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unusual facts about Rock Island Independents



1920 Hammond Pros season

At that meeting, held at Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay's Hupmobile showroom in Canton, representatives of the Rock Island Independents, the Muncie Flyers, the Decatur Staleys, the Racine Cardinals, the Massillon Tigers, the Chicago Cardinals, and the Hammond Pros agreed to join the league.

Joe Little Twig

After the franchise folded in 1923, Joe and Thorpe joined the Rock Island Independents for the 1924 and 1925 seasons.

Tampa Cardinals

After the 1925 season, Thorpe formed a team composed primarily of Thorpe's teammates from the NFL’s Rock Island Independents, that would play several games throughout Florida.


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