When Did the NFL Start?
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The National Football League has been around for over a century, but when did it actually start? We take a look at the history of the NFL to find out.
The Early Years
The National Football League was formed in 1920, making it almost 100 years old. The NFL was created to be a more organized and professional version of football than what was currently being played. In the early years, there were only 11 teams, all of which were located in the northeastern United States.
The First Professional Football Game
The first professional football game was played on November 12, 1892, between the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. William “Pudge” Heffelfinger, a former Yale All-American, was paid $500 by Allegheny to play in the game. This is the first recorded instance of a player being paid to play football and is also recognized as the birth of professional football.
The American Professional Football Association
The American Professional Football Association was founded in 1920, making it the oldest professional football league in the United States. The APFA was renamed the National Football League in 1922. The NFL Bridgeport Blues and Decatur Staleys were the first two teams to join the league.
The National Football League
The National Football League was started in 1920. It was originally called the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and then renamed the National Football League in 1922. The NFL was originally made up of 14 teams.
The First NFL Game
The first NFL game was played on October 3, 1920, between the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. The game was played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and ended in a 0-0 tie.
The Merger
In 1966, the NFL completed its merger with the American Football League (AFL), creating the Super Bowl, which has become the most watched annual sporting event in the United States.
The Modern NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. It 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 merger with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season, pitting the NFL’s champion Green Bay Packers against the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. This section will provide an overview of the NFL’s history.
The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the biggest and most important American football game of the year. It is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The game is played between the winners of the NFL’s two conference championships, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The winner of the Super Bowl is crowned the NFL champion. The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967.
The NFL Today
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 today is the culminate result of various mergers between different football leagues throughout its storied 100 year plus history. From its humble beginnings with just 11 teams, mostly located in the Midwest, the NFL has grown to be America’s most watched sport. Each year, millions of fans tune in to watch their favorite teams battle it out on the gridiron in hopes of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at season’s end.
With such a rich history, it’s no wonder that football has become one of America’s most beloved pastimes.
