History of NFL Football
1869-1899 | 1900-2026 | 1920-2026 | 1930-2026 | 1940-2026| 1950-2026 | 1960-2026 | 2026 | 2026 | 2026 |
NFL History 1869 - 1899
1869
On November 6, Rutgers and Princeton played the first-ever college soccer football game. The match utilized modified London Football Association rules. Over the following seven years, rugby became more popular than soccer at major eastern schools, leading to the development of modern football from rugby.
1876
The first rules for American football were drafted at the Massasoit convention. Walter Camp, later recognized as the father of American football, first began his involvement with the sport during this period.
1892
During a time when football was a major draw for local athletic clubs, fierce rivalry between two Pittsburgh-area clubs, the Allegheny Athletic Association (AAA) and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club (PAC), resulted in the first professional football player. Former Yale All-America guard William (Pudge) Heffelfinger received $500 from the AAA to play against the PAC, making him the first paid football player on November 12. The AAA secured a 4-0 victory when Heffelfinger recovered a PAC fumble and ran 25 yards for a touchdown.
1893
The Pittsburgh Athletic Club signed one of its players, likely halfback Grant Dibert, to the first known professional football contract, covering all of the PAC's games for that year.
1895
John Brallier became the first football player to openly turn professional, agreeing to $10 and expenses to play for the Latrobe YMCA against the Jeannette Athletic Club.
1896
The Allegheny Athletic Association team took the field as the first fully professional squad for its shortened two-game season.
1897
The Latrobe Athletic Association football club transitioned to full professionalism, marking the first instance of a team completing an entire season with exclusively professional players.
1898
The value of a touchdown was adjusted from four to five points.
1899
Chris O'Brien assembled a neighborhood squad that competed as the Morgan Athletic Club on Chicago's south side. Over time, the franchise adopted various names, including the Normals, the Racine (named after a Chicago street) Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals, and finally the Arizona Cardinals in 2026. This organization stands as the oldest continuously operating entity in professional football.
NFL History 1900-2026
1900
William C. Temple assumed responsibility for the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club's finances, establishing himself as the first documented individual club proprietor.
1902
Professional football squads were created by the Philadelphia Athletics, under the management of Connie Mack, and the Philadelphia Phillies. These joined the Pittsburgh Stars in the inaugural effort to launch a professional football league, designated the National Football League. The Athletics secured victory in the first ever night football contest, defeating Kanaweola AC 39-0 in Elmira, New York, on November 21.
While all three clubs asserted a claim to the annual pro championship, league president Dave Berry officially designated the Stars as the champions. Pitcher Rube Waddell was part of the Athletics roster, while pitcher Christy Mathewson played fullback for Pittsburgh.
The initial World Series of professional football, structured as a five-team tournament, featured a combined squad from the Athletics and Phillies simply labeled New York; the New York Knickerbockers; the Syracuse AC; the Warlow AC; and the Orange (New Jersey) AC. The event took place at New York's original Madison Square Garden. New York and Syracuse contested the first indoor football match before a crowd of 3,000 on November 28. With Glen (Pop) Warner at guard, Syracuse triumphed 6-0 and ultimately claimed the tournament title.
1903
The Franklin Pa.) Athletic Club defeated the Oreos AC of Asbury Park, New Jersey; the Watertown Red and Blacks; and the Orange AC to win the second and final World Series of pro football.
Pro football gained popularity in Ohio when the Massillon Tigers, a formidable amateur side, engaged four professional players from Pittsburgh for the season finale against Akron. During this period, the professional game waned in the Pittsburgh region, shifting its focus westward from Pennsylvania to Ohio.
1904
The point value for a field goal was revised from five to four.
Ohio hosted a minimum of seven professional teams, with Massillon capturing the Ohio Independent Championship, which served as the pro title. Discussions emerged regarding the creation of a state-wide league to curb escalating salaries caused by constant player bidding and to establish universal game rules. However, this initial attempt to form the league proved unsuccessful.
Halfback Charles Follis agreed to a contract with the Shelby (Ohio) AC, marking him as the first identified black professional football player.
1905
The Canton AC, which would later be recognized as the Bulldogs, turned professional. Massillon secured the Ohio League championship once again.
1906
The forward pass was made legal. The first verified pass completion in professional football occurred on October 27, when George (Peggy) Parratt of Massillon completed a pass to Dan (Bullet) Riley during a win against a combined Benwood-Moundsville squad.
Rivals Canton and Massillon, considered the top professional teams in the country, faced off twice. Canton took the first matchup, while Massillon secured the second victory along with the Ohio League title. High salaries led to financial ruin for both clubs, and a betting scandal caused a temporary drop in interest for professional football in these cities and across Ohio.
1909
The value of a field goal was reduced from four points to three.
1912
The point value for a touchdown rose from five to six.
Jack Cusack reestablished a powerful professional team in Canton.
1913
Jim Thorpe, a previous standout in football and track at the Carlisle Indian School (Pa.) and a twin gold medalist at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, suited up for the Pine Village Pros in Indiana.
1915
Massillon once again fielded a significant squad, rekindling the historic rivalry with Canton. Cusack hired Thorpe to play for Canton at a rate of $250 per game.
1916
Led by Thorpe and ex-Carlisle teammate Pete Calac, Canton finished with a record of 9-0-1, claimed the Ohio League championship, and was recognized as the professional football champion.
1917
Canton captured the Ohio League championship once more, even after suffering a loss to Massillon.
1919
Canton defended its Ohio League title despite the team transitioning from Cusack's management to Ralph Hay. The backfield featured Thorpe and Calac alongside Joe Guyon.
Earl (Curly) Lambeau and George Calhoun established the Green Bay Packers. Lambeau's job at the Indian Packing Company supplied $500 for gear and granted the team access to the company field for training. The Packers recorded a 10-1 season.
NFL History 1920-2026
1920
Professional football faced chaos due to three primary issues: sharply increasing wages, players frequently switching teams for better offers, and the participation of college athletes who were still in school. A league where all members adhered to identical rules appeared to be the solution. An organizational gathering, attended by representatives from the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, and Dayton Triangles, took place on August 20 at the Jordan and Hupmobile auto showroom in Canton, Ohio. This event led to the creation of the American Professional Football Conference.
A follow-up organizational gathering took place in Canton on September 17. Participants included franchises from four states: Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Dayton from Ohio; the Hammond Pros and Muncie Flyers from Indiana; the Rochester Jeffersons from New York; and the Rock Island Independents, Decatur Staleys, and Racine Cardinals from Illinois. The group rebranded itself as the American Professional Football Association. Leveraging his reputation, the members selected Thorpe as president, while Stanley Cofall from Cleveland became vice president. Although a $100 membership fee per team was established to project an image of legitimacy, no franchise actually paid it. Scheduling remained the responsibility of the individual teams, resulting in significant differences in total games played and matches against other APFA members.
During the year, four additional clubs—the Buffalo All-Americans, Chicago Tigers, Columbus Panhandles, and Detroit Heralds—joined the league. The inaugural APFA contest occurred on September 26 at Rock Island's Douglas Park, where 800 spectators watched the Independents beat the St. Paul Ideals 48-0. On October 3, the first game between two APFA franchises was contested. At Triangle Park, Dayton won against Columbus 14-0, with Lou Partlow of Dayton scoring the first touchdown in an Association matchup. That same day, Rock Island secured a 45-0 victory over Muncie.
As November began, the majority of APFA squads had given up on title contention, and several, such as the Chicago Tigers and Detroit Heralds, had ended their seasons, disbanded, and seen their franchises revoked by the Association. Akron, Buffalo, Canton, and Decatur remained the only teams with championship aspirations, yet a sequence of late-season contests among them left Akron as the sole undefeated club in the Association. During one of these matches, Akron traded tackle Bob Nash to Buffalo for $300 and five percent of the gate receipts, marking the first APFA player transaction.
1921
During the league meeting in Akron on April 30, the Akron Pros were awarded the 1920 season championship. The APFA was restructured, appointing Joe Carr of the Columbus Panhandles as president and Carl Storck of Dayton as secretary-treasurer. Carr relocated the Association's headquarters to Columbus, created a league constitution and by-laws, established territorial rights for teams, limited player transfers, set membership standards for franchises, and released official standings for the first time, ensuring the APFA had a definitive champion.
The Association expanded its roster to 22 teams, which included the Green Bay Packers, granted to John Clair of the Acme Packing Company.
Thorpe transferred from Canton to the Cleveland Indians but suffered an injury early in the campaign, resulting in very limited playing time.
A.E. Staley handed control of the Decatur Staleys to player-coach George Halas, who relocated the squad to Cubs Park in Chicago. To retain the Staleys name for an additional year, Staley paid Halas $5,000. Halas selected halfback Ed (Dutch) Sternaman as his partner
Fritz Pollard, the player-coach for the Akron Pros, made history as the first black head coach.
The Staleys secured the APFA championship with a 9-1-1 record, while Buffalo posted a 9-1-2 mark. Carr sided with the Staleys, awarding Halas his first title.
1922
Following the admission that they had used players with remaining college eligibility during the 1921 season, Clair and Green Bay management withdrew from the APFA on January 28. Curly Lambeau pledged to follow league regulations and invested $50 of his own funds to reacquire the franchise. Despite poor weather and sparse crowds that led to financial ruin for Lambeau, local merchants facilitated a $2,500 loan for the club. A public nonprofit corporation was formed to manage the team, with Lambeau serving as head coach and manager.
