Leo Lyons, the Rochester Jeffersons and the Birth of the NFL

by Jeffrey J. Miller, John D. Steffenhagen

Owner of one of the most successful semi-pro football teams in the country, Leo Lyons attended the National Football League's organizational meeting in Canton, Ohio, along with George Halas, Jim Thorpe, Carl Storck, Ralph Hay and a handful of other visionaries, and is recognized as a founding father of the league.

This meticulously researched biography details Lyons' participation in many of the league's milestone moments as well as the many concepts he introduced to the game. An integration pioneer, Lyons hired Henry McDonald, the fourth known black professional player, in 1912. Lyons' innovative "Jeffs" logo in 1915 was the first used by a professional football team. He conceptualized football trading cards as a promotional tool a year later. He even collaborated with the Wilson Sporting Goods Company to transform the ball from its melon shape into the one fans recognize today. This account presents Lyons' struggles to keep his team afloat in the turbulent early days of the NFL and delves into his involvement with underground figures as he sought to sign the famous Red Grange for his Rochester Jeffersons.

214 pages, Paperback

Published June 23, 2025

About the author

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Aka Jeff Miller