The Kansas City Cowboys were a National Football League team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The team was founded as the Kansas City Blues in 1924, and as the Kansas City Cowboys in 1925 and 1926.[1] The Blues competed as a traveling team, playing all of their NFL games in other cities' stadiums in their only year under that name. LeRoy Andrews acted as the team's player-coach.
| Founded | 1924 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1926 |
| Based in | Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| League | National Football League |
| Team history | Kansas City Blues (1924) Kansas City Cowboys (1925–1926) |
| Team colors | Black, white |
| Head coaches | LeRoy Andrews |
| Home field(s) | Traveling Team |
History
editThe team was owned by Maurice R. Smith, Joe Brecklein and Cameron K. Reid. The Cowboys were known for dressing in cowboy attire and fans came out in great numbers to see them play. Immediately after the game, the Giants hired away head coach LeRoy Andrews and most of the Cowboys players. Maurice R. Smith then arranged to give what remained of the team to Cleveland under the condition that it would be given back if he wanted the team returned.
President Joe Carr (of the NFL) agreed to the arrangement although there was never any assurance it would be honored.
The Kansas City Cowboys were purchased in 1927 by Sammy Deutsch, a Cleveland jewelry dealer and sports promoter who had formerly owned the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924 before selling the money-losing team.[2] Deutsch saw the team as a new business opportunity when he was able to procure the services of Cleveland-born Michigan passing legend Benny Friedman, whom he contracted of an astounding $18,000 for the 1927 season — the second highest compensation package in the league behind only Red Grange.[2] With the sale, the era of NFL football in Kansas City came to a close until the incorporation of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFL-NFL merger of 1970.
In 1928 the Bulldogs again pulled up stakes, capitalizing on Friedman's Michigan connection to become the Detroit Wolverines. LeRoy Andrews was hired to coach the team.[3]
After a successful 1928 season, the Wolverines were purchased by Timothy Mara, owner of the New York Giants, to strip them of their assets, including first and foremost future NFL Hall of Famer Friedman, the league's first passing superstar. This brought the story of the Kansas City Cowboys, Cleveland Bulldogs and Detroit Wolverines to an end.[4]
Coach Steve Owen played for both the Cowboys and the successor Cleveland Bulldogs. He and LeRoy Andrews fell out over their part of the purchase price for the Cowboys when they were sold to the Bulldogs and resulted in his contract being sold to the New York Giants. Owen was hired as head coach of the Giants in 1931 and remained their coach until 1953.[5][6][7]
Pro Football Hall of Famers
edit| Kansas City Blues/Cowboys Hall of Famers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | ||||
| No. | Name | Position | Tenure | Inducted |
| — | Joe Guyon | T/HB | 1925 | 1966 |
| — | Steve Owen | T/G | 1924–25 | 1966 |
Season-by-season
edit| Year | W | L | T | Finish | Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | 1924 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 15th | LeRoy Andrews |
| Cowboys | 1925 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 13th | |
| 1926 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4th |
References
edit- ^ "Kansas City Cowboys (1924-1926)". sportsecyclopedia.com.
- ^ a b Murray Greenberg, Passing Game: Benny Friedman and the Transformation of Football. New York: Public Affairs, 2008; p. 140.
- ^ "Detroit Wolverines (1928)". sportsecyclopedia.com.
- ^ Fleming, Frank. "Detroit Wolverines". Sportsecyclopedia. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Coach Tackle Steve Owen". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ Fleming, Frank. "Kansas City Cowboys". Sportsecyclopedia. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Cleveland Bulldogs". Case Western Reserve University. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
See also
edit- Sports in Kansas City
- Kansas City Chiefs
- American Football League (1934) – sole championship was won by St. Louis/Kansas City Blues
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