Lud Wray
Encyclopedia
James R. Ludlow "Lud" Wray (February 7, 1894 – July 24, 1967) was a professional American football
player, coach, and co-founder, with college teammate Bert Bell
, of the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
. He was the first coach of the Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins
) in 1932 and of the Eagles, 1933-1935. His career coaching record was 13–25–3.
Prior to this, Wray played college football
at the University of Pennsylvania
where he earned All-American honors. He also played the position of center
for the Buffalo Niagaras, Buffalo Prospects, and Buffalo All-Americans
from 1918 until 1921. For two of those years (1920 and 1921), Buffalo was a member of the National Football League (then called the American Professional Football Association).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, coach, and co-founder, with college teammate Bert Bell
Bert Bell
De Benneville "Bert" Bell was the National Football League commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. As commissioner, he helped chart a path for the NFL to facilitate its rise in becoming the most popular sports attraction in the United States...
, of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was the first coach of the Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
) in 1932 and of the Eagles, 1933-1935. His career coaching record was 13–25–3.
Prior to this, Wray played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
where he earned All-American honors. He also played the position of center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Buffalo Niagaras, Buffalo Prospects, and Buffalo All-Americans
Buffalo (NFL)
Buffalo, New York had a turbulent, early-era National Football League team that operated under three different names and several different owners between the 1910s and 1920s...
from 1918 until 1921. For two of those years (1920 and 1921), Buffalo was a member of the National Football League (then called the American Professional Football Association).