Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

George Taliaferro Plaza

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

1. George Taliaferro Plaza Marker

Inscription.
George Taliaferro was one of the greatest football players to ever play for the Hoosiers. But he was even more than that. He is also one of the most important figures in the history of Indiana University.

A 1981 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, Taliaferro was a three-time All-American at IU who was the leading rusher on IU's 1945 Big Ten Championship team that went 9-0-1, the only undefeated team in school history. After the conclusion of the 1948 season, he was drafted by the NFL's Chicago Bears, making him the first African-American drafted by an NFL team. He'd go on to play professionally for seven years, earning Pro Bowl honors from 1951-53.

In addition to making football history, Taliaferro also had an enormous impact on his community as a student, long-time university staff member, and citizen of Bloomington. Just as he would be with the NFL Draft, he was the pioneer in helping to desegregate the IU Bloomington campus and the City of Bloomington itself.

During the 1940s—an era when both the campus and the city of Bloomington were largely segregated—Taliaferro was not allowed to eat at many local

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restaurants. When Indiana University President Herman B Wells found out Taliaferro had to run home between classes to eat lunch because no nearby restaurants would serve him, Wells intervened by arranging lunch for the two at a nearby campus establishment. Wells and Taliaferro met for lunch, and IU and the Bloomington community took a giant step toward desegregation.

Taliaferro continued to have an enormous impact on his communities long after his playing career concluded. He earned his master's degree from Howard University in 1962 and worked in higher education for much of the rest of his life, eventually returning to IU and serving in a variety of capacities over the course of two decades, including as special assistant to the president of Indiana University, IUPUI chancellor and dean of the School of Social Work. In each of those roles, he was a valuable and outspoken voice on social justice issues.

Taliaferro passed away on Oct. 8, 2018, at the age of 91, but his legacy as trailblazer, football player, and valued member of the Indiana University community will live on forever.

Erected 2019 by Indiana University.

Topics.

George Taliaferro Plaza Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

2. George Taliaferro Plaza Marker in context

In the foreground is the statue of George Taliaferro. The marker is in the background on the wall of Memorial Stadium.

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.

Location. 39° 10.932′ N, 86° 31.538′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of East 17th Street and North Fess Avenue, on the right when traveling west. This marker stands at the north entrance to Memorial Stadium on the campus of Indiana University. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 701 E 17th St, Bloomington IN 47408, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

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 territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: USS Indiana (BB-58) (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); USS Indiana (about 600 feet

Plaque on the base of the George Taliaferro statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

3. Plaque on the base of the George Taliaferro statue

Three-time All-American
Leading rusher on IU's 1945 undefeated Big Ten championship team
First African-American drafted by the NFL
College Football Hall of Fame
Civil rights leader and humanitarian

away); Memorial Stadium (about 600 feet away); Calabi-Yau Quintic Cross-Section (approx. 0.7 miles away); Kappa Alpha Psi (approx. 0.7 miles away); Collins Living-Learning Center (approx. ¾ mile away); Original Memorial Stadium (approx. 0.8 miles away); Melanie S. Walker (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bloomington.

Also see . . . The Great George Taliaferro. My IU

Coming from Gary Roosevelt High School, Taliaferro played for the Hoosiers from 1945 to 1948. A three-time All-American, he was a versatile player—excelling as halfback, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker for the Hoosiers—twice leading the team in rushing and once in passing yards. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

(Submitted on July 3, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 20 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 2, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.