When Did the NFL Start in 2021?

It’s time to take a look back at the NFL’s history and find out when it all started.

Introduction

The National Football League (NFL) was established in 1920, just before the 2021 season, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with ten charter members from four states. The first NFL game was played on October 3, 1920, between the APFA’s Dayton Triangles and the Columbus Panhandles at Triangle Park in Dayton, Ohio; it was a scoreless tie.

History of the NFL

The NFL has been around since 1920 when it was founded as the American Professional Football Association. In 2021, the NFL will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The NFL is the most popular professional sports league in the United States.

Pre-1920s

The roots of the NFL date back to the late 1800s, when a group of college football players formed a professional league called the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The first APFA game was played in 1920, and the league eventually renamed itself the National Football League (NFL) in 1922.

While there have been many changes to the NFL over the years – including a merger with another professional football league in 1970 – the league has remained America’s most popular spectator sport. Today, the NFL is made up of 32 teams and is divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

1920s

NFL history dates back to the early days of professional football, when it was a fledgling sport trying to find its way in a country obsessed with college football. The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920, but its roots go back even further. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were dozens of professional football teams across the United States, playing in both regional and national leagues. It wasn’t until the 1920s that these various leagues began to coalesce into what we now know as the NFL.

The first step towards unification came in 1920, when representatives from four regional professional football leagues (the Ohio League, New York Pro Football Association, Illinois League, and American Professional Football Association) met in Canton, Ohio to form the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League). Although there were several other professional football leagues operating at this time, these four were by far the most prominent and well-organized. The APFA’s goal was simple: to establish uniform rules for all of its member teams and to crown a single Champion each year.

Prior to the formation of the APFA, each league had its own set of rules; this made it difficult for teams from different leagues to schedule games against one another. The APFA’s standardized rules helped resolve this issue and led to a rapid increase in inter-league play. In fact, so many non-APFA teams wanted to join the league that the APFA had to institute a membership fee in order to discourage them!

The APFA held its first season in 1921; it consisted of 14 teams from across the country. Among these 14 teams were some of today’s most iconic franchises, including the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants. The inaugural season ended with the Chicago Staleys (now known as the Bears) winning the Championship.

The early years of the NFL were not without controversy. In 1922, one ofthe league’s most prominent players—a star running back named Harold “Red” Grange—decided to sign a contract with an upstart rival professional football league called the American Football League. Though Grange’s decision sparked fears that other star players might follow suit and jump ship to rival leagues, such fears proved unfounded as Grange’s career ultimately fizzled out andプロ野球人気ランキングthe NFL quickly established itself as America’s predominant professional football league

1930s

In the 1930s, the NFL struggled to survive. During the Great Depression, many people could not afford to buy tickets or pay for TV subscriptions. In addition, the NFL was competing against college football for fans. In response to these challenges, the NFL began to focus on making the game more exciting for fans. One way they did this was by introducing rules that would increase scoring. For example, in 1933, they created a rule that allowed forward passes anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. This change helped open up the game and led to more scoring. The NFL also began holding annual championship games in 1933. These championship games, now known as the Super Bowl, would become one of the most watched sporting events in the world.

1940s

The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was formed in 1946 and posed a serious challenge to the NFL. The AAFC was able to lure several of the NFL’s top stars, including future Hall of Famers Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Dante Lavelli, and Mac Speedie of the defending NFL champion Cleveland Browns. In addition, the Miami Seahawks merged with the AAFC Baltimore Colts in 1947. The AAFC played for three seasons (1946–1949),

The NFL retaliated by raiding the AAFC for players to fill its own ranks. After the 1949 season, Cleveland Browns owner Arthur B. McBride, New York Yankees owner Del Webb, and Miami Seahawks owner Dan Topping brought some of their best players to the NFL. This included five members of the Browns’ championship team: Graham, Lavelli, Motley,Speedie, and fullback Jackie Robinson (no relation to future Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson). This led to a quick demise for the AAFC; by the end of 1949, only two teams were left standing—the Browns and San Francisco 49ers—and they both joined the NFL in 1950.

1950s

The 1950s were an important decade for the NFL. The league expanded to include new teams, saw the first African American players drafted, and instituted important changes to the game that made it more exciting for fans.

In 1950, the NFL added two new teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams. This brought the total number of teams to twelve, which would remain unchanged until 2002 when the Houston Texans joined the league.

