Timeline of the National Football League
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This timeline of the National Football League (NFL) tracks the history of each of the league's 32 current franchises from the early days of the league, through its merger with the American Football League (AFL). The history of franchises that began as independent teams, or as members of the Ohio League, New York Pro Football League, and other defunct leagues are shown as well.
Timeline
1920–1932: Birth of the NFL
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Perspective
1920
The American Professional Football Association is formed on September 17, 1920, at Canton, Ohio, with Jim Thorpe elected president.[1] The fourteen teams were mainly drawn from the Ohio League, Chicago Circuit, New York Pro Football League and other teams from the lower midwest. A $100 membership fee was charged. The Chicago Tigers folded after the season.[2]
The Massillon Tigers were represented at the September 17 meeting by Ralph Hay, but they never played in the league. As such, they are considered a charter member on a technicality.[3]
| Team folded this season ^ |
1921
The American Professional Football Association is reorganized at Akron, Ohio on April 30, 1921, with Joe F. Carr elected as new league president.[1] With the low entry barrier of a $100 membership fee, the number of teams balloons to 21.[1] Four of these franchises would last only one season, with Tonawanda Kardex only making it through a single game. Three other franchises folded mid-season. The Decatur Staleys moved to Chicago.
| 1920 team name | 1921 team name |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Tigers | Cleveland Indians |
| Decatur Staleys | Chicago Staleys |
| Detroit Heralds | Detroit Tigers |
| First season in APFA * | Team folded this season ^ | Only season in the league *^ |
1922
The APFA was renamed the National Football League on June 24, 1922.[4] Four new franchises were awarded.
| 1921 team name | 1922 team name |
|---|---|
| Chicago Staleys | Chicago Bears |
| Racine Cardinals | Chicago Cardinals |
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
1923
A new and distinct Cleveland Indians franchise was formed. Two other teams joined the NFL, the Duluth Kelleys and the St. Louis All Stars. The St. Louis team folded after one season.
| 1922 team name | 1923 team name |
|---|---|
| Columbus Panhandles | Columbus Tigers |
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § | Only season in the league *^ |
1924
Before the season, the owner of the Cleveland Indians bought the Canton Bulldogs and "mothballed" it, taking the team's nickname and players to Cleveland for the season. The Canton Bulldogs had won the NFL championship in 1923, and won it again as the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924.
| 1923 team name | 1924 team name |
|---|---|
| Buffalo All-Americans | Buffalo Bisons |
| Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Bulldogs |
| First season in NFL * | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § | Only season in the league *^ |
1925
The Canton Bulldogs were reactivated. Four other franchises were awarded, including most notably a New York City franchise awarded to Timothy J. Mara and Will Gibson for a $2,500 membership fee, the New York Giants.[1] This was the final season for the Rochester Jeffersons.
| 1924 team name | 1925 team name |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Blues | Kansas City Cowboys |
| First season in NFL * | Last active season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § |
| Team jumped to the AFL † | Rejoined the NFL ** |
1926
The league grew to 22 teams, a figure that would not be equaled in professional football until 1961, adding the Brooklyn Lions, the Hartford Blues, the Los Angeles Buccaneers, and the Louisville Colonels, with Racine Tornadoes re-entering.
At a league meeting held February 7, 1926, each franchise's roster was limited to a maximum of 18 players, with a minimum of 15.[4]
| 1925 team name | 1926 team name |
|---|---|
| Akron Pros | Akron Indians |
| Buffalo Bisons | Buffalo Rangers |
| Duluth Kelleys | Duluth Eskimos |
| Racine Legion | Racine Tornadoes |
| Only season in the league *^ | Rejoined the NFL ** | Last active season ^ |
1927
Prior to the season, the league decided to eliminate the financially weaker teams. As a result, the league dropped from 22 to 12 teams, and a majority of the remaining teams were centered around the East Coast instead of the Midwest, where the NFL had started. The New York Yankees were added from the American Football League (AFL I) and the Cleveland Bulldogs returned.
| 1926 team name | 1927 team name |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Rangers | Buffalo Bisons |
| Rejoined the NFL ** | Merged from AFL I * |
| Last active season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § |
1928
The league drops to 10 teams, the Buffalo Bisons sat out the season and the Duluth Eskimos folded. The Cleveland Bulldogs moved and played as the Detroit Wolverines.
| 1927 team name | 1928 team name |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Bulldogs | Detroit Wolverines |
| Last active season ^ |
1929
The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of two franchises, the Staten Island Stapletons and the Orange Tornadoes. Two mothballed teams activated for the season. Minneapolis re-entered as the Red Jackets along with the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons.
| 1928 team name | 1929 team name |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis Marines | Minneapolis Red Jackets |
| Pottsville Maroons | Boston Bulldogs |
| First season in NFL * | Rejoined the NFL ** | Last active season ^ |
1930
Prior to the season, Brooklyn businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark. The Portsmouth Spartans entered as a new team, bringing the total to 11 teams.
