When Did the NFL Start?
Contents
A look at the history of the NFL and how it has become America’s most popular sport.
The Early Years
The National Football League was founded in 1920, but its roots go back much further. Football can trace its origins to rugby football and other games that involved carrying or kicking the ball. These games were played in England as early as the 12th century. American football developed in the late 1800s from a game called “association football” that was played in England.
The first NFL game
The first NFL game was played on October 3, 1920, between the Akron Pros and the Buffalo All-Americans. The game was played at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium, which is now known as New Commercial Field. The Pros won the game by a score of 7-0.
The first NFL season
The first NFL season began in 1920 with 11 teams. The teams were the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Chicago Cardinals, Chicago Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Dayton Triangles, Decatur Staleys, Hammond Pros, Massillon Tigers, Muncie Flyers and Racine Cardinals. The season ended with the Akron Pros winning the first NFL championship.
The Modern Era
The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with ten teams from four states. The NFL played its first game on October 3, 1920, which featured the New York Giants defeating the Akron Pros, 42-0. This marked the beginning of the modern era of professional football.
The first Super Bowl
The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967. It was the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The Green Bay Packers (NFC) defeated the Kansas City Chiefs (AFC) by a score of 35-10.
The current NFL landscape
In the early 2000s, the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts rose to prominence, with the Patriots winning Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX, and the Colts winning Super Bowl XLI. The two teams would meet again in two more AFC Championship Games, with the Patriots winning in 2003 and the Colts in 2006. This rivalry helped to reignite interest in professional football during a period when baseball was seen as the dominant sport in America.
In 2007, the Patriots went undefeated during the regular season before losing to the New York Giants in one of the most memorable Super Bowls of all time. The Giants would go on to win another Super Bowl in 2011, while the Patriots would win yet again in 2014.
The 2010s have seen a continued rise in popularity for the NFL, with record-breaking television ratings and attendance figures. Super Bowl XLIX between the Patriots and Seahawks is currently the most-watched American television program of all time, with 114 million viewers.
