The National Football League, more commonly known as the NFL, stands today as one of the most popular and influential sports leagues in the world. Every year, the NFL draws in millions of fans, some very lucrative television deals and an annual Super Bowl spectacle that has become popular with audiences around the world. The NFL has come a long way from its humble beginnings, however. So, in this article, we will be exploring the origins of the National Football League, starting with its roots in the early 20th century and examining how it evolved into the popular sporting phenomenon that we know today.
American football
In order to understand the origins of the NFL, it is essential to look at the history of American football itself, first and foremost. American football — at least the kind we are familiar with today — evolved from a mishmash of rugby and soccer. In the late 19th century, various universities and colleges across the United States began developing their own versions of the sport. The house rules and regulations differed significantly from one school to another, leading to some rather chaotic and often brutal games between teams.
Professional football teams
In the early 20th century, football teams started to form in various regions across the United States, as football primarily took hold in industrial towns and cities. These teams were generally composed of local, often amateur, athletes who played the sport purely for the love of the game and the hope of earning a bit of extra income. Often, these teams would be sponsored by local businesses or organizations and were central hubs in the community.
Eventually of course, these teams and the backing behind them began to get bigger and more sophisticated as the popularity of the sport increased. Slowly but surely, we ended up with the game that we know and love today.
One of the earliest, properly organised football leagues was the Ohio League, founded in 1903. The league was considered to be one of the first steps towards a more organised and competitive form of commercial football. The teams in the Ohio League would play against each other and occasionally hold matches against teams from neighbouring states.
The birth of the NFL
The NFL, in the form that we are familiar with today, was founded on 20 August 1920, in Canton, Ohio. It officially began when representatives from 10 professional football teams met at a Hupmobile dealership (which is now a historic site) where the American Professional Football Association was born. This marked the point at which the small community football economy became the game we know today, with fans supporting big team names and looking for NFL tips. Later in 1922, the NFL was created. Jim Thorpe, a legendary footballer and track and field athlete, was named the league’s first president. Thorpe’s involvement helped lend sorely-needed credibility and recognition to the newly established league.
The early years of the NFL were far removed from how things are today. Teams struggled tremendously with financial stability, and player salaries were a fraction of what they are now. The league also lacked a proper schedule, which meant teams were often arranging their own games with their opponents. This resulted in a lot of inconsistency in terms of competition and scheduling of games. To make things even more complicated, the NFL faced competition from several other football leagues and associations during its first few years, including the American Football League (AFL) and the Ohio League. These rival leagues often stole players and created conflicts among teams.
Television and the Super Bowl
The real turning point for the NFL came with the advent of television in the 1950s. Television broadcasts allowed fans from all across the country to watch games from the comfort of their homes. The fact that games were so available to be viewed significantly increased the league’s popularity. Somewhat later, the iconic championship game, later known as the Super Bowl, became an annual spectacle that attracted viewers of all kinds from all over America. The first Super Bowl was played in 1967.
The NFL continued to expand over the years, adding new teams and divisions, becoming a major cultural force in the United States and later worldwide. Super Bowl Sunday essentially became a national holiday, with parties, advertisements and halftime shows captivating audiences all over the world.