Known as the father of American football, Walter Chauncey Camp (1859-1925) shaped the rules that transformed rugby into the familiar modern game. First as an undergraduate and then as a medical student, Camp played halfback on the football team at Yale College (which became Yale University in 1887) from 1876 to 1882, serving as captain - at the time, a role similar to the modern role of head coach - during the latter years of his career. Camp was coach of the Yale football team from 1888 to 1892 and later held an advisory position until 1910.

Camp is credited with a wide range of important innovations, including the system of downs, the play from scrimmage, the restriction of 11 players per side and the position of quarterback. He was also a prolific writer whose many books about football helped popularize the game.