13 Facts About Lawson Fiscus

Irvin Lawson Fiscus was one of the first professional football players.

Lawson Fiscus attended Princeton University, where his outstanding play at offensive guard earned him the title Samson of Princeton, before going on to play professionally with the Allegheny Athletic Association in 1891 and the Greensburg Athletic Association in 1893.

All of his brothers were athletic and largely built, however Lawson Fiscus was considered the toughest of family.

Lawson Fiscus may have played some informal football at Indiana Normal School in the late 1880s.

In 1892, Lawson Fiscus was recruited to play football at Princeton University.

In 1893, Lawson Fiscus played for both the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Greensburg Athletic Association.

Lawson Fiscus quickly took the job, making Greensburg the third football team in three years to hire professionals.

Several accounts of the incident describe Lawson Fiscus kicking the Jeannette player in the face.

Lawson Fiscus continued to play football with Greensburg for the next several years.

Lawson Fiscus was later involved in businesses throughout the years.

However just before his death in 1949, Lawson Fiscus announced he was paid $20 by Greensburg a year earlier and believed himself to have been the first pro football player.

Today, Lawson Fiscus is the sixth player known to have been openly paid to play football.

However, after looking at the list of the first several professional football players, Lawson Fiscus seemed to be unaware that some of his Allegheny Athletic Association teammates in 1893 had been salaried.