1915-1928: The Staten Island Stapletons were formed as a neighborhood team in the New York Borough of Staten Island in 1915. The team was organized by Dan Blaine, who also served as the team’s halfback, and later became rich by franchising restaurants. The team played in the Stapleton neighborhood in Staten Island, giving the team its name. The team won several local semi-pro titles before and after World War I. The Stapletons would get their own stadium in 1921, when Thompson’s Lumber Company built them an 8,000 seat stadium. In 1924, the Stapes as they were commonly called won the Metropolitan Championship in New York, but they would soon be overshadowed when the New York Giants were formed in 1925. The Stapletons would face the Giants on Thanksgiving and put up a good showing before losing 7-0. The Stapletons remained in the shadows in 1926, losing 33-0 to the Newark Bears of the AFL. As the AFL folded after one season, the Stapletons would benefit signing several players off the Bears roster including Doug Wycoff. In 1928 the Stapes had their finest season at 10-1-1, including 7-0 upset of the Giants at the Polo Grounds, as they won three of four matchup with teams in the NFL. When the New York Yankees folded following the 1928 season, Dan Blaine sought permission from Giants Owner Tim Mara for the franchise rights and joined the NFL.

1929: With Dough Wycoff serving as player-coach, the Stapletons made their NFL debut on October 6th beating the Dayton Triangles 12-0 at Thompson Stadium. A week later in their first NFL meeting with the New York Giants, the Stapes were handed a slice of humble pie, losing 19-9 at the Polo Grounds. The Stapleton would not win any of their next four games, playing three ties in a two week stretch. The Stapletons would get back on track with wins against the Boston Bulldogs and Minneapolis Red Jackets. However, hosting the Giants on Thanksgiving would bring more disappointment as they suffered at 21-7 loss. The Stapletons would close the season with a lackluster 3-0 to the Orange Tornadoes, posting a record of 3-4-3, which landed them in sixth place in the NFL standings.

1930: The Stapletons looked for a much better result as they entered their second season in the NFL. Like their first season, the Stapleton started the season with a home win, beating the Newark Tornadoes 12-6 at Thompson Stadium. After splitting a weekend home and home series with the Frankford Yellow Jackets, the Stapes played the Tornadoes to a 7-7 draw at Schools Stadium in Newark. Following back to back losses, the Stapletons beat the Tornadoes 6-0 a return trip to the Garden State. Like their first season, the Stapletons would hover near .500 all season. Late in the year they had the best week in franchise history, winning games against the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants around the Thanksgiving holiday. However, a chance to finish the season with a winning record went by the board as they were throttled by the NFL Champion Green Bay Packers 37-7 in the final game of the season. Once again the Staten Island Stapletons would finish in sixth place with a record of 5-5-2.

1931: With Doug Wycoff departing to play with the New York Giants, the Stapletons had new coach with Hinkey Haines and Marty Brill sharing the duties. Despite opening the season with a 9-6 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers, the year was a struggle for the Stapletons, as the depression was hitting Staten Island hard, as their small stadium made for it hard to turn a profit. The Stapes lost seven of their first nine game, with both wins coming at the expense of the Dodgers. The Stapletons would somewhat salvage their season by winning their last two games, including a 9-6 win against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving at Thompson Stadium. The Stapletons would finish the year in seventh place with a record of 4-6-1.

1932: With the NFL undergoing a growth in popularity across the league despite the depression, teams in smaller markets began to feel the pinch. The Stapletons in a small stadium were all but doomed with the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers both in major league stadiums. The Staples would struggle all season, posting a record of 2-7-3 as they finished dead last in the NFL standings. The Stapletons Thanksgiving winning streak against the Giants ended with a 13-13 tie at Thompson Stadium. Three days later on November 27th the Stapletons lost to the Green Bay Packers 21-3 in what would be their final NFL game. The Stapletons would suspend operations following the season and returned to independent ball in 1934 where they folded and have since been largely forgotten.