On June 24, the American Professional Football Association officially renamed itself the National Football League. The Chicago Staleys were rebranded as the Chicago Bears.
The NFL comprised 18 teams, including the newly formed Oorang Indians from Marion, Ohio, an all-Indian squad featuring Thorpe, Joe Guyon, and Pete Calac, sponsored by Oorang dog kennels.
Under the leadership of player-coach Guy Chamberlin and tackles Link Lyman and Wilbur (Pete) Henry, Canton established itself as the league's initial dominant force, finishing with a 10-0-2 record.
1923
For the first instance, every franchise recognized as part of the NFL fielded a team. Thorpe played initially for Oorang before joining the Toledo Maroons. In a match against the Bears, Thorpe fumbled, allowing Halas to recover the ball and return it 98 yards for a touchdown, a record that stood until 2026.
Canton recorded a second straight undefeated campaign, finishing 11-0-1 to claim the NFL championship.
1924
The league consisted of 18 franchises, with new entries in Kansas City, Kenosha, and Frankford, a district of Philadelphia. Although Canton was the league champion, they struggled financially at the box office. Consequently, the owner of the Cleveland franchise acquired the Canton team, keeping it inactive while utilizing its top talent for his Cleveland squad, which was renamed the Bulldogs. Cleveland captured the title with a 7-1-1 record.
1925
Five new franchises joined the NFL: the New York Giants, granted to Tim Mara and Billy Gibson for $500; the Detroit Panthers, with Jimmy Conzelman serving as owner, coach, and tailback; the Providence Steam Roller; a new Canton Bulldogs team; and the Pottsville Maroons, previously one of the most successful independent professional teams. The NFL also implemented its first roster limit, setting the maximum at 16 players.
The NFL achieved its biggest victory for national recognition late in the season. Shortly after the University of Illinois concluded its season in November, All-America halfback Harold (Red) Grange signed with the Chicago Bears. On Thanksgiving Day, 36,000 spectators, the largest pro football crowd up to that point, watched Grange and the Bears draw a scoreless tie against the Chicago Cardinals at Wrigley Field. At the start of November, the Bears departed on a barnstorming tour, playing eight games in 12 days across St. Louis, Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago. A crowd of 73,000 watched the Bears face the Giants at the Polo Grounds, helping secure the future of the struggling New York NFL franchise. The Bears then played nine additional games in the South and West, including a match in Los Angeles where 75,000 fans saw them beat the Los Angeles Tigers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Pottsville and the Chicago Cardinals were the leading contenders for the league title, with Pottsville winning their late-season matchup 21-7. Pottsville scheduled a game against a team of former Notre Dame players at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Frankford filed a protest because the game was in Frankford's protected territory and coincided with a Yellow Jackets home game. Carr issued three separate notices forbidding Pottsville from playing, but the team played anyway on November 12. That day, Carr fined the club, suspended it from all rights and privileges (including the right to contest the NFL championship), and returned its franchise to the league. The Cardinals, who finished with the best record in the league, were declared the 1925 champions.
1926
Grange's manager, C.C. Pyle, informed the Bears that Grange would not play for them unless he received a five-figure salary and one-third ownership of the team. The Bears declined. Pyle leased Yankee Stadium in New York City and subsequently applied for an NFL franchise. After being denied, he founded the first American Football League. The league lasted only one season and featured Grange's New York Yankees plus eight other teams. The AFL champion Philadelphia Quakers played the New York Giants, who were seventh in the NFL, in a November game; the Giants won 31-0. The AFL dissolved at the end of the season.
Halas enacted a rule preventing any team from signing a player whose college class had not yet graduated.
The NFL expanded to 22 teams, including the Duluth Eskimos, who signed All-America fullback Ernie Nevers of Stanford, providing the league with a star comparable to Grange. The 15-member Eskimos, known as the Iron Men of the North, played 29 exhibition and league games, 28 of which were on the road, and Nevers participated in all but 29 minutes of those contests.
Despite Halas acquiring John (Paddy) Driscoll from the Cardinals, Frankford claimed the championship over the Bears. On November 4, the Yellow Jackets struck in the final two minutes to beat the Bears 7-6, overtaking them in the standings.
1927
During a special meeting in Cleveland on April 23, Carr resolved to stabilize the NFL's future by removing financially struggling teams and concentrating talent on fewer, more successful squads. The restructured league shrank to 12 teams, shifting its focus from the Midwest, its origin, to major Eastern cities. Among the new entrants was Grange's New York Yankees, though Grange’s knee injury limited the team to a mid-pack finish. The New York Giants, the cross-town rivals, captured the NFL championship, achieving 10 shutouts in 13 games.
1928
With the NFL shrinking to just 10 teams, Grange and Nevers retired from professional football, and the Duluth franchise was disbanded. The Providence Steam Roller, featuring Jimmy Conzelman and Pearce Johnson, won the title, playing at the Cycledrome, a 10,000-seat oval originally constructed for bicycle racing.
1929
On July 27, Chris O'Brien transferred ownership of the Chicago Cardinals to David Jones.
On July 28, the NFL introduced a fourth official, the field judge.
Grange and Nevers re-entered the NFL. On November 28, Nevers ran for six touchdowns and added four extra points as the Cardinals defeated Grange's Bears 40-6. This 40-point total established a record that stands as the oldest in NFL history.
On November 3, Providence became the first NFL team to host a night game under floodlights, facing the Cardinals.
The Packers reclaimed Johnny Blood (McNally), tackle Cal Hubbard, and guard Mike Michalske to claim their first NFL championship, narrowly defeating the Giants, who were led by quarterback Benny Friedman.
NFL History 1930-2026
1930
Dayton, the final remaining original NFL franchise, was bought by William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler, relocated to Brooklyn, and rebranded as the Dodgers. Meanwhile, the Portsmouth, Ohio, Spartans joined the league.
Although the Packers beat the Giants for the title, the Bears showed the most improvement. Halas stepped down as a player and replaced himself as Bears coach with Ralph Jones, who enhanced the T-formation by adding wide ends and a halfback in motion. Jones also brought in rookie All-America fullback-tackle Bronko Nagurski.
On November 14, the Giants defeated a former Notre Dame squad coached by Knute Rockne 22-0 in front of a 55,000 crowd at the Polo Grounds. The revenue supported the New York Unemployment Fund, aiding those affected by the Great Depression, while the decisive win bolstered the NFL's credibility with the media and public.
1931
The league size dropped to 10 teams, and the Frankford franchise folded mid-season. Carr imposed a $1,000 fine on the Bears, Packers, and Portsmouth for employing players whose college classes had not yet graduated.
The Packers secured a historic third straight title, defeating the Spartans, a squad guided by rookie backs Earl (Dutch) Clark and Glenn Presnell.
1932
On July 9, a franchise for Boston was granted to George Preston Marshall, Vincent Bendix, Jay O'Brien, and M. Dorland Doyle. Although the new team, the Braves, featured rookies halfback Cliff Battles and tackle Glen (Turk) Edwards, they operated at a loss, leaving Marshall as the sole owner by year's end.
NFL membership fell to eight teams, a historic low, while official statistics were recorded for the first time. The Bears and Spartans concluded the season tied for first place, prompting the league office to organize the first playoff game in NFL history. Due to severe cold and heavy snow, the match was relocated indoors to Chicago Stadium. The venue restricted play to an 80-yard field extending to the walls; goal posts were shifted to the goal lines, and hashmarks were drawn 10 yards from the walls to ensure safety. On November 18, the Bears won 9-0, with the winning touchdown coming from a two-yard pass from Nagurski to Grange. The Spartans argued that Nagurski threw from less than five yards behind the line, violating passing rules, but the ruling remained unchanged.
1933
Having previously adhered to college football regulations, the NFL introduced significant changes for the first time, developing rules tailored to its preferred style of play. Innovations from the 1932 championship game, such as hashmarks and goal posts on the goal lines, were adopted. Additionally, the forward pass was legalized from any spot behind the line of scrimmage on February 25.
On July 8, Marshall and Halas successfully proposed dividing the NFL into two divisions, with the winners meeting in an annual championship game.
The league welcomed three new franchises: the Pittsburgh Pirates under Art Rooney, the Philadelphia Eagles owned by Bert Bell and Lud Wray, and the Cincinnati Reds. Meanwhile, the Staten Island Stapletons paused operations for a year but never re-entered the league.
Halas acquired Sternaman's share, becoming the sole owner of the Bears and returning to the head coach position. Marshall renamed the Boston Braves to the Redskins, while David Jones sold the Chicago Cardinals to Charles W. Bidwill.
In the first NFL Championship Game set prior to the season, the Western Division champion Bears beat the Eastern Division champion Giants 23-21 at Wrigley Field on November 17.
1934
G.A. (Dick) Richards acquired the Portsmouth Spartans, relocating them to Detroit and changing their name to the Lions.
Professional football's prestige increased when the Bears faced the top college players in the inaugural Chicago College All-Star Game on August 31. The contest ended in a scoreless draw before a crowd of 79,432 at Soldier Field.