The league roster limit was expanded to a maximum of 20 players, with a minimum of 16 required.[4]
| 1929 team name | 1930 team name |
|---|---|
| Dayton Triangles | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Orange Tornadoes | Newark Tornadoes |
| First season in NFL * | Last active season ^ |
1931
The league decreased to 10 teams due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression. While the Cleveland Indians joined as an expansion team, the league lost the Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Newark Tornadoes, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets folded midway through the season.
| Only season in the league *^ | Last active season ^ |
1932
The Boston Braves enfranchised bringing the total to 8 teams.
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Boston Braves * |
| Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Green Bay Packers |
| New York Giants |
| Portsmouth Spartans |
| Staten Island Stapletons ^ |
1933–1939: Start of Championship Game
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1933
The barrier to entry was raised again with the July 8 decision to increase the league membership fee to $10,000.[1] Despite the fee increase, three new teams were added — the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
- The league split into Eastern and Western Divisions with the winner of each division playing in the NFL Championship Game.
- The 1933 season was the first in which no NFL team folded or suspended operations.
| 1932 team name | 1933 team name |
|---|---|
| Boston Braves | Boston Redskins |
| First season in NFL * |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Cincinnati Reds * |
| Philadelphia Eagles * | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Pirates * | Portsmouth Spartans |
1934
- Portsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit and renamed the Lions.
- Cincinnati Reds ceased operations during the season and were replaced by the St Louis Gunners for the final 3 games.
| 1933 team name | 1934 team name |
|---|---|
| Portsmouth Spartans | Detroit Lions |
| Only season in the league *^ | Last active season ^ |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Cincinnati Reds ^[5] |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Green Bay Packers |
| St. Louis Gunners*^ [6] |
1935–1936
- Neither the Cincinnati Reds nor St. Louis Gunners returned for the 1935 season.
The NFL raised its roster limit to 24 players effective with the 1935 season and again to 25 players for 1936.[7]
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
1937–1939
- Cleveland Rams joined from the American Football League (AFL II).
- Boston Redskins moved to Washington, D.C.
The league raised the roster limit to 30 players per team effective with the 1938 season.[4]
| 1936 team name | 1937 team name |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Washington Redskins |
| 1937 is first season in NFL * |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams * |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
The 1940s: World War II mergers and AAFC
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1940–1942
- Pittsburgh franchise changed its nickname from the Pirates to the Steelers before the start of the 1940 season.
The NFL raised the maximum number of players allowed on a league roster from 30 to 33 players effective with the 1940 season.[4]
| 1939 team name | 1940 team name |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Team mothballed after season, rejoined league 1944 § |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams § |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1943
As America became more deeply embroiled in World War II, the Cleveland Rams suspend operations for the 1943 season due to a major loss in players. The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers were able to work around the player shortage by merging to form the "Phil-Pitt Steagles."
The size of the active roster reduced from 33 to 28 players per team.[7] Intent of this reduction was to appease the Office of Defense Transportation by reducing the impact of travel by road teams.[8] Additionally, teams primarily used day coaches rather than sleeper cars, a more efficient albeit less comfortable mode of travel.[8] This continued through the 1944 season.
| Two teams merge for season † |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Phil-Pitt Steagles † | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1944
- Boston Yanks enfranchised.
- Cleveland Rams resumed operations.
- Steagles end merger, Eagles resumed operations.
- Steelers merged with the Cardinals to form "Card-Pitt".
| 1943 team name | 1944 team name |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Brooklyn Tigers |
| First season in NFL * | Rejoined the NFL ** | Two teams merge for season † |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Yanks * | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Tigers | Card-Pitt † |
| New York Giants | Cleveland Rams ** |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1945
- Card-Pitt was resplit into the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Brooklyn Tigers franchise merged with the Boston Yanks, named simply "The Yanks".
The Active player limit was returned to its pre-war size of 33 players.[7]
| Two teams merge for season † |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| The Yanks † | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1946
- The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) began operations with eight teams.
- Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles ahead of the 1946 season.
