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| Founded | 1910 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1923 |
| Based in | Cincinnati, Ohio,United States |
| League | Ohio League (1910–1919) Independent (1920, 1922–1923) American Professional Football Association (1921) |
| Team history | Cincinnati Celts (1910–1923) |
| Team colors | Black, Celts gold, white |
| Head coaches | Mel Doherty |
| Home field(s) | Traveling Team |
TheCincinnati Celts (pronounced with ahard C) was the first professionalfootball team to play inCincinnati, Ohio. The team played in the unofficial "Ohio League" and the American Professional Football Association (renamed theNational Football League in 1922). The Celts were atraveling team, playing all of their APFA games in other cities'stadia. In its only season in the APFA, 1921, the team had a record of 1–3. For the entire span of the team's existence, the Celts were coached byMel Doherty, who was also the team'scenter.
The Celts were established in 1910 as asemi-pro team made up primarily of players fromMiami University in nearbyOxford. During the first 10 years of their existence, the team flourished while playing numerous semi-pro teams from Ohio. An early member of the squad,George Roudebush, referred to the team as being run “by a bunch of wild Irishmen.” In 1914,Lou Partlow played for the Celts.
One of the greatest moments in the team's early existence came against a team fromPine Village, Indiana, in 1916. While Pine Village consisted of only 300 residents, it was the top team in Indiana beforeWorld War I, compiling a record of 12 undefeated seasons. In 117 games, the team had only one tie-game finish. Pine Village faced the Celts before a crowd of 2,500 people in nearbyLafayette. With Pine Village leading Cincinnati 6–2, the Celts were forced topunt. George Roudebush then lined up behind the punter. Under the rules of the time, anyone lining up behind the punter was eligible to recover the kick as a free ball. After the ball was kicked, Roudebush ran down the field. Pine Village, not wanting to touch the ball, was unaware that Roudebush was eligible to recover it. Roudebush recovered the ball in the Pine Villageend zone, giving the Celts a 9–6 victory.
The Celts were not initially invited to join the new American Professional Football Association (APFA), later known as theNational Football League, when the circuit was established in 1920. The team accepted an invitation the following year, but proved unequal to the task, being outscored 117–14 in their only four league games. The team's only two touchdowns, and sole victory, came during a 14–0 shutout of theMuncie Flyers. The Celts also faced the 1920 APFA championAkron Pros,Cleveland Tigers and theEvansville Crimson Giants, losing handily in each contest. The Celts finally withdrew from the league in 1922, just prior to it being renamed the National Football League. For many years, the NFL record book listed the Celts as having an APFA record of 0–8–0. After reviewing records from the era, the NFL corrected the standings.
The team's finances were also troubling. Game attendance for the Celts never reached above 2,500 spectators. As a result of this and other financial issues, the Celts were unable to pay the nominal league fees. The Celts continued as an amateur team until 1923.
| Year | W | L | T | Finish | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 13th | Mel Doherty |