This article is a timeline of the National Football League (NFL). It 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.
The American Professional Football Association is formed. 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 season.
Number of teams increased to 21. Four teams lasted only one season. Three other franchises folded.
The APFA was renamed the National Football League. Four new franchises awarded.
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.
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.
The Canton Bulldogs were reactivated. Four other franchises were awarded. This was the final season for the Rochester Jeffersons.
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.
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.
The NFL drops to ten teams. Two teams had folded, the Buffalo Bisons sat out the season and the Cleveland Bulldogs moved and played as the Detroit Wolverines.
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 and the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons.
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.
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. Even the Frankford Yellow Jackets had to fold midway through the season.
The Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins) enfranchised.
Three new teams enfranchised:Cincinnati RedsPhiladelphia EaglesPittsburgh Pirates (now Pittsburgh Steelers)League split into Eastern and Western DivisionsFirst season in history of the league no team folds or suspends operationsPortsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit; renamed the LionsCincinnati Reds cease operations during season, and are replaced by the St Louis Gunners for the final 3 games.Neither Cincinnati Reds nor St. Louis Gunners return for 1935 season.Cleveland Rams (now Los Angeles Rams) enfranchisedBoston Redskins move to Washington, D.C.Philadelphia and Pittsburgh merge to form "Phil-Pitt"Boston Yanks enfranchised.Cleveland Rams resume operations.Steagles end merger, Eagles resume operationsSteelers merge with Cardinals to form "Card-Pitt"Card-Pitt splits into Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh SteelersBrooklyn Tigers merge with Boston Yanks, named simply "The Yanks"Brooklyn Tigers cease operationsBoston Yanks resume normal operationsCleveland Rams move to Los AngelesBoston Yanks cease operationsNew York Bulldogs enfranchised from the remains of the Boston YanksEastern Division renamed to American ConferenceWestern Division renamed to National ConferenceSan Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and the first Baltimore Colts all enfranchised from now-defunct All-America Football Conference. The Colts fold after the 1950 season.New York Bulldogs change name to New York Yanks, move to National ConferenceChicago Cardinals move to American ConferenceThe New York Yanks fold after the 1951 season.Dallas Texans enfranchised with the remains of the now-defunct New York Yanks, but fold after one season.American Conference renamed the Eastern ConferenceNational Conference renamed the Western ConferenceA second and distinct Baltimore Colts team enfranchised from the remains of the Dallas TexansAmerican Football League (AFL) begins operations with eight teams as a rival to the NFL.Dallas Cowboys enfranchised by NFLChicago Cardinals move to St. LouisNFL enfranchises the Minnesota VikingsLos Angeles Chargers move to San DiegoDallas Cowboys move to Eastern DivisionDallas Texans move to Kansas City; renamed the ChiefsTitans of New York renamed New York JetsAtlanta Falcons enfranchised by NFLMiami Dolphins enfranchised by AFLFirst AFL-NFL championship game played.NFL Eastern Conference divided into Capitol and Century DivisionsNFL Western Conference divided into Coastal and Central DivisionsNew Orleans Saints enfranchised by NFLAtlanta Falcons move to Western ConferenceCincinnati Bengals are enfranchisedNew York Giants move to Capitol DivisionNew Orleans Saints move to Century DivisionNew York Giants move to Century DivisionNew Orleans moves to Capitol DivisionAFL and NFL mergeAFL Eastern and Western Divisions become AFC East and AFC West, respectivelyAFC Central formed.NFL Century Division teams split up between AFC Central and NFC EastNFL Capitol Division becomes nucleus of NFC EastNFL Central Division becomes NFC CentralNFL Coastal Division becomes nucleus of NFC WestHouston moves from AFL East to AFC CentralCincinnati moves from AFL West to AFC CentralNew Orleans moves from NFL Capitol to NFC WestCleveland moves from NFL Century to AFC CentralNew York Giants move from NFL Century to NFC EastPittsburgh moves from NFL Century to AFC CentralSt. Louis moves from NFL Century to NFC EastBaltimore moves from NFL Coastal to AFC EastBoston Patriots are renamed New England Patriots.Seattle Seahawks are enfranchisedTampa Bay Buccaneers are enfranchisedSeattle moves from NFC West to AFC WestTampa Bay moves from AFC West to NFC CentralOakland Raiders move to Los Angeles.Baltimore Colts move to IndianapolisSt. Louis Cardinals move to PhoenixPhoenix Cardinals renamed Arizona CardinalsCarolina Panthers enfranchisedJacksonville Jaguars enfranchisedLos Angeles Raiders move back to OaklandLos Angeles Rams move to St. LouisCleveland Browns franchise deactivatedBaltimore Ravens enfranchised with remains of deactivated Cleveland BrownsHouston Oilers announce that they will move to Nashville and are renamed the Tennessee Oilers. They play the 1997 season in Memphis and the 1998 season at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville while a new stadium is built in Nashville.Cleveland Browns franchise reinstatedTennessee Oilers renamed Tennessee TitansThe NFL realigns to create four divisions with four teams each in both conferences.Arizona and Seattle join the NFC WestNFC Central renamed NFC NorthAFC Central renamed AFC NorthNFC South createdTampa Bay moves from the old NFC CentralNew Orleans, Atlanta, and Carolina move from the NFC WestAFC South createdJacksonville and Tennessee move from the old AFC CentralIndianapolis moves from the AFC EastHouston Texans enfranchisedSt. Louis Rams return to Los Angeles after 21 seasons.San Diego Chargers return to Los Angeles after 56 seasons.The Raiders plan to move from Oakland to Las Vegas beginning this season.