Compiled November 2026 from public sources.
Compiled 2026-11-05 from the NFL and Japan research on this site. One doc for learning the major names behind both stories.
How to read it
- Part 1 covers the NFL's own story: founders, commissioners, owners, union leaders, media, players, coaches, health and safety, and the international side. "File" numbers in Part 1 point to the numbered sections of the NFL history page.
- Part 2 covers football in Japan: founders, federation and league leaders, coaches, players, media and culture, business, and NFL people working on Japan today. "File" numbers in Part 2 point to the numbered sections of the Japan page.
- Each part starts with "If you only learn these 15".
- Name order: Part 1 writes Japanese names given name first (Takayuki Hioki); Part 2 uses family name first, as in Japan (Hioki Takayuki), with kanji.
- Markers: [unconfirmed], [?] = not confirmed in an opened source; [conflict] = sources disagree; [JA]/[EN] = Japanese or English source.
People in both stories: Roger Goodell, Brett Gosper, Frank Takahashi (promoter of the 1976 Tokyo game), Takayuki Hioki (Sports Branding Japan, the NFL's Japan liaison office), and the Rams (Stan Kroenke; Stephanie Cheng, head of Rams international).
Contents
Part 1: The NFL
Compiled 2026-11-05. [unconfirmed] = search snippet only, or a detail not in the page linked. One link per person; most are Wikipedia, which I opened for each name (full article or summary). Years are birth–death, then the years of the role that matters here.
If you only learn these 15
| # |
Person |
Why |
| 1 |
Pete Rozelle |
Commissioner 1960–89. Built the modern NFL: pooled TV money, the Super Bowl, the AFL merger, Monday Night Football |
| 2 |
Roger Goodell |
Commissioner since 2006. Took games abroad (9 in 2026) and named Tokyo for 2027 or 2028 |
| 3 |
George Halas |
Co-founded the league in 1920; owned and coached the Bears for six decades |
| 4 |
Bert Bell |
Invented the draft (1936); as commissioner (1946–59) shaped the game for TV |
| 5 |
Lamar Hunt |
Founded the rival AFL, forced the merger, and named the Super Bowl |
| 6 |
Paul Tagliabue |
Commissioner 1989–2006. Salary cap plus free agency (1993), labor peace, the NFL Network |
| 7 |
Roone Arledge |
ABC Sports chief who made Monday Night Football prime-time entertainment |
| 8 |
Jerry Jones |
Cowboys owner since 1989; pushed the Fox deal and team-level marketing |
| 9 |
Robert Kraft |
Patriots owner since 1994; key in TV deals and in ending the 2011 lockout |
| 10 |
Gene Upshaw |
Union chief 1983–2008; traded a salary cap for free agency and a revenue share |
| 11 |
Red Grange |
The college star whose 1925 signing and tour first made pro football respectable |
| 12 |
Joe Namath |
His Super Bowl III win (1969) proved the AFL's worth and sealed the merger |
| 13 |
Bennet Omalu |
Found CTE in an NFL player (2005), which led to the concussion crisis and settlement |
| 14 |
Brett Gosper |
Head of Europe and Asia-Pacific since 2021/2023; calls Japan "a market of interest" |
| 15 |
Peter O'Reilly |
Runs the Super Bowl, the draft and international games |
1. Founders and commissioners
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Ralph Hay |
1891–1944 |
Canton Bulldogs owner |
Hosted the 1920 meeting in his Canton car showroom that founded the APFA (the NFL's original name) |
Wikipedia |
| Jim Thorpe |
1887–1953 |
First APFA president (1920) |
An Olympic champion, chosen for his fame to give the new league credibility. He was president in name only |
Wikipedia: NFL Commissioner |
| Joe Carr |
1879–1939 |
League president 1921–39 |
Brought order to a loose league; introduced the reserve clause, so players under contract could not be poached |
same |
| George Halas |
1895–1983 |
Co-founder 1920; Bears owner and four-time head coach |
Signed Red Grange in 1925 and toured him around the country. The NFC championship trophy bears his name |
Wikipedia |
| Bert Bell |
1895–1959 |
Eagles owner; commissioner 1946–59 |
Proposed the draft (first held 1936) so the weakest teams pick first. Shaped rules for TV and blacked out local broadcasts of home games to protect ticket sales |
Wikipedia |
| Pete Rozelle |
1926–1996 |
Commissioner 1960–89 |
Took a 12-team league playing to half-empty stadiums and made it TV's top sport: revenue sharing, league-wide TV deals (made legal by the Sports Broadcasting Act, 1961; file 07), the AFL–NFL merger, the Super Bowl, Monday Night Football (1970). 28 teams by 1989 |
Wikipedia |
| Paul Tagliabue |
1940–2025 |
NFL lawyer, then commissioner 1989–2006 |
The 1993 labor deal (salary cap plus free agency) brought years of labor peace. Added four teams, launched the NFL Network (2003), kept the Saints in New Orleans after Katrina, and started the World League (1991, later NFL Europe) |
Wikipedia |
| Roger Goodell |
b. 1959 |
League intern from 1982; commissioner since 2006 |
Media deals worth over $100B (2023–33), the personal conduct policy, the 17-game season and regular-season games abroad. Criticised over discipline cases (Ray Rice, Deflategate) On Oct 23, 2026 he said Tokyo is "clearly on our list, whether it's next year or the year after" (NFL.com) |
Wikipedia |
2. Owners and club executives
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Tim Mara |
1887–1959 |
Founded the New York Giants (1925) |
Put the league in the biggest US market; four titles under him |
Wikipedia |
| Wellington Mara |
1916–2005 |
Giants co-owner 1959–2005 |
Ball boy in 1925, owner for 46 years. The Giants agreed to share TV money equally with small-market clubs [unconfirmed: not in the page opened] |
Wikipedia |
| Art Rooney |
1901–1988 |
Founded the Steelers (1933) |
Ran the club for 55 years; a symbol of family ownership |
