...Unlike most other contact sports, ...American Football is a collision sport.
The first professional American Football game in the United States took place in 1895 in the town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, between a team representing Latrobe and a team from Jeannette, Pennsylvania. In the following years many professional teams were formed, including the Duquesnes of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Olympics of McKeesport, Pennsylvania; the Bulldogs of Canton, Ohio; and the team of Massillon, Ohio. Noted college players who took up the professional game during its early years include Willie Heston (formerly at the University of Michigan), Fritz Pollard (Brown University), and Jim Thorpe (Carlisle Indian School).
As we reflect on what this game has evolved into, we can realize that the game of football is one of the (if not "the") most dangerous games that can be played under the auspices of the name "sporting event." From kick-off until the sound of the final whistle ...someone is almost guaranteed to get injured.
But if asked the question ...would we do anything different ...you'd probably get told ...I wouldn't change a got-dern thing (quote from the movie "Seige at Fire station Gloria")