After dropping their initial eight contests, the Cincinnati Reds were suspended from the league due to payment defaults. The St. Louis Gunners, an independent squad, entered the NFL by purchasing the Cincinnati franchise and finished 1-2 over the final three weeks.
Bears rookie Beattie Feathers recorded 1,004 yards on 101 carries, becoming the first NFL player to surpass 1,000 rushing yards. The Thanksgiving matchup between the Bears and Lions marked the first nationally broadcast NFL game, with Graham McNamee serving as the NBC radio announcer.
Facing an extremely cold and icy day at the Polo Grounds, the Giants trailed the Bears 13-3 in the third quarter of the championship game before switching to basketball shoes for improved traction. They secured a 30-13 victory on November 9 in a contest historically referred to as the Sneakers Game.
The player waiver rule was implemented on November 10.
1935
On May 19, the NFL accepted Bert Bell's proposal for an annual college player draft, scheduled to start in 1936, with selection order based on inverse finish. The inbounds line or hashmarks were also relocated closer to the center of the field, 15 yards from the sidelines.
Green Bay signed All-America end Don Hutson from Alabama. The Lions outscored the Giants 26-7 in the NFL Championship Game held on November 15.
1936
No franchise transactions occurred during the first year since the NFL's establishment. This was also the inaugural season where every member team played an identical number of games.
The Eagles selected University of Chicago halfback and Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger as the first choice in the NFL draft on February 8. Although the Eagles traded his rights to the Bears, Berwanger never played professional football. The first selected player to actually sign was Riley Smith of Alabama, the number-two pick chosen by Boston.
A competing league was established, becoming the second organization to use the name American Football League, with the Boston Shamrocks claiming its championship.
Due to low attendance, Marshall, the owner of the home team, relocated the Championship Game from Boston to the Polo Grounds in New York. Green Bay defeated the Redskins 21-6 on November 13.
1937
Homer Marshman was awarded a Cleveland franchise designated as the Rams on February 12. On February 13, Marshall relocated the Redskins to Washington, D.C. The Redskins signed TCU All-America tailback Sammy Baugh, who guided them to a 28-21 win over the Bears in the NFL Championship Game on November 12.
The Los Angeles Bulldogs captured the AFL title with an 8-0 record, but the two-year-old league subsequently dissolved.
1938
Upon Halas's recommendation, Hugh (Shorty) Ray served as a technical advisor to the NFL regarding rules and officiating. A new regulation was introduced that imposed a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Byron (Whizzer) White topped the NFL in rushing. The Giants claimed the NFL title by defeating the Packers 23-17 on November 11.
Marshall, Los Angeles Times sports editor Bill Henry, and promoter Tom Gallery created the Pro Bowl game, featuring a matchup between the NFL champion and a squad of professional all-stars.
1939
On January 15, the New York Giants beat the Pro All-Stars 13-10 in the inaugural Pro Bowl held at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.
Carr, who had served as NFL president since 1921, passed away in Columbus on May 20. Carl Storck was appointed acting president on May 25.
NBC aired the first NFL game on television, broadcasting the Brooklyn Dodgers-Philadelphia Eagles match from Ebbets Field to roughly 1,000 sets in New York.
Green Bay beat New York 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game on November 10 in Milwaukee. NFL attendance topped 1 million for the first time, totaling 1,071,200.
NFL History 1940-2026
1940
A new six-team rival league, the third to use the American Football League name, was established, with the Columbus Bullies taking the championship.
The Halas-led Bears, supported by additional coaching from Stanford's Clark Shaughnessy, crushed the Redskins 73-0 in the NFL Championship Game on November 8. This match, the most lopsided win in NFL history, popularized the Bears'
T-formation featuring a man-in-motion. It became the first championship aired on network radio, with Red Barber broadcasting to 120 stations of the Mutual Broadcasting System, which paid $2,500 for the rights.
Art Rooney sold the Pittsburgh franchise to Alexis Thompson on November 9, subsequently acquiring a partial stake in the Philadelphia Eagles.
1941
Elmer Layden was appointed the first NFL Commissioner on March 1; acting president Storck resigned on April 5. The NFL headquarters relocated to Chicago.
Bell and Rooney exchanged the Eagles with Thompson for the Pirates, renaming the new club the Steelers. Homer Marshman sold the Rams to Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy, Jr.
League by-laws were updated to include playoffs for tied divisional standings and sudden-death overtimes for tied playoff games. The official NFL Record Manual was also released for the first time.
Columbus secured the AFL championship once more, but the two-year-old league subsequently dissolved.
The Bears and Packers tied for the Western Division title, triggering the first divisional playoff in league history. The Bears won 33-14, then beat the Giants 37-9 for the NFL championship on November 21.
1942
Rosters were thin due to players enlisting in World War II. Halas left the Bears mid-season to join the Navy, while Luke Johnsos and Heartley (Hunk) Anderson served as co-coaches as the Bears went 11-0 in the regular season. The Redskins defeated the Bears 14-6 in the NFL Championship Game on November 13.
1943
With co-owners Reeves and Levy in service, the Cleveland Rams were allowed to suspend operations for a season on April 6. Levy transferred his team shares to Reeves on April 16.
The NFL implemented free substitution on April 7. The league also mandated helmet use and approved a 10-game schedule for all teams.
On June 19, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh received approval to combine for a single season. Dubbed Phil-Pitt by officials, but the Steagles among supporters, the squad split home matches between the two cities, with Philadelphia’s Earle (Greasy) Neale and Pittsburgh’s Walt Kiesling acting as co-coaches. The merger ended automatically on the final day of the season, November 5.
Ted Collins was awarded a franchise for Boston, which was set to begin operations in 1944.
Sammy Baugh topped the league in passing, punting, and interceptions. He guided the Redskins to a tie with the Giants for the Eastern Division crown, followed by a 28-0 win in the divisional playoff. However, the Bears defeated the Redskins 41-21 in the NFL Championship Game on November 26.
1944
Collins, who had previously sought a franchise for Yankee Stadium in New York, dubbed his new Boston team the Yanks. Cleveland restarted its operations, while the Brooklyn Dodgers renamed themselves the Tigers.
Bench coaching became legal on April 20.
Permission was granted on April 21 for the Cardinals and the Steelers to merge for one year as Card-Pitt. Phil Handler from the Cardinals and Walt Kiesling from the Steelers served as co-coaches. The merger dissolved automatically on the final day of the season, November 3.
Green Bay beat the New York Giants 14-7 in the NFL Championship Game on November 17.
1945
The inbounds lines, or hashmarks, were shifted from 15 yards from the sidelines to a position closer to the center of the field, specifically 20 yards from the sidelines.
Brooklyn and Boston combined into a single team that hosted games in both cities, referred to simply as The Yanks. Former Boston head coach Herb Kopf led the team. In November, the Brooklyn franchise left the NFL to enter the new All-America Football Conference; all players on its active and reserve rosters were transferred to The Yanks, which then reverted to being the Boston Yanks.
After serving with the U.S. Navy, Halas returned to the Bears late in the season. Although he assumed a significant portion of the coaching responsibilities, Anderson and Johnsos stayed listed as the coaches of record for the entire season.
Philadelphia’s Steve Van Buren led the NFL in rushing, kickoff returns, and scoring.
Following the Japanese surrender that ended World War II, a tally revealed that the NFL service roster, restricted to men who had played in league games, numbered 638, with 21 of them having lost their lives in action.
Rookie quarterback Bob Waterfield led Cleveland to a 15-14 win over Washington in the NFL Championship Game on November 16.
1946
Commissioner Layden’s contract was not extended, and Bert Bell, a co-owner of the Steelers, took his place on January 11. Bell relocated the league headquarters from Chicago to Bala-Cynwyd, a suburb of Philadelphia.
Free substitution was revoked, limiting substitutions to no more than three players at once. Additionally, forward passes that hit the goal posts were ruled automatically incomplete, effective January 11.
The league acquired a genuinely national identity for the first time when Reeves received authorization to relocate his NFL champion Rams to Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Rams signed halfback Kenny Washington (March 21) and end Woody Strode (May 7), making them the first African-Americans to play in the modern NFL era. Meanwhile, guard Bill Willis (August 6) and running back Marion Motley (August 9) joined the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC.
The competing All-America Football Conference kicked off operations with eight teams. The Cleveland Browns, under coach Paul Brown, captured the AAFC's inaugural championship by beating the New York Yankees 14-9.
Steelers player Bill Dudley topped the NFL in rushing, interceptions, and punt returns, earning the league's most valuable player honor.
Giants backs Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes faced questions regarding an attempt by a New York resident to fix the championship game against the Bears. Bell suspended Hapes but let Filchock continue; although he performed well, Chicago prevailed 24-14 on November 15.
1947
A fifth official, the back judge, was introduced to the NFL.
The NFL draft featured a bonus choice for the first time, with one team selecting this special pick before the first round started. The Chicago Bears won the lottery for this right and drafted Oklahoma A&M back Bob Fenimore.
The Cleveland Browns claimed the AAFC title once more, taking down the New York Yankees 14-3.
Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill, Sr., passed away on April 19, though his wife and sons kept the team. On November 28, the Cardinals secured the NFL Championship Game with a 28-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, who had previously defeated Pittsburgh 21-0 in the playoffs.
1948
Plastic helmets were banned. A flexible artificial tee was allowed at kickoffs. On January 14, officials other than the referee were outfitted with whistles instead of horns.
