other_team death_date death_place birth_place other_years other_title article_title birth_date college name
rock island independents 24 april 1963 muscatine , iowa , united states rock island , illinois , united states 1923-1926 owner dale johnson
 15 august 1902 '' none '' dale johnson
dale johnson

dale johnson was a local businessman in rock island , illinois , who is best known for his role in the ownership of the rock island independents of the national football league from 1923 until 1925 .
he took over the team from walter flanigan after flanigan decided to refocus all of his time on his insurance and real estate businesses .
once he became owner of the team , johnson made vince mccarthy , the team 's back-up quarterback , his new general manager .
he also signed the legendary jim thorpe to the team in 1924 .
after the 1925 season , johnson moved the team to the rivial american football league .
johnson felt that the afl , which featured red grange , would out perform the nfl .
he even signed elmer layden , one of the legendary four horsemen of notre dame .
however a lack of revenue prevented johnson from signing and retaining many of his players .
as a result , the independents franchise folded after the 1926 season .
