Elmer Layden
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| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
May 4, 1903 Davenport, Iowa |
| Died | June 30, 1973 (aged 70) Chicago |
| Playing career | |
| 1922–24 | Notre Dame |
| 1925 | Hartford Blues |
| 1926 | Brooklyn Horsemen |
| 1926 | Rock Island Independents |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1925–26 | Columbia (IA) |
| 1927–33 | Duquesne |
| 1934–40 | Notre Dame |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1934–40 | Notre Dame |
| 1941–46 | NFL (commissioner) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 103–34–11 |
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College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1951 (profile) |
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Elmer Francis Layden (May 4, 1903 – June 30, 1973) was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame, where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield. Layden played professionally in the original AFL in 1925 and 1926 with three different clubs, the Hartford Blues, the Brooklyn Horsemen, and the Rock Island Independents. He began his coaching career during the same two seasons at Columbia College in Dubuque, Iowa, now known as Loras College. Layden then served as the head coach at Duquesne University from 1927 to 1933 and at his alma mater, Notre Dame, from 1934 to 1940, where he also held the position of athletic director. From 1941 to 1946, Layden was the commissioner of the NFL. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1951.
Layden was born in Davenport, Iowa, where he attended Davenport High School, now Davenport Central High School. At Notre Dame, he played fullback alongside quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, left halfback Jim Crowley, and right halfback Don Miller; the four collectively earned the nickname of "The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame" from legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice, and are still considered one of the best backfields in college football history. Named an All-American during his senior year, Layden culminated his collegiate career in the 1925 Rose Bowl against Stanford, returning two interceptions for touchdowns in Notre Dame's 27-10 victory. The Four Horsemen were reunited for a professional football game in 1925 by the Hartford Blues as they played the Cleveland Bulldogs. The game though resulted in a 13-6 Hartford loss, with the Blues reportedly spending $5,000 on the Horsemen for just one game.
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