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Football has long been a pivot sport in the United States, beginning as a gentleman’s sport that combined elements of soccer and rugby. Harvard established its football team in 1873, one of the first in the nation. Known for its prestigious academia, gothic architecture, and affluent student body, the University added football to its roster.

In 1874, one of Harvard’s most famous matches against McGill University helped push the sport toward rugby-style rules, which would eventually evolve into American football over the following decades. This pivotal match set football on a path to becoming a distinct sport, separate from both soccer and rugby, officially creating its own unique identity. The sport was rugged, brutal, and, quite frankly, extremely dangerous. Given the aggressive nature, constant forceful hits, and strenuous activity, it was deemed hazardous, but exciting.

Harvard played a crucial role in the rule changes that evolved drastically and provided new insights for the sport. In 1905, Harvard President Charles Eliot sought to eradicate football. The backlash he received was so intense that U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt intervened. The deaths, injuries, and long-standing issues called for reconsideration of the sport at the college. Harvard’s threat to abolish football created enough pressure that, in 1906, four new and improved rules were adopted nationally: the legalization of the forward pass, ten yards for a first down instead of five, a neutral zone at the line of scrimmage, and the banning of mass momentum plays.

Legalization of the Forward Pass

Previously, the only way to score was by either running the ball to the end zone or passing laterally. Typically, the quarterback would launch the ball to another player, either sideways or backwards, not forwards, because that direction was illegal. After the rule change, the forward pass became legal, allowing the quarterback to throw the ball downfield to a receiver to score.

However, there were still harsh restrictions. For example, the quarterback had to be exactly five yards behind the line, and if a pass was incomplete, it was considered a turnover or interception. This rule spread the players out. Before the change, athletes were bunched up, constantly colliding and limiting space. Now, with the forward pass strategy, running plays, and tricking the defense, it was far more exciting and utilized less brute force. Even with this rule in place, it was still scarcely used. Teams struggled to use it effectively and couldn’t find ways to utilize it efficiently.

Ten Yards for a First Down

Before this change, the only way to gain a first down was by earning five yards across three downs. The new rule changed to 10 yards per set of downs, but still only kept three downs. Before, teams could bunch up around one another and continue to collide, causing horrific injuries. Because of the greater distance between the sticks, the offense and defense were spread out. The brutal plays were significantly reduced.

Neutral Zone at the Line of Scrimmage

Before this rule change, teams lined up face-to-face, touching each other, with barely any breathing room. The line of scrimmage created space — coincidentally the length of a football — between the offensive and defensive lines where no one could cross before the ball was snapped. Players couldn’t get a running start and crash into stationary opponents. Furthermore, it gave offensive players a split-second to react.

Banning Mass Momentum Plays

Before this rule was established, as in rugby, players could link arms, grab the other team’s belts, and target one another, causing brutal collisions. Additionally, this limited the amount of yards gained and made the sport more about fighting rather than scoring. Some examples of these now-banned moves teams used were “flying wedge,” where nine to ten players would form a V-shape, link arms, get a running start, and crash into the defense, with one ball carrier protected in the middle. Another included the “flying interference,” a similar concept with different variations and formations. The sport was predominantly about attacking one another and directly hurting each other. Thus, these rule changes drastically shaped the game. The concept of nine to 10 players linked by arms running full speed at a stationary defense caused fractured skulls, internal bleeding, and broken ribs — not to mention that “protective” gear was considerably less advanced than it is today.

The goal of these rule changes was to transform football from brutal trench warfare into the more open game we recognize today. Before 1906, football was essentially about massive groups of men crashing into each other repeatedly. Afterward, it began to evolve into a more strategic game, with the offense spread out and severe injuries limited. This strategic shift in football is a testament to Harvard’s role in the sport’s evolution.