The NFL's Original Headquarters
A Humble Beginning
Before billion-dollar broadcasts and primetime spotlights, before fantasy leagues and Super Bowl Sundays, professional football lived in a single room at 16 East Broad Street in downtown Columbus.
That room belonged to Joe Carr. And that room’s story now has a plaque.
On September 14, HOMAGE joined fans, historians, city leaders, and family members to dedicate a long-overdue historical marker at the site of the NFL’s original headquarters. The building is still there — tucked between crosswalks and coffee shops right across from the state house — but the league that started inside it looks very different now.
This was the moment to remember how it all began.
A Desk, a Ledger, and a Vision
In 1921, Carr took over what was then called the American Professional Football Association and brought it home to Columbus. From that room on Broad Street, he gave the league structure. Schedules. Rules. Order. He believed football could be more than a local draw. He wanted it to matter across the country.
Right there with him was Kathleen Rubadue, the NFL’s first female employee. Her name is rarely mentioned in league history, but she helped run operations with precision and pride. Together, they built the bones of a sport that would grow into something nobody could have imagined.
“Football Lives Here”
The plaque sits just blocks from the HOMAGE flagship store — close enough to remind us why we tell the stories we do.
“Football has always meant more than just wins and losses. It’s a language, it’s a tradition, it’s how families and communities connect,” said HOMAGE founder Ryan Vesler at the plaque’s dedication. “For so many of us, our earliest memories of the game aren’t just about the touchdowns or the trophies — they’re about sitting with our parents, our grandparents, our friends, huddled together on cold bleachers on Friday nights, or waking up early to tailgate on Saturdays, or gathering around the TV on Sundays.
“Football has a way of marking time in our lives. It’s about those moments of pride, heartbreak, and belonging that we carry with us forever.”
The moment wasn’t about nostalgia. It was about recognition. Columbus didn’t just host the league. It shaped it.
A Team Effort
This project happened because a few people knew the story mattered:
- Chris Willis, NFL Films historian and longtime advocate for telling the untold stories. He connected the dots and brought Carr and Rubadue’s legacy back into the spotlight.
- Linda Logan and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, who championed the city’s role in the league’s past and future.
- Michael Tomko, the building’s current owner, who saw value in preserving something invisible but important — the history within the walls.
A Marker Worth Stopping For
At HOMAGE, our mission has always been to celebrate stories like this. Not just the highlight reels or the most obvious chapters, but the unique, often overlooked details that make the history of sports so rich. We believe paying homage means shining a light on the stories that matter. That’s why we are so proud to be part of this small celebration today.
If you’re downtown, look for the plaque at 16 E. Broad Street. Take a minute. Read the names. Imagine what it looked like in 1921 when the NFL was still just an idea in a desk drawer.
And remember that greatness doesn’t always start on a field. Sometimes, it starts with a typewriter, a ledger, and a whole lot of belief.
