Further, the Detroit Heralds, though based in Michigan, played many of its games against Ohio teams.
[7] The two stronger teams in the league were the Portsmouth Spartans and the Ironton Tanks,[8] that in the year after the circuit died (1930) beat the New York Giants and Chicago Bears,[9] while the Spartans would join the NFL and would later become the Detroit Lions.
[11] 1925 Ironton Tanks (9-1-2)[12] 1926 Ironton Tanks (11-1-1)[13] 1927 Ashland Armco Yellowjackets (7-1-3)[14] 1928 Ironton Tanks (7-1-3)[15] 1929 Portsmouth Spartans (12-2-1)[16] In 1941, there was a resurgence in pro football in Ohio, as local teams tried to form a new professional league called The Ohio Professional Football League (also known as Ohio Valley League).
[17] Six teams came together in an attempt to restore the region's former old glory: The Dayton Dakotas, Dayton Merchants, Cincinnati Pepsi-Colas, Columbus Avondales, Middletown Merchants, and another Canadian team the Thomas Athletic Club from Windsor, Ontario,[18] but they withdrew from the league before the season started.
The circuit operated on a much smaller scale from previous leagues, and did not return for a second season.