With it being the 100th anniversary of the National Football League, I thought it a fitting occasion to do a deeper dive into the history of my favorite professional sports league. I have written various times regarding my love of the NFL, my favorite team of the Detroit Lions, the leagues' greatest rivalries, the greatest players by position, and the greatest coaches. However I have yet to make a proper post regarding the history and formation of the league, as I did with baseball several years back (see History of the MLB). So in conjunction with my recent post regarding NCAA football, I will consider this my cumulative study on the sport of football.
The Birth of Football
The modern day game of American football as we now it, began as an infusion of soccer and rugby in the 1860s. It was in 1869 when the first considered football game took place between Princeton and Rutgers. These two teams were later joined by Colombia and Yale to establish a set of rules for the game that included a round ball and 20 players on each team. However the University of Harvard later demonstrated a new format inspired from Canadian rules, that introduced an 11 player team, tackling, and an oblong shaped ball instead of the round one. In 1879 a Yale athlete named Walter Camp, considered the father of American football, helped establish the Intercollegiate Football Association.
By the 1880s various rule changes continued to evolve the game, away from the format of rugby. The concept of a snap, football pads, a first down, and the gridiron structure were introduced as well as a new point system that had different scores for a touchdown, field goal, and a safety. However the game was very physical and violent and after multiple fatalities President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to abolish the game unless there were major rule changes. In 1906 new rules were instituted that reduced the game play to 60 minutes, reduced the field to 100 yards, introduced the forward pass as an option away from running the ball, teams were allowed four downs instead of three downs to gain 10 yards for a first down, and increased the use of leather helmets and pads (helmets did not become mandatory until 1939). This general format to the sport remains in tact to this day, with many other bylaw adjustments along the way.
The Birth of the NFL
By the early 1900s football had become a very popular sport in America, and the desire to make money on the game began to emerge. In 1892 the collegiate superstars, William Heffelfinger and Ben Donnelly were recruited and paid by the Allegheny Athletic Association to become the first ever professional athletes. This began a series of regional circuit leagues throughout the Midwest trying to emulate the established National Baseball League. In 1917 the Ohio football league were able to recruit the national Olympic icon, Jim Thorpe to play and coach the Canton Bulldogs. Teams throughout Ohio and New York became quite popular as they went on barnstorming tours throughout the Midwest. Following WWI it became clear to various owners that a national league could be very successful and profitable.
In August of 1920 owners from the Ohio League met in Canton Ohio to establish the American Football Professional Association. This included mostly Ohio teams such as Thorpe's Canton Bulldogs as well as teams from New York and other Midwestern states. Several of the original teams quickly folded due to lack of interest and funding. The Akron Pros claimed the first championship in 1920. By 1922 various other teams had joined the league, that was headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and became known as the National Football League.
The Eastern/Western Conferences
In 1933 the league reorganized itself into two conferences, five teams from the east, and five teams from the west. The champion of each conference would face off in the NFL championship. At this point the Boston Braves (later the Washington Redskins), the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Pittsburg Pirates (later the Pittsburgh Steelers had joined the league. The New York Giants went on to defeat the Chicago Bears in the first NFL championship of 1933.
Original Eastern Division
Boston Redskins (1932-became the modern day Washington Redskins)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1930-1945)
New York Giants (1925-present)
Philadelphia Eagles (1933-present)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-became the modern day Pittsburgh Steelers)
Original Western Division
Chicago Bears (1919-present)
Chicago Cardinals (1920-became the modern day Arizona Cardinals)
Green Bay Packers (1919-present)
Portsmouth Spartans (1930-became the modern day Detroit Lions)
Cincinnati Reds (1933-1934)
The American Football League
The NFL had various competition from other leagues and one of the most notable of these competitors was the American Football League. The AFL first began operation in 1926 yet went defunct after only one season. It's second attempt came ten years later in 1935, and this time made it thru two seasons before it folded. A third attempt was made in 1940, however it yet again had to fold after only one season. This gave way to the more successful All-American Football Conference that lasted from 1946 to 1949. The league generated periods of success and after it's closure three of it's teams joined the NFL; the San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Colts.
Teams of the AAFC
In an effort to compete with the up-and-coming AFL, the NFL began an expansion campaign in the 1960s which included the Dallas Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and the Los Angeles Rams. However it became clear to the NFL that the AFL had greater wealth and were beginning to recruit top notch college players. In 1966 an agreement was made to merge the leagues so that the AFL champion would play the NFL champion for the national championship.
