Robert Duke Osborn (February 1, 1897 – November 2, 1976) was an American football player. After high school, Osborn attended Penn State University. Osborn made his professional debut in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

in 1921 with the Canton Bulldogs. He would go to help the Bulldogs win back-to-back NFL Championships in 1922 and 1923. During the course of his career, Osborn also played for the

Cleveland Bulldogs The Cleveland Bulldogs were a team that played in Cleveland, Ohio in the National Football League. They were originally called the Indians in 1923, not to be confused with the Cleveland Indians NFL franchise in 1922. However, after team owner ...

and

Pottsville Maroons The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in the northeastern part of the state. Founded in 1920, they played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1925 to 1928. In 1929 they relocated to Bosto ...

. He spent a total of 8 years in the NFL. Osborn also became part owner of the Maroons in 1928, when team's owner, Dr. John G. Streigel, "loaned" the team to three players Wilbur "Pete" Henry,

Herb Stein Herbert Alfred Stein (March 27, 1898 – October 25, 1980) was an American football player. He later made his professional debut in the National Football League in 1922 with the Buffalo All-Americans. He played for Buffalo, Toledo Maroons, ...

and Osborn. However, after the season Streigel, who probably still had majority ownership, sold the team to a New England-based partnership that included Maroons' standout

George Kenneally George Vincent "Gigi" Kenneally, Sr (April 12, 1902 – September 3, 1968) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Pottsville Maroons, the Boston Bulldogs, the Chicago Cardinals, the Boston Braves, ...

. After his career in football Osborn became a general superintendent for Oldsmobile's assembly division.http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JSH/JSH1982/JSH0901/jsh0901d.pdf

References

The Stolen Championship of the Pottsville Maroons

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Osborn, Duke 1897 births 1976 deaths Players of American football from Pennsylvania Canton Bulldogs players Cleveland Bulldogs players Penn State Nittany Lions football players People from Clearfield County, Pennsylvania People from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania Pottsville Maroons players