Howard Bulldogs football, 1950–1959

The Howard Bulldogs football program, 1950–1959 represented Howard College (now known as Samford University) during the 1950s in college football. During this time, the Bulldogs were led by five different head coaches and had an overall record for the decade of 30–54–4. From 1950 through 1954, Howard competed as a member of the Dixie Conference and from 1955 onwards they competed as an independent.

From 1950 to 1953, Earl Gartman served as head coach, and led the Bulldogs to an overall record of 10–23–1 during this time. During his tenure Bobby Bowden was his most notable player after he earned "Little All-America" honors as quarterback. William C. White previously served as head coach at Howard in the 1940s, returned to coach the Bulldogs for their 1954 season, and led the team to a 2–7 record. The 1954 season also marked the final one Howard played as a member of the Dixie Conference.

After White resigned as head coach in June 1955, former Howard player Howard Foote was selected as the next head coach of the Bulldogs. Foote led Howard to an overall record of 3–13–2, before he resigned in August 1957. Virgil Ledbetter was next appointed as head coach and let Howard to an overall record of 6–10–1 during his two seasons. In 1959, Bobby Bowden was appointed as head coach and led his alma mater to a 9–1 record, with a victory in the Textile Bowl over Gordon Military College in his first season as a collegiate head coach.

During the 1950s, Howard played their home game as several stadiums. From 1950 to 1956, their primary home field was Barry Field, which was located on their original campus in the East Lake neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. In 1957, the school relocated from East Lake to a new campus in Homewood, Alabama, and played the entirety of that season at Shades Valley H.S. Stadium prior to the opening of a new on-campus, Howard Stadium for their 1958 season. In the 1950s, Howard also played home games at Legion Field in Birmingham and at Hewitt High School Stadium in Trussville, Alabama.

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