The Rock Island Independents were a professional American football team, based in Rock Island, Illinois, from 1907 to 1926. The Independents were a founding National Football League franchise. They hosted what has been retrospectively designated the first National Football League game on September 26, 1920 at Douglas Park. The Independents were founded in 1907 by Demetrius Clements as an independent football club. Hence, the team was named the "Independents."

Reuben John Ursella was a professional football player-coach who played during the early years of the National Football League (NFL). During his NFL career, Rube played for the Minneapolis Marines/Red Jackets, Akron Indians, Hammond Pros, and Rock Island Independents. Outside of the NFL, Ursella played for the Hibbing All-Stars in 1922 and 1923 and Tollefson's All-Stars in 1923, and in January 1926, he also played exhibition games with Jim Thorpe and his independent team, the Tampa Cardinals.