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NFL Begins
Professional football teams from four states came together and created the American Professional Football Association -
Changes Approved
The American Professional Football Association was named the National Football League in 1922 -
First Championship Game
The first championship game was played in 1933. This rose popularity in the NFL -
Major sport
In the 1950s, pro football finally earned its place as a major sport -
The NFL Association
The association was formed in 1956 when players began to demand improved conditions. -
Surpassed Baseball
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 -
AFC and NFC
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. -
Dominnance
In the 1970s and 80s, the NFL solidified its dominance as America's top spectator sport and its important role in American culture -
Holiday?
The Super Bowl became an unofficial national holiday and the top-rated TV program most years. -
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football, which first aired in 1970 brought in high ratings by mixing sports and entertainment -
Joe Montana
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). -
Lawsuit
Free agency emerged in 1992 in a settlement of a lawsuit filed in 1987 by the NFL Players Association. -
NFL in Europe
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NFL Network
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Mexico City
