NFL History
NFL Franchise Year-by-Year Genealogy
Entry of Current Teams into the NFL
Defunct NFL Franchises
League Champions
NFL Franchise Year-by-Year Genealogy
1920
The American Professional Football Association was formally organized
to begin play in fall of 1920. Jim Thorpe of Canton is elected APFA
president and membership fee is set at $100 per franchise. The
original teams are:
* Canton Bulldogs
* Cleveland Tigers
* Dayton Triangles
* Akron Professionals
* Rochester (N.Y.) Jeffersons
* Rock Island Independents
* Muncie Flyers
* Decatur Staleys
* Chicago Cardinals
* Hammond Pros
Later, the Buffalo All-Americans, Chicago Tigers, Columbus Panhandles
and Detroit Heralds joined the league prior to the 1920 season.
The Chicago Tigers fold between the 1920 and 1921 seasons.
1921
The APFA is reorganized with Joe Carr elected league president
The Decatur Staleys moved to Chicago but retain the name Staleys
Teams that join the APFA for the 1921 season:
* Green Bay Packers
* Cincinnati Celts (play 1921 season only)
* Minneapolis Marines
* Evansville Crimson Giants
* Tonawanda Kardex (AKA Lumbermen - play 1921 season only)
* Washington Senators (play 1921 season only)
* New York Brickleys Giants (play 1921 season only)
* Louisville Brecks
Teams that fold between 1921 and 1922 seasons:
* New York Brickleys Giants
* Washington Senators
* Tonawanda Kardex
* Cleveland Tigers
* Muncie Flyers
* Cincinnati Celts
* Detroit Heralds
1922
The APFA changes its name to the National Football League
The Chicago Staleys change their name to the Chicago Bears
Teams that join the NFL for the 1922 season:
* Milwaukee Badgers
* Marion Oorang Indians
* Racine Legion
* Toledo Maroons
* Teams that fold between the 1922 and 1923 seasons:
* Columbus Panhandles
* Evansville Crimson Giants
1923
Teams that enter the NFL for the 1923 season:
* Columbus Tigers
* Duluth Kelleys
* St. Louis All-Stars (play only the 1923 season)
* Cleveland Indians (play only the 1923 season)
NFL teams that fold between the 1923 and 1924 seasons:
* Canton Bulldogs
* Cleveland Indians
* Louisville Brecks
* Marion Oorang Indians
* Racine Legion
* St. Louis All-Stars
* Toledo Maroons
1924
Buffalo All-Americans change their name to Buffalo Bisons
Teams that join the NFL for the 1924 season:
* Cleveland Bulldogs
* Frankford Yellow Jackets
* Kansas City Blues
* Kenosha Maroons (play 1924 season only)
Teams that fold between the 1924 and 1925 seasons:
* Kenosha Maroons
* Minneapolis Marines
* Columbus Tigers
1925
The Kansas City Blues change their name to the Kansas City Cowboys
The Canton Bulldogs re-enter the NFL after an inactive 1924 season
Racine Legion is inactive for 1925 season
Teams that join the NFL for the 1925 season:
* New York Giants
* Providence Steam Roller
* Pottsville Maroons
* Detroit Panthers
Teams that fold between the 1925 and 1926 seasons:
* Cleveland Bulldogs
* Rochester Jeffersons
The Rock Island Independents leave the NFL for the rival AFL at
end of the season
1926
The Buffalo Bisons change their name to the Buffalo Rangers
Teams that join the NFL for the 1926 season:
* Hartford Blues
* Brooklyn Lions
* Los Angeles Buccaneers
* The Akron Pros change their name to the Akron Indians
* The Racine Tornadoes (formerly the Racine Legion) re-enter the
NFL
* The Duluth Kelleys become the Duluth Eskimos
* The Louisville Colonels (formerly the Louisville Brecks)
re-enter the NFL as a road team out of Chicago
Teams that fold between the 1926 and 1927 seasons:
* Kansas City Cowboys
* Los Angeles Buccaneers
* Buffalo Rangers
* Detroit Panthers
* Hartford Blues
* Brooklyn Lions
* Milwaukee Badgers
* Akron Indians
* Racine Tornadoes
* Columbus Tigers
* Canton Bulldogs
* Hammond Pros
* Louisville Colonels
1927
Teams that join the NFL for the 1927 season:
* Cleveland Bulldogs (play only the 1927 season)
* New York Yankees
Teams that fold between the 1927 and 1928 seasons:
* Buffalo Bison
* Cleveland Bulldogs
* Duluth Eskimos
1928
The Pottsville Maroons are inactive for 1928
The Detroit Wolverines are granted an NFL franchise but play only
the 1928 season (the Wolverines have the best lifetime winning
percentage (.778) of any franchise in NFL history)
The New York Yankees fold at end of the season
1929
Teams that join the NFL for the 1929 season:
* Buffalo Bisons (play 1929 season only)
* Minneapolis Red Jackets
* Staten Island Stapletons
* Orange Tornadoes
* Boston Bulldogs (play only 1929 season -- the Bulldogs were in
reality the Pottsville Maroons relocated, inactive for the