1935 - Detroit Lions
1951 - Los Angeles Rams
1962 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1973 - Miami Dolphins
1989 - San Francisco 49ers
2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers
The Birth of Football
The modern day game of American football as we now it, began as an infusion of soccer and rugby in the 1860s. It was in 1869 when the first considered football game took place between Princeton and Rutgers. These two teams were later joined by Colombia and Yale to establish a set of rules for the game that included a round ball and 20 players on each team. However the University of Harvard later demonstrated a new format inspired from Canadian rules, that introduced an 11 player team, tackling, and an oblong shaped ball instead of the round one. In 1879 a Yale athlete named Walter Camp, considered the father of American football, helped establish the Intercollegiate Football Association.By the 1880s various rule changes continued to evolve the game, away from the format of rugby. The concept of a snap, football pads, a first down, and the gridiron structure were introduced as well as a new point system that had different scores for a touchdown, field goal, and a safety. However the game was very physical and violent and after multiple fatalities President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to abolish the game unless there were major rule changes. In 1906 new rules were instituted that reduced the game play to 60 minutes, reduced the field to 100 yards, introduced the forward pass as an option away from running the ball, teams were allowed four downs instead of three downs to gain 10 yards for a first down, and increased the use of leather helmets and pads (helmets did not become mandatory until 1939). This general format to the sport remains in tact to this day, with many other bylaw adjustments along the way.
The Birth of the NFL
By the early 1900s football had become a very popular sport in America, and the desire to make money on the game began to emerge. In 1892 the collegiate superstars, William Heffelfinger and Ben Donnelly were recruited and paid by the Allegheny Athletic Association to become the first ever professional athletes. This began a series of regional circuit leagues throughout the Midwest trying to emulate the established National Baseball League. In 1917 the Ohio football league were able to recruit the national Olympic icon, Jim Thorpe to play and coach the Canton Bulldogs. Teams throughout Ohio and New York became quite popular as they went on barnstorming tours throughout the Midwest. Following WWI it became clear to various owners that a national league could be very successful and profitable.In August of 1920 owners from the Ohio League met in Canton Ohio to establish the American Football Professional Association. This included mostly Ohio teams such as Thorpe's Canton Bulldogs as well as teams from New York and other Midwestern states. Several of the original teams quickly folded due to lack of interest and funding. The Akron Pros claimed the first championship in 1920. By 1922 various other teams had joined the league, that was headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and became known as the National Football League.
- Akron Pros (1908-1927)
- Columbus Panhandles (1901-1926)
- Decatur Staleys (1919-became the modern day Chicago Bears)
- Buffalo All Americans (1915-1929)
- Dayton Triangles (1913-1929)
- Detroit Heralds (1905-1921)
- Canton Bulldogs (1903-1927)
- Green Bay Packers (1919-present)
- Hammond Pros (1917-1926)
- Chicago Cardinals (1920-became the modern day Arizona Cardinals)
- Rock Island Independents (1907-1926)
- Muncie Flyers (1905-1925)
- Chicago Tigers (1920)
- Toledo Maroons (1902-1923)
- Racine Legion (1915-1926)
- Cleveland Tigers (1916-1921)
- Kenosha Maroons (1924)
- Rochester Jeffersons (1898-1928)
In 1925 the New York Giants joined the league and were later joined by the Portsmouth Spartans in 1930, who later relocated to Detroit in 1934 as the Detroit Lions.
The Eastern/Western Conferences
In 1933 the league reorganized itself into two conferences, five teams from the east, and five teams from the west. The champion of each conference would face off in the NFL championship. At this point the Boston Braves (later the Washington Redskins), the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Pittsburg Pirates (later the Pittsburgh Steelers had joined the league. The New York Giants went on to defeat the Chicago Bears in the first NFL championship of 1933.Original Eastern Division
Boston Redskins (1932-became the modern day Washington Redskins)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1930-1945)
New York Giants (1925-present)
Philadelphia Eagles (1933-present)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-became the modern day Pittsburgh Steelers)
Original Western Division
Chicago Bears (1919-present)
Chicago Cardinals (1920-became the modern day Arizona Cardinals)
Green Bay Packers (1919-present)
Portsmouth Spartans (1930-became the modern day Detroit Lions)
Cincinnati Reds (1933-1934)
The American Football League
The NFL had various competition from other leagues and one of the most notable of these competitors was the American Football League. The AFL first began operation in 1926 yet went defunct after only one season. It's second attempt came ten years later in 1935, and this time made it thru two seasons before it folded. A third attempt was made in 1940, however it yet again had to fold after only one season. This gave way to the more successful All-American Football Conference that lasted from 1946 to 1949. The league generated periods of success and after it's closure three of it's teams joined the NFL; the San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Colts.