- With World War II at an end, the Boston Yanks resumed normal operations, although the Brooklyn Tigers franchise was permanently terminated.
| 1945 team name | 1946 team name |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Rams | Los Angeles Rams |
| Only season in the league *^ |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Rockets |
| Buffalo Bisons | Cleveland Browns |
| Miami Seahawks *^ | Los Angeles Dons |
| New York Yankees | San Francisco 49ers |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Yanks | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers |
| Washington Redskins | Los Angeles Rams |
1947–1948
- Miami Seahawks declared bankruptcy and reorganized as the first incarnation of the Baltimore Colts.
- Buffalo Bisons renamed Buffalo Bills.
Effective with the 1948 season, the NFL again raised its roster limit for member teams, increasing the maximum from 33 to 35 players.[4]
| 1946 team name | 1947 team name |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Bisons | Buffalo Bills |
| 1947 was first season in AAFC ** | Last active season in 1948 ^ |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts ** | Chicago Rockets |
| Brooklyn Dodgers ^ | Cleveland Browns |
| Buffalo Bills | Los Angeles Dons |
| New York Yankees | San Francisco 49ers |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Yanks ^ | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers |
| Washington Redskins | Los Angeles Rams |
1949
- The AAFC's Brooklyn Dodgers folded and its remains merged with the New York Yankees to become the Brooklyn–New York Yankees.
- With one fewer team, the AAFC realigned into one division.
- Boston Yanks ceased operations after the 1948 season, with the remains of the team enfranchised in 1949 as the New York Bulldogs.
The size of the active roster was reduced to 32 players.[7]
| First season in NFL * |
| Baltimore Colts |
| Brooklyn–New York Yankees |
| Buffalo Bills |
| Chicago Rockets |
| Cleveland Browns |
| Los Angeles Dons |
| San Francisco 49ers |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| New York Bulldogs * | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers |
| Washington Redskins | Los Angeles Rams |
The 1950s: Addition of AAFC teams
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1950
- Eastern Division renamed to American Conference.
- Western Division renamed to National Conference.
- San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and the first Baltimore Colts all enfranchised from now-defunct All-America Football Conference. The Colts folded after the season.
- New York Bulldogs changed name to New York Yanks and moved to the National Conference.
- Chicago Cardinals moved to the American Conference.
| 1949 team name | 1950 team name |
|---|---|
| New York Bulldogs | New York Yanks |
| Teams merge from AAFC ** | Last active season ^ |
| American Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Baltimore Colts ** ^ |
| Cleveland Browns ** | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | New York Yanks |
| San Francisco 49ers ** |
1951
The NFL increased the maximum size of team rosters from 32 to 33 players effective with the 1951 season. This would remain in effect through 1956.[7]
| Last active season ^ |
| American Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Chicago Bears |
| Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions |
| New York Giants | Green Bay Packers |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Los Angeles Rams |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | New York Yanks ^ |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
1952
- New York Yanks ceased operations after the 1951 season, with the remains of the team enfranchised for 1952 as the Dallas Texans, but the team terminated after one season. It remains the last NFL team to fold due to financial reasons.
| Only season in the league *^ |
| American Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Chicago Bears |
| Cleveland Browns | Dallas Texans *^ |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
1953–1959
- The 1953 season saw a renaming of the league's two conferences, with the American Conference renamed the Eastern Conference and the National Conference renamed the Western Conference.
- A second and distinct Baltimore Colts team was enfranchised from the remains of the Dallas Texans.
Effective with the 1957 season, the NFL raised its roster limit from 33 to 35 players per team.[4] The roster limit was raised again for the 1959 season, this time to 36 players per team.[9]
| 1953 is first season in NFL * |
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Baltimore Colts * |
| Cleveland Browns | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
The 1960s: NFL and AFL
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1960
- The American Football League (AFL) began operations with eight teams as a rival to the NFL.
- Dallas Cowboys were enfranchised by the NFL.
- Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis.
The roster limit was raised to 38 players per team for the 1960 season.[9]
| 1959 team name | 1960 team name |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals |
| First season in NFL * |
1961–1962
- Minnesota Vikings enfranchised by the NFL in 1961, with the Dallas Cowboys moving to the Eastern Conference.[10]
- AFL's Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego.
The league also reduced the roster limit from 38 back to 36 players during these two years.[7]
| 1960 team name | 1961 team name |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers | San Diego Chargers |
| 1961 is first season in NFL * |
1963–1965
- Facing a divided sports market due to the establishment of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the AFL's Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City to become the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Titans of New York renamed as the New York Jets.
In the NFL, the roster limit was raised in 1963 to 37 players and in 1964 to 40 players — a number which remained constant until the end of the 1973 season.[7]
| 1962 team name | 1963 team name |
|---|---|
| Dallas Texans | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Titans of New York | New York Jets |
1966
- Atlanta Falcons enfranchised by the NFL and Miami Dolphins by the AFL.