1928 season)
Teams that fold between the 1929 and 1930 seasons:
* Dayton Triangles
* Buffalo Bisons
* Boston Bulldogs
1930
Teams that join the NFL for the 1930 season:
* Portsmouth Spartans
* Brooklyn Dodgers
* The Orange Tornadoes change their name to the Newark Tornadoes
Teams that fold between the 1930 and 1931 seasons:
* Minneapolis Red Jackets
* Newark Tornadoes
1931
The Cleveland Indians join the NFL (play 1931 season only)
The Frankford Yellow Jackets disband during 1932 season
Teams that fold between the 1931 and 1932 seasons:
* Cleveland Indians
* Providence Steam Roller
1932
The Boston Braves join the NFL for the 1932 season
The Staten Island Stapletons fold between the 1932 and 1933
seasons
1933
The Boston Braves changed their name to the Boston Redskins
Teams that join the NFL for the 1933 season:
* Pittsburgh Pirates
* Cincinnati Reds
* Philadelphia Eagles
1934
The NFL splits into divisions as follows:
EASTERN DIVISION
Boston Redskins
Brooklyn Dodgers
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Pirates
WESTERN DIVISION
Chicago Bears
Chicago Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Green Bay Packers
Portsmouth Spartans
The Portsmouth Spartans move to Detroit and are named the Detroit
Lions.
The Cincinnati Reds are allowed to move to St. Louis and become
the St. Louis Gunners, folding after 1934 season
1937
The Cleveland Rams are awarded an NFL franchise in the Western
Division
The Boston Redskins move to Washington
1941 The Pittsburgh Pirates are renamed the Pittsburgh Steelers
1943
The Cleveland Rams suspend operations for the 1943 season
The Eagles and Steelers merge for one season to the Phil-Pitt
Steagles
1944
The Cardinals and Steelers merge for 1944 season. They were called
Card-Pitt and play in the Western Division
1944
The Brooklyn Dodgers were renamed the Brooklyn Tigers
The Boston Yanks are granted an NFL franchise and added to the
Eastern Division
1945
The Brooklyn Tigers merge into the Boston Yanks for one year
1946
The Cleveland Rams move to Los Angeles
The Brooklyn team was formally disbanded. The owner went on to
launch the AAFC, a rival league.
1949
The Boston Yanks move to New York and become the New York Bulldogs
for the 1949 season
The AAFC dissolves after the 1949 season and the Browns, 49ers and
Colts move into the NFL for the 1950 season. The remaining AAFC
players are spread throughout the NFL via draft.
1950
The New York Bulldogs change their name to the New York Yanks
The NFL establishes the following alignment:
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Chicago Cardinals
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Redskins
San Francisco 49ers
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Baltimore Colts
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Rams
New York Yanks
The Baltimore Colts folds after 1950 season
1952
The New York Yankees fold; the NFL sells the assets of the Yanks
to a Dallas group to become the Dallas Texans and begin play in 1952
The Dallas franchise folds, is taken over by the NFL midseason and
plays out the rest of their season as a road team
1953
The NFL formally reinstates the dead Dallas Texans franchise as
the Baltimore Colts
1959
The AFL is formally organized with the charter members:
EASTERN DIVISION
Boston Patriots
Buffalo Bills
Houston Oilers
New York Titans
WESTERN DIVISION
Dallas Texans
Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers
A franchise in the Twin Cities is to be added before play beings
in 1960
1960
The Dallas Cowboys franchise awarded by the NFL to begin play in
the Eastern Conference in 1960
Twin Cities is also awarded a franchise by the NFL, which is later
named the Minnesota Vikings and begins play in the Western
Conference in 1961
The AFL Minnesota team is withdrawn due to the planned NFL
expansion there in the Twin Cities
The Oakland Raiders are awarded an AFL franchise into the Western
Division to replace Minnesota
The Chicago Cardinals move to St. Louis
The AFL begins league play
1961
The Los Angeles Chargers move to San Diego
The AFL approves expansion into Atlanta for 1961
The AFL approves expansion into Chicago for 1961
1963
The Titans are renamed the Jets
The Texans move to Kansas City and are named the Chiefs
1965
The NFL awarded Atlanta a new franchise to begin play in the
Eastern Conference in 1966
Miami is awarded a franchise by the AFL and is named the Dolphins
by contest. It is to begin play in the Eastern Division in 1966.
