This timeline of the National Football League (NFL) tracks the history of each of the league's 32 current franchises from the early days of the league, through its merger with the American Football League (AFL). The history of franchises that began as independent teams, or as members of the Ohio League, New York Pro Football League, and other defunct leagues are shown as well.
NFL timeline
1920–1932: The Birth of the NFL
1920
The American Professional Football Association is formed September 17, 1920, at Canton, Ohio, with Jim Thorpe elected president.[1] The fourteen teams were mainly drawn from the Ohio League, Chicago Circuit, New York Pro Football League and other teams from the lower midwest. A $100 membership fee was charged. The Chicago Tigers folded after the season.[2]
| Team folded this season ^ |
1921
The American Professional Football Association is reorganized at Akron, Ohio on April 30, 1921, with Joe F. Carr elected as new league president.[1] With the low entry barrier of a $100 membership fee, the number of teams balloons to 21.[1] Four of these franchises would last only one season, with Tonawanda Kardex only making it through a single game. Three other franchises folded mid-season.
| 1920 team name | 1921 team name |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Tigers | Cleveland Indians |
| Decatur Staleys | Chicago Staleys |
| Detroit Heralds | Detroit Tigers |
| First season in APFA * | Team folded this season ^ | Only season in the league *^ |
1922
The APFA was renamed the National Football League on June 24, 1922.[3] Four new franchises were awarded.
| 1921 team name | 1922 team name |
|---|---|
| Chicago Staleys | Chicago Bears |
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
1923
A new and distinct Cleveland Indians franchise was formed. Two other teams joined the NFL, the Duluth Kelleys and the St. Louis All Stars. The St. Louis team folded after one season.
| 1922 team name | 1923 team name |
|---|---|
| Columbus Panhandles | Columbus Tigers |
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § | Only season in the league *^ |
1924
Before the season, the owner of the Cleveland Indians bought the Canton Bulldogs and "mothballed" it, taking the team's nickname and players to Cleveland for the season. The Canton Bulldogs had won the NFL championship in 1923, and won it again as the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924.
| 1923 team name | 1924 team name |
|---|---|
| Buffalo All-Americans | Buffalo Bisons |
| Cleveland Indians | Cleveland Bulldogs |
| First season in NFL * | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § | Only season in the league *^ |
1925
The Canton Bulldogs were reactivated. Four other franchises were awarded, including most notably a New York City franchise awarded to Timothy J. Mara and Will Gibson for a $2,500 membership fee, the New York Giants.[1] This was the final season for the Rochester Jeffersons.
| 1924 team name | 1925 team name |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Blues | Kansas City Cowboys |
| First season in NFL * | Last active season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § |
| Team jumped to the AFL † | Rejoined the NFL ** |
1926
The league grew to 22 teams, a figure that would not be equaled in professional football until 1961, adding the Brooklyn Lions, the Hartford Blues, the Los Angeles Buccaneers, and the Louisville Colonels, with Racine Tornadoes re-entering. At a league meeting held February 7, 1926, each franchise's roster was limited to a maximum of 18 players, with a minimum of 15.[3]
| 1925 team name | 1926 team name |
|---|---|
| Akron Pros | Akron Indians |
| Buffalo Bisons | Buffalo Rangers |
| Duluth Kelleys | Duluth Eskimos |
| Racine Legion | Racine Tornadoes |
| Only season in the league *^ | Rejoined the NFL ** | Last active season ^ |
1927
Prior to the season, the league decided to eliminate the financially weaker teams. As a result, the league dropped from 22 to 12 teams, and a majority of the remaining teams were centered around the East Coast instead of the Midwest, where the NFL had started. The New York Yankees were added from the American Football League and the Cleveland Bulldogs returned.
| 1926 team name | 1927 team name |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Rangers | Buffalo Bisons |
| Rejoined the NFL ** | Merged from 1926 AFL * |
| Last active season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § |
1928
The league drops to 10 teams, the Buffalo Bisons sat out the season and the Duluth Eskimos folded. The Cleveland Bulldogs moved and played as the Detroit Wolverines.
| 1927 team name | 1928 team name |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Bulldogs | Detroit Wolverines |
| Last active season ^ |
1929
The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of two franchises, the Staten Island Stapletons, and the Orange Tornadoes. Two mothballed teams activated for the season. Minneapolis re-entered as the Red Jackets along with the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons.
