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The League is Established
The NFL was originally named the "American Professional Football Conference". The league was established on August 20, 1920 in Canton, Ohio. The only teams in the league were from Ohio, which included the Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Indians, the Akron Pros, and Dayton Triangles. Picture URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_National_Football_League -
More Teams Join from the Great Lakes Region
About a month after the formation of the league and just prior to the start of the games, more teams joined from all around the Great Lakes region. There were now fourteen teams in the league. -
First Professional Football Game
The Columbus Panhandles and the Dayton Flyers played in the first ever game in the league. The Flyers beat the Panhandles with a score of 14-0. Photo URL: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/professional-football-is-born -
Green Bay Packers Join League
The Green Bay Packers are the oldest team still in the NFL today that have kept the name and location of their team. Joining in 1921, the Green Bay Packers have almost been around for a century. Other teams, including the Decatur Staleys and Chicago Cardinals, have been around just as long, however are now the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, respectively. Photo URL: http://www.packers.com/ -
The National Football League
The American Professional Football Association officially changed its name to the National Football League (NFL) on June 24, 1922. -
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NFL Segregates
From 1933 to 1945, the NFL segregated, denying black football players to play in the league. This decision was influenced by George Preston Marshall, who was the owner of the Boston Braves (now the Washington Redskins). -
First NFL Draft
On February 8, 1936, Jay Berwanger was the first ever NFL pick in the first ever NFL draft. Jay Berwanger was also the first ever Heisman Trophy winner. However, Berwanger decided to change careers, and never actually played in the NFL. Photo URL: http://thelance.net/2016/05/12/nfl-draft-first-round/ -
First Televised Football Game
The Philadelphia Eagles and Brooklyn Dodgers compete in the first ever televised football game. NBC broadcast this game, with the Dodgers winning 23-14. Photo URL: https://www.pinterest.com/t819/nfl-past-present/ -
"Greatest Game Ever Played"
The playoff game on December 28, 1958 between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants is called the "Greatest Game Ever played" because of its sudden death overtime nail biter. The Colts ended up victorious, defeating the Giants 23-17 -
First Super Bowl
Held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the first ever Super Bowl took place between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers defeated the Chiefs with a score of 35-10. Photo URL: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story-super-bowl/story?id=36689661 -
The Ice Bowl
The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers played in a game in very harsh conditions in 1967. With a temperature of negative 15 degrees and a wind chill of around negative 45 degrees, not to mention the "ice rink" field they had to play on, the Packers defeated the Cowboys 21-17 in this questionable championship game. Photo URL: http://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/the-ice-bowl/ -
Monday Night Football Begins
For the first time ever on September 21, 1970, the NFL goes Prime Time broadcasting a game against the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. This made an impact on the number of viewers as more families would be home on a Monday night than a weekend. Even today, Monday Nights during the NFL season are an exciting night for football fans. Photo URL: http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/Monday_Night_Football -
Miracle at the Meadowlands
On November 19, 1978, the New York Giants were playing the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants were ahead with only five minutes remaining in the game. They had the ball, and all they needed to do to win was to run the clock. However, the Giants Quarterback Joe Pisarcik fumbled allowing the Eagles to recover and score to win the game. -
"The Catch"
In Super Bowl XXIII, 49ers reciever Dwight Clark caught an amazing pass from Joe Montana in the back of the end zone that had the fans go crazy. The 49ers opponents, the Dallas Cowboys, were winning 27-21 before "the Catch". The 49ers ended up winning the Super Bowl with a score of 28-27. Photo URL: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/montana-to-clark-td-whips-cowboys-28-27-crown-article-1.2009607 -
Instant Replay is Created
To help out the referees with tough calls, the NFL established Instant Replay to look back at a close call to ensure the decision is correct and fair. This was a major change in the NFL that has impacted many losses and victories for multiple teams. -
Super Bowl 50
In the fiftieth Super Bowl in NFL history, the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers with a score of 24-10. The Panthers were favored to win, but came two touchdowns shy of the Super Bowl victory. Photo URL: http://www.ktvu.com/news/82305053-story
