The National Football League (NFL) is now the largest sports organization in the United States with an average of $4.47 billion, team worth.

The NFL Teams and their Birth

In 1920, the American Professional Football Association (APFA), was rechristened in 1922 to be  known as the National Football League (NFL). This newly christened NFL League brought together ten football teams or NFL Teams in Canton, Ohio, subsequently joined by four additional teams later that same year. It was then that only $100 was all you needed to own a franchise.

NFL home team Canton Bulldogs, were a dominant football team winning championship titles in 1922 and 1923. Canton Bulldogs also hold the NFL record for 25 straight wins and most consecutive team wins. Canton Bulldogs star player was Jim Thorpe,  a 1912 Olympic Gold Medalist in pentathlon and decathlon. Jim had also served as the 1st President of the NFL league. 

The NFL Teams and their Structure

Currently, there are 32 NFL teams which are divided into the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). There are 16 qualifying games from which 12 teams progress to the elimination rounds/playoffs and compete for the coveted Super Bowl.

The Restructuring and the Survival Journey

Out of the first 14 initial NFL teams, only 2 of the teams – Chicago Cardinals and Decatur Staleys (now Chicago Bears) are still a part of the NFL league, today. However, it was team Akron Pros who won the first NFL league championship. 

The first 14 initial teams of NFL included – four teams from Illinois – Decatur Staleys, Chicago Tigers, Rock Island Independents and Racine Cardinals, 5 teams from Ohio – Canton Bulldogs, Akron Pros, Columbus Panhandlers, Dayton Triangles and Cleveland Tigers, and two from New York – Rochester Jeffersons and  Buffalo All-Americans, the Detroit Heralds from Michigan and two from Indiana -Muncie Flyers and Hammond Pros. 

Chicago Bears is the only team that has kept its name and location unchanged since its indictment.

Team Green Bay Packers were founded in 1919 when the Indian Packing Company agreed to sponsor a pro football team under the direction of Earl “Curly” Lambeau. Green Bay Packers Team joined the NFL in 1921 and is the third-oldest franchise in the league.

The Receeding Empire of NFL

NFL had shut down almost half of the franchises in 1927, going down to 12 teams. Subsequently, In 1928 the count was further reduced to 10. The following year additionally three more teams had left but consequently, it was five more teams that joined namely Boston Bulldogs, Minneapolis Redjackets, Orange Tornadoes, Buffalo Bisons and Staten Island Stapletons.

In 1930 three franchises left however later, it had 2 new Franchises joining.

Throughout history, it was in 1932 that the NFL league was formed of its smallest size, that is 8 teams. It was due to 3 teams namely Yellow Jackets, Steamrollers, and Indians leaving the league. Only one new team Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins) joined the league that year.

In 1933 the Cincinnati Reds team started playing pro football which were eventually followed by 2 other new teams namely, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh Pirates who later on in 1940 came to be known as the Steelers. 

In 1936, NFL held its first draft, where the Philadelphia Eagles made it to the first draft pick. Many of those drafted were college students with big cheques in their pockets. Jay Berwanger, of the Chicago Maroons, was the first player to be drafted.

The First NFL Game Broadcast and its Signature Logo

The first televised broadcast of an NFL game was televised by NBC in 1939. This game was watched by approximately 500 viewers in New York that year.

Towards the end of a decade of the league in play, the NFL teams seemed to stabilize. The year 1940 is significant because it was in 1940 that the NFL shield bearing the iconic logo, was introduced. 

The Indictment and Mergers Demergers and Migrations

Philadelphia Eagles merged with the Steelers with the nickname Steagles. The Steelers and Eagles merger didn’t last long and in 1945 they separated. But later, Pittsburgh Pirates merged with Chicago Cardinals to be called Card Pitt. Boston Yanks had also joined the league. In 1946 the Cleveland Rams owner moved to Los Angeles after winning a Championship. 

The year 1950 saw the merger of the NFL with The American Football Conference and also the addition of 3 more teams. This merger event marked a significant phase in NFL league history.

The Stable Period From 1953 to 1959

From 1953 to 1959 the league was stable with no new teams joining nor any team leaving the NFL. 

The NFL Teams Churning From 1960 to 1976

Team Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis in 1960 and were named Dallas Cowboys. The American Football League began in this year of 1960 with the following 8 teams

Oakland Raiders.

Buffalo Bills.

Denver Broncos.

Houston Oils now Tennessee Titans.

Boston Patriots now New England Patriots.

New York Titans now the Jets.

Dallas Texans who later became Kansas City Chiefs.

Los Angeles Chargers. 

The Minnesota Vikings joined in 1961 and the Chargers moved to San Diego. NFL was at 14 teams now.

NFL added Atlanta Falcons in 1966 and AFL added the Miami Dolphins the same year. The next year the NFL and AFL met for the first time in the Super Bowl. 

On 1 November 1967 which happens to be ‘All Saints Day’, The New Orleans Saints joined the NFL league. The Cincinnati Bengals joined the AFL in 1968. 

1970 marked a new phase in League history with the two leagues NFL and AFL merger. NFL absorbed all the 10 teams of the AFL. 

The Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were added to the league in 1976.

The Period From 1982 to 1999

The Raiders moved south to Los Angeles in 1982. 1984 was the year when Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis. Subsequently, in 1988 the Cardinals moved to Arizona as the Pheonix Cardinals, again changing to Arizona Cardinals in 1994. 

In 1995 the Rams took the Cardinals place in St. Louis and the Raiders went back to Oakland, leaving no NFL team in LA. Both teams, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars joined the league in the same year. Baltimore Ravens team joined in 1996. 1997 saw the Houston Oilers team move to Tennessee to become the Tennessee Titans in 1999. 1999 also saw the Cleveland Browns return. 

The Final NFL Teams Composition

Houston Texas was added in 2002. This made up the 32 teams of the NFL that are presently participating in the League. The NFL witnessed no significant changes until 2016 when St Louis Rams moved back to Los Angeles as also the Chargers. Both these teams later relocated to Las Vegas in 2020 as the Las Vegas Raiders.

Informative Useful Links