COFFIN CORNER VOLUME 48 NUMBER 2 IS NOW AVAILABLE IN MEMBERS ONLY. THE ISSUE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
PFRA-ternizing. Executive Director Lee Elder presents his annual “State of the PFRA” report to members and discusses the financial stability of the organization with continued growth, steady membership, increasing convention attendance, and expanding projects like The Coffin Corner and book series. The PFRA has also boosted its research output and social media presence, with plans to expand further with a YouTube presence. Reminders about Hall of Very Good nominations and membership renewals are also included.
2025 PFRA Awards. The official announcement of the Ralph Hay Award for lifetime achievement in pro football research and historiography, the Nelson Ross Award for recent achievement in pro football history, the Bob Carroll Memorial Writing Award for the best Coffin Corner article, and the Jack Clary Award for service to the organization.
The Hall of Very Good Class of 2025 by Jim Campbell, Matthew Keddie, Jeff Miller, Matt Reaser, Jay Thomas and John Turney. Career highlights of last year's class are listed for Jim Bakken, Charley Brock, George Christensen, Clem Daniels, Chris Hinton, Kent Hull, Greg Lloyd, Wilber Marshall, Nate Newton and Mike Stratton. Vote totals for all 2025 candidates are also included.
Dan Rosado: The First Puerto Rican to Start in the NFL by Mary Rosado. An intimate look at the inspiring story of a man who overcame long odds—returning to football after years in a blue-collar job—to become a starting center for the San Diego Chargers and one of the first players of full Puerto Rican descent to start in the league. This biography highlights both his perseverance and cultural impact, showing how his journey helped pave the way for greater Latino representation in pro football while emphasizing the pride in his heritage and his determination to achieve a dream.
The WFL, 1974–1975: Youngsters and Vets Looking for One Last Chance by Sean M. Miskimins. A spotlight on several players in the short-lived World Football League, overlooked rookies and former NFL players that were given a chance to showcase their talents, who often produced strong offensive performances and career revivals. Although the league folded after falling just short of two full seasons due to financial issues, the WFL served as the final opportunity for some, highlighting both unexpected success stories and missed opportunities.
2025 Player Deaths. A list of the pro football players who died last year, including information on the team(s) and league(s) they played for, the date and location of their death (if known) and their age when they passed away.
Ten Things You Probably Don’t Know About the Washington Redskins/Commanders by Mike Richman. Ten fun facts of a football franchise that has had four nicknames in its existence and borrowed the first two from Boston baseball clubs, with the second one from a coach‘s questionable backstory, or possibly a silent film—all courtesy of original owner George Preston Marshall. Along the way, the team has had everything from a quarterback who earned a Ph.D. in the realities of higher mathematics to a player named after rotten fish, to Don Meredith casually roasting President Nixon on live TV during one of its games—proving that pro football in the nation’s capital has always been just as entertaining off the field as on it.