1966
The NFL and AFL effectively merge with plans to go to a 2
conference 4 division setup in 1970 or after.
New Orleans is awarded a franchise by the NFL, to be later named
the Saints and to begin play in the Eastern Conference in 1967
Atlanta is moved to the Western Conference. For the 1967 season,
the conferences will be split up as follows:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CAPITOL DIVISION
Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
CENTURY DIVISION
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
St. Louis Cardinals
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CENTRAL DIVISION
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
COASTAL DIVISION
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Colts
Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers
New York will move to the Capitol Division for 1968, then back to
the Century Division for 1969. Likewise, New Orleans will move to the
Century Division for 1968, then back to the Capitol Division for
1969.
1967
The Cincinnati Bengals franchise was awarded by the AFL to begin
play in the Western Division in 1968.
1970
The NFL and AFL merge their schedules and go to the current two
conference, six division format. The AFL becomes the AFC with the
Steelers, Browns and Colts moved there from the NFL. The rest of
the NFL becomes the NFC. This is the only time a rival league has
successfully merged with the NFL.
The NFL is now aligned as follows (modern format):
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
EAST DIVISION
Baltimore Colts
Boston Patiots
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New York Jets
CENTRAL DIVISION
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers
Pittsburgh Steelers
WEST DIVISION
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Cheifs
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
EAST DIVISION
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
St. Louis Cardinals
Washington Redskins
CENTRAL DIVISION
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
WEST DIVISION
Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers
1971
The Boston Patriots move to Foxboro and are renamed the New
England Patriots
1974
Tampa Bay is awarded a franchise by the NFL and begins play in
1976 in the AFC West and switch to the NFC Central in 1977
Seattle is awarded a franchise by the NFL and begins play in 1976
in the NFC West and switch to the AFC West in 1977
1976
Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin play
1977
Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers switch to current
conferences (Seahawks to the AFC West and Buccaneers to NFC
Central)
1982
The Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles
1984
The Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis
1988
The St. Louis Cardinals move to Phoenix
1993
The Carolina Panthers are awarded an NFL franchise to begin play
in 1995
The Jacksonville Jaguars are awarded an NFL franchise to begin
play in 1995
1994
The Phoenix Cardinals are renamed the Arizona Cardinals
1995
The Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis
The Los Angeles Raiders move back to Oakland
1996
The Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore to begin play in 1996 as
the Baltimore Ravens (however, the city of Cleveland retains the
rights to the Browns name, logo, team colors and memorabilia rights)
1997
The Houston Oilers move to Memphis and become the Tennessee Oilers
1998
Cleveland granted franchise, to be named the Cleveland Browns, and
will begin play in 1999
The Tennessee Oilers move from Memphis to Nashville.
The New England Patriots announce their intention to move to
Hartford but later decides to stay in Foxboro.
1999
Tennessee Oilers renamed Titans
Houston granted franchise to begin play in 2002. Owners also agree
to realign into eight divisions of four teams each in 2002.
Entry of Current Teams into the NFL
1920 - Decatur Staleys (now Chicago Bears) and Chicago Cardinals
(now Arizona Cardinals)
1921 - Green Bay Packers
1925 - New York Giants
1930 - Portsmouth-OH Spartans (now Detroit Lions)
1932 - Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins)
1933 - Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Pirates (now Steelers)
1937 - Cleveland Rams (now St. Louis)
1950 - Added AAFC's Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers
1953 - Baltimore Colts (now Indianapolis)
1960 - Dallas Cowboys
1961 - Minnesota Vikings
1966 - Atlanta Falcons
1967 - New Orleans Saints
1970 - Added AFL's Boston Patriots (now New England), Buffalo
Bills,Cincinnati Bengals (1968 expansion team), Denver Broncos,
Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins (1966 expansion
team), New York Jets, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers (the AFL-NFL
merger divided the league into two 13-team conferences with old-line NFL
clubs Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh moving to the AFC)
1976 - Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1995 - Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars
1997 - Baltimore Ravens
1999 - Cleveland Browns reinstated
Defunct NFL Franchises
Akron (Ohio) - Pros (1920-25) and Indians (1926)
Baltimore - Colts (1950)
Boston - Bulldogs (1926) and Yanks (1944-48)
Brooklyn - Lions (1926), Dodgers (1930-43) and Tigers (1944)
Buffalo - All-Americans (1921-23), Bisons (1924-25), Rangers
(1926) and Bisons (1927,1929)
Canton (Ohio) - Bulldogs (1920-23,1925-26)
Chicago - Tigers (1920)
Cincinnati - Celts (1921) and Reds (1933-34)
Cleveland - Tigers (1920-21), Indians (1923), Bulldogs
(1924-25,1927), Indians (1931) and Browns (1950-95)
Columbus (Ohio) - Panhandles (1920-22) and Tigers (1923-26)
Dallas - Texans (1952)
Dayton (Ohio) - Triangles (1920-29).
