Tradition Runs Deep

Before the spotlight. Before the stage. Before the Draft arrived in Pittsburgh — the spirit of the game was already alive in these hills. The Laurel Highlands has shaped a football tradition as rich and rugged as its scenic mountains.

Latrobe Athletic Association, 1897 First All Pro Football Team​

In 1897, the small railroad town of Latrobe made football history. The Latrobe Athletic Association is widely recognized as fielding the first fully professional football team — a roster made up entirely of paid players at a time when most teams still relied on local amateurs. That season, Latrobe finished undefeated and reportedly did not allow a single point, setting a new standard for the evolving game.

Just two years earlier, in 1895, Latrobe’s quarterback John Brallier became the first openly paid professional football player, marking another milestone in the sport’s early development. Together, these moments cemented Latrobe’s place in football lore.