Goodyear Silents

The Goodyear Silents was a semi-professional football team based in Akron, Ohio, composed of deaf players. Most, if not all, of the team worked for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. During World Wars I and II, many industrial companies hired deaf people, including Goodyear and Firestone in Akron. In existence from 1915-1927, the team played against local and regional semi-pro teams, and compiled an all-time record of 68-35-11; in the process, they won several league championships.

The most disappointing moments the successful team experienced was their failure to defeat cross-town archrivals Akron Pros, losing all four games to this team. The Akron Pros was one of the pioneering teams in the fledging NFL! The four losing scores were: 9-0, 20-7, 6-0 and 14-0

Joe Allen, one of the Goodyear Silents players, was the only one to continue his career in semi pro football after the team went out of business.

References

* [http://depts.gallaudet.edu/deafeyes/exhibit/community-05silents.htm Gallaudet University article]

[http://www.jdcc.org/site/1998/sep-oct/sports.htm Jewish Deaf Community Center newsletter, Los Angeles, CA]

Akron Pros