The World Football League (WFL) was an American football league that played one full season in 1974 and most of its second in 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, only one team – the Hawaiians in Honolulu, Hawaii - was headquartered outside of continental North America. The league folded in 1975 midway through its second season.
William Earl Bergey was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals of the American Football League (AFL) in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft, the year before the AFL–NFL merger was completed, and continued to play with the Bengals in the NFL until 1973. Bergey subsequently signed with the Eagles the following year, where he played seven seasons until retiring in 1981.
The Chicago Fire was an American football team in the short-lived World Football League for one season, 1974.
Paul Dryden Warfield is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1977 for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, except for a year in the World Football League (WFL) with the Memphis Southmen in 1975. He was known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, and jumping ability. A consistent big-play threat throughout his career, his 20.1 average yards per reception is the highest in NFL history among players with at least 300 receptions.
James Solomon "Big Jim" Nance was an American professional football player who was a fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League (AFL). He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009. He played college football for the Syracuse Orangemen.
James Edward Fassel was an American college and professional football player and coach. He was the head coach of the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 to 2003. He was offensive coordinator of other NFL teams, and as head coach, general manager, and president of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL).
Thaddeus John Kwalick is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) and World Football League (WFL). He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1969-1974 and the Oakland Raiders from 1975-1977. In 1975, he also played with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League. He was an All Pro once, three times selected to the Pro Ball, was All American at Penn State, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Peter Falconer Beathard is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the American Football League (AFL), National Football League (NFL), and World Football League (WFL). He is the younger brother of former NFL executive Bobby Beathard and is Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback C. J. Beathard’s great-uncle.
Anthony Lee Adams is an American former professional football player, a quarterback in the World Football League (WFL), National Football League (NFL), and Canadian Football League (CFL).
Virgil R. Carter is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and the World Football League (WFL) from 1967 through 1976.
Gary Lee Shirk is a former professional American football tight end. He played with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He also played in the World Football League (WFL) for the Memphis Southmen and in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Memphis Showboats. Shirk played college football at Morehead State University.
George Ignacio Mira is an American former professional football quarterback who played in eight National Football League (NFL) seasons for four teams. He then played five seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the World Football League (WFL).
Michael Johnson Pyle was an American professional football player who was a center for nine seasons between 1961 and 1969 in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears. In 2019 he was selected as one of the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time.
Johnny Musso is an American former professional football player who was a running back for three seasons with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears. Musso played college football at the University of Alabama, where was a consensus selection on the 1971 College Football All-America Team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Leophus Hayden Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1971 to 1973. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft. He played in the NFL for the Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals
Walter "Buzz" Highsmith is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He played professionally in the American Football League (AFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), World Football League (WFL), and National Football League (NFL) as an offensive lineman. Highsmith served as the head football coach at Texas Southern University from 1989 to 1993, compiling a record of 19–34–2.
Michael Lavon Townsend is an American former professional football defensive back who played two seasons in the World Football League (WFL) with the Jacksonville Sharks and Memphis Southmen. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 1974 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame. He was a consensus All-American in 1973.
Rudolph H. Sikich was an American professional football tackle who played one season with the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Brooklyn Tigers in the fourth round of the 1944 NFL draft. Sikich played college football at the University of Minnesota and attended Hibbing High School in Hibbing, Minnesota. In 2000, he was inducted into the Hibbing High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
James Franklin Teal was an American football linebacker who played college football for Purdue (1969–1971) and professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions (1973), in the World Football League (WFL) for the Birmingham Americans/Birmingham Vulcans (1974-1975), and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Rough Riders (1977).
John Sykes was an American professional football running back. Sykes played college football at Morgan State University, where he broke several rushing records previously held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly. In his senior year and Morgan State he rushed for 1,007 yards on 193 carries. That year he was named an honorable mention to the Little All-America college football team and named to the all-MEAC team.
