The National Football League (NFL) is a respected and well-known sports league all over the globe. Audience members from all around the globe undoubtedly care deeply about the topic under discussion. However, are you familiar with the background of this event and the initial football clubs that comprised the NFL? When did the NFL first start, and when was it officially founded? If you are keen to learn the answer, continue reading to find out what Sportda has to say in this article.
When was the NFL founded?
The foundational moment for what is now the National Football League (NFL), the most prominent professional gridiron football organization in the United States, occurred on September 17, 1920. This crucial organizational meeting took place in the Hupmobile car showroom of Ralph Hay, who owned the Canton Bulldogs, in Canton, Ohio—the city now home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The league’s initial name was the American Professional Football Association (APFA). Its primary goal was to formalize the chaotic landscape of early professional football, specifically addressing high player salary demands and the constant problem of players “jumping” from one team to another. To lend immediate credibility to the fledgling organization, the representatives unanimously elected legendary athlete Jim Thorpe, the star player for the Canton Bulldogs, as the first president.
In its first season, the APFA struggled with stability, but several key franchises that would shape American football history were members, including the Decatur Staleys (the ancestors of the modern Chicago Bears) and the Racine Cardinals (the oldest continuously operating pro football franchise, now the Arizona Cardinals).
The organization formally rebranded itself as the National Football League (NFL) in 1922 to reflect its broader ambition. A formal NFL Championship Game structure was implemented in 1933, replacing the earlier system of determining a champion based on league rankings.
The final structural transformation came from the rivalry with the American Football League (AFL), which began in 1960. The intense competition for players and television revenue led to a historic merger agreement in 1966. This agreement created the end-of-season showdown—the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, which soon became universally known as the Super Bowl. The complete merger was finalized in 1970, establishing the current structure of the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) and cementing the NFL’s place as a dominant force in major North American professional sports.
History Behind the Top Teams
The first season of play for the league was in 1920, and it consisted of the following teams: the Akron Pros, the Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Tigers, the Columbus Panhandlers, and the Dayton Triangles; four teams from Illinois (the Chicago Tigers, the Decatur Staleys, the Racine Cardinals, who were based in Chicago but took the name of a local street, and the Rock Island Independents).
Two teams from Indiana (the Hammond Pro Only two of these original clubs are still in existence today. The Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis after the 1959 season and then to Arizona in 1988; the Decatur Staleys migrated to Chicago in 1921 and changed their name to the Bears the following year. Neither of these teams now plays in their original cities.
The National Football League (NFL) overcame many years of instability and competition from other organizations to emerge as the most powerful professional football league in the United States. The American Football League (AFL) in the 1960s presented the most significant competition to its dominant position in the industry.
In 1970, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) successfully merged to become the modern NFL, which at the time consisted of a circuit consisting of 26 teams. Since that time, the league has undergone four rounds of expansion, resulting in the addition of six additional clubs.
See gridiron football and football for a more comprehensive look at the history of the National Football League.
What were the first 8 NFL teams?
The Original NFL Teams
Then, in 1932, the first postseason games were played, and there were a total of eight teams in the league at that time: the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Cardinals, the New York Giants, the Boston Braves (who are now known as the Washington Football Team), the Portsmouth Spartans (who are now known as the Detroit Lions), and the Staten Island Stapleton’s.
Who were the original NFL teams? The initial eight clubs in the National Football League were the Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Packers, Lions, Redskins, Eagles, and Steelers. Here is a summary of all the teams we’ve examined so far:
Arizona Cardinals
In the National Football League, they are one of just two original teams currently competing, the other being the Chicago Bears. The Cardinals are also the oldest football team in the United States that is still active in the professional ranks. The brand was originally based in Chicago, but in 1960 it relocated to St. Louis, and then in 1988 it established a new home in Phoenix, Arizona. The club is the first team in the NFL.
Chicago Bears
When they first formed, the band was known as the Decatur (Illinois) Staleys. A.E. Staley, a successful businessman, launched the Bears franchise in the year 1920. Following the sale of the youth franchise to George Halas by Staley in 1921, the new club relocated to Chicago, with Halas serving as both a player and a coach.
Green Bay Packers
Earl “Curly” Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun established the Green Bay Packers on August 11, 1919, after competing against each other in high school football. They were the only ones remaining of the “small-town teams” that were regularly seen in the NFL back in its early days in the 1920s and 1930s. Those were the years when the NFL was just starting off.
New York Giants
Tim Mara, the company’s first owner, made an initial investment of five hundred dollars when he established the Giants in 1925. To differentiate themselves from the baseball club with the same name, the New York Football Giants are required to continue to use the name “New York Football Giants” on official documents. They were among the first teams to gain fame in the NFL, which was only five years old then.
Washington Redskins
In 1932, the team that is today known as the Washington Redskins was once known as the Boston Braves. This makes the Redskins one of the oldest clubs in the National Football League. In 1933, the squad adopted the name “Redskins” as their new moniker. The team relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1937 and promptly won the first of their five world titles after making the move.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On July 8, 1933, Arthur J. Rooney established the Pittsburgh Steelers as a professional football team. Up to the year 1940, the Pittsburgh franchise competed under the moniker of the Pirates, making them the seventh-oldest franchise in the National Football League (NFL). In contrast to the difficulties that the Steelworkers first faced in their careers, Pittsburgh enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 1970s.
Detroit Lions
It all started in 1928 when the team was still known as the Portsmouth Spartans. At that time, they were part of the Detroit Lions, an American professional football franchise with its headquarters located in Detroit, Michigan. In 2020, they will be starting their 92nd season, maintaining their status as one of the oldest clubs in the National Football League (NFL).
Philadelphia Eagles
The year 1933 marked the beginning of the Philadelphia Eagles’ illustrious history. The Eagles have competed in the Super Bowl three times, suffering defeat in each of their first two visits until claiming victory in 2018 during their third and final appearance. In only four seasons, they have achieved three NFL titles, which are the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl.
FAQ’s
Who was the first NFL team?
Along with the Chicago Bears, the Arizona Cardinals have the distinction of being the NFL’s oldest franchise. The Arizona Cardinals have been a professional football team since 1988, although their history dates back to 1898, long before the National Football League was established.
What was the name of the NFL before 1920?
In 1920, ten clubs from four states established the National Football League (NFL), originally known as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), after previously competing in local football leagues. The present name of the league dates back to 1922.
Who was the world’s first NFL team?
The 1920 Buffalo All-Americans, one of the first teams in the National Football League, deserve this distinction. The All-Americans finished their first season with a 9-9-1 record and high expectations of winning the title and the Brunswick-Balke College Cup.
What is the NFL called?
Established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association in Canton, Ohio, the National Football League (NFL) is the premier professional gridiron football league in the United States. American legend and league player Jim Thorpe served as the organization’s first president. The league adopted its current moniker in 1922.
Who won the first NFL football game?
The Dayton Triangles’ manager, Carl Storck, was present at the first NFL organization meeting in 1920, and the club hosted the inaugural NFL game, a 14-0 victory over the Columbus Panhandles at Triangle Park on October 3, 1920.
Conclusion!
We’d like to share an intriguing piece of NFL history and the first NFL clubs. Spotda would like your feedback on this “When was the NFL founded?” article. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to broaden your knowledge about the National Football League (NFL), which is widely regarded as one of the most important and successful sports leagues in the world.
