Nesser brothers

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The Nesser brothers were football players in the early days of professional football. From 1907 to 1922 they played for the Columbus Panhandles. It was a team made up predominately of members of the Panhandle shop of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Columbus, Ohio. Six Nesser brothers were long time members of the Panhandles, John, Phil, Ted, Fred, Frank and Al. For a game or two in 1921 Raymond the youngest of the children (twelve in all, eight boys and four girls) played in a couple of games.

In the early days of professional football the big draws were Jim Thorpe and the Nesser brothers. The Panhandles were managed by Joseph Carr who was to become the first commissioner of the NFL. Carr was able to keep the team financially afloat by playing most of their games on the road. Because most of them were railroad employees they could travel for free. That meant they didn't have to worry about stadium rental and all the other costs of the home team.

The Panhandles and specifically the Nesser brothers were known for their rough play. Knute Rockne was once quoted as saying "Getting tackled by the Nessers is like falling off a train-while it is going over a trestle." [1]

The importance of the Nesser brothers and Jim Thorpe can not be underestimated. They proved that people would pay to see professional football. These men were able to carry early professional football until the next generation of great football players like Red Grange who were ready to carry the torch.

Rathet, Mike; Don R. Smith (1984). The Pro Football Hall of Fame presents their deeds and dogged faith, pp. 46-50. ISBN 0-917439-02-3.