The Stroud Rule: How the NFL’s Tallest Player Forced a Rule Change

Intro Hook: Imagine a defender so tall he didn't need to rush the kicker—he simply stood under the crossbar and swatted field goals away like a basketball center. In the late 1960s, Morris Stroud turned the NFL into a game of "grass-court" goaltending, forcing the league to rewrite its laws to stop one of the most creative "cheats" in sports history.

In the late 1960s, the NFL was an arms race. Coaches were looking for any edge—any loophole—to snatch a victory. But while most teams were looking at the playbook, the Kansas City Chiefs were looking at the rafters.

Meet Morris Stroud. At 6'10", he remains one of the tallest players to ever lace up a pair of cleats. Nominally a tight end, Stroud was a physical anomaly in an era of smaller, scrappier players.

But Head Coach Hank Stram didn't just want Stroud to catch passes. He had a vision that felt more like a heist than a strategy.

The logic was deviously simple: why let the ball go through the uprights when you have a man tall enough to reach them?

During field goal attempts, Stroud wouldn't rush the kicker. He wouldn't try to penetrate the line. Instead, he would retreat. He’d stand directly under the crossbar, wait for the ball to reach its apex, and simply... jump.

• The Tactic: Stroud would swat away kicks that were clearly on a scoring trajectory.
• The Result: It turned the "automatic" three points into a game of basketball played on grass.

"It was the ultimate defensive cheat code. You didn't need to block the kick at the line; you just needed a giant to play goalie at the rim."

The NFL offices in New York weren't amused. This wasn't "football"—it was an existential threat to the scoring system. If every team found a seven-footer to camp out under the posts, the field goal would become extinct.

In 1970, the league lowered the boom.

The "Stroud Rule"

The NFL officially amended the rulebook to preserve the integrity of the kicking game. The new regulation stated:

The Rule: The Penalty. It is illegal to touch or deflect a ball that is above the crossbar and between the uprights.Goal-tending: The field goal is ruled successful, and 3 points are awarded.

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Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

The evolution of yardage markers and field numbers, a topic of significant historical resonance, is thoroughly examined in our discourse today. As we delve into the annals of football history with esteemed historian Timothy Brown, we uncover the chaotic beginnings of the football field, where the lack of standardized markings often left players, officials, and spectators disoriented. Brown elucidates how the early experimentation with field geometry has ultimately led to the clarity and uniformity we now take for granted, characterized by the crisp white numbers and directional arrows that adorn modern fields. This narrative serves not only to highlight the evolution of the game but also to emphasize the necessity of standardization in facilitating both gameplay and viewer comprehension. Join us as we explore this fascinating transformation, revealing how a seemingly simple aspect of the sport has profound implications for its structure and appreciation.

This episode stems from Tim's recent post titled: The Evolution of Yardage Markers and Field Numbers - https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/todays-tidbit-yardage-markers-and

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

00:10 The Evolution of the Football Field

01:10 The Evolution of Football Field Markings

04:18 The Evolution of Goal Line Markings

09:30 Reflections on Officiating

10:17 Nostalgic Memories of Old Ed

11:53 Exploring Football History

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

The primary focus of today's discourse revolves around the transformative impact of Deacon Jones's infamous head slap maneuver in American football, a technique so formidable that it compelled the National Football League to amend its rulebook in order to mitigate the associated dangers. I, Darren Hayes, welcome you once again to the Pig Pen, a haven dedicated to illuminating the rich tapestry of football history, where we endeavor to recount the remarkable exploits of players, teams, and pivotal moments that have shaped this beloved sport. Through our exploration, we shall also delve into the iconic 1911 match between the Harvard Crimson and the Carlisle Indian School, showcasing the unparalleled prowess of Jim Thorpe and the strategic ingenuity of Coach Pop Warner. This episode promises to enrich your understanding of football's storied past by highlighting extraordinary narratives that continue to resonate within the fabric of the game. Join us as we embark on this enlightening journey through the annals of gridiron history.

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive.

Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga.

*OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars

Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel.

Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

This episode intricately weaves together tales of football lore, articulating the essence of competition and innovation that characterizes the sport. The narrative transitions to a significant historical upset, recounting a match on November 11, 1911, between Harvard and the Carlisle Indian School, led by the remarkable Jim Thorpe. Harvard's decision to rest its starters backfired spectacularly, as the underdog Carlisle team, employing the single wing offense and driven by Thorpe's exceptional talent, executed a stunning victory. This match not only exemplifies the unpredictability of sports but also highlights the tactical acumen of less heralded teams. The episode emphasizes the importance of adaptability and innovation in football, showcasing how strategy and sheer willpower can triumph over established superiority in the gridiron arena.