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The start of the NFL
The NFL, originally called The Professional American Football Association was composed of 14 teams when chartered in 1920. The Akron Pros were the first team to be considered "champions" (1) with 8 wins in their first season (pictured). Amongst the 14 original teams, the Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) and the Decatur Staleys (now Chicago Bears) were the first teams still around today. -
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The AFL vs NFL and the Merger Era
The AFL was founded in 1959 to compete with the NFL as popularity grew. This created competition for Collegiate Players (2) such as 1959 Hiesman winner Billy Canton (pictured). The first Superbowl (3) was played between the AFL NFL in 1967 Between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs (pictured). The 2 Conferences later merged and created the NFC and AFC divisions of the National Football League. -
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Rise of National Popularity
The first Monday Night Football (4) game debuted on Sept. 21, 1970 with Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Don Meredith calling the game (pictured). This was the NFLs first look into future PrimeTime TV dominance. Gaining popularity with a bigger and more engaged audience, Superbowl XX (5) Between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots (pictured) to become the U.S. most viewed event in history, even surpassing the finale of MAS*H. -
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The Players Era
The use of Free Agency for players began on September 22, 1992, when U.S. Judge David Doty Awarded Philadelphia Eagles, Keith Jackson with a Restraining Order (SS1) that allowed him a 5 day grace period to sign with another team before an evidentiary hearing. In 1993 it would be decided that after 5 years (later moved to 4) a player would be considered an "unrestricted free agent" allowing them the power to sign with a team in their best interest. -
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Global and Digital Expansion Era
To begin pushing the NFL culture passed the Sunday and Monday game times, NFL Network (6) was created to give fans 24 hour coverage from all teams and commentary from Rich Eisen (First NFL Network announcement linked above). The next addition to the expansion of NFL entertainment was NFL RedZone (SS2). This was arguably the greatest side channel to sports ever created (Linked Above). -
Secondary Sources
- Frank, “How a Former Eagles Star Helped Pave the Way for NFL Free Agency.”
- Yoder, “Is NFL RedZone the ‘Greatest Linear Channel Ever Created?’
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Primary Sources
- "The NFL: 100 Years of Football"
- Tobias, "1959 LSU Stars Join the AFL"
- "Super Bowl I: Facts about the First Championship in History Played by the Chiefs, Packers"
- Stoneberg, "Hear Keith Jackson Introduce the Very First Monday Night Football Game."
- "New England Patriots"
- “NFL Network Launch Date.”
