The Pottsville Maroons: 1925 NFL Champions?

Now it is no secret that I love the game of football. Of course being from Pa, it is almost expected. And with so many different successful teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Penn State Nittany Lions, the Pitt Panthers, and plenty of amazing high school football teams. It is no wonder the game of football is popular among the many of us here in the state of Pennsylvania.

But I am also a bit of a history buff and I recently discovered that there were other teams that competed in the pro level. In fact, they even won an NFL Title, well sort of. Which is the topic I wanted to write about today and that is the Pottsville Maroons.

The Maroons were formed back in 1920 but were known as the Pottsville Eleven. At the time, Pottsville had such talents like Carl Beck, Benny Boynton and Stan Cofall.

By 1924, Pottsville joined the Anthracite League which only lasted for a season. Prior to joining the league, Pottsville became the Maroons after they placed an ordered new jerseys and that they didn't care what color they were so they became the Maroons after receiving their new football jerseys and they were maroon.

The Maroons dominated the league winning the Anthracite title going a record of 12-1-1 while scoring 288 points throughout the season while holding teams to 17 points.

They ended up joining the NFL the following season in 1925 and took the league by storm. But this is where things get a little weird. You see, during the Maroons first season they along with the Chicago Cardinals now Arizona Cardinals had the two best records in the league at the time. The two teams met and it was the Maroons who came out on top by the final score of 21-7.

However, Pottsville were suspended for their last game and were not given the NFL title. In fact, it was given to the Cardinals who at time, their owner Chris O'Brien straight up refused to acknowledge that his team as the champions saying that the Maroons had defeated them fair and square. Which I admire that.

What is even crazier was that the Cardinals had issues with the NFL that year too as they had gotten in trouble for playing two teams who had dispersed earlier in the year and got two wins out of it.

So ultimately, at the time no one was rewarded the title. That was until 1933 when for some reason everybody started saying that the Cardinals were the 1925 champions. And ever since, it has been a sore subject for many people in football.

In 1963 there was an attempt to reopen the case but was voted 12-2 for not reopening with the only two supporters of Pottsville were Art Rooney and George Halas owners of the Steelers and Bears respectfully.

Another attempt was made in 2003 but again, only two teams were in support of the Maroons, with the Steelers as well as the Eagles. Which is kind of ironic because the Eagles are the successor to the Frankford Yellow Jackets who were the very reason this all started. 

Now, in my humble opinion, I think the NFL needs to reward the title to Pottsville simply because it is the right thing to do. My main reason is because of O'Brien who refused to accept the title claiming it belongs to Pottsville. Which is good enough for me. Plus, people like Art Rooney and George Halas who are highly respected owners have also gone on record and voted that the case should be reopened and title given back to the Maroons.

Probably the biggest opponent of the reversal is the current owners of the now Arizona Cardinals which is the Bidwill family who have owned the team since 1933 and began to claim the title as their own. The Cardinals currently holds the record of the longest drought of not winning a championship as well as the longest drought of not winning a championship out of all four of the major sports leagues.

But again, it has nearly been a 100 years since this happened. Maybe it is time that the NFL gives Pottsville what they deserve and that is acknowledgement that the Maroons are the 1925 NFL champs. 

In fact, Hall of Famer Red Grange said it better than I ever could. Quote: "The Pottsville Maroons were the most ferocious and most respected players I have ever faced. You know, I always believed that the Maroons won the NFL championship in 1925. But were robbed of the honor."

Hopefully someday the Maroons will get the NFL championship.

Until Next Time!

God Bless and Be Safe! 🙏🙏🙏