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Football's Beginning
The idea of American football derived from the English game of rugby. Walter Payton instituted the rules in 1879. He was a player and coach for Yale University. -
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The History of Football
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The Origin of Professional Football
Professional football's origin can be traced all the way back to 1892. William "Pudge" Heffelfinger signed a $500 contract to play in a game against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. -
The NFL
In 1920, the American Professional Football Association was formed. The league changed its name to the National Football League (NFL) two years later. -
America's Game
Football's popularity increased, especially after the 1958 NFL Championship Game. This game is known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played". After this, it became America's game. -
Rival League
In 1960, a rival league called the American Football League (AFL) challenged the NFL. They later merged as one league into the NFL and formed the Super Bowl. -
Super Bowl 49
This past year in February the New England Patriots played the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 49. The Patriots topped the Seahawks 28-24 winning their fourth championship. Overall, football has evolved greatly over time.