1896 Chicago Athletic Association football team

The 1896 Chicago Athletic Association football team was an American football team representing the Chicago Athletic Association (CAA). Led by captain and future Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson, the team compiled a 9–1–1 record while allowing only ten points. The team played its home games at Athletic Park, located at 35th Street and Wentworth Avenue in Chicago.

Player purge
In mid-November, the CAA, seeking to maintain an amateur standing and to avoid any appearance of professionalism, purged from its roster six players of questionable amateur status: tackle Harry G. Hadden, end Paul G. Brown, halfback Philip S. Graver, quarterback William H. Aldrich, and guards Lee K. Stewart and Ben Thomas. With the exception of Thomas, all had traveled to Pittsburgh to play on the suspectedly professional Allegheny Athletic Association team in defiance of the wishes of CAA president Edwin A. Potter and Captain William Hale Thompson. Thomas allegedly would have also appeared with Allegheny if not for an ailing knee or leg. The CAA at first charged the six players with insubordination and supposed professionalism, but decided not to investigate the charge of professionalism and instead expelled the players on the grounds of insubordination and conduct detrimental to the reputation of the club.

Hadden and Brown denied being paid by Allegheny. Despite their denials, the 1896 Allegheny team is recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the first completely professional football team.