History of College Football Hall of Fame in Timeline
The College Football Hall of Fame, established in 1951 by the National Football Foundation (NFF), serves as a hall of fame and interactive museum dedicated to college American football. Its primary purpose is to honor and preserve the legacies of college football players and coaches who have achieved the distinction of being named first-team All-Americans by the media. Inductees are chosen based on their exceptional performance and contribution to the sport. The Hall of Fame showcases the history and traditions of college football, providing an engaging experience for fans and visitors.
1949: Rutgers University Selected as Hall of Fame Site
In 1949, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, was selected as the site for football's Hall of Fame, via a vote by thousands of sportswriters, coaches, and athletic leaders.
1949: Donations Collected for Construction
Starting in 1949, donations were collected for the construction of the building, but ground was not broken.
1951: Hall of Fame Founded
In 1951, the National Football Foundation (NFF) established the College Football Hall of Fame to honor college football players and coaches recognized as first team All-Americans by the media.
1967: Plans for Hall of Fame at Rutgers
In 1967, secondary plans called for the Hall of Fame to be located at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
September 1991: National Search for a New Location Begins
In September 1991, the National Football Foundation started a national search for a new location for the College Football Hall of Fame.
November 1992: South Bend Proposal Presented to National Football Foundation
In November 1992, a proposal for South Bend to host the Hall of Fame, which slated for a $14 million facility to be constructed in South Bend's downtown, was presented to the National Football Foundation.
1992: Hall of Fame Closes in Kings Mills
In 1992, the Hall of Fame facility in Kings Mills, Ohio closed due to low attendance.
2003: Galbreath Field Remains Open
Nearby Galbreath Field remained open as the home of Moeller High School football until 2003.
September 2009: Museum Moving to Atlanta Announced
In September 2009, Archie Manning announced that the museum would be moving to Atlanta.
2012: South Bend Location Closes
In December of 2012, the South Bend location of the College Football Hall of Fame closed.
January 28, 2013: New Building Broke Ground
On January 28, 2013, the new building in Atlanta broke ground.
August 2014: Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame Opens in Atlanta
In August 2014, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame opened in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The facility is a 94,256 square feet (8,756.7 m) attraction located in the heart of Atlanta's sports, entertainment and tourism district.
August 23, 2014: New Museum Opened
The new $68.5 million museum opened on August 23, 2014.
2018: Hall of Fame Enshrinement Numbers
As of 2018, the College Football Hall of Fame includes 997 players and 217 coaches, representing 308 schools.
2019: Inductions Slated
Thirteen players, two coaches and one inanimate object (the Goodyear Blimp) were slated for induction in 2019.
May 29, 2020: Hall of Fame Damaged and Looted
On May 29, 2020, during the George Floyd Protests, the College Football Hall of Fame was damaged and looted by protesters, though only the gift shop was affected and no artifacts were damaged.
2022: VIP Tour
In 2022, civil rights icon and Pitt Hall of Famer Bobby Grier along with family and Blake Van Leer were invited for a VIP tour.
2024: Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Opens
In 2024, Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital opened on the former site of the College Football Hall of Fame in Kings Mills.
