New York Yankees ( NFL ) The New York Yankees were a short - lived professional American football team from 1926 to 1928 . The team was a member of the first American Football League in 1926 , and later the National Football League from 1927 - 1928 . They played their home games at Yankee Stadium . The team featured Red Grange at running back . History . Challenge to the NFL . The Yankees arose as a result of a contract dispute between Grange and his previous team , the NFL ' s Chicago Bears . During the early 1920 ' s , Grange was the star attraction for the Bears , in fact he was the greatest attraction in the history of football and his play had done a lot to promote the fledgling NFL . However Red ' s agent , Grange ' s services , his agent , C . C . " Cash and Carry " Pyle challenged the Bears owner George Halas in 1926 , by stating that Red ' s contract was owned by himself , and not Halas . Pyle then approached Halas to demand for Grange a generous salary and one - third ownership of the Bears . Halas refused . Pyle then took his quest for an NFL to the NFL ' s 1926 winter meeting . There he showed to the other owners that he had the rights to Grange . As a result he wanted an NFL franchise of his own and he wanted it in New York City ' s Yankee Stadium . If he would be denied , Pyle threatened to start his own league . However a market in the New York market wasn ' t available . Tim Mara held exclusive NFL rights to the New York Giants . Mara had just struggled through his first year as an owner , and was saved from financial disaster ironically by Grange ' s exhibition appearance . Nearing the end of their first season , the Giants had gone largely unnoticed by New York fans and newspapers , and Giants ' owner Tim Mara was deeply in the red . But Grange ' s appearance drew 73 , 000 people to the Polo Grounds ; in one afternoon Mara was in the black financially , and professional football had gained new respect among New York ' s influential sportswriters . Now Pyle wanted to take away half of Mara ' s market . Brooklyn compromise . The other franchise owners backed Mara , however they didn ' t want to lose Grange and his drawing power . They were well aware of what a game against Grange could mean to their finances . They were also aware that Pyle might actually carry out a threat to start a new league if they refused his request . As a result , the league proposed a compromise . It was proposed that Pyle could have his " New York " franchise but it would be located in Brooklyn , which was a part of New York City . However Pyle had already gone ahead and rented Yankee Stadium , and that was where he intended to play . Rejecting the NFL ' s offer , he set out to make good on his threat . With his new New York Yankees franchise as its flagship , Pyle put together a league called the American Football League . 1926 season . Once the league was under way , Grange lived up to his reputation and drew well wherever he played . 22 , 000 spectators turned out in Philadelphia to watch the Yankees play the Philadelphia Quakers . In comparison an NFL game a week later in the same stadium between the Frankford Yellow Jackets and the New York Giants drew only 10 , 000 . However the league would still fold at the end of the season . However Pyle ' s Yankees were given the NFL franchise that was asked for in the first place . League standings . NFL and decline . While the bulk of the AFL disappeared at the demise of the league , two members had an official existence after the 1926 season . Although the Brooklyn Horsemen disbanded after its last NFL game , the team ' s franchise was never withdrawn or cancelled by the league . New York Giants owner Tim Mara was awarded the Horsemen franchise in payment of a debt and proceeded to lease it to C . C . Pyle for his New York Yankees team . The agreement between the two rivals limited the number of home games that the Yankees were permitted to play in its namesake stadium ( four in 1927 ) and forced to be primarily a road team displaying the talents of Red Grange . This arrangement lasted for two years : the Yankees were no more after the 1928 season . Grange played for the Yankees in 1927 , however he sat out the season with a bad leg , and then returned to the Bears where he played until 1934 . He then coached the Bears from 1942 until 1948 .