be proven was the November 12, 1892 game between AAA and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club in Pittsburgh. William "Pudge" Heffelfinger received $500 for playing. Not coincidentally, he also forced a fumble and returned it for the game's only touchdown as AAA defeated PAC, 4-0. http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=1892 As you can see from the story, not only were there two pros in the AAA lineup (Heffelfinger and Sport Donnelly), but there is the very real possibility that PAC was paying players as well. To this day, the 1892 game is the earliest known pro game. But you'll still find the Latrobe game listed as well, perhaps because old habits die hard. Jan 18 08, 12:34 AM