Lane Bridgford

Lane Bridgford (August 11, 1898 – July 12, 1973) was an American professional football halfback who played for the Rock Island Independents of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Knox College.

Early life Lane Bridgford was born on August 11, 1898, in Joy, Illinois. He earned all-state honors and scored 26 career touchdowns, a school record that stood until 1989. As of 2022, he was still in the top 10 in school history in a dozen statistical categories, including most extra points in a game with nine, fourth-most points in a game with 27; fourth-most career points with 180; sixth-most points in a season with 95; sixth-most touchdowns in a season with 12, and sixth-most career touchdowns with 26.

Professional career Bridgford played in five games, starting four, for the Rock Island Independents of the American Professional Football Association (now National Football League) in 1921. On October 23, 1921, against the Detroit Tigers, he was "banished" from the game for "slugging" Norb Sacksteder. In 1922, Bridgford appeared in three games, starting one, for the Independents in the newly renamed NFL. In the early 1930s, Lane joined the Carnatation Farm stable. He suffered a stroke in 1973 and died on July 12, 1973, at a hospital in Arcadia.