Russell Grant Hathaway was born on January 14, 1896 in Terre Haute, Indiana

Terre Haute, Indiana

Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...

. After high school, Hathaway attended Indiana University

Indiana University

Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...

. In November 1917 Hathaway made a 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for the Hoosiers only points that game. However it was the first score ever made against Ohio State that season.

Hathaway made his National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 debut in 1920 with the Muncie Flyers

Muncie Flyers

The Muncie Flyers from Muncie, Indiana played in the National Football League from 1920-1921.-Origins:...

. He played in the NFL for 8 years, playing for the Flyers, Dayton Triangles

Dayton Triangles

The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north...

, Pottsville Maroons

Pottsville Maroons

The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...

 and Buffalo Bisons. In 1922, Hathaway led the NFL with 9 extra points. Also in 1922 he helped the Canton Bulldogs

Canton Bulldogs

The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...

 win the 1922 NFL Championship. In 1925 he helped the Maroons win the NFL Championship, before it was stripped from the team due to a disputed rules violation

1925 NFL Championship controversy

The 1925 National Football League Championship, officially held by the Chicago Cardinals, has been the subject of controversy since it was awarded. The controversy centers around the suspension of the Pottsville Maroons by NFL commissioner Joseph Carr, which prevented them from taking the title.The...

. Russ later pointed out, that during his time with Pottsville, he was receiving $100 for playing in just 1 game, while the local miners working there didn't make that in a month.