The Hartford Blues (Forgotten NFL Team)

 Being a fan of history, it is always fun to read about how these use to be or things that no longer exist for one reason or another. One of those historical things involves sports and with it being football season, I decided to write about an old NFL team.

Nowadays, people see the National Football League as this multi-billion dollar industry, which it is indeed. But it didn't start out that way. In fact, when I see some semi-pro football that happens around Mifflin County, it is exactly what the NFL was like back in 1920. Where teams were just basically traveling teams featuring regular folks, not the athletes we see today.

One of those teams had caught my eye was the Hartford Blues who 100 years ago played their one and only season with the NFL before leading and eventually folding. 

The Blues were created in 1924 by Connecticut sports promoter George Mulligan and in its first team years of existence, the Blues came out with two championships under Head Coach Dick McGrath. Originally, the Blues played at Waterbury before moving to Hartford.

Fun fact, a member of the Legendary Four Horsemen group from Notre Dame Football, Harry Stuhldreher who played during the 1925 season.

The only Hall of Fame player for the Blues was Tackle/Guard Steve Owen who also played for the Blues in 1925.

In 1926 the Hartford Blues were given a chance to join the NFL during their seven season. However, they would be without coach McGrath and was replaced by Jack Keogh. Unfortunately, the season did not go well for Hartford as they only went 3-7 finishing 13th in the standing.

The Blues scored victories over the Brooklyn Lions (16-6), Canton Bulldogs (16-7) and finally the Dayton Triangles (21-0).

Sadly as mentioned before, this was the only time that the state of Connecticut had a NFL team to call their own. With poor attendance as well struggles due to weather, the Blues were voted out by the NFL who were looking to reduce teams.

It truly is amazing to look back at some of these old teams and see where the league itself was at during those early years. It is crazy to think their have been several teams throughout the long history of the National Football League and seeing what it has become now is even more insane to think about.

Until Next Time! 

God Bless and Be Safe Everybody! 🙏🙏🙏

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