Detroit - Heralds (1920-21), Panthers (1925-26) and Wolverines
(1928)
Duluth (Minnesota) - Kelleys (1923-25) and Eskimos (1926-27)
Evansville (Indiana) - Crimson Giants (1921-22)
Frankford (Pennsylvania) - Yellow Jackets (1924-31)
Hammond (Indiana) - Pros (1920-26)
Hartford (Conneticut) - Blues (1926)
Kansas City - Blues (1924) and Cowboys (1925-26)
Kenosha (Wisconsin) - Maroons (1924)
Los Angeles - Buccaneers (1926)
LouisvilleBrecks (1921-23) and Colonels (1926)
Marion (Ohio) - Oorang Indians (1922-23)
Milwaukee - Badgers (1922-26)
Minneapolis - Marines (1922-24) and Red Jackets (1929-30)
Muncie (Indiana) Flyers (1920-21)
New York - Giants (1921), Yankees (1927-28), Bulldogs (1949) and
Yankees (1950-51)
Newark (New Jersey) - Tornadoes (1930)
Orange (New Yersey) - Tornadoes (1929)
Pottsville (Pennsylvania) - Maroons (1925-28)
Providence (Rhode Island) - Steam Roller (1925-31)
Racine (Wisconsin) - Legion (1922-24) and Tornadoes (1926)
Rochester (New York) - Jeffersons (1920-25)
Rock Island (Illinois) - Independents (1920-25)
Staten Island (New York) - Stapletons (1929-32)
St. Louis - All-Stars (1923) and Gunners (1934)
Toledo (Ohio) - Maroons (1922-23)
Tonawanda (New York) -Kardex (1921), also called Lumbermen
Washington - Senators (1921)
League Champions
AFPA
1920-Akron Professionals
1921-Chicago Staleys
NFL
1922-Canton Bulldogs
1923-Canton Bulldogs
1924-Cleveland Bulldogs
1925-Chicago Cardinals
1926-Frankford Yellowjackets
1927-New York Giants
1928-Providence Steamrollers
1929-Green Bay Packers
1930-Green Bay Packers
1931-Green Bay Packers
1932-Chicago Bears
1933-Chicago Bears
1934-New York Giants
1935-Detroit Lions
1936-Green Bay Packers
1937-Washington Redskins
1938-New York Giants
1939-Green Bay Packers
1940-Chicago Bears
1941-Chicago Bears
1942-Washington Redskins
1943-Chicago Bears
1944-Green Bay Packers
1945-Cleveland Rams
1946-Chicago Bears
1947-Chicago Cardinals
1948-Philadelphia Eagles
1949-Philadelphia Eagles
1950-Cleveland Browns
1951-Los Angeles Rams
1952-Detroit Lions
1953-Detroit Lions
1954-Cleveland Browns
1955-Cleveland Browns
1956-New York Giants
1957-Detroit Lions
1958-Baltimore Colts
1959-Baltimore Colts AFL
1960-Philadelphia Eagles Houston Oilers
1961-Green Bay Packers Houston Oilers
1962-Green Bay Packers Dallas Texans
1963-Chicago Bears San Diego Chargers
1964-Cleveland Browns Buffalo Bills
1965-Green Bay Packers Buffalo Bills NFL/AFL Championship
1966-Green Bay Packers Kansas City Chiefs Green Bay Packers
1967-Green Bay Packers Oakland Raiders Green Bay Packers
1968-Baltimore Colts New York Jets New York Jets
1969-Minnesota Vikings Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs
1970-Baltimore Colts
1971-Dallas Cowboys
1972-Miami Dolphins
1973-Miami Dolphins
1974-Pittsburgh Steelers
1975-Pittsburgh Steelers
1976-Oakland Raiders
1977-Dallas Cowboys
1978-Pittsburgh Steelers
1979-Pittsburgh Steelers
1980-Oakland Raiders
1981-San Francisco 49ers
1982-Washington Redskins
1983-Los Angeles Raiders
1984-San Francisco 49ers
1985-Chicago Bears
1986-New York Giants
1987-Washington Redskins
1988-San Francisco 49ers
1989-San Francisco 49ers
1990-New York Giants
1991-Washington Redskins
1992-Dallas Cowboys
1993-Dallas Cowboys
1994-San Francisco 49ers
1995-Dallas Cowboys
1996-Green Bay Packers
1997-Denver Broncos
1998-Denver Broncos
1999-St. Louis Rams (
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