On January 15, Fred Mandel sold the Detroit Lions to a group led by D. Lyle Fife.
Los Angeles Rams halfback Fred Gehrke painted horns on the team's helmets, marking the first modern helmet emblems in professional football.
The Cleveland Browns captured their third consecutive AAFC championship, finishing 14-0 and then crushing the Buffalo Bills 49-7.
During a blizzard, the Eagles beat the Cardinals 7-0 in the NFL Championship Game on November 19.
1949
Champion Eagles owner Alexis Thompson sold the team to a syndicate led by James P. Clark on January 15. The Boston Yanks were renamed the New York Bulldogs and began sharing the Polo Grounds with the Giants.
Free substitution was implemented for a single year on January 20.
For the first time, the NFL featured two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season: Steve Van Buren of Philadelphia and Tony Canadeo of Green Bay.
The AAFC operated with a one-division, seven-team setup this season. On November 9, Bell revealed a merger agreement where three AAFC franchises—Cleveland, San Francisco, and Baltimore—would enter the NFL in 1950. The Browns took their fourth straight AAFC title by defeating the 49ers 21-7 on November 11.
Playing through heavy rain, the Eagles beat the Rams 14-0 in the NFL Championship Game on November 18.
NFL History 1950-2026
1950
Unlimited free substitutions were reinstated, paving the way for the two-platoon era and increased specialization in professional football, January 20.
Curly Lambeau, the Green Bay head coach since 1921 and founder of the franchise, resigned amidst criticism on February 1.
The National Football League name was restored after serving as the National-American Football League for roughly three months. To replace the Eastern and Western divisions, the American and National conferences were established, March 3.
The New York Bulldogs were renamed the Yanks and split the roster of the former AAFC Yankees with the Giants. A special allocation draft was conducted where 13 teams selected the remaining AAFC players, with Baltimore receiving 15 picks compared to 10 for the others.
The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to televise all of its games, both at home and on the road.
The Washington Redskins followed the Rams by arranging to broadcast their games, while other teams made deals to film selected matches.
In the season opener, former AAFC champion Cleveland defeated NFL champion Philadelphia 35-10. Deadlocks occurred in both conferences for the first time, necessitating playoffs. The Browns beat the Giants in the American Conference, and the Rams defeated the Bears in the National Conference. Cleveland won the NFL Championship Game against Los Angeles 30-28 on November 24.
1951
The Pro Bowl, inactive since 1942, was relaunched at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a new format pitting the all-stars of each conference against each other. The American Conference edged the National Conference 28-27 on January 14.
Abraham Watner returned the Baltimore franchise and its player contracts to the NFL for $50,000. Former Baltimore players became eligible for the draft alongside college athletes, January 18.
A rule was enacted stating that no tackle, guard, or center could be eligible to catch a forward pass, January 18.
The Rams changed their television policy to broadcast only their road games.
The NFL Championship Game was broadcast coast-to-coast for the first time on November 23. The DuMont Network paid $75,000 for the rights to the game, where the Rams defeated the Browns 24-17.
1952
Ted Collins sold the New York Yanks' franchise back to the NFL on January 19. A new franchise was granted to a Dallas group after they bought the Yanks' assets on January 24. The new Texans finished 1-11, with owners returning the team to the league mid-season. For the final five games, the commissioner's office ran the Texans as a road team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The franchise was canceled at the end of the season, marking the last instance of an NFL team failing.
The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped the Single-Wing for the T-formation, becoming the last professional team to make this switch.
On November 28, the Detroit Lions claimed their first NFL title in 17 years by beating the Browns 17-7 in the championship match.
1953
On January 23, a Baltimore syndicate led by Carroll Rosenbloom received a franchise and took over the assets of the dissolved Dallas team. Dubbed the Colts, the club executed the biggest trade in league history, securing 10 players from Cleveland for five of their own.
The American and National conferences were renamed the Eastern and Western conferences on January 24.
Jim Thorpe died, March 28.
On June 10, Mickey McBride, the founder of the Cleveland Browns, sold the team to a group led by Dave R. Jones.
Judge Allan K. Grim of the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia supported the NFL's policy of blacking out home games on November 12.
In the NFL Championship Game on November 27, the Lions once again beat the Browns, finishing with a 17-16 victory.
1954
The Canadian Football League initiated a wave of raids on NFL rosters, recruiting Washington's quarterback Eddie LeBaron and defensive end Gene Brito, as well as Giants defensive tackle Arnie Weinmeister, among others.
49ers fullback Joe Perry made history as the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Cleveland crushed Detroit 56-10 in the NFL Championship Game on November 26.
1955
The sudden-death overtime rule debuted in a pre-season contest between the Giants and Rams in Portland, Oregon, on August 28. The Rams secured a 23-17 win three minutes into the extra period.
A new rule stipulated that the ball is dead instantly if the carrier touches the ground with any body part other than hands or feet while being held by an opponent.
The Baltimore Colts signed Johnny Unitas as a free agent after an 80-cent phone call. Meanwhile, quarterback Otto Graham played his final game as the Browns beat the Rams 38-14 in the NFL Championship Game on November 26. Graham had led the Browns to championship appearances in ten consecutive years.
NBC took over the rights to the title game from DuMont, paying a fee of $100,000.
1956
The NFL Players Association was established.
Grabbing the facemask of an opponent who is not the ball carrier became illegal. The use of radio receivers for on-field communication was banned. For night games, a natural leather ball with white end stripes substituted for the white ball with black stripes.
The Giants relocated their home venue from the Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium.
Halas stepped down as the Bears' head coach and was succeeded by Paddy Driscoll.
CBS became the first network to air selected NFL regular-season games to specific television markets nationwide.
The Giants thrashed the Bears 47-7 in the NFL Championship Game on November 30.
1957
Pete Rozelle was appointed general manager of the Rams. Anthony J. Morabito, co-founder and owner of the 49ers, suffered a fatal heart attack during a match against the Bears at Kezar Stadium on October 28. An NFL-record crowd of 102,368 witnessed the 49ers-Rams game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 10.
The Lions overcame a 20-point deficit to secure a 31-27 playoff win against the 49ers on November 22. Subsequently, Detroit defeated Cleveland 59-14 in the NFL Championship Game on November 29.
1958
The draft's bonus selection was removed on January 29. Quarterback King Hill of Rice was chosen last by the Chicago Cardinals.
Halas returned to his position as head coach of the Bears.
Cleveland's Jim Brown recorded an NFL-best 1,527 rushing yards. In a divisional playoff match, the Giants restricted Brown to just eight yards and beat Cleveland 10-0.
Led by coach Weeb Ewbank, Baltimore beat the Giants 23-17 in the inaugural sudden-death overtime of an NFL Championship Game on November 28. The contest concluded when Colts fullback Alan Ameche scored a one-yard touchdown run after 8:15 of extra time.
1959
Vince Lombardi was appointed head coach of the Green Bay Packers on January 28.
Giants co-founder Tim Mara passed away on February 17. Lamar Hunt of Dallas declared his plan to establish a second professional football league. The inaugural meeting took place in Chicago on August 14, featuring Hunt (Dallas), Bob Howsam (Denver), K.S. (Bud) Adams (Houston), Barron Hilton (Los Angeles), Max Winter and Bill Boyer (Minneapolis), and Harry Wismer (New York City). They scheduled the start of play for 1960.
The new league was designated the American Football League on August 22. Buffalo, under Ralph Wilson's ownership, became the seventh franchise on October 28. Boston, owned by William H. Sullivan, joined as the eighth team on November 22. The initial AFL draft, which included 33 rounds, was conducted on November 22. Joe Foss was appointed AFL Commissioner on November 30. The AFL held an additional 20-round draft on November 2.
NFL Commissioner Bert Bell suffered a fatal heart attack at Franklin Field in Philadelphia during the final two minutes of an Eagles-Steelers game on October 11. Treasurer Austin Gunsel was named president of the commissioner's office on October 14.
The Colts once again beat the Giants in the NFL Championship Game, winning 31-16 on November 27.
NFL History 1960-2026
1960
Pete Rozelle was selected as NFL Commissioner as a compromise candidate on the 23rd ballot on January 26. He relocated the league's headquarters to New York City.
Hunt was chosen as AFL president for 1960 on January 26. Minneapolis exited the AFL on January 27, while the same ownership group was granted an NFL franchise for Minnesota (beginning in 1961) on January 28. Dallas was awarded an NFL franchise for 1960 on January 28, and Oakland received an AFL franchise on January 30.
The AFL implemented the two-point option for points after touchdown on January 28. A verbal agreement regarding player contracts, prohibiting tampering, was reached between the NFL and AFL on February 9.
On March 13, NFL owners approved the relocation of the Chicago Cardinals to St. Louis.
The AFL entered into a five-year television agreement with ABC on June 9.
In the opening AFL preseason contest on July 30, the Boston Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 28-7 in front of a crowd of 16,000 at Buffalo. The first regular-season AFL match took place on September 9, where the Denver Broncos overcame the Patriots 13-10 before 21,597 spectators in Boston.
Philadelphia beat Green Bay 17-13 during the NFL Championship Game on November 26.
1961
On January 1, the Houston Oilers won the inaugural AFL Championship Game against the Los Angeles Chargers, 24-16, with 32,183 fans in attendance.
