Which City Has Never Had an NFL or Pre-NFL Franchise?
Contents
We all know which cities have NFL teams, but which ones have never had a franchise? We did a little research and found the answer.
Introduction
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 North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world, the largest of which is the Super Bowl.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Though much of the NFL’s history has been based in large cities with multiple pro teams, there are a few small cities that have been the home of professional football franchises. Among these is Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is home to the Packers. The Packers are the only major league professional sports team based in Green Bay, and they are also the only NFL team to be owned by shareholders.
Buffalo, New York
Although Buffalo, New York is home to the Buffalo Bills, the city has never had an NFL or pre-NFL franchise. The Bills began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and joined the NFL as part of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida has never had an NFL or Pre-NFL franchise.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee, is home to the Titans of the National Football League (NFL). But, it wasn’t always this way. The city has a long and storied relationship with professional football that dates back to the late 19th century.
In 1898, the Nashville Elks ran a professional team called the Nashville Tigers. The team was short-lived, but they did have one notable player: Walter McNally. McNally would go on to be a founding member of the American Professional Football Association, which would eventually become the NFL.
Nashville would have another professional team in 1919, when the Nashville Pros were founded. The Pros were a founding member of the American Professional Football Association. The team played for one season before dissolving.
In 1926, the Nashville Yankees were founded. The Yankees were a minor league football team that played in the Dixie League and the South Atlantic League. The team was moderately successful, winning their league championship in 1927.
In 1937, Nashville got its first taste of NFL action when it was announced that the city had been awarded an NFL expansion franchise. The team was originally going to be called the Titans, but was ultimately named the Eagles. The Eagles only played for one season in Nashville before moving to Philadelphia.
The city wouldn’t have another professional football team until 1998, when th
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California, has not had an NFL or pre-NFL franchise since 1995, when the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis. There have been multiple attempts to bring a team back to Los Angeles, but as of 2020, no such franchise exists.
Conclusion
There you have it! St. Louis has never had an NFL or pre-NFL franchise. This makes them the city with the longest drought in terms of not having a team.
