Post on 14-Apr-2017
The NFL was originally known as the AmericanProfessional Football Association (APFA). It was
formed on September 17, 1920.
However, the APFA did not change its nameuntil 1923, when it became the NFL (National
Football League).
The very first presidentof the newly formed
league was Jim Thorpe,a world renowned
athlete who helped tobring much credibilityand popularity to NFL
football.
Members of the original league included theChicago Tigers, Buffalo All-Americans, Detroit
Heralds, and the Columbus Panhandles.
Today, only two of the original teams are stillactive in the NFL, the Chicago Bears (formerlyknown as the Decatur Staleys) and the Arizona
Cardinals (formerly known as the ChicagoCardinals).
THE FIRST NFLGAME
The First NFL football game took place onSeptember 26, 1920.
The winning team was always determined bythe one that had the highest winning
percentage.
Since 1920, ties were settled by having the toptwo teams play each other twice, with the
winner being the team that won the last game.
However, in 1921, the Chicago Bears and thePortsmouth Spartans both tied for first place
because they had the same winning stats,resulting in a need for an alternative way to
determine the winning team.
THE NFL TODAY
Currently, the NFL consists of 32 teams, withhalf belonging to the American Football
Conference (AFC) and the other half belongingto the National Football Conference (NFC).
The regular season runs for 17 weeks, startingthe week after Labor Day. Once the regular
season ends, six teams, three from eachdivision go on to compete in the playoffs.Winners from the playoffs then go on to
compete in the Super Bowl.
As one can see, the NFL had very humblebeginnings. It has amassed worldwide fame
and popularity, easily making it one of themost cherished leagues in the world.