- The two leagues played the first AFL–NFL championship game (later known as the Super Bowl) after the conclusion of the season.
| First season in NFL * | First season in AFL ** |
1967
- NFL Eastern Conference divided into Capitol and Century Divisions.
- NFL Western Conference divided into Coastal and Central Divisions.
- New Orleans Saints enfranchised by the NFL.
- Atlanta Falcons moved to the Western Conference.
| First season in NFL * |
1968
- Cincinnati Bengals enfranchised by the AFL.
- New York Giants moved to the Capitol Division.
- New Orleans Saints moved to the Century Division.
| First season in AFL ** |
1969
- New York Giants moved back to the Century Division.
- New Orleans Saints moved back to the Capitol Division.
The 1970s: AFL–NFL merger
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1970
- AFL and NFL merge
- AFL Eastern and Western Divisions became AFC East and AFC West, respectively.
- AFC Central formed
- NFL Capitol Division became nucleus of NFC East.
- NFL Central Division became NFC Central.
- NFL Coastal Division became nucleus of NFC West.
- NFL Century Division teams split up between AFC Central and NFC East.
- Baltimore moved from NFL Coastal to AFC East.
- Cincinnati moved from AFL West to AFC Central.
- Houston moved from AFL East to AFC Central.
- Cleveland and Pittsburgh moved from NFL Century to AFC Central.
- New York Giants and St. Louis moved from NFL Century to NFC East.
- New Orleans moved from NFL Capitol to NFC West.
1971–1975
- Boston Patriots are renamed New England Patriots.
In 1974 the size of the active player roster was increased from 40 to 47 players before being lowered to 43 the following season.[7]
1976
- Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers enfranchised.
| First season in NFL * |
1977–1981
- Seattle moved from NFC West to AFC West.
- Tampa Bay moved from AFC West to NFC Central.
In 1978 the size of the active roster was increased from 43 to 45 players, where it would remain through the 1981 season.[7]
The 1980s and 1990s: Relocation and expansion
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1982–1983
- Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles in 1982.
After the first two games of the 1982 season the size of the active roster was increased from 45 to 49 players, where it would remain through the end of the 1984 season.[7]
1984–1987
In 1985 size of the active roster was reduced again from 49 to 45 — where it would remain through the end of the 1990 season.[7]
1988–1993
- St. Louis Cardinals moved to Phoenix in 1988.
In 1991 the league allowed teams to add a third "emergency" quarterback to their active 45 man rosters—a system that would remain in effect through the end of the 2010 season.[7]
1994
- Phoenix Cardinals renamed Arizona Cardinals.
1995
- Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars enfranchised.
- Los Angeles Raiders moved back to Oakland.
- Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis.
| First season in NFL * |
1996
- Cleveland Browns franchise deactivated.
- Baltimore Ravens enfranchised with remains of deactivated Cleveland Browns.
| First season in NFL * |
1997–1998
- Houston Oilers announced that they will move to Nashville and renamed the Tennessee Oilers. They played the 1997 season in Memphis and the 1998 season at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville while a new stadium was built in Nashville.
1999–2001
- Cleveland Browns franchise reinstated.
- Tennessee Oilers renamed Tennessee Titans.
The 2000s: Realignment
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Perspective
2002–2015
- The NFL realigned to create four divisions in each conference with four teams in each division.
- Arizona (NFC East) and Seattle (AFC West) joined the NFC West.
- NFC Central renamed NFC North.
- AFC Central renamed AFC North.
- NFC South created.
- Tampa Bay moved from the old NFC Central.
- New Orleans, Atlanta, and Carolina moved from the NFC West.
- AFC South created.
- Jacksonville and Tennessee moved from the old AFC Central.
- Indianapolis moved from the AFC East.
- Houston Texans enfranchised.
In 2011 the active roster limit was shifted from 45 + 1 emergency quarterback to an undifferentiated 46 players. This would remain in effect through the end of the 2019 season.[7]
| 2002 is first season in NFL * |
2016
- St. Louis Rams returned to Los Angeles.[14][15]
2017–2019
- San Diego Chargers returned to Los Angeles.[16][17][18]
2020–2021
- Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas.[19][20][21]
- Washington Redskins adopted the temporary name of Washington Football Team in response to controversy over their previous name.[22]
The size of the active roster was increased to 47 players — 48 if there were 8 offensive linemen activated.[7]
2022–present
- Washington Football Team was renamed Washington Commanders in 2022.
In 2023 the 47 man active roster was expanded to allow a third "emergency" quarterback.[7]
See also
References
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