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.

1978: Hall of Fame Opens in Kings Mills, Ohio

In 1978, the College Football Hall of Fame opened in Kings Mills, Ohio, adjacent to Kings Island amusement park.

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.

July 13, 1992: South Bend Wins Bid to Host Hall of Fame

On July 13, 1992, South Bend was announced as the winning bid to host the Hall of Fame's new location, beating out other cities like Atlanta and Houston.

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.

August 25, 1995: Hall of Fame Opens in South Bend, Indiana

On August 25, 1995, the new College Football Hall of Fame location opened in South Bend, Indiana.

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.

2009: National Football Foundation Decides to Move to Atlanta

In 2009, the National Football Foundation decided to move the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta, Georgia.

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.