Who Played in the NFL?

Looking for information on who played in the NFL? Check out our blog for a complete rundown of all the professional football players out there.

Pre-NFL History

Pro football began in the late 19th century. In 1892, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger became the first professional football player when he was paid $500 to play a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association. In the early years of pro football, there were no formal rules and players used whatever means necessary to win. This often led to violent on-field confrontations and injuries.

Early Football Leagues

gridiron football evolved from English rugby and soccer (association football). Walter Camp is credited with creating many of the rules that distinguish gridiron football from its older counterparts. American football historian Parke H. Davis described the gridiron game as ” Planned chaos”.
The NFL was established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL considered itself the successor to the National Football Association (NFA), which was founded in 1892 and began play in 1894. At first, both professional gridiron teams and those from colleges competing annually for a national championship. Over time, professional teams became dominant, and college football did not have a national organization or championship until well into the 20th century.

Several earlier attempts at professional leagues had failed, but in 1920, several owners of established successful Eastern baseball franchises— among them George Halas of the Chicago Cubs, Accorsi’s General College Football History Timeline
– 1870s: The first professional team is formed: The Cincinnati Reds.
– 1892: The National Football Association is formed.
– 1896: The first professional league,the American Football League, is formed but only lasts one season.
– 1902: The New York Giants are founded.
– 1920: The American Professional Football Association, later renamed the National Football League, is formed with fourteen teams.

The First NFL Game

On November 22, 1892, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play in a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. Heffelfinger, a former Yale All-American, is considered by many to be the first professional football player.

In 1893, Jesse Thrash became the first African American player in pro football when he played for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. The following year saw the number of black players increase to six, including Moses Fleetwood Walker and his brother Weldy, who played for Canton ( Ohio ) and Oberlin ( Ohio ) respectively. However, by 1896 Integration had all but come to a halt as pro football became an all-white sport. It would be almost 60 years before another African American would take the field in the NFL.

The first NFL game was played on October 3,1920 between the Rock Island Independents and the Saint Paul Ideals at Douglas Park in Rock Island, Illinois. The Independents won 39-14. George Halas caught the only touchdown pass in that game, a 20-yarder from Paddy Driscoll.

The First NFL Season

In the first NFL season, there were only 10 teams. These teams were the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Cardinals, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Redskins, the Cleveland Rams, and the Detroit Lions. Out of these teams, the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are still in existence today.

The NFL’s Founding Teams

The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920, but its roots trace back to 1892. Then known as the American Professional Football Association, the league began with 14 teams. The teams were:

-Akron Pros
-Buffalo All-Americans
-Canton Bulldogs
-Chicago Cardinals
-Chicago Bears
-Cleveland Indians
-Columbus Panhandles
-Dayton Triangles
-Decatur Staleys
-Detroit Heralds
-Hammond Pros
-Muncie Flyers
-New York Giants
-Racine Cardinals
-Rock Island Independents
-Tonawanda Kardex

Two of these teams, the Chicago Cardinals and the Decatur Staleys, are still in existence today and are now known as the Arizona Cardinals and the Chicago Bears, respectively.

The NFL Championship Game

The first NFL Championship Game was held on December 18, 1933. The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants 23-21 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game was played in front of a crowd of 36,000 people.

Post-NFL History

So, you played in the NFL. Congratulations. You are among a very small and exclusive group of people. But what now? What do you do with the rest of your life? You’re not getting any younger, and you can’t play football forever. Here are some things you can do after your NFL career is over.

The Super Bowl Era

The Super Bowl Era began in 1966 with the AFL-NFL Championship game which would eventually become known as the Super Bowl. This was the first ever professional football championship game that featured teams from two different leagues. The Green Bay Packers, who were part of the NFL, faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL. The Packers won the game by a score of 35-10.

This marked the beginning of a new era in professional football where the two leagues would compete against each other in a yearly championship game to determine who was the best team in the NFL. This era would see some of the greatest players and teams in NFL history. Some of the most iconic players from this era include Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith.

The Super Bowl Era came to an end in 2020 with the merging of the two leagues into one. The Kansas City Chiefs would go on to win that year’s Super Bowl, becoming the first team to win a championship in both leagues.

The Modern NFL

In the modern NFL, there have been many great players and teams. The most successful teams have been the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers. The Patriots have won 6 Super Bowls, the Steelers have won 6 Super Bowls, the Cowboys have won 5 Super Bowls, the 49ers have won 5 Super Bowls, and the Packers have won 4 Super Bowls.