Tom Nugent is credited with developing the I formation at Virginia Military Institute in 1950

HistoryThe exact origin of the I formation is unlear.[ Tom Nugent is credited with developing the I formation at Virginia Military Institute in 1950 as a replacement for the single-wing and an alternative to the T formation. Don Coryell, before popularizing Air Coryell, was also a pioneer of the I and used it as a high school coach in Hawaii, at Wenatchee Valley College in 1955, and at Whittier College in 1957-1959. In 1960, Coryell was an assistant coach under John McKay for the USC Trojans. By 1962, McKay's USC team won the national title with an offense built on the I. John Madden recalled going to an I formation clinic led by McKay. "We'd go to these clinics, and afterward, everyone would run up to talk to McKay," said Madden. "Coryell was there because he introduced (McKay). I was thinking, 'If (McKay) learned from him, I'll go talk to (Coryell).

Tom Osborne, head football coach at Nebraska, further popularized the formation in the early 1970s (while the offensive coordinator under head coach Bob Devaney). It was the base of the Nebraska option offense for over thirty years.[6] NFL teams followed the success of the I at the college level and adopted it as well.