Wikipedia |
| Dan Rooney |
1932–2017 |
Steelers chairman |
Pushed the "Rooney Rule" (2003) and was a main architect of the 1993 salary cap. Later US ambassador to Ireland (2009–12) |
Wikipedia |
| Lamar Hunt |
1932–2006 |
Founded the AFL (1959); Chiefs owner |
Built the rival league when the NFL refused him a team, negotiated the merger with Tex Schramm (1966), and named the "Super Bowl". Also founded Major League Soccer |
Wikipedia |
| Bud Adams |
1923–2013 |
Founded the Houston Oilers (AFL, 1960) |
An AFL founding owner; later moved the team to Tennessee |
Wikipedia |
| Tex Schramm |
1920–2003 |
Cowboys president 1960–89 |
Started the secret merger talks with Hunt. Pushed instant replay, computer scouting, the referee's microphone and the Cowboys Cheerleaders. The Cowboys became "America's Team" |
Wikipedia |
| Paul Brown |
1908–1991 |
Co-founded the Browns (1946) and Bengals (1968) |
Coached seven league champions and integrated his team in 1946 (Motley, Willis). Many modern coaching methods trace to him |
Wikipedia |
| Al Davis |
1929–2011 |
Raiders coach, AFL commissioner (1966), owner 1972–2011 |
His AFL bidding war for players pushed the NFL into the merger. Beat the league in court to move to Los Angeles (1982). Hired the first Black head coach of the modern era (Art Shell), a Latino head coach (Tom Flores) and a woman chief executive (Amy Trask) |
Wikipedia |
| Art Modell |
1925–2012 |
Browns owner 1961–95; founded the Ravens |
Moved the Browns to Baltimore (1996 season). The settlement left the Browns' name and history in Cleveland for a new team (1999) |
Wikipedia |
| Jerry Jones |
b. 1942 |
Cowboys owner since 1989 |
Helped bring Fox in as the NFC broadcaster (1993) when the old networks wanted lower fees. Pushed team-level sponsorship and stadium business; brokered the Rams' move to SoFi Stadium. Much of the league's growth since 1989 is credited to him |
Wikipedia |
| Robert Kraft |
b. 1941 |
Patriots owner since 1994 |
Bought the team in 1994 and built a dynasty with Belichick and Brady. Credited by players with helping end the 2011 lockout |
Wikipedia |
| Stan Kroenke |
b. 1947 |
Rams owner (also Arsenal and others) |
Moved the Rams back to Los Angeles (2016) and built SoFi Stadium. The Rams were the first club given Japan marketing rights under the Global Markets Program (2024) |
Wikipedia; Yahoo! Japan |
3. Labor and the players' union
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| John Mackey |
1941–2011 |
First NFLPA president after the merger (1970–73) |
His lawsuit (Mackey v. NFL, 1976) struck down the "Rozelle Rule" that blocked free agency |
Wikipedia |
| Ed Garvey |
1940–2017 |
NFLPA executive director 1971–83 |
Led the 1974 and 1982 strikes; built the union into a fighting body |
Wikipedia |
| Gene Upshaw |
1945–2008 |
Raiders Hall of Famer; NFLPA executive director 1983–2008 |
Led the failed 1987 strike, then years of antitrust suits. The result (1993) was a salary cap in return for free agency and a fixed share of league revenue for players |
Wikipedia |
| Freeman McNeil |
b. 1959 |
Jets running back |
His 1992 antitrust win (McNeil v. NFL) broke the "Plan B" restrictions |
Wikipedia |
| Reggie White |
1961–2004 |
Defensive end |
Credited with pioneering free agency: his 1993 move to the Packers began the era of player-chosen free agency |
Wikipedia |
| DeMaurice Smith |
b. 1964 |
NFLPA executive director 2009–23 |
Led players through the 2011 lockout and the July 2011 labor deal (and the 2020 deal) |
Wikipedia |
| Lloyd Howell Jr. |
b. 1966 |
NFLPA executive director 2023–25 |
Former Booz Allen executive; resigned July 17, 2025 amid conflict-of-interest and expense scandals |
ESPN |
| JC Tretter |
b. 1991 |
Former Packers/Browns center; NFLPA president, then executive director since March 2026 |
Elected over the interim chief David White. Will lead talks on the CBA that runs to 2030 |
Sportico |
| Jeff Pash |
— |
NFL general counsel and lead labor negotiator [role detail unconfirmed] |
The league's side of every labor deal since the 1990s; named in the Deflategate files |
Wikipedia: Deflategate |
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Ed Sabol |
1916–2015 |
Founder of NFL Films (1962) |
Turned games into cinematic stories with music and slow motion |
Wikipedia |
| Steve Sabol |
1942–2012 |
NFL Films president |
Ran NFL Films for decades; Hall of Fame 2020 |
Wikipedia |
| Roone Arledge |
1931–2002 |
President of ABC Sports 1968–86 |
Took Rozelle's Monday-night idea and made it a prime-time show (1970), with more cameras, replays and star announcers |
Wikipedia |
| Howard Cosell |
1918–1995 |
Monday Night Football announcer (ABC) |
His opinionated style made MNF a talked-about event |
Wikipedia |
| John Madden |
1936–2021 |
Raiders coach (Super Bowl XI); TV analyst |
Won as coach, then became the best-known analyst; gave Fox's NFL coverage credibility from 1994. His name on the Madden video game brought in young fans |
Wikipedia |
| Rupert Murdoch |
b. 1931 |
Owner of Fox |
Took the NFC rights from CBS (games from 1994), which made Fox a major network; called the NFL "the crown jewel" of sports TV |
Wikipedia: John Madden |
| Dick Ebersol |
b. 1947 |
NBC Sports president 1989, chairman 1998–2011 |
Brought the NFL back to NBC (2005) and moved the prime-time game to Sunday night with flexible scheduling. Sunday Night Football has been the top prime-time show for 15 years |
Wikipedia |
| Al Michaels |
b. 1944 |
Play-by-play voice |
Called MNF (1986–2005), SNF (2006–21), now Amazon's Thursday Night Football: the bridge from network TV to streaming |
Wikipedia |
Not covered: Fred Pierce (ABC executive). I couldn't find a page for him; Wikipedia's "Fred Pierce" is a California judge.