Teams of the AAFC- New York Yankees (1946-1949)
- Brooklyn Dodgers (1946-1949)
- Buffalo Bisons (1946-1949)
- Miami Seahawks (1946-1947)
- Baltimore Colts (1947-1950)
- Cleveland Browns (1944-present)
- Chicago Rockets (1946-1949)
- Los Angeles Dons (1946-1949)
- San Francisco 49ers (1946-present)
In 1960 a group of business owners, referred to as the "Foolish Club" had grown frustrated with their denied attempts to join their teams to the NFL, so they established their own league. This time the AFL had become a major competitor to the NFL and even was able to recruit various big name college stars such as Joe Namath to the New York Jets. The league lasted for ten years until the NFL agreed to merge with them, which gave way to the modern day Super Bowl era.
AFL teams
- Boston Patriots (1960-became the modern day New England Patriots)
- Buffalo Bills (1960-present)
- Houston Oilers (1960-became the modern day Tennessee Titans)
- Miami Dolphins (1966-present)
- New York Jets (1960-present)
- Cincinnati Bengals (1968-present)
- Kansas City Chiefs (1960-present)
- Denver Broncos (1960-present)
- San Diego Chargers (1960-present)
- Oakland Raiders (1960)
AFL/NFL Merger
In an effort to compete with the up-and-coming AFL, the NFL began an expansion campaign in the 1960s which included the Dallas Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and the Los Angeles Rams. However it became clear to the NFL that the AFL had greater wealth and were beginning to recruit top notch college players. In 1966 an agreement was made to merge the leagues so that the AFL champion would play the NFL champion for the national championship.
The first Super Bowl was played between the Green Bay Packers from the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL, with Lombardi's Packers winning the 1st ever Super Bowl in 1967. This format went on for four seasons until 1970 where both leagues merged into one league separated by the AFC and NFC conferences. This is the modern day Super Bowl format that still operates today.
Modern Super Bowl Era
By 1970 football had become mainstream and it's popularity had begun to surpass that of baseball. Monday Night Football became a major feature of the national televised sport that drew massive audiences. In the mid 1970s two more teams were added to the league in the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the mid 1990s three more teams were added in the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Baltimore Ravens. In 2002 the last team was added in the Houston Texans which capped the league off at the 32 teams that exist today.
Since the merger the league has undergone various rule changes to make the game more exciting and safer. It also adjusted each conference into a eastern, western, and central division. With the addition of the Texans in 2002, the league readjusted itself into eight divisions of four teams (East, West, North, and South). This made for a more balanced playoff system in which each conference would have four divisional winners and two wild-card contenders.
To this day the NFL is miles ahead of the competition, which includes that in the sport of football, as well as other sports. The evolution of this league is the epitome of American ideals, that demonstrate capitalism at it's finest. Today it has become a behemoth money maker, laced with advertisements, marketing, merchandise, video games, fantasy leagues, and so much glamour. The success of the NFL is no doubt accredited to the exciting physical game of football, yet also to it's business structure that has continued to expand. With that in mind, I enjoy the league just as it is, especially with the team salary caps, and dread the day it expands to became a global league.
