John Lang was a professional American football player. In 1902 he won a championship in the first National Football League with the Pittsburgh Stars. A year later he was a member of the Franklin Athletic Club football team that was considered the "best in the world". He also won the 1903 World Series of Football, held at

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

, with the Franklin Athletic Club. Lang then spent the 1904 and 1905 seasons with the Massillon Tigers of the Ohio League. In 1906, he was convinced by Blondy Wallace, coach of the

Canton Bulldogs The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football Leag ...

to join the Bulldogs. He jumped from the Tigers to the Bulldogs along with Jack Hayden,

Herman Kerchoff Herman Charles Kerkhoff (May 10, 1870 – December 3, 1935) was a professional American football player from the mid 1890s until 1906. He resided in Lafayette, Indiana most of his life, working on the Kerkhoff family dairy farm and later his own ...

, and

Clark Schrontz Clark A. Schrontz was a professional American football player. In 1902 he won a championship in the first National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Stars. A year later he was a member of the Franklin Athletic Club football team that was c ...

. That season Canton played Massillon in a two game home-and-home series to determine the 1906 Ohio League championship. While Canton won the first game of the series, Massillon won the second game (and under rules determined by both team) the championship. Canton was later accused of throwing the championship in a betting scandal. Prior to his professional career Jack played three years at

tackle Tackle may refer to: * In football: ** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football ** Tackle (gridiron football position), a position in American football and Canadian football ** Dump tackle, a forceful move in rugby of picking ...

while attending Washington and Jefferson College. Lang also coached the 1905 Westminster College team of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, leading the team to a 9–2 record.

Head coaching record

References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lang, Jack Year of birth missing Year of death missing Place of birth missing American football ends Canton Bulldogs (Ohio League) players Franklin Athletic Club players Massillon Tigers players Pittsburgh Stars players Westminster Titans football coaches Washington & Jefferson Presidents football players