Who is credited with instituting the forward-pass rule in American football?

The correct answer is President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1905, he demanded that a change should be made to the football rules as eighteen (18) players were killed and one hundred fifty nine (159) were injured. The forward pass was intended to open up the game and to minimize the massive pile ups associated with the traditional lateral pass. At this time, football was very much like rugby.

Roosevelt negotiated between two major players in the decision: Harvard coach William T. Reid, Jr., who wanted to reform the game, and Yale Coach Walter Camp (father of American football) who did not support change. Roosevelt and Reid finally won out, promoted the change and the rule was adopted in 1906. Many refer to Roosevelt as the president who saved football.

Ironically, The NCAA didn't make helmets mandatory until 1939 and the NFL in 1943.

More Info: www.washingtonpost.com

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14 Comments

Steve Heady

Another poorly worded question. Roosevelt wanted football reform, but Heisman specifically help institute this rule. Make questions more specific.

Kevin Coleman

This is wrong. TR wanted to open up the game. He never said pass the ball. The rule was pushed through by John Heisman. Nowhere does it say TR ordered the ball to be thrown. Extremely misleading and under researched!

George Oliver Prince

Should have guessed, but I keep thinking of Pop Warner's role in the forward pass

John Hughes

John W. Heisman. Player and coach for whom the Heisman Trophy is named. Succumbed to complications from pneumonia in NYC. Buried close to his wife's family in Rhinelander, WI. Trivia question that I saw just the other day.

Carol Focht Cheney

William Paul McCartney is Paul McCartney of The Beatles and later Wings

John Hughes

Agree with others. Poorly worded question

Joann C. Bolda

...in agreement with Steve H..

Jas Newman

This is verbatim from Wikipedia: " The rules committee then legalized the forward pass, for which Heisman was instrumental, enlisting the support of Henry L. Williams and committee members John Bell and Paul Dashiell.[125][126] Heisman believed that a forward pass would improve the game by allowing a more open style of play, discouraging mass attack tactics and the flying wedge formation.[22][127] The rule changes came in 1906, three years after Heisman began actively lobbying for that decision."

Jas Newman

Steve Heady, Yes! This is verbatim from Wikipedia: " The rules committee then legalized the forward pass, for which Heisman was instrumental, enlisting the support of Henry L. Williams and committee members John Bell and Paul Dashiell.[125][126] Heisman believed that a forward pass would improve the game by allowing a more open style of play, discouraging mass attack tactics and the flying wedge formation.[22][127] The rule changes came in 1906, three years after Heisman began actively lobbying for that decision."