Indiana Legends

Indiana Legends: George Taliaferro is the remarkable story of an American hero who overcame racial barriers to succeed on the football field and in life.

A star halfback at Indiana University in the 1940s, George Taliaferro led the Cream and Crimson to its only undefeated season and Big Ten Football Championship. As a student activist, he helped desegregate the Bloomington campus, opening local restaurants and movie theaters to African Americans.

In 1949, Taliaferro made history by becoming the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team. The "Jackie Robinson of Professional Football," he revolutionized the pro game with his unique combination of speed, quickness and all-around ability. As a player and later a social worker and university administrator at IU, Taliaferro was an outspoken opponent of racism and bigotry, fighting for equal opportunities for all students.