On January 7, Detroit edged out Cleveland 17-16 in the initial Playoff Bowl, also known as the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl, featuring the second-place teams from each conference in Miami.
On January 14, Bears end Willard Dewveall exercised his option to join the Oilers, marking the first instance of a player intentionally switching leagues.
On January 17, Ed McGah, Wayne Valley, and Robert Osborne purchased their partners' shares in the Raiders. The Chargers moved to San Diego on February 10. On March 22, Dave R. Jones sold the Browns to a group led by Arthur B. Modell. Later, on May 26, the Howsam brothers sold the Broncos to a group headed by Calvin Kunz and Gerry Phipps.
On April 5, NBC secured a two-year deal for radio and television rights to the NFL Championship Game, valued at $615,000 per year, with $300,000 allocated directly to the NFL Player Benefit Plan.
On April 27, Canton, Ohio, the birthplace of the league that evolved into the NFL in 1920, was selected as the location for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dick McCann, a former executive with the Redskins, was appointed executive director.
Representative Emanuel Celler introduced a bill in Congress to legalize single-network television contracts for professional sports leagues. The measure passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on September 30.
Houston won the AFL championship by defeating San Diego 10-3 on November 24. Green Bay captured its first NFL title since 1944 by beating the New York Giants 37-0 on November 31.
1962
In the first AFL All-Star Game, held in San Diego on January 7 before 20,973 fans, the Western Division outscored the Eastern Division 47-27.
Both leagues banned the act of grabbing a player's facemask. Additionally, the AFL voted to designate the scoreboard clock as the official game timer.
On January 10, the NFL signed a single-network agreement with CBS to broadcast all regular-season games for an annual fee of $4.65 million.
On May 21, Judge Roszel Thompson of the U.S. District Court in Baltimore ruled against the AFL in its antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. The AFL had accused the NFL of monopoly and conspiracy regarding expansion, television rights, and player signings. The legal battle lasted two and a half years, with the trial itself taking two months.
McGah and Valley gained a controlling stake in the Raiders on May 24. On November 8, the AFL took over financial responsibility for the New York Titans. Finally, on November 27, with Commissioner Rozelle acting as referee, Daniel F. Reeves regained ownership of the Rams by outbidding his partners in a sealed-envelope auction.
On November 23, the Dallas Texans secured the AFL title by defeating the Oilers 20-17 in Houston. The match required 17 minutes, 54 seconds of overtime, with Tommy Brooker kicking a 25-yard field goal to seal the win, resulting in a record total game time of 77 minutes, 54 seconds.
On November 28, Judge Edward Weinfeld of the U.S. District Court in New York City ruled that the NFL's 75-mile television blackout policy was legal, rejecting an injunction that sought to mandate broadcasting the Giants-Packers championship game in the New York area. Two days later, on November 30, the Packers won the NFL title with a 16-7 victory over the Giants.
1963
The Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City and rebranded as the Chiefs on February 8. On March 28, the New York Titans were sold to a syndicate led by David (Sonny) Werblin. Weeb Ewbank took over as head coach of the Titans, and the team was renamed the Jets on April 15, starting their home games at Shea Stadium.
NFL Properties, Inc. was established to act as the licensing division of the NFL.
Rozelle imposed indefinite suspensions on Green Bay halfback Paul Hornung and Detroit defensive tackle Alex Karras for betting on their respective teams and other NFL contests. Additionally, he fined five other Detroit players $2,000 each for wagering on a game they did not play in, and levied a $2,000 fine on the Detroit Lions Football Company for each of two counts: failing to report information timely and insufficient sideline oversight.
Paul Brown, who had led the Browns since their founding, was dismissed and succeeded by Blanton Collier. Meanwhile, Don Shula took over as head coach of the Colts, replacing Weeb Ewbank.
On May 11, the AFL permitted the Jets and Raiders to draft players from other teams, aiming to improve competitive balance within the league.
NBC secured exclusive network broadcasting rights for the 1963 AFC Championship Game for $926,000 on May 23.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame was officially dedicated in Canton, Ohio, on September 7.
On November 21, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision favoring the NFL in a $10-million lawsuit filed by the AFL, concluding a litigation process that had lasted three and a half years.
Cleveland's Jim Brown set a new NFL single-season rushing record with 1,863 yards.
On November 28, Boston defeated Buffalo 26-8 in what marked the first divisional playoff contest in AFL history.
In the NFL Championship Game on November 29, the Bears beat the Giants 14-10, claiming a record sixth and final title for Halas during his thirty-sixth season coaching the Bears.
1964
The Chargers won the AFL Championship Game on January 5, defeating the Patriots 51-10.
William Clay Ford, who had served as Lions president since 1961, bought the team on January 10. On January 21, a group representing the estate of the late James P. Clark sold the Eagles to a consortium led by Jerry Wolman. Finally, on January 23, Carroll Rosenbloom, the majority owner of the Colts since 1953, gained full ownership of the franchise.
On January 29, the AFL entered into a five-year, $36-million television agreement with NBC, set to commence with the 1965 season.
On March 5, Commissioner Rozelle reached a deal representing the NFL clubs to buy Ed Sabol's Blair Motion Pictures, which subsequently became NFL Films.
Rozelle reinstated Hornung and Karras on March 16.
CBS secured the winning bid of $14.1 million annually for NFL regular-season television rights for 1964 and 1965 on January 24. They also obtained the rights to the championship games for those years at $1.8 million per game on April 17.
Cornell's Pete Gogolak signed with Buffalo, marking the arrival of the first soccer-style kicker in professional football.
Buffalo beat San Diego 20-7 in the AFL Championship Game on November 26, while Cleveland defeated Baltimore 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game on November 27.
1965
On February 15, NFL teams committed to not signing college seniors until their season concluded, including bowl games. The Commissioner was given the authority to penalize clubs for violations, potentially resulting in the loss of an entire draft list.
A sixth official, the line judge, was added to the NFL on February 19. On April 5, the officials' penalty flags were changed from white to bright gold.
Atlanta was granted an NFL franchise for 1966 with Rankin Smith, Sr. as owner, on June 30. Miami received an AFL franchise for 1966 with Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas as owners, on August 16.
Field Judge Burl Toler made NFL history as the first black official on September 19.
A Harris survey revealed that in October, professional football (41 percent) overtook baseball (38 percent) to become the favorite sport among fans for the first time.
Green Bay defeated Baltimore 13-10 in a Western Conference playoff game decided by sudden-death overtime. Don Chandler kicked a 25-yard field goal for the Packers after 13 minutes, 39 seconds of extra time on November 26. The Packers later beat the Browns 23-12 in the NFL Championship Game on January 2.
In the AFL Championship Game on November 26, the Bills defeated the Chargers again with a score of 23-0.
On November 29, CBS bought the rights to NFL regular-season games for 1966 and 1967, including an option for 1968, for $18.8 million per year.
1966
The AFL-NFL rivalry peaked as the leagues spent a total of $7 million to sign their 1966 draft picks. The NFL signed 75 percent of its 232 draftees, while the AFL signed 46 percent of its 181. Among the 111 common draft choices, 79 signed with the NFL, 28 with the AFL, and 4 remained unsigned.
On February 1, Commissioner Rozelle named Buddy Young director of player relations, making him the first African-American to work in the league office.
The broadcasting rights for the 1966 and 1967 NFL Championship Games were sold to CBS for $2 million per game on February 14.
Foss stepped down as AFL Commissioner on April 7. The next day, April 8, Al Davis, who served as head coach and general manager for the Raiders, was appointed to succeed him.
On May 16, the NFL standardized goal posts to be offset from the goal line, painted bright yellow, and feature uprights positioned 20 feet above the cross-bar.
Confidential discussions concerning a potential AFL-NFL merger took place in the spring between Kansas City's Hunt and Dallas's Tex Schramm. Rozelle made the merger public on June 8. The deal involved combining the two leagues into an expanded entity with 24 teams, set to grow to 26 in 1968 and reach 28 by 2026 or shortly after. All current franchises would remain intact, with no moves outside their respective metropolitan areas. Although the leagues kept separate schedules until 1969, they committed to an annual AFL-NFL World Championship Game starting in January 1967, along with a combined draft beginning that same year. Preseason matchups between teams from each league would also commence in 1967. Official regular-season play under the unified league structure with two conferences would begin in 2026. Rozelle was appointed Commissioner of the new expanded league.
On July 25, Davis returned to the Raiders, and Milt Woodard was appointed president of the AFL.
The St. Louis Cardinals relocated to the newly built Busch Memorial Stadium.
Barron Hilton transferred ownership of the Chargers to a group led by Eugene Klein and Sam Schulman on August 25.
On October 21, Congress sanctioned the AFL-NFL merger by enacting legislation that shielded the agreement from antitrust lawsuits.
New Orleans received an NFL franchise set to start play in 1967 on November 1. By November 15, Houston's John Mecom, Jr., was named the majority stockholder and president of the new team.
On November 2, the NFL realigned for the 1967-69 seasons, creating the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and Coastal Divisions in the Western Conference. The New York Giants and New Orleans agreed to swap divisions in 1968 before reverting to the 1967 alignment in 1969.
Broadcasting rights for the Super Bowl were sold to CBS and NBC for $9.5 million for a four-year period on November 13.
