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Profile: Born on October 22, 1880 in Columbus, Ohio Joseph Carr became a wealthy sportswriter and promoter despite a lack of a college education. Carr’s first involvement with Professional football came when he founded the Columbus Panhandles. In 1920 the Panhandles were one of the first teams to join a new league known as the American Professional Football Association, which he was instrumental in co-founding.

In 1921 Carr would become the new league’s second president, a year later he would step away from his team to concentrate solely on making the new league financially successful. In his tenure the league would transform from a much club owners to a rigidly run professional football league with integrity, which would also be renamed the National Football League in 1922.

Joseph Carr, banned collegiate players from playing, introduced thee standard player’s contract. He would also see the league through its toughest years during the depression as many teams barely hung on. To make the league more stable, Carr would work tirelessly to interest financially capable new owners. In 1933 he arranged for an end of year Championship game, thus beginning the modern era. However, that same year he banned Blacks form competing in the league, stating whites needed the jobs more.

Carr, who also served as president of the American Basketball League (ABL) from 1925 to 1928, and was also president of the Columbus Senators (baseball) team from 1926 to 1931. would serve as NFL President until his death on May 20, 1939 at the age of 58.