Brallier in uniform for Washington & Jefferson, circa 1895
Date of birth
(1876-12-27)December 27, 1876
Place of birth
Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of death
September 17, 1960(1960-09-17) (aged 83)
Place of death
Latrobe, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)
Quarterback
US college
Washington & Jefferson College
West Virginia University
Medico-Chirurgical College
Indiana Normal School Note: Brallier never attended Indiana Normal, but still played on its football team
Career history
As coach
1896, 1902–1907
Latrobe Athletic Association
As player
1895–1896
Latrobe Athletic Association
1896
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
1898
Pittsburgh Athletic Club
1898
Latrobe Athletic Association
1902–1907
Latrobe Athletic Association
Career highlights and awards
First openly paid professional football player
3× W. Pennsylvania Circuit champion (1903, 1904, 1905)
4× undefeated seasons: (1902, 1903, 1904, 1905)
Pro coaching record: 36–3–4
Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
Military career
Allegiance
United States
Service/branch
U.S. Army
Years of service
1898
Battles/wars
Spanish–American War
John Kinport "Sal" Brallier (December 12, 1876 – September 17, 1960) was one of the first professional American football players.[1][2] He was nationally acknowledged as the first openly paid professional football player when he was given $10 to play for the Latrobe Athletic Association for a game against the Jeanette Athletic Association in 1895.[3]
^"Dr. John Brallier, Ex-Pro Gridder, Succumbs at 84." Ligonier, Pennsylvania: The Ligonier Echo, September 23, 1960, p. 6 (subscription required).
^"World's First Pro Grid Player Dies: Dr. John K. Brallier Passes At His Home in Ligonier Valley." Latrobe, Pennsylvania: Latrobe Bulletin, September 17, 1960, p. 1 (subscription required).
^PFRA Research. "Ten Dollars and Cakes: The "Not Quite" First Pro: 1895" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association: 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-18.
John Kinport "Sal" Brallier (December 12, 1876 – September 17, 1960) was one of the first professional American football players. He was nationally acknowledged...
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Latrobe won the contest 12–0. During this game, Latrobe's quarterback, JohnBrallier became the first player to openly admit to being paid to play football...
contract, which covered all of the club's games for the 1893 season. JohnBrallier (Latrobe Athletic Association) became the first openly professional...
football team in 1892, which was followed by the first open professional (JohnBrallier), the first all-professional team (the Latrobe Athletic Association)...
type games without rigid schedules and against a variety of opponents. JohnBrallier became the first open professional after accepting $10 to play for the...
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loyalty became famous and revered throughout the British Empire. 1895 – JohnBrallier becomes the first openly paid professional American football player...
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Latrobe won the contest 12–0. During this game, Latrobe's quarterback, JohnBrallier became the first player to openly admit to being paid to play football...
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professional ranks to a local amateur status in 1907 coincided with JohnBrallier's last year as a player. The team finished 5–2–2 or 5–3–2 in 1907. Prior...
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1904 Latrobe Athletic Association football Record 9–0 Manager JohnBrallier Head coach JohnBrallier Captain Harry Ryan Home field Latrobe Steel Athletic Grounds...
begun in 1895 when the Latrobe Athletic Association offered to pay JohnBrallier $10 to play against Jeannette. However just before his death in 1949...
hired play for Allegheny on November 12, 1892, for $500. Up until then JohnBrallier, of the Latrobe Athletic Association, was considered the first professional...
motivated the Canton Bulldogs-Massillon Tigers betting scandal. "Doctor Brallier Elected Manager". Latrobe Bulletin. October 9, 1906. p. 1 – via Newspapers...
their season ended, Abbatticchio and several Latrobe players such as JohnBrallier and Harry Ryan traveled to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and played for...