Vintage Football in Rock Island

Last summer when my 38-year-old my husband told me he was looking into playing football again, I was a bit concerned. When he clarified it was a flag football game in Rock Island's Douglas Park commemorating the first NFL game, I was intrigued.

When we attended the event and cheered the Moline Universal Tractors (MUTs) to victory - I became a true fan of the annual Quad Cities Vintage Football Game.

Annual 1920's Quad Cities Vintage Football Game 

Saturday, September 11 from 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Douglas Park
1601 Martin Luther King Drive
Rock Island, Illinois

Free, Family-friendly event.

Vintage Football teams will take the field to warm up at 1:00 pm. Kids and fans are encouraged to come and talk to the players and see the equipment and throw around the balls. Team and player introductions will begin at 2:00 pm. Coin toss will be at 2:30 pm featuring Mayor Mike Thoms with game kickoff to follow.

Go for the history.
If you haven't read the history of Rock Island's Douglas Park and the games that were the foundation of today's National Football League (in fact, the first NFL game was played here in Rock Island) - well, you need to! From the Rock Island vs Moline rivalry that launched professional football games to the hall of fame legends that played their first games in Rock Island, Quad Cities football is a story you'll want to know about — and experience.

Stay for the fun.
Played in 1920's uniforms and by the rules of the past, the refs and players will “re-learn” the game. In fact, even fans are given cheat-sheets to help with the old rules. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to cheer on the Rock Island Independent's (one of the founding teams in the NFL) and the Moline Universal Tractors. Local guys play on the teams in a true spirit of vintage football.

Refreshments will be available.

Free-will donations will be accepted for Douglas Park.