This American is recognized as the first professional football player — here's his fascinating story. Pudge Heffelfinger, a star player for Yale University from 1888 to 1891, was later paid $500 ...

Credit: Neil Miller. Plaiview-Old Bethpage JFK's Emma Heaney pulls the flag on on Syosset's Ivy Matthews during the Nassau Class A flag football final on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Bethpage.