Uptown District in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Office Building of the National Football League, 1927-1939

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 27, 2026

1. First Office Building of the National Football League, 1927-1939 Marker

Inscription.
When Columbus native Joe F. Carr was elected the second president of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1921, one of the first items of league business he addressed was established the league's headquarters in his hometown. The following year, the team owners and Carr renamed the league the National Football League (NFL).

Carr set up the league's headquarters in the office building located on the eleventh floor of 16 East Broad. The NFL offices were located in rooms 1115-1116 in the New Hayden Building. According to the Columbus City Directories, the NFL's headquarters was listed there from 1927 until 1939.

At the time, the NFL had just two full-time employees in the league office. Accompanying Carr was his secretary, Kathleen Rubadue – the first woman to work for the NFL. In 1939, Carr passed away from a heart attack at the age of fifty-nine.

Because of Joe Carr's leadership and dedication to the NFL from his hometown of Columbus, 16 East Broad Street is recognized as the First Office Building of the National Football League.

Erected 2025 by Homage.

Topics. This historical marker

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is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.

Location. 39° 57.747′ N, 83° 0.012′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in the Uptown District. It is on East Broad Street (U.S. 40) just west of North Paul Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 East Broad Street, Columbus OH 43215, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Scioto Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charity Newsies (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Charity Newsies (here, next to this marker); Trinity Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The State House

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 27, 2026

2. First Office Building of the National Football League, 1927-1939 Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Unknown Boy Scout (within shouting distance of this marker); James A. Rhodes (within shouting distance of this marker); William B. Saxbe (within shouting distance of this marker); Intersect (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.