The Official Website of the
The journey of a sandlot football team playing in Rochester, N.Y in 1898, to being an original member of the National Football League in 1920 and playing during the first six seasons of the NFL
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The semi-professional years
1912 to 1919
Over the next three years, the Jeffersons go from obscurity to appearing regularly in the sports pages of Rochester's major newspapers. By 1915, the team is decked out in bright red uniforms with a distinctive logo across the front of the jersey. This was not common anywhere in the country in 1915, an entire team wearing matching uniforms with a custom logo. This was brought about when Leo had the idea and asked his childhood friend what color the team should use. "Bright red like blood, the color of your sport" referring to the violent nature of football. The friend was Walter Hagen, future pro golf world champion, who played baseball and golf but not football. This was Leo's plan, stand out from all the other teams.
1916, the "Jeffs" beat Buffalo to win the New York State football championship. After a disputed ending, Leo wrote to Walter Camp for his thoughts on who the victor should be. Camp sides with Rochester!
Sheehan's Field
12 corners in Brighton 1910
COPY PROVIDED BY YALE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, SPECIAL REQUEST 2024
The 1916 Rochester Jeffersons
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Still interested in forming a new pro football league, Leo reads about teams in Ohio who have mentioned the notion. Looking to make his team known to those popular teams out west, Leo challenges Jim Thorpe and the Canton Bulldogs to a game. They were the most dominant team in the nation by far, crushing teams by scores like 56-0 and 70-0.
The "Jeffs" travel to Canton and lose 41-0. After the game, Leo briefly talks with Thorpe and Jack Cusack about forming a new pro football league. Thorpe tells Leo to keep in touch and when they do plan on starting one, Leo would be informed. 3 years later, it happens!
1918 was a tough year, World War 1 and the Spanish Influenza pandemic drained football teams of players and fans. Many were drafted and many died from the fast moving sickness. Travel bans and players/soldiers coming back and forth from war and home furloughs made scheduling games difficult but it worked for some teams. Some teams were dormant for the 1918 season with no championships awarded in any sports. The "Jeffs" played several military teams in 1918.
Leo Lyons
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe giving kicking exhibition prior to the 1917 game vs. the Rochester Jeffersons
Baseball Park
(Bay Street Ball Park)
Leo Lyons and wife Catharine with their 2 daughters
The Jeffs lose to Buffalo in a rematch game (first ended in tie in a snowstorm) for 1919 state championship
George Halas in NY Yankees uniform 1919. Leo turned Halas down when he was looking for an established football team to join.
1919 Rochester Jeffersons vs. All-Lancaster at Baseball Park, Rochester
( Along Bay St. & Webster Ave.)
Referee Herbert Benzoni, far right
"Jeffs" RB Henry McDonald, in front of Benzoni
"Jeffs" QB "Red" Quigley
"Jeffs" C Arthur Sherman Webb, with ball
Photo courtesy of Gary Maybee
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