5. Players who changed the game or its business
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Fritz Pollard |
1894–1986 |
Player; first Black head coach (1921) |
One of the first two Black players (1920) and the first Black quarterback |
Wikipedia |
| Red Grange |
1903–1991 |
Bears halfback |
Joined right after his last college game (1925) for a 19-game, 67-day tour that filled stadiums and made the pro game respectable |
Wikipedia |
| Kenny Washington |
1918–1971 |
Los Angeles Rams |
First Black player to sign in the modern era (1946), ending a 12-year colour line |
Wikipedia |
| Marion Motley |
1920–1999 |
Cleveland Browns (AAFC) |
Integrated pro football with Bill Willis in 1946, a year before Jackie Robinson |
Wikipedia |
| Johnny Unitas |
1933–2002 |
Baltimore Colts quarterback |
The model modern quarterback; won the 1958 title game that made the NFL a TV hit |
Wikipedia |
| Jim Brown |
1936–2023 |
Browns fullback 1957–65 |
Led the league in rushing eight of nine seasons; retired at his peak for films. Also a civil-rights activist |
Wikipedia |
| Joe Namath |
b. 1943 |
Jets quarterback |
Signed for a record AFL contract (1965), then guaranteed and won Super Bowl III (1969). The AFL's win made the merger a contest of equals |
Wikipedia |
| Doug Williams |
b. 1955 |
Washington quarterback |
First Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl (XXII, 1988) |
Wikipedia |
| Tom Brady |
b. 1977 |
Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback (2000–22) |
Seven Super Bowl titles; the league's biggest global name of the 2000s–2010s |
Wikipedia |
| Peyton Manning |
b. 1976 |
Colts and Broncos quarterback |
Star of the 2000s; now a producer: his Omaha Productions (2020) makes ESPN's Manningcast |
Wikipedia |
| Patrick Mahomes |
b. 1995 |
Chiefs quarterback since 2018 |
Three Super Bowl wins and seven straight AFC title games; the face of the current league |
Wikipedia |
| Colin Kaepernick |
b. 1987 |
49ers quarterback |
Knelt during the anthem in 2016, which started a national dispute (file 05) |
Wikipedia |
6. Coaches who changed the game
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Vince Lombardi |
1913–1970 |
Packers coach 1959–67 |
Five titles in seven years, including the first two Super Bowls; the Super Bowl trophy bears his name |
Wikipedia |
| Bill Walsh |
1931–2007 |
49ers coach 1979–88 |
Popularised the "West Coast offense"; three Super Bowls |
Wikipedia |
| Art Shell |
b. 1946 |
Raiders coach (1989) |
First Black head coach of the modern era |
Wikipedia |
| Tony Dungy |
b. 1955 |
Buccaneers and Colts coach |
First Black head coach to win a Super Bowl (XLI) |
Wikipedia |
| Bill Belichick |
b. 1952 |
Patriots coach 2000–23 |
Six Super Bowl wins as head coach, the record |
Wikipedia |
7. Health and safety
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Mike Webster |
1952–2002 |
Steelers center 1974–90 |
Died at 50; his brain was the first CTE case found in an NFL player |
Wikipedia |
| Bennet Omalu |
b. 1968 |
Pittsburgh forensic pathologist |
Published the Webster CTE case (2005); the league asked the journal to retract it. His work led to the 2013 settlement |
Wikipedia |
| Elliot Pellman |
— |
Chair, NFL brain-injury committee (from 1994) |
A rheumatologist, not a brain specialist. His committee's papers played down long-term harm |
Wikipedia: Concussions in American football |
| Ira Casson |
— |
Co-chair, NFL concussion committee (2007–10) |
Publicly denied a link between head injuries and long-term brain damage (2007). The committee was replaced in 2010 |
Wikipedia: NFL concussion committee |
| Ann McKee |
— |
Director, Boston University CTE Center |
Her brain-bank studies found CTE in most donated NFL brains (file 06) |
Wikipedia |
| Chris Nowinski |
— |
Co-founder, Concussion Legacy Foundation and the BU CTE Center |
Former wrestler who built the brain-donation programme behind the research |
Wikipedia |
| Jeff Miller |
— |
NFL senior vice president, health and safety |
Told Congress in 2016 that there is a link between football and CTE, the league's first admission |
Wikipedia: Bennet Omalu |
| Anita Brody |
— |
US federal judge |
Oversaw the concussion lawsuit (MDL 2323) and approved the settlement |
Wikipedia: Concussions in American football |
8. The international side
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they changed |
Source |
| Mark Waller |
— |
NFL 2006–18: international strategy, CMO (2009), EVP International (2014) |
Helped start the London games (2007) and the Mexico regular-season games. In 2016 listed Japan among the markets the NFL wanted to be big in, and backed a team in London. Left at the end of the 2018 season |
