- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Theodore Roosevelt May Finally Get NFL Hall of Fame Induction
The former president's role in saving football could be honored next year during the NFL Draft on the National Mall.
Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:30pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A cubist interpretation of the historic moment when President Theodore Roosevelt intervened to reform and save the sport of football.Canton TodayU.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said he expects former President Theodore Roosevelt to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year, framing it as long-overdue recognition for a conservative icon who used the power of the presidency to help preserve and reform the sport of football in the early 20th century.
Why it matters
Roosevelt's potential induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame would honor his pivotal role in saving the sport of football from being banned in the early 1900s due to its dangerous 'flying wedge' formations and savage tactics that were leaving young players maimed or dead. His intervention and insistence on reforms helped transform football into the modern game we know today.
The details
In 1905-06, Roosevelt summoned the coaches of Harvard, Yale and Princeton to the White House twice to demand changes that would protect players while keeping the sport's competitive spirit intact. The resulting rules overhaul legalized the forward pass, required a neutral zone at the line of scrimmage, and helped create the modern gridiron game. These reforms also indirectly led to the creation of what became the NCAA, laying the institutional groundwork for college and professional football to grow into a multibillion-dollar industry.
- In 1905-06, Roosevelt intervened to reform football and save the sport.
- The NFL Draft is scheduled to be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. next year (2027).
- An official announcement about Roosevelt's Hall of Fame induction is expected next spring, coinciding with the 2027 NFL Draft.
The players
Theodore Roosevelt
The 26th President of the United States, who used the power of the presidency to reform football and save the sport in the early 20th century.
Doug Burgum
The U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who oversees the National Park Service and expects Roosevelt to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year.
Roger Goodell
The Commissioner of the National Football League.
What they’re saying
“Keep it a secret. Keep your fingers crossed, but I think we're going to see Theodore Roosevelt inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame....it's going to be announced on the Mall when Roger Goodell is conducting the draft.”
— Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
What’s next
An official announcement about Roosevelt's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is expected next spring, coinciding with the 2027 NFL Draft being held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The takeaway
Theodore Roosevelt's potential induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame would be a long-overdue recognition of his pivotal role in saving and reforming the sport of football in the early 20th century, helping transform it into the modern game we know today.