NFL Teams Today
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills (AFL team in 1960)
- Miami Dolphins (AFL team in 1966) 2 championships (1972, 1973)
- New England Patriots (AFL team in 1960) 6 championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
- New York Jets (AFL team in 1960) 1 championship (1968)
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens (Expansion team 1996) 2 championships (2000, 2012)
- Cincinnati Bengals (AFL team in 1968)
- Cleveland Browns (AAFC team in 1946) 8 championships (1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL team 1933) 6 championships (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008)
AFC South
- Houston Texans (Expansion team 2002)
- Indianapolis Colts (NFL 1953 as Baltimore Colts) 4 championships (1958, 1959, 1970, 2006)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (Expansion team 1995)
- Tennessee Titans (AFL team in 1960 as Houston Oilers) 2 championships (1960, 1961)
AFC West
- Denver Broncos (AFL team in 1960) 3 championships (1997, 1998, 2015)
- Kansas City Chiefs (AFL team in 1960) 3 championships (1962, 1966, 1969)
- Los Angeles Chargers (AFL team in 1960) 1 championship (1963)
- Oakland Raiders (AFL team in 1960) 3 championships (1976, 1980, 1983)
NFC East
- Dallas Cowboys (NFL team in 1960) 5 championships (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995)
- New York Giants (NFL team in 1925) 8 championships (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011)
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFL team in 1933) 4 championships (1948, 1949, 1960, 2017)
- Washington Redskins (NFL team in 1932) 5 championships (1937, 1942, 1982, 1987, 1991)
NFC North
- Chicago Bears (NFL team in 1920) 9 championships (1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985)
- Detroit Lions (NFL team in 1930) 4 championships (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957)
- Green Bay Packers (NFL team in 1921) 13 championships (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010)
- Minnesota Vikings (NFL team in 1961)
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons (NFL team in 1966)
- Carolina Panthers (Expansion team in 1995)
- New Orleans Saints (NFL team in 1967) 1 championship (2009)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL team in 1976) 1 championship (2002)
NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals (NFL team in 1920 as Chicago Cardinals) 2 championships (1925, 1947)
- Los Angeles Rams (AFL team in 1936) 3 championships (1945, 1951, 1999)
- San Francisco 49ers (AAFC team in 1946) 5 championships (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994)
- Seattle Seahawks (NFL team in 1976) 1 championship (2013)
NFL Champions
1920 - Akron Pros
1921 - Chicago Staleys
1922 - Canton Bulldogs
1923 - Canton Bulldogs
1924 - Cleveland Bulldogs
1925 - Chicago Cardinals
1926 - Frankford Yellow Jackets
1927 - New York Giants
1928 - Providence Steam Roller
1929 - Green Bay Packers
1930 - Green Bay Packers
1931 - Green Bay Packers
1932 - Chicago Bears
1933 - Chicago Bears
1934 - New York Giants
1935 - Detroit Lions
1936 - Green Bay Packers
1937 - Washington Redskins
1938 - New York Giants
1939 - Green Bay Packers
1940 - Chicago Bears
1941 - Chicago Bears
1942 - Washington Redskins
1943 - Chicago Bears
1944 - Green Bay Packers
1945 - Cleveland Rams
1946 - Chicago Bears
1947 - Chicago Cardinals
1948 - Philadelphia Eagles
1949 - Philadelphia Eagles
1950 - Cleveland Browns
1951 - Los Angeles Rams
1952 - Detroit Lions
1953 - Detroit Lions
1954 - Cleveland Browns
1955 - Cleveland Browns
1956 - New York Giants
1957 - Detroit Lions
1958 - Baltimore Colts
1959 - Baltimore Colts
1960 - Houston Oilers (AFL)
1960 - Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
1961 - Houston Oilers (AFL)
1961 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1962 - Dallas Texans (AFL)
1962 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1963 - San Diego Chargers (AFL)
1963 - Chicago Bears (NFL)
1964 - Buffalo Bills (AFL)
1964 - Cleveland Browns (NFL)
1965 - Buffalo Bills (AFL)
1965 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1966 - Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)
1966 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1967 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1968 - Green Bay Packers (NFL)
1969 - New York Jets (AFL)
1970 - Kansas City
1971 - Baltimore Colts
1972 - Dallas Cowboys
1973 - Miami Dolphins
1974 - Miami Dolphins
1975 - Pittsburgh Steelers
1976 - Pittsburgh Steelers
1977 - Oakland Raiders
1978 - Dallas Cowboys
1979 - Pittsburgh Steelers
1980 - Pittsburgh Steelers
1981 - Oakland Raiders
1982 - San Francisco 49ers
1983 - Washington Redskins
1984 - Los Angeles Raiders
1985 - San Francisco 49ers
1986 - Chicago Bears
1987 - New York Giants
1988 - Washington Redskins
1989 - San Francisco 49ers
1990 - San Francisco 49ers
1991 - New York Giants
1992 - Washington Redskins
1993 - Dallas Cowboys
1994 - Dallas Cowboys
1995 - San Francisco 49ers
1996 - Dallas Cowboys
1997 - Green Bay Packers
1998 - Denver Broncos
1999 - Denver Broncos
2000 - St. Louis Rams
2001 - Baltimore Ravens
2002 - New England Patriots
2003 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2004 - New England Patriots
2005 - New England Patriots
2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers
2007 - Indianapolis Colts
2008 - New York Giants
2009- Pittsburgh Steelers
2010 - New Orleans Saints
2011 - Green Bay Packers
2012 - New York Giants
2013 - Baltimore Ravens
2014 - Seattle Seahawks
2015 - New England Patriots
2016 - Denver Broncos
2017 - New England Patriots
2018 - Philadelphia Eagles
2019 - New England Patriots
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