ESPN, 2016 |
| Brett Gosper |
b. 1959 |
Head of NFL Europe (2021); Europe and Asia-Pacific since 2023 |
Former World Rugby CEO, from Melbourne. In Aug 2026 named Japan "a market of interest" and the time difference as the hurdle; aims for the NFL to be a top-three sport in its markets within 10 years |
Wikipedia; IBTimes SG |
| Peter O'Reilly |
c. 1972 [derived: 51 in 2023] |
EVP, club business, international and league events |
Runs the Super Bowl, the draft, international games and club business. In Oct 2026 said the league is considering 10 international games in 2027 and named Japan as an Asian option, though perhaps not as early as 2027 |
SBJ, 2023 |
| Damani Leech |
— |
COO, NFL International 2019–22; Broncos president since 2022 |
Ran international offices (Toronto, Mexico City, Shanghai) with 40+ staff, and helped put part of the 17th game into international games and build the Player Pathway |
Denver Broncos |
| Tim Ellis |
— |
NFL chief marketing officer |
Looks to FIFA as the model for global growth |
Yahoo Sports, Aug 2026 |
| Jordan Mailata |
b. 1997 |
Australian ex-rugby league player; Eagles tackle via the International Player Pathway |
Gosper credits him with growing the NFL's Australian following, a "local hero" model the league wants for Japan |
Wikipedia |
| Will Bryce |
— |
Head of NFL Academy Asia-Pacific [unconfirmed: Instagram snippet only] |
Runs the youth academy for the region |
— |
Who runs Asia-Pacific today: Brett Gosper, as head of Europe and Asia-Pacific. No separate Asia-Pacific head was found.
9. People tied to Japan
| Person |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| Frank Takahashi |
— |
Promoter of the 1976 Tokyo game |
Paid for the Cardinals–Chargers preseason game at Korakuen Stadium (Aug 1976), billed as the Mainichi Star Bowl, hoping one day to own a Tokyo team |
Yahoo Sports |
| Takayuki Hioki (日置貴之) |
b. 1974 |
Head of Sports Branding Japan (SBJ, part of Sports Marketing Group) |
His firm says it has been the NFL's Japan Liaison Office since 2013, handling TV-rights talks, digital media, licensing and PR. A former Hakuhodo and FIFA marketing man (2002 World Cup) [current status unconfirmed: firm's own site] |
SBJ site |
| Stan Kroenke / the Rams |
see section 2 |
Only club with Japan marketing rights |
— |
see section 2 |
Japanese and Japanese-American players, coaches and Japan football leaders are in Part 2 below.
10. Other names worth knowing
| Person |
Years |
Why |
Source |
| Pat Tillman |
1976–2004 |
Left the Cardinals to enlist; killed in Afghanistan. Background only (file 07) |
Wikipedia |
| Taylor Swift |
b. 1989 |
Her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (from 2023) drew new, younger and female viewers [audience effect unconfirmed in opened sources] |
Wikipedia |
Sources
Answered:
- People: Wikipedia articles and summaries for every person linked above, opened through the Wikipedia API.
- Sports business press: ESPN (Howell; Waller), Sportico (Tretter), SBJ (O'Reilly; Waller's 2018 exit), Denver Broncos (Leech), Yahoo Sports (Takahashi; Tim Ellis; Goodell on Tokyo).
- Japan plans and partners: NFL.com (Goodell, Oct 2026), IBTimes Singapore (Gosper, citing Reuters), Yahoo! Japan expert article (O'Reilly; Rams' Japan rights), Sports Branding Japan's own site (NFL Japan Liaison Office).
Came up empty or partial:
- Fred Pierce: no page found for the ABC executive.
- Peter O'Reilly, Elliot Pellman, Mark Waller, Jeff Pash: no Wikipedia article for the right person (other sources used).
- USA Today (402) and the Yomiuri's Japan News (blocked) failed on the Tokyo story; NFL.com and others covered the same comments.
- No confirmed head of NFL Japan as a league employee was found. SBJ's liaison role comes from its own website, which may be dated.
- Birth years were not found for several executives (marked "—").
Research date: 2026-11-05. [JA] Japanese source, [EN] English source, [?] unconfirmed, [conflict] sources disagree. Names are written with the family name first, as in Japan (Takeda Ken, not Ken Takeda), except for people usually known in English by their given name first (Kansei Matsuzawa, Taku Lee). Readings of the kanji come from the source shown; where no source gave a reading, the romaji is marked [?].
The Hall of Fame source used below is JAFA's list of its 59 Hall of Fame members, with a short bio of each: https://americanfootball.jp/top_news/30/ (called "JAFA HoF" in the tables).
League-wide NFL figures are in Part 1 above. NFL people appear here only where they shaped the Japan story.
