National Football League (NFL) History

The National Football League (NFL) History

The National Football League (NFL) is the premier football league in the world. The National Football League (NFL) currently consists of 32 teams, in major cities of the United States.

A detailed look at the NFL and AFL standings and playoff results is included here. A review of the AFC/AFL and NFC/NFL championships by year.

The National Football League (NFL) information on Rauzulu' Street:



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National Football League (NFL) History of Leagues

as detailed below.

National Football League (NFL) History

NFL History



In 1920 the American Professional Football Association was formally organized to begin play in fall of 1920. The original teams were:

Canton Bulldogs

Cleveland Tigers

Dayton Triangles

Akron Professionals

Rochester (N.Y.) Jeffersons

Rock Island Independents

Muncie Flyers

Decatur Staleys

Chicago Cardinals

Hammond Pros

The Buffalo All-Americans, Chicago Tigers, Columbus Panhandles and Detroit Heralds also joined the league prior to the 1920 season. The Chicago Tigers fold between the 1920 and 1921 seasons. In 1921 the league is reorganized, the Decatur team moving to Chicago and a number of new teams added. Teams that joined the APFA for the 1921 season were:

Green Bay Packers

Cincinnati Celts (played 1921 season only)

Minneapolis Marines

Evansville Crimson Giants

Tonawanda Kardex (AKA Lumbermen - played 1921 season only)

Washington Senators (played 1921 season only)

New York Brickleys Giants (played 1921 season only)

Louisville Brecks

New York Brickleys Giants

Washington Senators

Tonawanda Kardex

Cleveland Tigers

Muncie Flyers

Cincinnati Celts

Detroit Heralds

Milwaukee Badgers

Marion Oorang Indians

Racine Legion

Toledo Maroons

Columbus Panhandles

Evansville Crimson Giants

Columbus Tigers

Duluth Kelleys

St. Louis All-Stars (played only the 1923 season)

Cleveland Indians (played only the 1923 season)

Teams that folded between 1921 and 1922 seasons:In 1922 the APFA revises its name to theand the Chicago Staleys change their name to the Chicago Bears Teams that joined the NFL for the 1922 season were:Teams that folded between the 1922 and 1923 seasons:In 1923 the team rotation continued with

joining the league and

Canton Bulldogs

Cleveland Indians

Louisville Brecks

Marion Oorang Indians

Racine Legion

St. Louis All-Stars

Toledo Maroons

leaving. In 1924 the Buffalo All-Americans changed their name to Buffalo Bisons and the following teams joined the league:

Cleveland Bulldogs

Frankford Yellow Jackets

Kansas City Blues

Kenosha Maroons (play 1924 season only)

Kenosha Maroons

Minneapolis Marines

Columbus Tigers

Teams that folded between the 1924 and 1925 seasons:

In 1925 the Kansas City Blues changed their name to the Kansas City Cowboys, the Canton Bulldogs re-entered the NFL after an inactive 1924 season, the Rock Island Independents leave the NFL for the rival AFL at end of the season and the Racine Legion goes inactive for 1925 season.

Teams that joined the NFL for the 1925 season:

New York Giants

Providence Steam Roller

Pottsville Maroons

Detroit Panthers

Cleveland Bulldogs

Rochester Jeffersons

Teams that folded between the 1925 and 1926 seasons:

In 1926 the Buffalo Bisons change their name to the Buffalo Rangers and the following teams joined the league:

Hartford Blues

Brooklyn Lions

Los Angeles Buccaneers

The Akron Pros change their name to the Akron Indians

The Racine Tornadoes (formerly the Racine Legion) re-enter the NFL

The Duluth Kelleys become the Duluth Eskimos

The Louisville Colonels (formerly the Louisville Brecks) re-enter the NFL as a road team out of Chicago

Kansas City Cowboys

Los Angeles Buccaneers

Buffalo Rangers

Detroit Panthers

Hartford Blues

Brooklyn Lions

Milwaukee Badgers

Akron Indians

Racine Tornadoes

Columbus Tigers

Canton Bulldogs

Hammond Pros

Louisville Colonels

Cleveland Bulldogs (playeded only the 1927 season)

New York Yankees

Buffalo Bison

Cleveland Bulldogs

Duluth Eskimos

Buffalo Bisons (played 1929 season only)

Minneapolis Red Jackets

Staten Island Stapletons

Orange Tornadoes

Boston Bulldogs (played only 1929 season)

Dayton Triangles

Buffalo Bisons

Boston Bulldogs

Portsmouth Spartans

Brooklyn Dodgers

The Orange Tornadoes change their name to the Newark Tornadoes

Minneapolis Red Jackets

Newark Tornadoes

Cleveland Indians

Providence Steam Roller

Pittsburgh Pirates

Cincinnati Reds

Philadelphia Eagles

Teams that folded between the 1926 and 1927 seasons:In 1927 the teams that joined the NFL for the 1927 season:Teams that folded between the 1927 and 1928 seasons:In 1928 the Detroit Wolverines are granted an NFL franchise but play only the 1928 season and the New York Yankees fold at end of the season. In 1929 teams that joined the NFL:Teams that fold between the 1929 and 1930 seasons:In 1930 teams that join the NFL:Teams that fold between the 1930 and 1931 seasons:In 1931 the Cleveland Indians join the NFL (played 1931 season only) and the following teams folded:In 1932 the Frankford Yellow Jackets disband, the Boston Braves joined the NFL and the Staten Island Stapletons folded after the 1932 season. In 1933 the Boston Braves changed their name to the Boston Redskins and the following teams joined the league:

In 1934 the NFL splits into two divisions, the Portsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit and are renamed the Detroit Lions. The Cincinnati Reds are allowed to move to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Gunners, folding after 1934 season

Eastern Division



Boston Redskins

Brooklyn Dodgers

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Pirates

Western Division



Chicago Bears

Chicago Cardinals

Cincinnati Reds

Green Bay Packers

Portsmouth Spartans



1n 1937 the Cleveland Rams are awarded an NFL franchise in the Western Division and the Boston Redskins moved to Washington. In 1941 the Pittsburgh Pirates are renamed the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1943 the Cleveland Rams suspend operations and the Eagles and Steelers merge for one season to the Phil-Pitt Steagles. In 1944 the Cardinals and Steelers merge, renamed the Card-Pitt. In 1944 the Brooklyn Dodgers were renamed the Brooklyn Tigers, the Boston Yanks are granted an NFL franchise and added to the Eastern Division. In 1945 the Brooklyn Tigers and the Boston Yanks. In 1946 the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles and the Brooklyn team was formally disbanded. In 1949 the Boston Yanks move to New York and become the New York Bulldogs. The new AAFC dissolves after the 1949 season and the Browns, 49ers and Colts move into the NFL for the 1950 season.

In 1950 the New York Bulldogs change their name to the New York Yanks, the Baltimore Colts folded after the season was over and the NFL realignes it's divisions.

American Conference



Chicago Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Redskins

San Francisco 49ers

National Conference



Baltimore Colts

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Yanks





In 1952 the New York Yankees folded, the NFL sells the assets of the Yanks to a Dallas group to become the Dallas Texans, folding mid season and playing the rest of their season as a road team. In 1953 the NFL moves the Dallas Texans franchise to Baltimore Colts.

In 1959 the Ameican Football League (AFL) is formally organized with the following charter members. A franchise in the Twin Cities is added before play beings in 1960:

Eastern Division



Boston Patriots

Buffalo Bills

Houston Oilers

New York Titans

Western Division



Dallas Texans

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers





In 1969 the Dallas Cowboys franchise is awarded by the NFL to begin play 1960. Twin Cities is also awarded a franchise by the NFL, which is later named the Minnesota Vikings and begins play in 1961. Because of this the AFL Minnesota team is withdrawn. The Oakland Raiders are awarded an AFL franchise into the Western Division to replace Minnesota. The same year Chicago Cardinals move to St. Louis and the AFL starts league play.

In 1961 the Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego, the AFL approves expansion into Atlanta and Chicago. In 1963 the New York Titans are renamed the Jets and the Texans move to Kansas City and are renamed the Chiefs, In 1965 the NFL awarded Atlanta a new franchise to begin play in the Eastern Conference in 1966. Miami is awarded a franchise by the AFL and is named the Dolphins, beginning play in the Eastern Division in 1966. In 1966 the NFL and AFL effectively merge with plans to go to a 2 conference 4 division setup in 1970 or later. New Orleans is awarded a franchise by the NFL, to be later named the Saints and to begin play in the Eastern Conference in 1967. Atlanta is moved to the Western Conference. For the 1967 season, the conferences will be split up as follows:



Eastern Conference Capitol Division



Dallas Cowboys

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

Century Division



Cleveland Browns

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

St. Louis Cardinals



Western Conference Central Division



Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

Coastal Division



Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Colts

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers



In 1967 the Cincinnati Bengals franchise was awarded by the AFL to begin play in the Western Division in 1968. In 1970 the NFL and AFL merge their schedules and go to the current two conference, six division format. The AFL becomes the AFC with the Steelers, Browns and Colts moved there from the NFL. The rest of the NFL becomes the NFC. This results in the following alignment.

American Conference East Division Central Division West Division Baltimore Colts

Boston Patiots

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Houston Oilers

Pittsburgh Steelers



Denver Broncos

Kansas City Cheifs

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers





National Conference East Division Central Division West Division Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

St. Louis Cardinals

Washington Redskins

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings



Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans Saints

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers





In 1971 the Boston Patriots move to Foxboro and are renamed the New England Patriots. In 1974 Tampa Bay is awarded a franchise by the NFL and begins play in 1976 in the AFC West and switch to the NFC Central in 1977 while Seattle is awarded a franchise by the NFL and begins play in 1976 in the NFC West and switch to the AFC West in 1977. In 1982 the Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles. In 1984 the Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis, In 1988 the St. Louis Cardinals move to Phoenix. In 1993 the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars are awarded an NFL franchises to begin play in 1995. In 1994 the Phoenix Cardinals are renamed the Arizona Cardinals. In 1995 the Los Angeles Rams are moved to St. Louis and the Los Angeles Raiders move back to Oakland. In 1996 the Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore to begin play in 1996 as the Baltimore Ravens. In 1997 the Houston Oilers move to Memphis and become the Tennessee Oilers. In 1998 Cleveland is granted a franchise, to be named the Cleveland Browns, and will begin play in 1999. The Tennessee Oilers move from Memphis to Nashville and the New England Patriots announce their intention to move to Hartford.

In 2002 the Houston Texans started play. With the addition of the Houston Texans, the league's 32 teams were divided into eight four-team divisions. Seven clubs changed divisions, and the Seattle Seahawks changed conferences, moving from the AFC to the NFC.