Who invented the football huddle?

The football huddle was first used in the 1890s by Paul Hubbard of Gallaudet College, a Washington D.C.-based college for the deaf. The purpose of the circular huddle was to mask what his teammates were signing from the opposing team's players.

A huddle in sports occurs when a team or group of teammates gathers closely together to coordinate strategy without information being intercepted by players of the opposing team. Huddles may also be used to combat the noise level of loud spectators or as an opportunity to create motivation. In gridiron football, an offensive huddle is commonly led by the quarterback, while the defensive huddle is often led by a linebacker.