If you only learn these 15
| # |
Name |
Why |
| 1 |
Paul Rusch (ポール・ラッシュ) |
American missionary who started organized football in Japan in 1934; JAFA calls him "the father of Japanese football". The Rice Bowl MVP trophy carries his name. |
| 2 |
Takeda Ken (武田建) |
Kwansei Gakuin's modernizer and Japan's first TV football analyst; built the coaching model that still dominates college football. |
| 3 |
Shinozaki Mikio (篠竹幹夫) |
Nihon University coach for 44 years; his shotgun offense and 17 college titles made Nihon vs Kwansei the sport's great rivalry. |
| 4 |
Toriuchi Hideaki (鳥内秀晃) |
Kwansei Gakuin coach 1992–2020, 12 Koshien Bowl titles; the best-known coach in Japan today and now a Yoshimoto-managed speaker. |
| 5 |
Uchida Masato (内田正人) |
Nihon University coach behind the 2018 dangerous-tackle scandal, banned for life; the reason "football" and "safety" are linked in Japanese minds. |
| 6 |
Kanazawa Yoshio (金澤好夫) |
Founded the X League in 1996 and coached Japan to the first two World Cups. |
| 7 |
Terada Masahiro (寺田昌弘) |
JAFA president since 2023 (re-elected 2025); a lawyer and JOC auditor. |
| 8 |
Nishimura Daisuke (西村大介) |
X League chair since Sept 2026, brought in after the Obic scandal; calls it an "endangered league". |
| 9 |
Kawaguchi Masafumi (河口正史) |
All-NFL Europe linebacker, the first Japanese player in an NFL preseason game in the US (2002), now a TV analyst. |
| 10 |
Kansei Matsuzawa (松澤寛政) |
Self-taught kicker, consensus All-American, on the Raiders' practice squad in 2026. |
| 11 |
Audrey (オードリー: Wakabayashi Masayasu 若林正恭 and Kasuga Toshiaki 春日俊彰) |
Comedy duo who played high-school football and have hosted Nippon TV's NFL Club since 2010; the NFL's best-known faces in Japan. |
| 12 |
Inagaki Riichiro (稲垣理一郎) and Murata Yusuke (村田雄介) |
Writer and artist of Eyeshield 21, the manga JAFA credits with reviving high-school football. |
| 13 |
Frank Takahashi |
California lettuce farmer who paid for the first NFL game outside North America (Tokyo, 1976). |
| 14 |
Hioki Takayuki (日置貴之) |
Head of Sports Branding Japan, the NFL's Japan liaison office since 2013 (TV rights, NFL Japan.com, licensing, PR). |
| 15 |
Brett Gosper |
NFL head of Europe and Asia-Pacific; the league executive talking publicly about Japan in 2026. |
1. Founders and pioneers (1934–1950s)
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 1 |
Paul Rusch ポール・ラッシュ |
1897–1979 |
Founder |
Came to Japan in 1925 to help rebuild the YMCA after the 1923 earthquake and taught at Rikkyo. In 1934 he organized football for Nisei students and set up the Tokyo student league with Rikkyo, Waseda and Meiji as its first chairman. Returned in 1945 as an occupation officer and helped restart the sport. Named "father of Japanese football" in 1961. The Rice Bowl MVP award is the Paul Rusch Trophy. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 2 |
Matsumoto Takizo 松本瀧蔵 |
1901–1958 |
Co-founder |
Harvard-educated Meiji professor; secretary-general of the 1934 league and referee of Japan's first game. Succeeded Rusch as league chairman in 1942; later a Diet member and deputy foreign minister. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 3 |
Asano Ryozo 浅野良三 |
1889–1965 |
First president |
Son of the founder of the Asano zaibatsu, Harvard-educated head of Nippon Kokan (NKK). First president of the student league (1937) and of the national association (1938); linked football with the business world. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 4 |
Ogawa Tokuji 小川徳治 |
1905–2001 |
Organizer |
Rikkyo professor who ran the 1934 league's money, fields and equipment, and pushed to make gear in Japan. Twice chaired the national association in the 1960s. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 5 |
Hanaoka Atsushi 花岡惇 |
1914–1994 |
Nisei pioneer |
Hawaii-born Nisei who founded Meiji's team and played in the 1934 first game. Coached Meiji for 16 years and the East all-stars for over a decade, spreading US tactics. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 6 |
Inoue Motoyuki 井上素行 |
1915–1987 |
Nisei pioneer |
Hawaii-born; helped found Waseda's team, played in the 1934 game and the 1936 US tour, and later wrote the first official rulebook. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 7 |
Hoshina Susumu 保科進 |
1906–2000 |
Nisei pioneer, coach |
Came from Hawaii in 1935, founded Hosei's team and coached college football for 57 years, still on the field at 91. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 8 |
Matsuba Tokusaburo 松葉徳三郎 |
1903–1981 |
Founder of Kansai football |
Osaka YMCA sports director who saw football at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and started Kansai University's team (1935), the first in western Japan. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 9 |
Hattori Shingo 服部慎吾 |
1913–1995 |
Postwar rebuilder |
Rikkyo center, then a soldier. Rebuilt the national association in 1948 and chaired it for 5 years; kept the records of the pre-war and postwar game. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 10 |
Misumi Shuichi 三隅珠一 |
1924–1975 |
Father of high-school football |
PE teacher at Ikeda Middle School (Osaka) who held Japan's first official touch-football game (1945), started the national high-school touch tournament (1954) and the tackle championship (1970). The best back at the high-school final wins the Misumi Cup. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
2. Federation and league leaders
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 11 |
Furukawa Akira 古川明 |
1931–2023 |
