Elmer Layden - Commissioner

Commissioner

Arch Ward, a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, was offered the position of commissioner of the NFL in 1940 and 1941, but he turned it down both times. After his second refusal, Ward suggested Layden for the position and Layden was given the job by some of the owners. To some it seemed as Ward had dictated the hiring of Layden and Mara, Bell, and Marshall were resentful. Nevertheless, Layden left Notre Dame in February 1941 to become Commissioner of the NFL, a post that was renamed upon his taking the job - previous heads of the league were called "presidents". He was the first commissioner/president to have not been a founding member of the league. In five years as Commissioner, Layden saw the NFL through the World War II years, in which teams had to use many men of inferior abilities as replacements while most of the regulars were fighting in the war (as did Major League Baseball). During this period a few teams temporarily merged due to lack of manpower, most notably the Pittsburgh Steelers with the Philadelphia Eagles (who were nicknamed the Steagles). The Cleveland Rams ceased operations for the 1943 season.

As NFL commissioner, Layden had once conducted an investigation into a betting scam, without advising the owners, which did not reveal any conspiracy.

Layden's tenure as NFL commissioner came to an end in January 1946. After Brooklyn owner Dan Topping withdrew his team from the league to join the new All-America Football Conference, the remaining owners agreed not to renew Layden's contract, feeling that he was too much of a gentleman and not forceful enough. Layden was succeeded by Bert Bell.