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.
Timeline
1920–1932: Birth of the NFL
1920 The American Professional Football Association was formed on September 17, 1920, at Canton, Ohio, with Jim Thorpe elected president.Treat, Roger (ed.) (1952). The Official National Football League Football Encyclopedia. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., pp. 18–23. 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.
The Massillon Tigers were represented at the September 17 meeting by Ralph Hay, but they never played in the league. As such, they are considered a charter member on a technicality.
Team folded this season ^
+ 1920 APFA teamsAkron ProsBuffalo All-AmericansCanton BulldogsChicago Tigers^Cleveland TigersColumbus PanhandlesDayton TrianglesDecatur StaleysDetroit HeraldsHammond ProsMuncie FlyersRacine CardinalsRochester JeffersonsRock Island Independents
1921
The American Professional Football Association was reorganized in Akron, Ohio on April 30, 1921, with Joe F. Carr elected as new league president. With the low entry barrier of a $100 membership fee, the number of teams ballooned to 21. 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. The Decatur Staleys moved to Chicago. + 1921 name changes 1920 team name 1921 team nameCleveland Tigers Cleveland IndiansDecatur Staleys Chicago StaleysDetroit Heralds Detroit Tigers
First season in APFA *Team folded this season ^Only season in the league *^
+ 1921 APFA teamsAkron ProsBuffalo All-AmericansCanton Bulldogs Chicago StaleysCincinnati Celts *^Cleveland Indians ^ Columbus Panhandles Dayton TrianglesDetroit Tigers ^Evansville Crimson Giants *Green Bay Packers * Hammond ProsLouisville Brecks *Minneapolis Marines *Muncie Flyers ^New York Brickley Giants *^ Racine Cardinals Rochester Jeffersons Rock Island IndependentsTonawanda Kardex *^Washington Senators *^
1922
The APFA was renamed the National Football League on June 24, 1922.Genuit, Charles (ed.) (1957), "Milestones," Pro Football 1957. Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co., p. 8. Four new franchises were awarded.
+ 1922 name change 1921 team name 1922 team nameChicago StaleysChicago BearsRacine CardinalsChicago Cardinals
First season in NFL * Team folded this season ^
+ 1922 NFL teamsAkron ProsBuffalo All-Americans Canton Bulldogs Chicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Columbus PanhandlesDayton TrianglesEvansville Crimson Giants ^Green Bay Packers Hammond Pros Louisville BrecksMilwaukee Badgers *Minneapolis Marines Oorang Indians *Racine Legion * Rochester Jeffersons Rock Island Independents Toledo Maroons *
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.
+ 1923 name change 1922 team name 1923 team nameColumbus PanhandlesColumbus Tigers
First season in NFL * Team folded this season ^ Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § Only season in the league *^
+ 1923 NFL teamsAkron Pros Buffalo All-AmericansCanton Bulldogs § Chicago Bears Chicago CardinalsCleveland Indians * Columbus Tigers Dayton TrianglesDuluth Kelleys * Green Bay Packers Louisville Brecks ^ Hammond Pros Milwaukee Badgers Minneapolis MarinesOorang Indians ^ Racine Legion Rochester Jeffersons Rock Island IndependentsSt. Louis All Stars *^ Toledo Maroons ^
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.
+ 1924 name changes 1923 team name 1924 team nameBuffalo All-AmericansBuffalo BisonsCleveland IndiansCleveland Bulldogs
First season in NFL * Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § Only season in the league *^
+1924 NFL teamsAkron ProsBuffalo BisonsChicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Cleveland Bulldogs Columbus Tigers Dayton TrianglesDuluth Kelleys Frankford Yellow Jackets * Green Bay Packers Hammond Pros Kansas City Blues * Kenosha Maroons *^Milwaukee Badgers Minneapolis Marines §Racine Legion §Rochester JeffersonsRock Island Independents
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. This was the final season for the Rochester Jeffersons.
+ 1925 name change 1924 team name 1925 team nameKansas City BluesKansas City Cowboys
First season in NFL * Last active season ^ Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § Team jumped to the AFL † Rejoined the NFL **
+1925 NFL teamsAkron ProsBuffalo Bisons Canton Bulldogs **Chicago Bears Chicago CardinalsCleveland Bulldogs § Columbus Tigers Dayton Triangles Detroit Panthers * Duluth Kelleys Frankford Yellow Jackets Green Bay Packers Hammond Pros Kansas City Cowboys Milwaukee Badgers New York Giants * Pottsville Maroons * Providence Steam Roller * Rochester Jeffersons ^ Rock Island Independents †
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.