The 1950s also saw the first African American players drafted into the NFL. In 1951, UCLA linebacker Kenny Washington was drafted by the Rams. He was followed in 1952 by Detroit Lions running back Mel Groomes and San Francisco 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott.

The game of football changed in 1958 when the Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants in sudden death overtime in what has become known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” This exciting finish led to a change in NFL rules that allowed for sudden death overtime in regular season games.

The 1950s were an important decade for the NFL as it expanded, integrated, and changed the game of football forever.

1960s

In the 1960s, the NFL continued to grow, with more teams and players. The league also became more popular on television. This increased popularity helped the NFL to become the most popular sport in America. In 1966, the NFL and the AFL announced that they would merge into one league. This created even more interest in the sport.

In 1967, the first Super Bowl was played. This was a championship game between the best team from the NFL and the best team from the AFL. The Green Bay Packers, who were then in the NFL, won this first Super Bowl. This made the NFL even more popular.

1970s

While the 1970s saw some great players and teams, the decade is largely remembered for two things: the influx of talented African American athletes, and the increasing importance of television to the game. In 1970, the NFL and AFL completed their merger, which had been in the works since 1966. This created a more unified league with two conferences—the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC)—and a championship game between the conference winners. The first Super Bowl was held in 1967, but it wasn’t until this decade that it became truly “super,” attracting massive audiences and becoming one of the most watched annual sporting events in America.

Meanwhile, on the field, African American players were starting to dominate. In 1971, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris became the first black player to be named MVP of the Super Bowl. The following year, Miami Dolphins running back Larry Csonka became the first black player to win both the Super Bowl MVP and regular season MVP award. In 1973, O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills became the first running back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. These achievements helped break down barriers and stereotypes, paving the way for future generations of black players.

Television also played a major role in growing the popularity of NFL football in the 1970s. In 1971, NBC began airing “Monday Night Football,” which quickly became one of America’s most-watched television programs. Thanks to television, people could now watch football games in their homes on a regular basis, making them even more passionate about their favorite teams and players. By the end of the decade, NFL games were being broadcast on four different networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, and ESPN—reaching more viewers than ever before.

1980s

In the 1980s, the NFL continued to grow in popularity. Super Bowl XVI was the most watched television program in history at that time, and the league began to expand its reach internationally with games being played in Japan and London. The NFL also saw an increase in player salaries and benefits, as well as the construction of new stadiums. In response to player protests over racial inequality, the league formed thePlayer Advisory Council to address these issues.

1990s

Professional football was gaining popularity in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until 1920 that the National Football League (NFL) was founded. The NFL began as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with just 10 teams. By the mid-1950s, the NFL had grown to become one of America’s most popular sports league with 17 teams.

During the 1990s, the NFL continued to grow in popularity. Two new teams were added to the league, bringing the total number of teams to 30. The 1990s also saw the beginning of Monday Night Football, which quickly became one of the most watched programs on television.

2000s

In the 2000s, the NFL experienced a period of significant change. The league expanded with the addition of the Houston Texans in 2002, bringing the total number of teams to 32. In 2007, the NFL adopted a new format for its regular season, increasing the number of games each team played from 16 to 17. The following year, the league implemented a new overtime format in which both teams had a chance to possess the ball before a winner could be declared.

In 2009, another important change occurred as the NFL switched to a four-team playoff system to determine its champion. This system remained in place until 2016 when it was expanded to include six teams from each conference. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL played its regular season as scheduled but made several changes to its postseason format, most notably expanding the playoffs to include 14 teams.

2010s

In 2012, the NFL had its ninety-third regular season. The league expanded to thirty-two teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. This was the first time the league had been at that number of teams since 1996 when the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars were added as part of NFL expansion.

In 2013, Super Bowl XLVII was held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was contested between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens won 34–31. This gave them their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

The 2014 season saw several teams change locations. The St. Louis Rams moved back to Los Angeles after twenty-one seasons in St. Louis. The Oakland Raiders played their final season in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. The San Diego Chargers also announced their intention to move to Los Angeles for the 2017 season, but would end up playing one more season in San Diego before making the move in 2017.

In 2015, Super Bowl XLIX was held at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It was contested between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots won 28–24, giving them their fourth Lombardi Trophy in franchise history

Conclusion

The NFL started in 2021.