The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States and the highest professional level of American football in the world. It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before adopting its current name for the 1922 season. After initially determining champions through end-of-season standings, a playoff system was implemented in 1933 that culminated with the NFL Championship Game. Following an agreement to merge the NFL with the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1966, the Super Bowl was first held in 1967 to determine a champion between the best team from each league and has remained as the final game ever since the merger was completed in 1970. All AFL records, including the Championship Games, were added to NFL record books as part of the merger agreement, and the teams were evenly divided between the newly formed American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC).
Since 2002, the league has consisted of 32 teams based across the United States. Each NFL season, since 2021, has started with a three-week preseason in August, followed by an 18-week regular season which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference (four division winners and three wild cards) advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament that culminates in the Super Bowl, which is contested in February between the two conference champions.
Early years (1920–1932) Early championships between 1920 and 1932 were awarded to the team with the best won-lost record, initially rather haphazardly, as some teams played more games than others, or scheduled games against non-league, amateur or collegiate teams. This led to the 1920 title being determined during a league meeting after the season, the 1921 title being decided on a controversial tiebreaker, a disputed 1925 title, and the scheduling of an impromptu 1932 indoor playoff game.
SeasonNo. ofteamsChampionRef. 192014Akron Pros192121Chicago Staleys192218Canton Bulldogs192320Canton Bulldogs192418Cleveland Bulldogs192520Chicago Cardinals192622Frankford Yellow Jackets192712New York Giants192810Providence Steam Roller192912Green Bay Packers 193011Green Bay Packers193110Green Bay Packers19328Chicago Bears
1933–1959 In 1933, the teams were divided between the Eastern and Western divisions. This became the American and National conferences in 1950 after the NFL absorbed the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC), then the Eastern and Western conferences in 1953. The two division/conference regular season champions then played in the NFL Championship Game. If two teams tied for the division/conference championship at the end of the regular season, then a one-game playoff was played to determine who would advance to the NFL Championship Game.2021 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 351–353.
SeasonNo. ofteamsDivision/Conference championNFL Championship GameRef.Eastern Division (1933–1949)American Conference (1950–1952)Eastern Conference (1953–1959)Western Division (1933–1949)National Conference (1950–1952)Western Conference (1953–1959)YearChampion193310New York GiantsChicago Bears1933Chicago Bears193411New York GiantsChicago Bears1934New York Giants19359New York GiantsDetroit Lions1935Detroit Lions19369Boston RedskinsGreen Bay Packers1936Green Bay Packers193710Washington RedskinsChicago Bears1937Washington Redskins193810New York GiantsGreen Bay Packers1938New York Giants193910New York GiantsGreen Bay Packers1939Green Bay Packers194010Washington RedskinsChicago Bears1940Chicago Bears194110New York GiantsChicago Bears1941Chicago Bears194210Washington RedskinsChicago Bears1942Washington Redskins19438Washington RedskinsChicago Bears1943Chicago Bears194410New York GiantsGreen Bay Packers1944Green Bay Packers194510Washington RedskinsCleveland Rams1945Cleveland Rams194610New York GiantsChicago Bears1946Chicago Bears194710Philadelphia EaglesChicago Cardinals1947Chicago Cardinals194810Philadelphia EaglesChicago Cardinals1948Philadelphia Eagles194910Philadelphia EaglesLos Angeles Rams1949Philadelphia Eagles195013Cleveland BrownsLos Angeles Rams1950Cleveland Browns195112Cleveland BrownsLos Angeles Rams1951Los Angeles Rams195212Cleveland BrownsDetroit Lions1952Detroit Lions195312Cleveland BrownsDetroit Lions1953Detroit Lions195412Cleveland BrownsDetroit Lions1954Cleveland Browns195512Cleveland BrownsLos Angeles Rams1955Cleveland Browns195612New York GiantsChicago Bears1956New York Giants195712Cleveland BrownsDetroit Lions1957Detroit Lions195812New York GiantsBaltimore Colts1958Baltimore Colts195912New York GiantsBaltimore Colts1959Baltimore Colts
War with the AFL (1960–1969) The rival American Football League (AFL) began play in 1960 with its own Eastern and Western divisions and AFL Championship Game. Following an agreement to merge the NFL with AFL, the Super Bowl was first held at the conclusion of the 1966 season to determine an overall champion between the champions of the two leagues. The NFL then established a four-team postseason tournament in 1967, and the AFL did the same in 1969.2021 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 354–356.
NFLAFLSuper Bowl(1966–1969)Ref.SeasonNo. ofteamsConference championsChampionship GameSeasonNo. ofteamsDivision championsChampionship GameGameChampionEasternConferenceWesternConferenceYearChampionEasternDivisionWesternDivisionYearChampion196013Philadelphia EaglesGreen Bay Packers1960Philadelphia Eagles19608Houston OilersLos Angeles Chargers1960Houston Oilersrowspan="6" colspan="2" 196114New York GiantsGreen Bay Packers1961Green Bay Packers19618Houston OilersSan Diego Chargers1961Houston Oilers196214New York GiantsGreen Bay Packers1962Green Bay Packers19628Houston OilersDallas Texans1962Dallas Texans196314New York GiantsChicago Bears1963Chicago Bears19638Boston PatriotsSan Diego Chargers1963San Diego Chargers196414Cleveland BrownsBaltimore Colts1964Cleveland Browns19648Buffalo BillsSan Diego Chargers1964Buffalo Bills196514Cleveland BrownsGreen Bay Packers1965Green Bay Packers19658Buffalo BillsSan Diego Chargers1965Buffalo Bills196615Dallas CowboysGreen Bay Packers1966Green Bay Packers19669Buffalo BillsKansas City Chiefs1966Kansas City Chiefs IGreen Bay Packers196716Dallas CowboysGreen Bay Packers1967Green Bay Packers19679Houston OilersOakland Raiders1967Oakland Raiders IIGreen Bay Packers196816Cleveland BrownsBaltimore Colts1968Baltimore Colts196810New York JetsOakland Raiders1968New York Jets IIINew York Jets196916Cleveland BrownsMinnesota Vikings1969Minnesota Vikings196910New York JetsOakland Raiders1969Kansas City Chiefs IVKansas City Chiefs
Modern era (1970–present) The AFL–NFL merger between the two leagues was completed before the 1970 season. The teams were divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The two conference playoff champions then played in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL champion.2021 NFL Record & Fact Book, pp. 356.