JAFA chair 1994–98 |
Kwansei Gakuin guard who studied at the University of Denver. JAFA's link to the NCAA for rules and coaching exchange; ran the Kansai student federation for 30 years (1970–2000). |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 12 |
Kanazawa Yoshio 金澤好夫 |
b. 1935 |
X League founder |
Founded the East Japan corporate association (1980), became first chair of the national corporate association (1985) and founded the X League in 1996. JAFA credits him with leading Japan to the first two World Cup titles (1999, 2003; Abe Toshiaki, below, was head coach) and he chaired JAFA 2003–05; IFAF senior vice-president. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 13 |
Tanahashi Kan'emon 棚橋寛衛門 |
1947–2005 |
Corporate league builder |
Founded the Silver Ox club (1975) and brought East and West corporate leagues together into one body (1985), then the X League. Second chair of the corporate association (2003). |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 14 |
Sasada Eiji 笹田英次 |
b. 1934 |
First IFAF president |
Referee leader who became the first president of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in 1999 and helped run the first World Cup. Later chaired the Japan Flag Football association. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 15 |
Higuchi Hirotaro 樋口廣太郎 |
1926–2012 |
First JAFA commissioner |
President of Asahi Breweries from 1986, sponsored the Silver Star club from 1987, and became JAFA's first commissioner. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 16 |
Terada Masahiro 寺田昌弘 |
b. about 1968 |
JAFA president 2023– |
Waseda-trained lawyer; won the national high-school title as a tight end in 1986. Elected president in June 2023 (re-elected for 2025–26); also JOC auditor. Led JAFA's response to the Nihon University drugs case. |
[JA] JAFA 2023-06-12: https://americanfootball.jp/top_news/105/ ; Nikkan Sports 2023-06-11 |
| 17 |
Namikawa Ken 並河研 |
— |
X League chair to Sept 2026 |
Head of OFC, the company that runs Obic. Resigned as chair on 2026-09-15 after the league suspended him over Obic's breach of the pro-player limit (file 04). |
[JA] NFA release: https://xleague-nfa.jp/news/news_release/5901/ |
| 18 |
Nishimura Daisuke 西村大介 |
b. about 1977 |
X League chair 2026– |
Board member chosen as chair on 2026-09-15 (age 49), term to April 2027. Jiji and Nikkan describe him as a former Kyoto University head coach; file 02 (Gendai) also gives a B.League club background [?]. Promised a full rules review by April 2027. |
[JA] NFA release (above); Nikkan Sports 2026-09-15 (search snippet) |
| 19 |
Tanaka Mayumi 田中真弓 |
b. 1954 |
Team manager; first woman in the Hall of Fame |
Managed the Dentsu Caterpillars from their founding in 1977 for 47 years, while working a weekday job. Inducted 2025, the only woman of 59. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
3. Coaches
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 20 |
Yoneda Mitsuru 米田満 |
1928–2020 |
Kwansei Gakuin system builder |
Two-time college champion at QB, then coach and director at 25 Koshien Bowls. Built Kwansei Gakuin's 10-year path from junior high through university (high school won 214 straight). Also helped start the University of Tokyo team. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 21 |
Takeda Ken 武田建 |
b. 1932 |
Kwansei Gakuin coach, TV analyst |
QB, then a psychologist who studied coaching in North America. Coached Kwansei from 1966, winning 7 Koshien Bowls including 5 in a row (1972–76); later won 6 national high-school titles. TV analyst for US college football and the NFL from the 1970s and author of popular football primers. Later president of Kwansei Gakuin. |
[JA] JAFA HoF; ja.wikipedia 武田建 |
| 22 |
Shinozaki Mikio 篠竹幹夫 |
1932–2006 |
Nihon University coach 1959–2003 |
Created Nihon's shotgun passing offense. 17 college titles (JAFA counts 20 Koshien Bowl wins) and 4 Rice Bowls in 44 years. [conflict] Wikipedia gives 401 career wins; JAFA gives 290–39–4 (probably official games only). |
[JA] JAFA HoF; ja.wikipedia 篠竹幹夫 |
| 23 |
Mizuno Yaichi 水野彌一 |
b. 1940 |
Kyoto University coach |
Turned a team of beginners at a national university into a champion: 6 Koshien Bowls and 4 Rice Bowls. The Kyoto vs Kwansei game became a major amateur event; later chaired Kyoto's school board. |
[JA] JAFA HoF; ja.wikipedia 水野弥一 |
| 24 |
Toriuchi Hideaki 鳥内秀晃 |
b. about 1958 |
Kwansei Gakuin coach 1992–2020 |
Lost 4 straight Koshien Bowls to Nihon as a player (1978–81), then coached Kwansei to 12 Koshien Bowl titles and the 2002 Rice Bowl. Known for asking players "what kind of man do you want to be?". Signed with Yoshimoto after retiring; has a YouTube channel. |
[JA] Asahi 4years: https://4years.asahi.com/feature/11026299 |
| 25 |
Uchida Masato 内田正人 |
b. 1955 |
Nihon University coach (scandal) |
A Nihon coach from 1978 and head coach from 2003; won the Koshien Bowl as head coach. In May 2018 a Nihon player made a late, dangerous tackle on Kwansei's QB; the Kanto federation expelled Uchida for life and the university later dismissed him. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 内田正人 (アメリカンフットボール) |
| 26 |
Abe Toshiaki 阿部敏彰 |
b. 1941 |
Silver Star founder, national coach |
Nihon University captain; founded the Silver Star club in 1970, won its first corporate title in 1989 after Asahi's sponsorship and 3 Rice Bowls. Coached Japan at the first three World Cups (1999–2007). |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 27 |
Ohashi Makoto 大橋誠 |
b. 1965 |
Obic Seagulls head coach to 2022 |
