Like many of the early NFL teams, the Orange Tornadoes roots go back to an amateur athletic clubs. Located in Essex County as a suburb of New Jersey's largest city Newark, the Orange Athletic Club began playing football in 1887.

Orange A. C.

would lose their first game to Seton Hall University 36-0. Orange A.

C. would become a semi-pro team in the 1890's, practicing under the lights before beating Rutgers 22-10 before in 1892.

In 1893, the Orange Athletic Club went on to win the mythical American Football Union Championship, posting a record of 8-2. Orange A.

C. would play many other top level Eastern professional and semi-professional football teams at the turn of the century and operated as a club team until 1919, when officially became a professional organization.