Will the NFL Ever Expand Again?
The NFL is currently at a crossroads. With many people calling for the league to expand, will it actually happen? Here are a few things to consider.
The current state of the NFL
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football. It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League in 1966.
The number of teams in the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is the most popular professional American football league, consisting of 32 teams. This total has been constant since the 2002 realignment, which rearranged the league’s divisions and created 8 four-team divisions.
The number of players in the NFL
Since the NFL’s establishment in 1920, the number of players on each team has gradually increased. In the league’s inaugural season, there were just 11 players on each side. By 1958, that number had risen to 40. In recent years, the average roster size has hovered around 53.
With the exception of a few short-lived rule changes, that number has remained relatively constant for almost 60 years. But with the league’s recent policy changes, that number is likely to increase in the coming years.
In 2017, the NFL enacted a new rule that allows each team to carry an additional player on their practice squad. This “16th player” can be activated for any game, but must be returned to the practice squad the following week.
The new rule was put in place to help teams avoid injuries and fatigue during long stretches of the season. It also gives teams more flexibility when it comes to assigning players to specific roles on game day. For example, a team might choose to activate a 16th player who specializes in kick returns or blocking assignments.
In addition to the 16th player rule change, the NFL has also implemented a series of measures aimed at preventing concussions and other injuries. These include changes to kickoff and tackling rules, as well as stricter penalties for players who violate existing rules pertaining to hits on defenseless players.
The league has also mandated that each team must have at least one medical staff member on the sidelines during games. This is in addition to the head athletic trainer and team physician who are already required to be present at all games.
With these changes in place, it seems likely that roster sizes will continue to increase in the coming years. This could mean even more opportunities for players looking to make a career in the NFL.
The average salary of an NFL player
At the low end, salaries start at $400,000 a year. Players who are at the top of their game can make $30 million or more. quarterbacks are always in demand, and their average annual salary is about $5 million higher than that of other positions. In 2017, the average NFL salary was $2.7 million.
The history of NFL expansion
The National Football League (NFL) has been around for over a century, and in that time, it has undergone plenty of changes. The most notable changes have come in the form of expansion, as the league has gradually grown from its original 10 teams to its current 32-team format. But will the NFL ever expand again?
The first NFL expansion teams
In 1960, the NFL added two expansion teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys were originally going to be based in Minneapolis, but when owner Clint Murchison Jr. was unable to secure a stadium lease, he moved the team to Dallas. The Vikings were also almost called the Minneapolis Mets, but ultimately went with their Norse heritage. Both teams made immediate impacts, with the Cowboys winning the NFL Championship in their inaugural season and the Vikings reaching the championship game in their second season.
The 1960s saw significant changes for both teams. The Cowboys moved from the Polo Grounds to Texas Stadium in 1971, while the Vikings moved into Metropolitan Stadium in 1961. Both teams enjoyed success on the field during this time period as well. The Cowboys won Super Bowl VI in 1972, while the Vikings made it to four Super Bowls (VII, VIII, IX, and XI), though they ultimately lost all four games.
The most recent NFL expansion teams
In recent years, the National Football League (NFL) has shown no interest in expanding beyond its current 32 teams. That’s not to say expansion is off the table forever, but for the time being, the NFL appears content to stay put.
The most recent teams to join the NFL were the Houston Texans and thek Jacksonville Jaguars, who both began play in 2002. Prior to that, the last expansion teams were the Carolina Panthers and thek Baltimore Ravens, who both started play in 1995.
If the NFL does ever decide to expand again, there are a few cities that seem like logical choices. These include Los Angeles (which currently has two NFL teams), Toronto, Las Vegas, and San Antonio.
The failed attempts at NFL expansion
After the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the NFL began to expand rapidly. From 1970 to 1999, the NFL added a total of eight teams, with six of those expansion teams coming between 1995 and 1999. Since then, though, the league has not added any new teams, and it does not appear likely that they will do so anytime soon.
There have been several failed attempts at NFL expansion in recent years. The most notable example is probably the case of Los Angeles, which has been without an NFL team since 1995. Despite numerous attempts by various groups to bring a team back to LA, no effort has been successful. In fact, the most recent attempt to bring the NFL back to LA ended in failure just last year.
It’s not just LA that has failed to land an NFL team; there have been other cities who have also been unable to lure a team away from another market. For example, despite being the fifth-largest city in the US, San Antonio has never had an NFL team. Likewise, despite having a population larger than that of 15 states, Portland has also never had an NFL team.
Given the current state of affairs, it does not seem likely that the NFL will expand anytime soon. However, if a city is able to successfully lure away an existing franchise (as happened with the Rams moving from St Louis to LA), then it is possible that we could see some new teams in the near future.
The future of NFL expansion
The NFL is currently made up of 32 teams, with 8 divisions of 4 teams each. The league has been at this number of teams since 2002, when the Houston Texans joined as the 32nd franchise. But will the NFL ever expand again? And if so, how many teams would be added?
The potential markets for NFL expansion
When it comes to expanding the NFL, there are a few different options that have been floated around. The most likely option seems to be adding another team in London, which would help the NFL tap into one of the largest markets in the world. Other potential expansion markets include Toronto, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.
The potential owners for NFL expansion
With the recent success of the Las Vegas Raiders, there has been a lot of talk about NFL expansion. Cities like St. Louis, San Diego, and Oakland have all been mentioned as potential homes for a new franchise.
The NFL has not expanded since 2002, when the Houston Texans joined the league as its 32nd team. At the time, there was a lot of speculation that the league would eventually expand to 34 or 36 teams, but that has not happened yet.
There are several reasons why the NFL has not expanded in nearly two decades. First and foremost, there is no perfect solution for realigning the divisions and conferences. With 32 teams in the league, there are already four divisions in each conference. Adding two more teams would create an uneven number of teams in each conference, which would create scheduling problems.
Another reason why expansion has not happened is because there are no obvious ownership groups waiting in the wings. The last time the NFL expanded, there were multiple billionaire investors vying for a team. That is not the case currently. The economic downturn of 2008 made it harder for potential owners to raise the necessary capital to buy a team.
Finally, many people believe that the league is simply not interested in expanding right now. The NFL is currently enjoying tremendous popularity and profitability. There may be no incentive for the league to add additional teams at this time.
Of course, all of this could change if another city emerges as a viable option for a new franchise. If that happens, we could see NFL expansion within the next few years.
The potential stadiums for NFL expansion
When it comes to professional sports, the National Football League (NFL) is the pinnacle of success. The league currently has 32 teams and is widely considered to be one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. But with that said, there has been talk of NFL expansion in recent years.
The most likely scenario for NFL expansion would be to add two additional teams, bringing the total number of teams up to 34. The two expansion teams would then be placed in pre-existing stadiums in either Los Angeles or Toronto. Additionally, there have been rumors that London could also be a viable option for an expansion team.
While it remains to be seen if and when the NFL will expand, it is certainly an exciting possibility for fans of the sport all over the world.