| 1928 team name | 1929 team name |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis Marines | Minneapolis Red Jackets |
| Pottsville Maroons | Boston Bulldogs |
| First season in NFL * | Rejoined the NFL ** | Last active season ^ |
1930
Prior to the season, Brooklyn businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark. The Portsmouth Spartans entered as a new team, bringing the total to 11 teams. The league roster limit was expanded to a maximum of 20 players, with a minimum of 16 required.[3]
| 1929 team name | 1930 team name |
|---|---|
| Dayton Triangles | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Orange Tornadoes | Newark Tornadoes |
| First season in NFL * | Last active season ^ |
1931
The league decreased to 10 teams due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression. While the Cleveland Indians joined as an expansion team, the league lost the Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Newark Tornadoes, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets folded midway through the season.
| Only season in the league *^ | Last active season ^ |
1932
The Boston Braves enfranchised bringing the total to 8 teams.
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Boston Braves * |
| Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Green Bay Packers |
| New York Giants |
| Portsmouth Spartans |
| Staten Island Stapletons ^ |
1933–1939: Start of Championship Game
1933
The barrier to entry was raised again with the July 8 decision to increase the league membership fee to $10,000.[1] Despite the fee increase, three new teams were added to the league — the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The league split into Eastern and Western Divisions with the winner of each division playing in the NFL Championship Game. The 1933 season would be the first in which no NFL team folds or suspends operations.
| 1932 team name | 1933 team name |
|---|---|
| Boston Braves | Boston Redskins |
| First season in NFL * |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Cincinnati Reds * |
| Philadelphia Eagles * | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Pirates * | Portsmouth Spartans |
1934
- Portsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit; renamed the Lions
- Cincinnati Reds cease operations during season, and are replaced by the St Louis Gunners for the final 3 games.
| 1933 team name | 1934 team name |
|---|---|
| Portsmouth Spartans | Detroit Lions |
| Only season in the league *^ | Last active season ^ |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Cincinnati Reds ^[4] |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Green Bay Packers |
| St. Louis Gunners*^ [5] |
1935–1936
- Neither Cincinnati Reds nor St. Louis Gunners return for 1935 season. The NFL raised its roster limit to 25 players effective with the 1935 season.[3]
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
1937–1939
The 1937 season saw the admission of the Cleveland Rams franchise to the NFL and the move of the Boston Redskins to Washington, D.C. The league raised the roster limit to 30 players per team effective with the 1938 season.[3]
| 1936 team name | 1937 team name |
|---|---|
| Boston Redskins | Washington Redskins |
| 1937 is first season in NFL * |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams * |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
The 1940s: World War II mergers
1940–1942
The Pittsburgh franchise changed its nickname from the Pirates to the Steelers before the start of the 1940 campaign. The NFL also raised the maximum number of players allowed on a league roster from 30 to 33 players effective with the 1940 season.[3]
| 1939 team name | 1940 team name |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Team mothballed after season, rejoined league 1944 § |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams § |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1943
- Philadelphia and Pittsburgh merge to form "Phil-Pitt"
| Two teams merge for season † |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Phil-Pitt Steagles † | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1944
- Boston Yanks enfranchised.
- Cleveland Rams resume operations.
- Steagles end merger, Eagles resume operations
- Steelers merge with Cardinals to form "Card-Pitt"
| 1943 team name | 1944 team name |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Brooklyn Tigers |
| First season in NFL * | Rejoined the NFL ** | Two teams merge for season † |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Yanks * | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Tigers | Card-Pitt † |
| New York Giants | Cleveland Rams ** |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1945
- Card-Pitt splits into Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers
- Brooklyn Tigers merge with Boston Yanks, named simply "The Yanks"
| Two teams merge for season † |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| The Yanks † | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
1946–1948
The National Football League began to colonize the Pacific coast when the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles, California ahead of the 1946 season. With World War II at an end, the Boston Yanks resumed normal operations, although the Brooklyn Tigers franchise was permanently terminated. Effective with the 1948 season, the NFL again raised its roster limit for member teams, increasing the maximum from 33 to 35 players.[3]
| 1945 team name | 1946 team name |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Rams | Los Angeles Rams |
| Last active season was 1948 ^ |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Yanks ^ | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers |
| Washington Redskins | Los Angeles Rams |
1949
The Boston Yanks ceased operations at the end of the 1948 season, with remains of the team enfranchised for 1949 as the New York Bulldogs.
| First season in NFL * |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| New York Bulldogs * | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers |
| Washington Redskins | Los Angeles Rams |
The 1950s: AAFC merger
1950
- Eastern Division renamed to American Conference
- Western Division renamed to National Conference
- San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and the first Baltimore Colts all enfranchised from now-defunct All-America Football Conference. The Colts fold after the 1950 season.