A Recruit employee who helped turn the company team into a club in 1996, then became a full-time pro coach in 2006. Led Obic to the first 4 straight national titles. |
[JA] nishi-owls.com profile; seagulls.jp 2023-03-03 |
| 28 |
Mori Kiyoyuki 森清之 |
b. 1964 |
Coach |
Kyoto University champion; coached NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals, won the 2010 Rice Bowl as Kajima head coach, coached Japan at the 2011 and 2015 World Championships, then the University of Tokyo from 2017. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 森清之 |
| 29 |
Chuck Mills チャック・ミルズ |
1928–2021 |
US college coach |
Brought Utah State to Japan in 1971, the first US college team to tour, and Wake Forest in 1974, training alongside Japanese teams. The college MVP award (Chuck Mills Trophy) is named for him. In the Hall of Fame. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
4. Players: stars and pioneers abroad
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 30 |
Abe Takuro 阿部拓朗, Ikenoue Takahiro 池之上貴裕, Ito Shigemasa 伊藤重将 |
— |
First Japanese pros abroad |
In 1996 the three became the first Japanese players in the World League (later NFL Europe), and played for both teams at that year's Tokyo American Bowl. JAFA calls them the first Japanese players in an NFL game. [conflict] see Kawaguchi below. Readings of the names [?]. |
[JA] JAFA 1996 year page |
| 31 |
Kawaguchi Masafumi 河口正史 |
b. 1973 |
LB, TV analyst |
Learned the game at school in New Jersey and California. Played 7 straight NFL Europe seasons for Amsterdam (All-NFL Europe), attended Packers, Cowboys and 49ers camps, and played special teams for the 49ers in the 2002 Osaka preseason game. Wikipedia calls him the first Japanese player in an NFL preseason game, and the first in one in the US. [conflict] JAFA says the 1996 trio (row 30) played in the 1996 Tokyo game first. Now an NFL analyst on NHK and Nippon TV, managed by Yoshimoto. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 河口正史 |
| 32 |
Yamada Shinzo 山田晋三 |
b. 1973 |
LB, coach |
Grew up partly in Tennessee. Kwansei Gakuin captain, 1999 World Cup winner; played in the XFL, NFL Europe and the Arena league, and went to the Buccaneers' camp. Later coached Japan's U-19 team; now at the University of Tsukuba. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 山田晋三 |
| 33 |
Kinoshita Noriaki 木下典明 |
b. 1982 |
WR |
Ritsumeikan star (2002 Rice Bowl), twice All-NFL Europe; signed by the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie free agent in 2007 and was on their practice squad under the international program in 2008. Called "the Japanese player closest to the NFL". |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 木下典明; JAFA 2007 page |
| 34 |
Les Maruo 丸尾玲寿里 |
— |
First Japanese CFL player |
Played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kanji reading not confirmed [?]. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 李卓 |
| 35 |
Yamasaki Takeru 山﨑丈路 |
— |
Second Japanese CFL player |
Played for the BC Lions. Reading from English Wikipedia [?]. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 李卓; [EN] en.wikipedia Taku Lee |
| 36 |
Taku Lee 李卓 |
b. 1995 |
RB |
Keio captain who quit a job as a Japan Airlines pilot trainee to chase the NFL. X League rookie of the year (2017), Japan X Bowl MVP (2020), invited to the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) camp in 2021, then drafted by the CFL's Montreal Alouettes (3rd round), the third Japanese CFL player. Back at Obic as a pro, retired after 2024 and now RB coach. A fourth-generation Zainichi Korean who later became a Japanese citizen. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 李卓 |
| 37 |
Kansei Matsuzawa 松澤寛政 |
b. 1999 |
K |
A soccer forward who failed university entrance exams twice, went to an NFL game in the US and decided to kick. Taught himself from YouTube while working at a Tokyo steakhouse for 3 years, then went to Hocking College and Hawaii. Made 25 straight field goals in 2025 (tying the FBS record) and became a consensus All-American; Raiders practice squad 2026. His Japanese Wikipedia page drew 79,000 views in 2026 (file 08). |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 松澤寛政 |
| 38 |
Yuto Kawamura (kanji [?]) |
— |
WR |
Played at Komaba Gakuen in Tokyo, moved to a Florida high school, and in October 2026 verbally committed to Michigan on a scholarship. Earlier Japanese players mostly started as walk-ons. |
[JA] Sporting News Japan, Oct 2026 |
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 39 |
Kano Katsusuke 加納克亮 |
1903–1971 |
Journalist |
Asahi Shimbun sportswriter who covered football from 1934, helped bring a US all-star team to Japan (1935) and send a Japan team to the US (1936). The Rice Bowl's Kano Cup is named for him. |
[JA] JAFA HoF |
| 40 |
Wakabayashi Masayasu 若林正恭 and Kasuga Toshiaki 春日俊彰 (Audrey) |
b. 1978 and 1979 |
Comedians, NFL hosts |
Played at Nihon University's second high school (Kasuga was a Kanto all-star). Their catchphrase "Toosu!" comes from a huddle call. Hosts of NFL Club on Nippon TV and G+ since 2010 (their name in the title since 2016); went to Super Bowl XLIV. Their show's YouTube channel passed 100,000 subscribers in Oct 2026 [?]. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia オードリー (お笑いコンビ) |
| 41 |
Inagaki Riichiro 稲垣理一郎 |
b. 1976 |
Writer of Eyeshield 21 |
Won Weekly Shonen Jump's story contest in 2001 with Eyeshield 21 (the only grand prize ever given); later wrote Dr. Stone. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 稲垣理一郎 |
| 42 |
Murata Yusuke 村田雄介 |
