With February being Black History Month, we would like to honor Art Shell, who is recognized as the first African American head coach in the National Football League’s modern era.

A long-time Raider, Shell played offensive tackle for the silver and black from 1968 to 1982 and was elected to the Pro-Bowl eight times. In 1989, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was hired by Al Davis as the head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders. Shortly after the his hiring, Davis was quoted by The New York Times as saying, “If this is a historic occasion, it will really only be meaningful and historic if he is a great success.” Shell coached the Raiders for six seasons, posting a 54-38 record while appearing  in the post-season three times. Shell returned to Oakland in 2006 for one more season at the helm but won just two games.

Check out this piece from NFL Films “Road to Glory” showcasing the 1990 Raiders post-season win in which Shell coached his team to the AFC Championship game. The Raiders finished first in the division with a 12-4 record while Shell earned AFC Coach of the Year honors.

Back in 1876, Theodore Roosevelt attended his first football game as an 18-year old freshman at Harvard University.  He and his cronies traveled to New Haven, Conn., to watch the second ever Harvard-Yale game.  Although his school lost, Roosevelt was hooked on the game and the sport.  To him, football had a social purpose — it helped turn boys into men.  But not everyone felt that way …

A group of progressives thought football was too violent and they sought to ban it.  In 1905, when the violence of football seemed to be getting out of hand, Roosevelt called together the coaches of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton and asked them to reform the game.  They created an organization to help regulate the game — an organization that eventually became the NCAA — and invented the forward pass rule which allowed for the game to be spread across the field and minimized the amount of pushing and shoving — and slugging — that normally transpired.

After a few years, the violence dropped and football was saved.  So thank you, President Roosevelt.  And Happy Presidents Day!

Here’s more on the story of how Teddy Roosevelt saved football, featuring Inside the NFL’s own Susannah Collins:

February is Black History Month and we’d like to take the time to honor some coaches and players who were a part of the growth of the National Football League.  Today, we showcase Emlen Tunnell, the first African American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tunnell’s journey to the NFL was a long one.  Literally.  After attending the University of Iowa, he hitchhiked from Iowa to New York City to ask Jack Mara, Tim Mara’s son, to try out for the New York Giants.  14 years later–11 years with the Giants, 3 with the Green Bay Packers–Tunnell solidified himself as one of the greatest defensive backs in the league.  He ended his career with 79 interceptions, a record held until Paul Krause surpassed it in 1979, and earned 9 Pro Bowl honors.  Once he finished playing, he became a scout and assistant coach for the Giants.  Sadly, his life ended too soon after he suffered a heart attack during a practice session in 1975.

Check out this piece about Tunnell’s legacy from “Top 100 Greatest Players of All-Time”:

Former Pittsburgh Steeler, Jerome Bettis, celebrates his 40th birthday today. Selected 10th overall in the 1993 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Bettis was traded to the Steelers after three seasons. In his 10 years with Pittsburgh, “The Bus” rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons. He currently ranks fifth all-time with 13,662 career-rushing yards and is expected to one day be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Bettis achieved the ultimate swan song by announcing his retirement after the Steelers’ Super Bowl win in his native Detroit, Michigan. At that point in his career, “The Bus” was no longer in the driver seat, sharing carries with running back Willie Parker. However, Bettis helped grind out the necessary yards at the end of Super Bowl XL to ensure a Pittsburgh victory.

Relive Bettis’ championship ride in this clip from “America’s Game: The 2005 Steelers.”