Leatherheads is a 2008 American sports comedy film from Universal Pictures directed by and starring George Clooney. The film also stars Renée Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce, and John Krasinski and focuses on the early years of professional American football. The film was released on April 4, 2008. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $41 million against its $58 million budget.

In 1925, Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly is captain of the Duluth Bulldogs, a struggling professional American football team. With pro football on the brink of collapse, Dodge convinces Princeton University's football star, Carter "the Bullet" Rutherford, to join the Bulldogs, capitalizing on his fame as a decorated hero of the First World War. Chicago Tribune newspaper reporter Lexie Littleton has been assigned to prove Carter's war heroics are bogus, but finds herself in a love triangle with Dodge and Carter. When Carter confesses that a German platoon surrendered to him by mistake, he discovers Lexie's agenda, and that she and Dodge shared a kiss. Threats by Carter's manager convince her to publish the story.

Carter's manager resorts to shady dealing to suppress the story, even bribing the original witness to change his statements. The new commissioner of football appointed by the U.S. Congress works toward legitimizing pro football by formalizing the game's rules and taking away its improvisational antics. He also attempts to clear the Carter controversy.

Public opinion turns against Lexie and Dodge interrupts a private hearing in the commissioner's office and threatens Carter with a confrontation by his old army comrades. Carter confesses the truth and the commissioner frees Lexie from printing a retraction. Carter modifies his story and returns much of his pay to the American Legion. Carter's conniving manager is banned from football and Dodge is warned that if he pulls any old tricks to win the next game, he will lose his place in the league.

Dodge's last game is played against Carter, who has changed sides from Duluth to Chicago and the rivalry for Lexie's affection spills onto the field. Dodge plays the game without reference to the rules. Dodge goes missing after a scrum, and with most players covered in mud, no one can tell who is who. There appears to be an interception and Chicago seems to have won, but when the mud is removed Dodge is revealed as the Chicago player on the play, which is changed to a touchdown resulting in a Bulldogs win.

Carter tells Dodge to quit playing football or he'll reveal the real story about his "capture" of the German soldiers to the newspapers. Dodge convinces him that the United States needs heroes and they part on good terms.

After the game, Dodge and Lexie ride into the sunset on Dodge's motorbike. During the end credits, pictures show Dodge and Lexie getting married, Carter donating $10,000 to the American Legion, and Carter's former manager with new clients Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

In an interview on the Late Show with David Letterman, Clooney mentioned the plot is loosely based on the life and antics of Johnny 'Blood' McNally. Clooney later explained that "We wanted to call them the Eskimos, but because we were drinking in the movie, the NFL said we couldn't use the actual names." The Canton Bulldogs was the first successful pro football team, which is why the Professional Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton, Ohio.^{[citation needed]}