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Professional football teams from four states came together and created the American Professional Football Association
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The American Professional Football Association was named the National Football League in 1922
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The first championship game was played in 1933. This rose popularity in the NFL
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In the 1950s, pro football finally earned its place as a major sport
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The association was formed in 1956 when players began to demand improved conditions.
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The rise of pro football was so fast that by the mid-60s, it had surpassed baseball as Americans' favorite spectator sport in some surveys
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In 1966, representatives from both leagues met in secret to hammer out details regarding a possible merger, which would keep the leagues' alignments but feature regular inter-league games and a championship game featuring the two league champions.
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In the 1970s and 80s, the NFL solidified its dominance as America's top spectator sport and its important role in American culture
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The Super Bowl became an unofficial national holiday and the top-rated TV program most years.
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Monday Night Football, which first aired in 1970 brought in high ratings by mixing sports and entertainment
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The San Francisco 49ers were the dominant team of the 1980s, as quarterback Joe Montana keyed the team to four Super Bowl victories (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990).
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Free agency emerged in 1992 in a settlement of a lawsuit filed in 1987 by the NFL Players Association.
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