Ralph Hay Ralph E . Hay was the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 until 1923 . However he is mostly recognized for organizing the first meeting of teams that would later former the American Professional Football Association , later called the National Football League . Car salesman . Prior to help establishing the NFL , Hay was the owner of a Canton car dealership . After high school Hay , at age 18 , went to work as an automobile salesman for a local dealership . After several years selling cars , Hay went into the car business for himself . He set up the Ralph E . Hay Motor Company , and sold Jordan Hupmobiles and Pierce - Arrow s . Hay became one of the most successful automobile dealers in the state of Ohio . Canton Bulldogs . In 1918 , at the age of 27 , Hay acquired the Canton Bulldogs from Jack Cusack , when Cusack decided to return to Oklahoma and compete in the oil industry . Hay had planned to use the team to help promote his car business and pursue his love of football . At the time the Bulldogs were the top team in the unofficial " Ohio League " , winning championships in 1916 and 1917 . The team did not compete much in 1918 due manning issues related to the United States involvement in World War I . However in 1919 , the Bulldogs again won the championship . Despite winning a championship , the Bulldogs did not draw well enough fans to games pay for the high - priced salaries owed to the players . Hay lost money . To combat the increasing salaries , as well as the issue of players jumping from team to team , Hay sought to form a league . The league idea came from Canton ' s star halfback , Jim Thorpe , who in turn heard the idea from Rochester Jeffersons owner Leo Lyons during a 1917 match between the Bulldogs and the Jeffs . Formation of the NFL . In August 1920 , Hay met in Canton with the managers of the Akron Pros , Cleveland Tigers , and Dayton Triangles to form the American Professional Football Conference . The Akron delegation consisted of Frank Nied and Art Ranney . While Jimmy O ' Donnell and Stan Cofall represented Cleveland , and Dayton by Carl Storck . At the meeting Hay was elected secretary of the league . He then wrote to every important pro team in the Midwest , including George Halas manager of the Decatur Staleys , inviting them to meet in Canton on September 17 , 1920 at 8 : 00 pm . Representatives from ten pro teams showed up . Because Hay ' s office was too small , the meeting was held in his automobile showroom . Some of the owners sat on car running boards due to a lack of seats . The resulting organization operated for two years as the American Professional Football Association before its name was changed to the National Football League in 1922 . The ten original franchises were from four states . The Akron Pros , Canton Bulldogs , Cleveland Tigers , and Dayton Triangles from Ohio ; the Hammond Pros and Muncie Flyers from Indiana ; the Rochester Jeffersons from New York ; and the Rock Island Independents , Decatur Staleys , and Racine Cardinals from Illinois . Four other franchises the Buffalo All - Americans , Chicago Tigers , Columbus Panhandles , and Detroit Heralds would join the league later that year . Hay was asked to become the league ' s president , however he suggested that Jim Thorpe take the position on the belief that his fame would enhance the league . Bulldogs in the NFL . Hay built a strong team in Canton during the early1920 ' s , signing three future Hall of Famers in tackle Wilbur Henry , tackle Roy " Link " Lyman , and end Guy Chamberlin . When Chamberlin took over as coach in 1922 from Cap Edwards , the Bulldogs went undefeated and won the NFL championship . However , Hay continued to lose money with the Bulldogs . Before the 1923 season , he sold the team to a group of local businessmen . The Bulldogs went on to win the 1923 NFL Championship and became the first NFL team to win back - to - back world titles . Legacy . On April 27 , 1961 , Canton was selected by the NFL as the site for the Pro Football Hall of Fame . The efforts of Hay and the Bulldogs were offered as proof for the shrine to be located in Canton . While Hay has not yet been enshrined in the Hall , the city of Canton put up a plaque on the Bow Federal building in downtown Canton the site of where Ralph ' s automobile showroom once stood . The plaque recognizes Ralph Hay and Jim Thorpe , and the historical meeting on September 17 , 1920 that saw the birth of the NFL . In 1988 , the Professional Football Researchers Association established the Ralph Hay Award which is awarded for " lifetime achievement in pro football research and historiography . " Family . Hay was married to Esther Becker , who had previously served as his secretary . They had one daughter . He died in Canton on July 29 , 1944 .