- New York Bulldogs change name to New York Yanks, move to National Conference
- Chicago Cardinals move to American Conference
| 1949 team name | 1950 team name |
|---|---|
| New York Bulldogs | New York Yanks |
| Teams merge from AAFC ** | Last active season ^ |
| American Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Baltimore Colts ** ^ |
| Cleveland Browns ** | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | New York Yanks |
| San Francisco 49ers ** |
1951
The NFL reduced the maximum size of team rosters from 35 to 33 players effective with the 1951 season.[3] The New York Yanks franchise terminated following the 1951 season.
| Last active season ^ |
| American Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Chicago Bears |
| Cleveland Browns | Detroit Lions |
| New York Giants | Green Bay Packers |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Los Angeles Rams |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | New York Yanks ^ |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
1952
The Dallas Texans franchise was launched with the remains of the now-defunct New York Yanks, but the team terminated after one season. It remains the last NFL team to fold due to financial reasons.
| Only season in the league *^ |
| American Conference | National Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Chicago Bears |
| Cleveland Browns | Dallas Texans *^ |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
1953–1959
The 1953 season saw a renaming of the league's two conferences, with the American Conference renamed the Eastern Conference and the National Conference renamed the Western Conference. A second and distinct Baltimore Colts team was enfranchised from the remains of the Dallas Texans. Effective with the 1957 season, the NFL raised its roster limit from 33 to 35 players per team.[3]
| 1953 is first season in NFL * |
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | Baltimore Colts * |
| Cleveland Browns | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
The 1960s: NFL and AFL
1960
- American Football League (AFL) begins operations with eight teams as a rival to the NFL.
- Dallas Cowboys enfranchised by NFL
- Chicago Cardinals move to St. Louis
| 1959 team name | 1960 team name |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cardinals | St. Louis Cardinals |
| First season in NFL * |
| Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Dallas Texans |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos |
| Houston Oilers | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Titans of New York | Oakland Raiders |
1961–1962
- NFL enfranchises the Minnesota Vikings
- Los Angeles Chargers move to San Diego
- Dallas Cowboys move to Eastern Division
| 1960 team name | 1961 team name |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers | San Diego Chargers |
| 1961 is first season in NFL * |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Dallas Texans |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders |
| Titans of New York | San Diego Chargers |
1963–1965
- Dallas Texans move to Kansas City; renamed the Chiefs
- Titans of New York renamed New York Jets
| 1962 team name | 1963 team name |
|---|---|
| Dallas Texans | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Titans of New York | New York Jets |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Denver Broncos |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders |
| New York Jets | San Diego Chargers |
1966
- Atlanta Falcons enfranchised by NFL
- Miami Dolphins enfranchised by AFL
- First AFL-NFL championship game played.
| First season in NFL * | First season in AFL ** |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Denver Broncos |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders |
| Miami Dolphins ** | San Diego Chargers |
| New York Jets |
1967
- NFL Eastern Conference divided into Capitol and Century Divisions
- NFL Western Conference divided into Coastal and Central Divisions
- New Orleans Saints enfranchised by NFL
- Atlanta Falcons move to Western Conference
| First season in NFL * |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Denver Broncos |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders |
| Miami Dolphins | San Diego Chargers |
| New York Jets |
1968
- Cincinnati Bengals are enfranchised by AFL
- New York Giants move to Capitol Division
- New Orleans Saints move to Century Division
| First season in AFL ** |
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Cincinnati Bengals ** |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos |
| Houston Oilers | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Miami Dolphins | Oakland Raiders |
| New York Jets | San Diego Chargers |
1969
- New York Giants move back to Century Division
- New Orleans Saints move back to Capitol Division
| Eastern | Western |
|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos |
| Houston Oilers | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Miami Dolphins | Oakland Raiders |
| New York Jets | San Diego Chargers |
The 1970s: AFL–NFL merger
1970
- AFL and NFL merge
- AFL Eastern and Western Divisions become AFC East and AFC West, respectively
- AFC Central formed
- NFL Capitol Division becomes nucleus of NFC East
- NFL Central Division becomes NFC Central
- NFL Coastal Division becomes nucleus of NFC West
- NFL Century Division teams split up between AFC Central and NFC East
- Baltimore moves from NFL Coastal to AFC East
- Cincinnati moves from AFL West to AFC Central
- Houston moves from AFL East to AFC Central
- Cleveland moves from NFL Century to AFC Central
- Pittsburgh moves from NFL Century to AFC Central
- New York Giants move from NFL Century to NFC East
- St. Louis moves from NFL Century to NFC East
- New Orleans moves from NFL Capitol to NFC West
1971–1975
- Boston Patriots are renamed New England Patriots.
