John Dunn, NFL Vice President (1921-1928)
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 11:07 am
John Dunn, the franchise owner for the Minneapolis Marines, later revived as the Minneapolis Red Jackets, served as vice president of the APFA and National Football League from 1921 through 1928, despite the fact he did not field a team in the league during half of his tenure as vice president.
Surely, Dunn had made friends in the NFL. He convinced Red Grange to play an exhibition game against an ad hoc Marines team in 1927, and then in 1928, the Marines, still an ad hoc proposition, played both the Packers and the Bears.
Has anyone run across any information that suggests that Dunn had Halas, perhaps, as an ally, or that Carr had made moves to keep Dunn around because he wanted to keep Minneapolis on the NFL's radar? I just think it's an odd thing that Dunn was re-elected vice president seven times even though he didn't always have a team. Maybe he was good at telling jokes over dinner.
Surely, Dunn had made friends in the NFL. He convinced Red Grange to play an exhibition game against an ad hoc Marines team in 1927, and then in 1928, the Marines, still an ad hoc proposition, played both the Packers and the Bears.
Has anyone run across any information that suggests that Dunn had Halas, perhaps, as an ally, or that Carr had made moves to keep Dunn around because he wanted to keep Minneapolis on the NFL's radar? I just think it's an odd thing that Dunn was re-elected vice president seven times even though he didn't always have a team. Maybe he was good at telling jokes over dinner.