b. 1978 |
Artist of Eyeshield 21 |
Drew Eyeshield 21 in Jump (2002–2009); now draws One-Punch Man and started an animation studio (2024). |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 村田雄介 |
| 43 |
Arima Hayato 有馬隼人 |
b. 1977 |
Broadcaster, coach |
Led a public high school to the national semifinal as a left-handed QB, played in the X League, then became a TBS announcer. Calls NFL games (often with Kawaguchi) and the Koshien and Rice Bowls; now head coach of the Silver Star club. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 有馬隼人 |
| 44 |
Jinto Yoshida 吉田仁人 (M!LK) |
— |
Idol, NFL presenter |
Member of the idol group M!LK. Fronted Nittele G+'s live Matsuzawa special (Aug 2026). |
[JA] CS Nippon via PR TIMES |
6. Business
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 45 |
Frank Takahashi |
— |
Promoter, 1976 game |
Japanese-American lettuce farmer from California who paid for the Mainichi Star Bowl (Cardinals vs Chargers, Tokyo, Aug 1976), the first NFL game outside North America. He said he'd only break even with a sellout; it didn't sell out and he reportedly lost tens of thousands of dollars. |
[EN] The Big Red Zone 2020-08-16: https://thebigredzone.com/2020/08/16/remembering-the-big-reds-trip-to-japan-in-1976/ |
| 46 |
Noda Masahiro 野田順弘 |
b. 1938 |
Obic founder and chairman |
Founded the software company Obic with his wife in 1968; one of Japan's richest people (Forbes 2022: 10th in Japan). Obic is the main sponsor of the Obic Seagulls, which began as Recruit's company team. When Obic took over from Recruit wasn't confirmed [?]. |
[JA] ja.wikipedia 野田順弘; ja.wikipedia オービックシーガルズ |
| 47 |
Hioki Takayuki 日置貴之 |
— |
NFL's Japan liaison |
His company, Sports Branding Japan (SBJ), was named the NFL's Japan liaison office in Dec 2013. It handles TV rights, NFL Japan.com, licensing and PR. He earlier rebuilt the Tochigi Nikko Icebucks hockey club. His current role was not confirmed [?]. |
[JA] SBJ release 2013-12-25: http://www.smg-world.com/release/38 |
| 48 |
Machida 町田 (given name not found) |
— |
NFL JAPAN Co. president |
Ran NFL JAPAN Co. Ltd. for about 15 years (to 2013), building the NFL's TV, sponsor and licensing base in Japan, then handed over to SBJ. |
[JA] SBJ release 2013-12-25 |
7. NFL people working on Japan today
| # |
Name |
Years |
Role |
What they did |
Source |
| 49 |
Brett Gosper |
b. 1959 |
NFL head of Europe and Asia-Pacific |
Australian ex-rugby player and advertising executive, then CEO of World Rugby 2012–2021, which included the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan (Japan v Scotland drew a record 54.8 million Japanese viewers, per Wikipedia). Joined the NFL in January 2021. Said in Aug 2026 that Japan is "a market of interest"; points to Ohtani-era interest in US sport. |
[EN] en.wikipedia Brett Gosper; Reuters via The Star, 2026-08-29 |
| 50 |
Stephanie Cheng |
— |
VP and Head of International & Special Projects, Los Angeles Rams |
Launched the Rams' Japan LINE account in April 2024 and presented Los Angeles as a "gateway to Asia". The Rams hold the NFL's Japan marketing rights. |
[JA] NFL Japan (Rams LINE launch) |
| 51 |
Roger Goodell |
— |
NFL commissioner |
Said in late Oct 2026 that a Tokyo game could come "next year or the year after". |
[JA] Jiji 2026-10-30 (file 02) |
Sources
Answered (opened):
- JAFA Hall of Fame list and bios (59 people): https://americanfootball.jp/top_news/30/ ; 2025 class: https://americanfootball.jp/top_news/154/
- JAFA president election 2023: https://americanfootball.jp/top_news/105/ ; board list: https://americanfootball.jp/jafa/boardmember/
- JAFA year pages 1996–2008 (Japanese players in the World League and NFL Europe): https://americanfootball.jp/top_news/<n>/
- NFA release on the chair change, 2026-09-15: https://xleague-nfa.jp/news/news_release/5901/
- Asahi 4years, Toriuchi feature: https://4years.asahi.com/feature/11026299
- Obic Seagulls, Ohashi farewell: https://seagulls.jp/news20230303/ ; Nishi High OB profile: https://www.nishi-owls.com/topics/2022/06-17-obog04-ohashi.html
- SBJ release (NFL liaison office): http://www.smg-world.com/release/38 ; SBJ works page: http://www.smg-world.com/works
- The Big Red Zone (Frank Takahashi): https://thebigredzone.com/2020/08/16/remembering-the-big-reds-trip-to-japan-in-1976/
- Wikipedia (ja): 武田建, 篠竹幹夫, 水野弥一, 内田正人 (アメリカンフットボール), 森清之, 河口正史, 山田晋三, 木下典明, 李卓, 松澤寛政, オードリー (お笑いコンビ), 稲垣理一郎, 村田雄介, 有馬隼人, 野田順弘, オービックシーガルズ; (en): Brett Gosper
- Sporting News Japan (Kawamura): https://www.sportingnews.com/jp/tsn/news/2026-10-21-japanese-players-us-college-football/f913ee5293cadc4589c9ae67
- CS Nippon via PR TIMES (Yoshida, Matsuzawa special): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001257.000009198.html
- Reuters via The Star (Gosper, Aug 2026): https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/others/2026/08/29/football-nfl-eyes-expansion-in-japan-as-international-games-reach-record-high
- NFL Japan (Rams LINE launch): https://nfljapan.com/headlines/98979
From search results only (page not opened):
- Nikkan Sports and Jiji on Nishimura's age and Kyoto background.
Came up empty:
- No ja.wikipedia page for Toriuchi Hideaki, Ohashi Makoto, Namikawa Ken or Nishimura Daisuke.
- Machida's given name, and Hioki's current role at SBJ.
- Kanji for Yuto Kawamura, and confirmed readings for Les Maruo, Yamasaki Takeru and the 1996 trio.
- Who leads NFL Japan's office day to day in 2026 (the liaison company is known, the staff are not).
- The year Obic took over sponsorship of the Seagulls from Recruit.