Considered by many to be “one of the greatest players in the history of American football,” Jim Thorpe also deserves recognition for helping establish professional football in Portsmouth, Ohio. In the summer of 1927, when reports of Thorpe’s interest in coming to the city began to circulate, H. Coleman Grimes, the City Editor at the Daily Times noted that “Thorpe is regarded as one of the greatest exponents of the game, and should his services be secured here it would mean that Portsmouth would be placed back on the football map.” Jack Creasy succeeded in bringing Thorpe out of retirement, signing him to a 10-game contract that made him both coach and player for the new Portsmouth Shoe-Steels. This popular portrait of Thorpe captures him in a Canton Bulldog uniform, circa 1920.