▁football ▁coach ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 . ▁ ▁A ▁player ▁assumed ▁to ▁be ▁Grant ▁Di bert ▁( P itt s burgh ▁Athlet ic ▁Club ) ▁signed ▁the ▁first ▁known ▁pro ▁football ▁contract , ▁which ▁covered ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁club ' s ▁games ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 8 9 3 ▁season . ▁John ▁B ral lier ▁( L atro be ▁Athlet ic ▁Association ) ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁open ly ▁professional ▁football ▁player ▁on ▁September ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 8 9 5 ▁Al leg hen y ▁Athlet ic ▁Association ▁field ed ▁the ▁first ▁entirely ▁open ly ▁professional ▁team ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 6 . ▁Lat ro be ▁Athlet ic ▁Association ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁football ▁team ▁to ▁play ▁a ▁full ▁season ▁with ▁only ▁profession als ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 7 . ▁William ▁Ch ase ▁Temple ▁( D u ques ne ▁Country ▁and ▁Athlet ic ▁Club ) ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁individual ▁owner ▁of ▁a ▁professional ▁football ▁team ▁in ▁c . 1 8 9 8 . ▁The ▁first ▁ever ▁professional ▁football ▁all - star ▁game ▁held ▁between ▁the ▁Du ques ne ▁Country ▁and ▁Athlet ic ▁Club ▁and ▁players ▁from ▁Western ▁Pennsylvania ▁All - St ars . ▁Adam ▁Martin ▁Wy ant ▁( G reens burg ▁Athlet ic ▁Club ) ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁professional ▁football ▁player ▁to ▁get ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Congress ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 1 . ▁ ▁First ▁known ▁professional ▁players ▁William ▁" P ud ge " ▁He ff elf inger ▁– ▁Al leg hen y ▁Athlet ic ▁Association ▁–