St. Louis University star Bradbury Robinson threw the first forward pass in the history of football, and the first touchdown pass, in a win over Carroll College.
His aerial attack helped prove that football could be less deadly — and more exciting. Imagine the United States of America without football — our most popular sport and a cherished cultural spectacle.
No Friday night lights, Saturday afternoon madness or Super Bowl Sunday. It nearly happened as gruesome violence on the gridiron in the early 1900s spurred calls from pigskin prohibitionists to spike football.
St. Louis University star Bradbury Robinson was the first player to take a shot downfield to save football and beat the blitz that threatened to sack the popular but deadly sport. MEET THE AMERICAN WHO BROUGHT BARBIE TO LIFE, RUTH HANDLER, FIERCE TESTAMENT TO GIRL POWER Robinson threw the first forward pass, and then the first touchdown pass, in the history of the game.