Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian-born businessman who made his fortune in the media industry. However, he was also a passionate football fan and owned several professional football teams throughout his career.
Cooke's first foray into football ownership came in 1960 when he purchased a minority stake in the Washington Redskins. He gradually increased his ownership stake over the years and eventually became the majority owner in 1974. Under Cooke's ownership, the Redskins experienced a period of great success, winning three Super Bowls in 1983, 1988, and 1992. Cooke was known for his hands-on approach to team management and was heavily involved in player personnel decisions.
In addition to owning the Redskins, Cooke also owned the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings. He was instrumental in bringing several high-profile players to the Lakers, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Cooke was also responsible for building the Forum in Inglewood, California, which served as the home arena for both the Lakers and the Kings.
Cooke's involvement in football extended beyond just owning the Redskins. He was also a key figure in the creation of the World Football League, a short-lived professional football league that operated from 1974 to 1975. Cooke was one of the league's founding owners and his team, the Washington Ambassadors, played in the league's inaugural season.
Cooke's impact on the football world was not limited to his ownership of teams. He was also a major philanthropist and donated millions of dollars to various football-related causes. In 1993, he established the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which provides scholarships to high-achieving students from low-income families. The foundation has since expanded to include a program that supports the development of young football players.
Cooke passed away in 1997 at the age of 84. His legacy in the football world lives on, however, through the continued success of the Redskins and the impact of his philanthropic efforts.
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