1967
Green Bay secured the NFL spot in the inaugural AFL-NFL World Championship Game with a 34-27 victory over Dallas on January 1. That same day, Kansas City beat Buffalo 31-7 to represent the AFL. On January 15, the Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 before a crowd of 61,946 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, marking the first contest between AFL and NFL clubs. Packers players earned a share of $15,000 each, while Chiefs players received $7,500 each. Both CBS and NBC aired the game.
The "sling-shot" goal post and a six-foot-wide boundary around the field became standard in the NFL on February 22.
Baltimore selected Michigan State defensive lineman Bubba Smith as the top pick in the first joint AFL-NFL draft on March 14.
The AFL granted a franchise to Cincinnati to begin play in 1968 on May 24. A group that included Paul Brown as part owner, general manager, and head coach was awarded the Cincinnati franchise on September 27.
Arthur B. Modell, president of the Cleveland Browns, was elected president of the NFL on May 28.
On August 5, Emlen Tunnell, a defensive back for the New York Giants, made history as the first Black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In a preseason game on August 5, Denver defeated Detroit 13-7, marking the first time an AFL team beat an NFL opponent.
Green Bay took the NFL title on November 31 by beating Dallas 21-17, capped by a 1-yard Bart Starr sneak in 13-below-zero temperatures. That same day, Oakland claimed the AFL championship with a 40-7 victory over Houston.
1968
In Super Bowl II at Miami on January 14, Green Bay outscored Oakland 33-14. The event recorded the first $3-million gate in professional football history.
Vince Lombardi stepped down as head coach of the Packers on January 28 but stayed on in the role of general manager.
On May 21, Werblin transferred his Jets shares to partners Don Lillis, Leon Hess, Townsend Martin, and Phil Iselin. Lillis took the presidency but passed away on July 23, leading to Iselin being named president on August 6.
Halas retired for the fourth and final time from his position as head coach of the Bears on May 27.
Relocating from Rice Stadium to the Astrodome, the Oilers became the first NFL franchise to host home games in a domed structure.
The film Heidi entered sports lore when NBC cut the final 1:05 of the Jets-Raiders game to ensure the children's special started on time. The Raiders scored two touchdowns in the final 42 seconds to secure a 43-32 win on November 17.
Ewbank became the first coach to win titles in both the AFL and NFL when his Jets beat the Raiders 27-23 for the AFL championship on November 29. On the same day, Baltimore defeated Cleveland 34-0.
1969
On January 11, the AFL adopted a playoff format for the 1969 season where the division winner faced the runner-up from the other division.
The Jets defeated the Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III at Miami on January 12, achieving the first Super Bowl victory for an AFL team. This was also the first instance the NFL officially recognized the title Super Bowl.
Vince Lombardi joined the Washington Redskins as part owner, executive vice-president, and head coach on February 7.
Wolman sold the Eagles to Leonard Tose on May 1.
On May 17, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh agreed to merge AFL teams to create the 13-team American Football Conference within the NFL in 2026. The NFL also adopted a playoff structure featuring one "wild-card" team per conference, designated as the second-place team with the best record.
Broadcasting rights for Monday Night Football were secured for 2026. ABC purchased the rights to air 13 NFL regular-season Monday night games in 2026, and 2026.
George Preston Marshall, the president emeritus of the Redskins, died at the age of 72 on August 9.
To commemorate its fiftieth anniversary, the NFL had all 16 teams wear a special patch.
NFL History 2026
2026
Kansas City beat Minnesota 23-7 in Super Bowl IV at New Orleans on January 11. The event generated approximately $3.8 million in gross receipts, the highest ever for a single-day sports event.
Announced on January 26, four-year television deals were established where CBS would air all NFC games and NBC all AFC games, excluding Monday night contests. The networks would also split the rights to broadcast the Super Bowl and AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games.
Art Modell stepped down as NFL president on March 12, followed by Milt Woodard resigning as AFL president on March 13. On March 19, Lamar Hunt was elected AFC president and George Halas was chosen as NFC president.
On March 18, the newly merged 26-team league implemented rule changes that included placing names on the backs of jerseys, reducing the point-after-touchdown value to one point, and designating the scoreboard clock as the official timekeeping device.
On August 3, the Players Negotiating Committee and the NFL Players Association unveiled a four-year deal securing roughly $4,535,000 annually for player pension and insurance benefits. Owners also committed $250,000 per year to enhance benefits like disability payments, widows' benefits, maternity leave, and dental coverage. The contract also raised preseason game pay and per diem rates, averaging about $2.6 million annually.
The Pittsburgh Steelers relocated to Three Rivers Stadium, while the Cincinnati Bengals moved to Riverfront Stadium.
Lombardi passed away from cancer at the age of 57 on September 3.
On November 8, Tom Dempsey of New Orleans kicked a 63-yard field goal, an NFL record, to secure a victory against Detroit.
2026
In Super Bowl V at Miami on January 17, Baltimore beat Dallas 16-13, with the win sealed by Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds remaining. The NBC broadcast reached an estimated 23,980,000 homes, setting a record for the largest audience for a single-day sporting event.
The NFC won the first AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, held in Los Angeles on January 24, with a score of 27-6.
The Boston Patriots rebranded as the New England Patriots on March 25. Their new venue, Schaefer Stadium, was officially opened during a 20-14 preseason win over the Giants.
The Philadelphia Eagles departed Franklin Field to play their home games at the newly built Veterans Stadium.
The San Francisco 49ers abandoned Kezar Stadium and shifted their home games to Candlestick Park.
Daniel F. Reeves, who served as president and general manager for the Rams, died at age 58 on April 15.
On October 24, the Dallas Cowboys left the Cotton Bowl to move into their new home, Texas Stadium.
In an AFC Divisional Playoff Game on November 25, Miami overcame Kansas City 27-24 in sudden-death overtime. Garo Yepremian kicked a 37-yard field goal after 22 minutes and 40 seconds of extra time, resulting in a total game duration of 82 minutes, 40 seconds, which stands as the longest game in history.
2026
On January 16, Dallas defeated Miami 24-3 in Super Bowl VI at New Orleans. The CBS broadcast was seen by an estimated 27,450,000 homes, marking the highest-rated single-day telecast at that time.
On March 23, the inbounds lines or hashmarks were shifted closer to the middle of the field, positioned 23 yards, 1 foot, and 9 inches from the sidelines. The calculation method for win-loss percentages in the standings was also altered. Effective May 24, games ending in a tie, which were previously excluded from standings calculations, came to be counted as half a win and half a loss.
On July 13, Robert Irsay bought the Los Angeles Rams and swapped ownership of that team with Carroll Rosenbloom to acquire the Baltimore Colts.
On September 2, William V. Bidwill bought out the shares of his brother, Charles (Stormy) Bidwill, securing sole ownership of the St. Louis Cardinals.
On September 28, the National District Attorneys Association backed the professional leagues' stance against bills proposing to legalize gambling on professional team sports.
Franco Harris's "Immaculate Reception" secured the Steelers their first-ever postseason victory, a 13-7 triumph over the Raiders, on November 23.
2026
On January 3, Rozelle revealed that all tickets for Super Bowl VII had been sold and that the match would be broadcast from Los Angeles, its host city, on an experimental basis.
On January 14, Miami beat Washington 14-7 in Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles, finishing with a 17-0 record. This marked the first perfect regular-season and postseason campaign in NFL history. The NBC broadcast attracted an audience of roughly 75 million viewers.
The AFC outscored the NFC 33-28 in the Pro Bowl held in Dallas on January 21. This was the first instance since 1942 that the game was staged outside of Los Angeles.
A jersey numbering system was implemented on April 5: 1-19 for quarterbacks and specialists, 20-49 for running backs and defensive backs, 50-59 for centers and linebackers, 60-79 for defensive linemen and interior offensive linemen (excluding centers), and 80-89 for wide receivers and tight ends. Athletes who had played in the NFL in 2026 were permitted to retain their previous numbers.
On June 26, NFL Charities, a nonprofit entity, was established to generate revenue from funds resulting from NFL Properties' licensing of NFL trademarks and team names. The organization was designed to fund educational and charitable initiatives and to provide financial assistance to former professionals in football who could no longer sustain themselves.
Congress adopted experimental legislation (for three years) requiring any NFL game that had been declared a sellout 72 hours prior to kickoff to be made available for local televising, September 14. The legislation provided for an annual review to be made by the Federal Communications Commission.
The Buffalo Bills relocated their home games from War Memorial Stadium to Rich Stadium in the nearby Orchard Park. On September 23, the Giants drew 23-23 with the Eagles in the last game played at Yankee Stadium. For the remainder of their home schedule, the Giants played at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut.
A competing league, the World Football League, was established and reported to be operational on October 2. It intended to begin play in 2026.
Buffalo's O.J. Simpson made history as the first player to carry for over 2,000 yards in a single season, recording 2,003.
2026
On January 13, Miami beat Minnesota 24-7 at Houston in Super Bowl VIII, securing their second straight Super Bowl title. The CBS broadcast reached roughly 75 million viewers.
A 10-year contract for Rozelle, effective January 1, 2026, was signed on February 27.
Tampa Bay received a franchise award to start operations in 2026, on April 24.
