Timeline of the National Football League
This timeline of the National Football League 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. 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. 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.
| Akron Pros |
| Buffalo All-Americans |
| Canton Bulldogs |
| Chicago Tigers^ |
| Cleveland Tigers |
| Columbus Panhandles |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Decatur Staleys |
| Detroit Heralds |
| Hammond Pros |
| Muncie Flyers |
| Racine Cardinals |
| Rochester Jeffersons |
| Rock 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.| 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 *^ |
| Akron Pros |
| Buffalo All-Americans |
| Canton Bulldogs |
| Chicago Staleys |
| Cincinnati Celts *^ |
| Cleveland Indians ^ |
| Columbus Panhandles |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Detroit Tigers ^ |
| Evansville Crimson Giants * |
| Green Bay Packers * |
| Hammond Pros |
| Louisville Brecks * |
| Minneapolis Marines * |
| Muncie Flyers ^ |
| New York Brickley Giants *^ |
| Racine Cardinals |
| Rochester Jeffersons |
| Rock Island Independents |
| Tonawanda Kardex *^ |
| Washington Senators *^ |
1922
The APFA was renamed the National Football League on June 24, 1922. Four new franchises were awarded.| 1921 team name | 1922 team name |
| Chicago Staleys | Chicago Bears |
| Racine Cardinals | Chicago Cardinals |
| First season in NFL * |
| Team folded this season ^ |
| Akron Pros |
| Buffalo All-Americans |
| Canton Bulldogs |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Columbus Panhandles |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Evansville Crimson Giants ^ |
| Green Bay Packers |
| Hammond Pros |
| Louisville Brecks |
| Milwaukee 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.| 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 *^ |
| Akron Pros |
| Buffalo All-Americans |
| Canton Bulldogs § |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Cleveland Indians * |
| Columbus Tigers |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Duluth Kelleys * |
| Green Bay Packers |
| Louisville Brecks ^ |
| Hammond Pros |
| Milwaukee Badgers |
| Minneapolis Marines |
| Oorang Indians ^ |
| Racine Legion |
| Rochester Jeffersons |
| Rock Island Independents |
| St. 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.| 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 *^ |
| Akron Pros |
| Buffalo Bisons |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Cleveland Bulldogs |
| Columbus Tigers |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Duluth Kelleys |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets * |
| Green Bay Packers |
| Hammond Pros |
| Kansas City Blues * |
| Kenosha Maroons *^ |
| Milwaukee Badgers |
| Minneapolis Marines § |
| Racine Legion § |
| Rochester Jeffersons |
| Rock 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.| 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 ** |
| Akron Pros |
| Buffalo Bisons |
| Canton Bulldogs ** |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Cleveland 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.
| 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 ^ |
| Akron Indians ^ |
| Brooklyn Lions *^ |
| Buffalo Rangers |
| Canton Bulldogs ^ |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Columbus Tigers ^ |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Detroit Panthers ^ |
| Duluth Eskimos |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| Green Bay Packers |
| Hammond Pros ^ |
| Hartford Blues *^ |
| Kansas City Cowboys ^ |
| Los Angeles Buccaneers *^ |
| Louisville Colonels *^ |
| Milwaukee Badgers ^ |
| New York Giants |
| Pottsville Maroons |
| Providence Steam Roller |
| Racine 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 and the Cleveland Bulldogs returned.| 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 § |
| Buffalo Bisons § |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Cleveland Bulldogs ** |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Duluth Eskimos ^ |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| Green Bay Packers |
| New York Giants |
| New York Yankees * |
| Pottsville Maroons |
| Providence Steam Roller |