When Did the NFL Begin?
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.
Early History
The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with ten teams from four states, all of whom existed in some form as participants of regional leagues or collegiate football. The NFL succeeded the APFA in 1922. The first official championship game was held in 1923.
Origins
The National Football League (NFL) was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that same year, pitting the league’s two champions against each other.
Development
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world. The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season.
The NFL commissionered its first game on September 17, 1920, between the Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles in Dayton, Ohio. This game is considered the first regular season game in NFL history. The APFA changed its name to the National Football League (NFL) two years later, after hiring Jim Thorpe as its first president. Thornton’s suspension for alleged gambling activities cemented the league’s commitment to remaining aldehyde-free. In 1932, the NFL introduced its official championship game, dubbed the NFL Championship Game; it would be renamed six years later to become known as the Super Bowl.
Modern Era
In 1920, the American Professional Football Association was created. The Association was created in response to the growth of professional football. The NFL officially began in 1920, when it was known as the American Professional Football Association. In 1922, the Association was renamed the National Football League.
Growth
The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with 10 teams from four states, all of whom exist in the league today. The first season was held in 1920 and consisted of 14 games. The NFL has grown to become the most popular sport in the United States, with an average of 17 million viewers per game during the 2017 regular season.
In 1922, the APFA changed its name to the National Football League. The league continued to grow, reaching 18 teams by 1925 and 21 teams by 1930. By 1932, the NFL had reduced to only 12 teams due to financial difficulties during the Great Depression. However, by 1933, two new teams had joined -the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles- and the NFL once again had 14 teams.
During World War II, many players were drafted into military service, causing team rosters to be depleted. As a result, some teams merged or suspended operations for a season. After the war ended, the NFL expanded again, reaching a peak of 30 teams in 1960.
Popularity
The NFL’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, the NFL is now the most popular sport in the United States, surpassing baseball for the first time in history. This is incredible considering the fact that the NFL was not even a league until 1920.