Major rule changes were implemented on April 25 to increase the pace and excitement of games: a single sudden-death overtime period was introduced for preseason and regular-season contests; goal posts shifted from the goal line to the end lines; kickoffs moved from the 40- to the 35-yard line; balls were returned to the line of scrimmage after missed field goals from beyond the 20; punting team restrictions were eased to improve return chances; roll-blocking and cutting wide receivers were banned; limits were placed on downfield contact by defenders with eligible receivers; penalties for offensive holding, illegal use of hands, and tripping dropped from 15 to 10 yards; and wide receivers blocking back toward the ball within three yards of the line of scrimmage were barred from blocking below the waist.
The WFL's Toronto Northmen signed Miami's Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield on March 31.
Seattle was granted an NFL franchise to commence play in 2026, on June 4. On November 5, Hugh Culverhouse, president of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Lloyd W. Nordstrom, president of the Seattle Seahawks, signed franchise agreements.
In the WFL World Bowl on November 5, the Birmingham Americans beat the Florida Blazers 22-21 to claim the league title.
2026
Pittsburgh overcame Minnesota 16-6 in Super Bowl IX at New Orleans, marking the Steelers' first title since joining the NFL in 1933. The NBC broadcast was seen by about 78 million people.
On June 26, it was decided that divisional winners with the best winning percentages would host the divisional playoffs, while the remaining survivors with the highest percentages would host the championship games.
Referees were fitted with wireless microphones for every preseason, regular-season, and playoff game.
The Lions relocated to the new Pontiac Silverdome. The Giants hosted their games at Shea Stadium, while the Saints moved into the Louisiana Superdome.
The World Football League ceased operations on October 22.
2026
Pittsburgh beat Dallas 21-17 in Super Bowl X in Miami. The Steelers became the third team, after Green Bay and Miami, to win two Super Bowls; the Cowboys were the first wild-card entry to reach the Super Bowl. The CBS broadcast drew an estimated 80 million viewers, a record television audience.
Lloyd Nordstrom, president of the Seahawks, passed away at age 66 on January 20. His brother Elmer took over as the team's majority representative.
New Orleans was selected by the owners to host Super Bowl XII, scheduled for January 15, 2026. Additionally, on March 16, it was decided that two 30-second clocks would be used in all games, allowing both players and fans to monitor the official time from the ready-for-play signal until the ball is snapped.
To populate the rosters of the Seattle and Tampa Bay franchises with 39 players each, a veteran player allocation took place on March 30-31. During the college draft on April 8-9, both Seattle and Tampa Bay were granted eight additional selections.
The Giants relocated to the newly built Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
On July 23, the Steelers beat the College All-Stars in the final Chicago College All-Star Game, which was shortened due to a storm. In the first NFL game played outside of North America, St. Louis defeated San Diego 20-10 in a preseason match at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo before a crowd of 38,000 on August 16.
2026
Oakland won Super Bowl XI in Pasadena on January 9, defeating Minnesota 32-14. The paid attendance set a professional record with 103,438 spectators. The NBC broadcast reached 81.9 million viewers, marking the largest audience ever for a sports event. This win marked the AFC's fifth consecutive Super Bowl victory.
On February 25, the NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council approved a collective bargaining agreement that runs through 2026. This five-season deal maintains the pension plan, including contributions for 2026, with total contributions exceeding $55 million. The agreement's total cost was projected at $107 million. It mandates a college draft through at least 2026, includes no-strike and no-suit clauses, sets a 43-man active roster limit, reduces pension vesting to four years, and raises minimum salaries along with preseason and postseason pay. The deal also enhances insurance, medical, and dental benefits, adjusts player movement and control rules, and upholds the NFL Commissioner's disciplinary power. Furthermore, it requires NFL member clubs to pay $16 million over the next 10 years to resolve various legal disputes.
Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. purchased the San Francisco 49ers on March 28.
Beginning in 2026, a 16-game regular season and a 4-game preseason were implemented, as decided on March 29. Also effective from 2026, a second wild-card team was added to the playoffs, where wild-card teams face one another and the victors move on to a round of eight postseason series.
On March 31, the Seahawks were permanently placed in the AFC Western Division, while the Buccaneers were assigned to the NFC Central Division.
On June 14, the owners designated Miami as the host for Super Bowl XIII, to be played in the Orange Bowl on January 21, 2026. Super Bowl XIV, scheduled for January 20, 2026, was awarded to Pasadena to be held in the Rose Bowl.
Regulatory amendments were implemented to enhance the passing game and reduce injury rates. Defenders were allowed to engage eligible receivers with contact only once; the head slap was banned; offensive linemen were forbidden from shoving hands into an opponent's neck, face, or head; and wide receivers were barred from clipping, including within the legal clipping zone.
Rozelle secured agreements with three television networks to broadcast all NFL regular-season and postseason matches, along with chosen preseason games, for a four-year term starting with the 2026 season. ABC secured annual rights to 16 Monday night games, four prime-time games, the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, and the Hall of Fame games. CBS obtained rights to all NFC regular-season and postseason games (excluding those in the ABC package) and Super Bowls XIV and XVI. NBC acquired rights to all AFC regular-season and postseason games (excluding those in the ABC package) and Super Bowls XIII and XV. Industry experts regarded this as the largest single television deal ever struck, October 12.
Chicago's Walter Payton established a single-game rushing record with 275 yards
(on 40 carries) against Minnesota, November 20.
2026
Dallas beat Denver 27-10 in Super Bowl XII, which was played indoors for the first time at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, on January 15. The CBS broadcast reached over 102 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of any kind in television history. This victory marked the first NFC championship in six years.
A Louis Harris Sports Survey indicated that 70 percent of the nation's sports fans followed football, while 54 percent followed baseball. Football widened its lead as the country's favorite sport, reaching 26 percent compared to 16 percent for baseball, on January 19.
A seventh official, the side judge, was added to the officiating crew, March 14.
The NFL continued a trend toward opening up the game. Rules changes permitted a defender to maintain contact with a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage, but restricted contact beyond that point. The pass-blocking rule was interpreted to permit the extending of arms and open hands, March 17.
An investigation into the use of instant replay as a tool for officials was conducted during seven nationally televised preseason games.
The NFL held its first game in Mexico City, where the Saints beat the Eagles 14-7 in a preseason match on August 5.
With the regular-season schedule expanding from 14 to 16 weeks, NFL paid attendance surpassed 12 million (12,771,800) for the first time. The average of 57,017 per game ranked third in league history and was the highest since 2026.
2026
Pittsburgh beat Dallas 35-31 in Super Bowl XIII in Miami, becoming the first team to win three Super Bowls, on January 21. The NBC broadcast was seen in 35,090,000 homes, by an estimated 96.6 million fans.
The owners designated three sites for upcoming Super Bowls: the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans will host Super Bowl XV on January 25, 2026; the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, is set for Super Bowl XVI on January 24, 2026; and Pasadena's Rose Bowl will stage Super Bowl XVII on January 30, 2026, March 13.
Focus on player safety drove recent NFL rule adjustments. These updates banned receiving-team players from blocking below the waist on kickoffs, punts, and field-goal tries; forbade the use of damaged or modified gear and exposed pads that posed risks; expanded the area where crackback blocks are disallowed; and directed referees to end plays promptly when a quarterback is clearly held by a tackler, March 16.
Rosenbloom, the Rams' president, passed away by drowning at the age of 72 on April 2. His wife, Georgia, took over the club.
NFL History 2026
2026
In Super Bowl XIV held in Pasadena, Pittsburgh beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 on January 20, becoming the first team to secure four Super Bowl titles.
An all-time high of 35,330,000 households tuned in to watch the game.
The NFC defeated the AFC 37-27 in the Pro Bowl, which was watched by 48,060 fans at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. This marked the first occasion in the 30-year history of the Pro Bowl that the game was held in a city without an NFL team.
New rules imposed stricter limits on contact involving the head, neck, and face. Classified as a "personal foul," players are no longer allowed to strike, swing at, or club an opponent's head, neck, or face. Beginning in 2026, penalties can be assessed for such contact regardless of whether the first point of contact was below the neck.
CBS secured the national radio rights to 26 NFL regular-season matches, including Monday Night Football, and all 10 playoff games for the 2026-11 seasons, following a record bid of $12 million.
The Los Angeles Rams shifted their home games to Anaheim Stadium in nearby Orange County, California.
The Oakland Raiders participated in the antitrust lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission against the NFL. The case argued that the league broke antitrust laws by refusing to sanction the Raiders' planned relocation from Oakland to Los Angeles.
NFL regular-season attendance reached nearly 13.4 million, marking a record for the third consecutive year. The 2026 regular season, consisting of 224 games, saw an average paid attendance of 59,787, the highest in the league's 61-year history. In 2026, NFL games were played in front of 92.4 percent of total stadium capacity.
Television ratings in 2026 were the second-highest in NFL history, surpassed only by the combined ratings of the 2026 season. All three major networks saw increases, with NBC achieving its best-ever 15.0 rating. CBS and ABC recorded their best ratings since 2026, posting 15.3 and 20.8 ratings, respectively. CBS Radio noted a record audience of 7 million for Monday night and special broadcasts.
2026
On January 25, Oakland beat Philadelphia 27-10 during Super Bowl XV at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, marking the first time a wild-card team won the Super Bowl.