+ 1926 name changes 1925 team name 1926 team name Akron Pros Akron Indians Buffalo Bisons Buffalo RangersDuluth KelleysDuluth EskimosRacine LegionRacine Tornadoes
Only season in the league *^ Rejoined the NFL ** Last active season ^
+1926 NFL teamsAkron Indians ^ Brooklyn Lions *^ Buffalo Rangers Canton Bulldogs ^ Chicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Columbus Tigers ^ Dayton Triangles Detroit Panthers ^ Duluth Eskimos Frankford Yellow JacketsGreen Bay Packers Hammond Pros ^ Hartford Blues *^ Kansas City Cowboys ^ Los Angeles Buccaneers *^ Louisville Colonels *^Milwaukee Badgers ^New York GiantsPottsville MaroonsProvidence Steam RollerRacine Tornadoes ** ^
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 (AFL I) and the Cleveland Bulldogs returned.
+ 1927 name change 1926 team name 1927 team name Buffalo Rangers Buffalo Bisons
Rejoined the NFL ** Merged from AFL I * Last active season ^ Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later §
+1927 NFL teamsBuffalo Bisons §Chicago BearsChicago CardinalsCleveland Bulldogs ** Dayton TrianglesDuluth Eskimos ^ Frankford Yellow Jackets Green Bay Packers New York Giants New York Yankees * Pottsville Maroons Providence Steam Roller
1928 The league dropped 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. + 1928 name change 1927 team name 1928 team nameCleveland Bulldogs Detroit Wolverines
Last active season ^
+ 1928 NFL teamsChicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Dayton Triangles Detroit Wolverines ^ Frankford Yellow Jackets Green Bay Packers New York Giants New York Yankees ^ Pottsville Maroons Providence Steam Roller
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. + 1929 name changes 1928 team name 1929 team nameMinneapolis Marines Minneapolis Red JacketsPottsville Maroons Boston Bulldogs
First season in NFL * Rejoined the NFL ** Last active season ^
+ 1929 NFL teams Boston Bulldogs ^ Buffalo Bisons ** ^Chicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Dayton Triangles Frankford Yellow Jackets Green Bay Packers Minneapolis Red Jackets ** New York Giants Orange Tornadoes * Providence Steam Roller Staten Island Stapletons *
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.
+ 1930 name changes 1929 team name 1930 team name Dayton TrianglesBrooklyn DodgersOrange TornadoesNewark Tornadoes
First season in NFL * Last active season ^
+ 1930 NFL teams Brooklyn Dodgers Chicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Frankford Yellow Jackets Green Bay Packers Minneapolis Red Jackets ^ New York Giants Newark Tornadoes ^ Portsmouth Spartans * Providence Steam Roller Staten Island Stapletons
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 ^
+ 1931 NFL teams Brooklyn DodgersChicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Cleveland Indians *^ Frankford Yellow Jackets ^ Green Bay Packers New York Giants Portsmouth Spartans Providence Steam Roller ^ Staten Island Stapletons
1932
The Boston Braves enfranchised bringing the total to 8 teams. First season in NFL * Team folded this season ^
+ 1932 NFL teams Boston Braves * Brooklyn Dodgers Chicago Bears Chicago Cardinals Green Bay Packers New York Giants Portsmouth SpartansStaten 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. Despite the fee increase, three new teams were added — 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 was the first in which no NFL team folded or suspended operations.
+ 1933 name change 1932 team name 1933 team name Boston BravesBoston Redskins
First season in NFL *
+1933 NFL teamsEastern DivisionWestern DivisionBoston RedskinsChicago BearsBrooklyn DodgersChicago CardinalsNew York GiantsCincinnati Reds *Philadelphia Eagles *Green Bay PackersPittsburgh Pirates *Portsmouth Spartans
1934 Portsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit and renamed the Lions. Cincinnati Reds ceased operations during the season and were replaced by the St Louis Gunners for the final 3 games. + 1934 name change 1933 team name 1934 team name Portsmouth SpartansDetroit Lions
Only season in the league *^ Last active season ^
+1934 NFL teamsEastern DivisionWestern DivisionBoston RedskinsChicago BearsBrooklyn DodgersChicago CardinalsNew York GiantsCincinnati Reds ^Left the league before the final three games were completedPhiladelphia EaglesDetroit LionsPittsburgh PiratesGreen Bay Packers St. Louis Gunners*^ Replaced Cincinnati for the final three games
1935–1936 Neither the Cincinnati Reds nor St. Louis Gunners returned for the 1935 season.