1976
- Seattle Seahawks are enfranchised
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers are enfranchised
| First season in NFL * |
1977–1981
- Seattle moves from NFC West to AFC West
- Tampa Bay moves from AFC West to NFC Central
The 1980s and 1990s: Relocation and Expansion
1982–1983
- Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles.
1984–1987
1988–1993
- St. Louis Cardinals move to Phoenix
1994
- Phoenix Cardinals renamed Arizona Cardinals
1995
- Carolina Panthers enfranchised
- Jacksonville Jaguars enfranchised
- Los Angeles Raiders move back to Oakland
- Los Angeles Rams move to St. Louis
| First season in NFL * |
1996
- Cleveland Browns franchise deactivated
- Baltimore Ravens enfranchised with remains of deactivated Cleveland Browns
| First season in NFL * |
1997–1998
- Houston Oilers announce that they will move to Nashville and are renamed the Tennessee Oilers. They play the 1997 season in Memphis and the 1998 season at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville while a new stadium is built in Nashville.
1999–2001
- Cleveland Browns franchise reinstated
- Tennessee Oilers renamed Tennessee Titans
The 2000s: Realignment
2002–2015
- The NFL realigns to create four divisions with four teams each in both conferences.
- Arizona (NFC East) and Seattle (AFC West) join the NFC West
- NFC Central renamed NFC North
- AFC Central renamed AFC North
- NFC South created
- Tampa Bay moves from the old NFC Central
- New Orleans, Atlanta, and Carolina move from the NFC West
- AFC South created
- Jacksonville and Tennessee move from the old AFC Central
- Indianapolis moves from the AFC East
- Houston Texans enfranchised
| 2002 is first season in NFL * |
2016
- St. Louis Rams return to Los Angeles.[9][10]
2017–2019
- San Diego Chargers return to Los Angeles.[11][12][13]
2020–2021
- Oakland Raiders move to Las Vegas.[14][15][16]
- Washington Redskins adopt the temporary name of Washington Football Team in response to controversy over their previous name.[17]
2022–present
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Treat, Roger (ed.) (1952). The Official National Football League Football Encyclopedia. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., pp. 18–23.
- ↑ "Team Encyclopedias and Records". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Genuit, Charles (ed.) (1957), "Milestones," Pro Football 1957. Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co., p. 8.
- ↑ Left the league before the final three games were completed
- ↑ Replaced Cincinati for the final three games
- 1 2 3 "Realignment for 2002". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. May 22, 2001. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "New alignment takes effect in 2002". ESPN Internet Ventures, LLC. Associated Press. May 22, 2001. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Freeman, Mike (May 23, 2001). "PRO FOOTBALL; Owners Approve N.F.L. Realignment". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- ↑ Hanzus, Dan (January 12, 2016). "Rams to relocate to L.A.; Chargers first option to join". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ↑ "Rams to Return to Los Angeles". TheRams.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. January 12, 2016. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ↑ "Chargers to Relocate to Los Angeles". Chargers.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. January 12, 2017. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ↑ Knoblauch, Austin (January 12, 2017). "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ↑ Wilson, Ryan (January 12, 2017). "Chargers are moving to Los Angeles after 56 years in San Diego". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (March 27, 2017). "NFL team owners approve Raiders' move to Las Vegas". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
- ↑ Raiders Media Relations (March 27, 2017). "Raiders Receive NFL Approval For Las Vegas Relocation". Raiders.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ↑ Disis, Jill; Byres, Dylan (March 27, 2017). "NFL approves Raiders' move to Las Vegas". CNN.com. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ↑ Schefter, Adam (July 23, 2020). "Washington NFL team to use 'Washington Football Team' for 2020 season". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 23, 2020.