During their existence, from 1922 to 1926, the Badgers played in the NFL with varying success. They never managed to secure a title, but they did show remarkable performances in their early years. One of their most notable achievements was the inclusion of African American players at a time when this was not a common sight in most other teams. The signing of players like Fritz Pollard, Paul Robeson, and Duke Slater was significant not only in sports but also socially.
The first coach of the Badgers was Budge Garrett, who was replaced by Jimmy Conzelman after only the first season. Under Conzelman, the team finished the 1922 season with two wins, four losses, and four ties. Although they improved to 7 wins and three ties in the following year, 1923, they failed to secure a derby win against the Packers. In 1924, Hal Erickson became the new head coach, but the team began to decline sportingly, achieving only five wins in 13 games.
The financial prospects for the Badgers were mostly bleak, partly due to a lack of spectator interest. They struggled to compete against the Packers and other popular teams. The situation reached its low point in 1925 when the Badgers were penalized for violating league rules, including fielding high school players during a game against the Chicago Cardinals. This event is considered one of the biggest scandals in early NFL history.
Ultimately, a combination of sporting woes, financial difficulties, and dwindling fan interest led to the end of the Milwaukee Badgers. After the 1926 season, the team disbanded, leaving a fascinating, albeit brief, footnote in American football history.