after the olympics, thorpe played professional baseball and football. he played for football teams including the canton bulldogs, rock island independents, chicago cardinals and new york giants. he was commissioner of the nfl for one year. thorpe is in the nfl hall of fame. he also played for baseball teams including the new york giants, cincinnati reds, and boston braves for several years, thorpe toured with football, baseball and basketball teams that only had native american players. late in life, thorpe had problems with alcoholism. thorpe died in 1953. he was buried in mauch chunk, pennsylvania, which changed its name to jim thorpe, pennsylvania.