Founding Father of The NFL: Art Modell Dies Today at Age 87

Art Modell was a founding father of the current NFL that we all watch, and love. If you do not know who Modell is, it is okay, I will help you. First of all, Modell owned the Cleveland Browns or the now Baltimore Ravens from 1961-2004. Modell bought the Browns in 1961 for $4 million dollars.

Modell had a vision for football being on TV, and his vision came to fruition when he worked out a deal with ABC to show the first ever Monday Night Football in 1970. He also was the leading voice in getting all NFL teams to agree on a television contract. Also Modell was the leading voice in forming the first ever CBA or collective bargaining agreement in the NFL.

The only negative thing on Modell resume is moving the Browns to Baltimore. Modell loved Cleveland, but couldn’t get a stadium deal done. Everyone knows how much Cleveland hates LeBron James, but a source has said the hatred for Modell in Cleveland is ten times more then the hatred for James. On the other hand Modell is fan favorite for bringing back a football team to Baltimore.

Today we lost a great man, without Modell the current NFL that we all love wouldn’t be the same.