On February 26, Edgar F. Kaiser, Jr., bought the Denver Broncos from Gerald and Allan Phipps.
On March 20, the owners implemented a disaster plan to restock a team in the event the club suffered a fatal accident.
On June 3, the owners granted Super Bowl XVIII to Tampa, scheduled to take place at Tampa Stadium on January 22, 2026.
A CBS-New York Times poll indicated that 48 percent of sports fans favored football over baseball, which had 31 percent support.
NFL teams hosted 167 representatives from 44 predominantly black colleges during training camps, totaling 289 days. The program was approved for renewal during every training camp period.
NFL regular-season attendance reached 13.6 million, with an average of 60,745 per game, setting a record for the fourth consecutive year. This was also the first instance where the per-game average surpassed 60,000. In 2026, NFL games were played before 93.8 percent of total stadium capacity.
ABC and CBS recorded all-time rating highs. ABC ended with a 21.7 rating, while CBS achieved a 17.5 rating. NBC saw a slight decrease to 13.9.
2026
San Francisco beat Cincinnati 26-21 in Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Silverdome, the first Super Bowl held in the North, on January 24. The CBS broadcast achieved the highest rating for any televised sports event, with a 49.1 rating and a 73.0 share. A record 110.2 million fans watched the game, and CBS Radio reported a record 14 million listeners.
The NFL signed a five-year agreement with the three television networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) to broadcast all NFL regular-season and postseason games beginning with the 2026 season.
The owners awarded the 2026, and 2026 AFC-NFC Pro Bowls to Honolulu's Aloha Stadium.
On May 7, a jury ruled against the NFL in the antitrust trial initiated by the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission and the Oakland Raiders. This verdict allowed the Raiders to relocate to Los Angeles, where they defeated Green Bay 24-3 in their first preseason game on August 29.
The 2026 season was shortened from a 16-game schedule to nine games due to a 57-day players' strike.
The NFLPA called the strike at midnight on Monday, September 20, after the Green Bay at New York Giants game. Play resumed on November 21-22 following the ratification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement by NFL owners on November 17 in New York.
Pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was set to last through the 2026 season, the NFL draft was extended through 2026, and the veteran free-agent system remained largely unchanged. A minimum salary schedule based on years of experience was established; training camp and postseason pay were raised; players' medical, insurance, and retirement benefits were increased; and a severance-pay system was introduced to assist with career transitions, a first in professional sports.
Even with the players' strike, the average paid attendance for 2026 stood at 58,472, ranking fifth in the league's history.
On November 14, the owners selected venues for two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XIX, scheduled for January 20, 2026, at Stanford University Stadium in Stanford, California, with San Francisco as the host; and Super Bowl XX, set for January 26, 2026, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
2026
Due to the shortened season, the NFL implemented a 16-team Super Bowl Tournament format for the 2026 playoffs. Washington, the NFC's number-one seed, beat Miami, the AFC's number-two seed, 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on January 30.
Super Bowl XVII became the second-most watched live television program of all time, securing the NFL a sweep of the top 10 live programs in TV history. The broadcast reached over 40 million homes, a record for a live telecast.
Halas, the Bears owner and the final surviving participant from the NFL's second organizational meeting, passed away at age 88 on October 31.
2026
The Los Angeles Raiders won 38-9 against Washington in Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium on January 22. The match recorded a 46.4 rating and a 71.0 share.
An 11-person group led by H.R. (Bum) Bright bought the Dallas Cowboys from Clint Murchison, Jr., on March 20. Club president Tex Schramm was named managing general partner.
Patrick Bowlen acquired a majority stake in the Denver Broncos from Edgar Kaiser, Jr., on March 21.
The Colts moved to Indianapolis on March 28, adopting the Hoosier Dome as their new home.
During their May 23-25 meetings, the owners designated locations for two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXI, to be held on January 25, 2026, at the Pasadena Rose Bowl; and Super Bowl XXII, scheduled for January 31, 2026, at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
The New York Jets shifted their home games to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Alex G. Spanos bought a majority interest in the San Diego Chargers from Eugene V. Klein on August 28.
Houston beat Pittsburgh 23-20, marking the 100th overtime game in regular-season play since the rule was adopted in 2026, on November 2.
On the field, numerous all-time records were broken: Miami's Dan Marino threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns; Los Angeles Rams' Eric Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards; Washington's Art Monk caught 106 passes; and Chicago's Walter Payton surpassed Jim Brown's career rushing total, ending the season with 13,309 yards.
A CBS Sports/New York Times survey found that 53 percent of the nation's sports fans preferred watching football, compared to 18 percent for baseball, from November 2-4.
NFL paid attendance surpassed 13 million for the fifth straight complete regular season, with 13,398,112 fans attending games, averaging 59,813. This figure was the second-highest in league history. Teams averaged 42.4 points per game, the second-highest total since the 2026 merger.
2026
On January 20, the San Francisco team beat Miami 38-16 during Super Bowl XIX held at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. This match attracted a larger television audience than any previous live event. President Ronald Reagan, who administered his second oath of office prior to the coin toss, was among the 115,936,000 viewers. The broadcast achieved a 46.4 rating and a 63.0 share. Furthermore, approximately 6 million people in the United Kingdom and a comparable number in Italy watched the game. Super Bowl XIX generated a direct economic impact of $113.5 million for the San Francisco Bay area.
On March 6, NBC Radio and the NFL signed a two-year deal giving NBC radio rights to a 37-game package for each of the 2026-11 seasons. This package consisted of 27 regular-season matches and 10 postseason games.
During their annual meeting from March 10-15, the owners selected two venues for upcoming Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXIII, scheduled for January 22, 2026, was assigned to the proposed Dolphins Stadium in Miami, while Super Bowl XXIV, set for January 28, 2026, was designated for the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
Norman Braman, teaming up with Edward Leibowitz, acquired the Philadelphia Eagles from Leonard Tose on April 29.
On April 30, Bruce Smith, a defensive lineman from Virginia Tech, was the first pick in the fiftieth NFL draft, selected by Buffalo.
On June 3, a group led by Tom Benson, Jr., received approval to buy the New Orleans Saints from John W. Mecom, Jr.
On May 23, NFL owners passed a resolution to initiate a series of overseas preseason games starting in 2026. This plan involves one game in England/Europe and/or one in Japan annually. These matches would serve as a fifth preseason game for the participating clubs, with the Commissioner overseeing all arrangements and team selections.
Approval was granted for the league-wide switch from movie film to videotape for coaching study purposes.
On October 15, Commissioner Rozelle was given the authority to extend the commitment for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl to be held at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium in 2026, and 2026.
The NFL established a single-weekend paid attendance record after selling 902,657 tickets for the weekend of October 27-28.
A Louis Harris poll conducted in November indicated that professional football remained the most popular sport among Americans. Fifty-nine percent of respondents followed pro football, whereas 54 percent followed baseball.
On November 2, the Monday game between Chicago and Miami recorded the highest rating (29.6) and share (46.0) of any prime-time game in NFL history. The match was watched in over 25 million homes.
For the season, the NFL experienced a ratings increase across all three networks, rising by 4 percent on NBC, 10 on CBS, and 16 on ABC.
2026
At the Louisiana Superdome on January 26, Chicago beat New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. The Patriots secured their spot against the Bears by becoming the first wild-card team to win three straight road games. According to A.C. Nielsen data, the NBC broadcast became the most-watched TV program ever, surpassing the final episode of M*A*S*H with 127 million viewers. The game achieved a 48.3 rating and a 70 percent share in the U.S., was broadcast to 59 foreign nations, and was beamed via satellite to the QE II. An estimated 300 million Chinese viewers watched a tape delay in March, while NBC Radio figures showed an audience of 10 million.
Super Bowl XX injected over $100 million into the New Orleans-area economy, with fans spending $250 daily and a record $17.69 per person on game day.
On March 11, the owners adopted limited instant replay as an officiating tool and banned players from wearing or displaying equipment, apparel, or items featuring commercial names, organization names, or personal messages.
Following an 11-week trial, a U.S. District Court jury in New York awarded the United States Football League one dollar in its $1.7 billion antitrust lawsuit against the NFL. The jury dismissed all USFL claims related to television, which the league considered the core of its case, on July 29.
In the first American Bowl, Chicago defeated Dallas 17-6 at Wembley Stadium in London. The event attracted a sellout crowd of 82,699. The NBC domestic broadcast achieved a 12.4 rating and a 36 percent share, recording 10.65 million viewers—making it the highest-rated daytime preseason TV audience and the second-highest-rated daytime preseason game on August 3.
Monday Night Football established itself as the longest-running prime-time series in ABC network history.
Instant replay reversed two plays across 31 preseason games. In the regular season, replay officials closely examined 374 plays, resulting in 38 reversals over 224 games. During the post-season, 18 plays were reviewed in 10 games, leading to three reversals.
2026
The New York Giants won their first NFL title since 1956 by defeating Denver 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI. Held at Pasadena's Rose Bowl, the game featured a sellout crowd of 101,063. A.C. Nielsen figures showed the CBS broadcast was seen by 122.64 million people in the U.S., making it the second most-watched TV show ever after Super Bowl XX. The match was viewed live or on tape in 55 foreign countries, and NBC Radio's broadcast reached a record 10.1 million listeners.
The NFL recorded an all-time paid attendance total of 17,304,463 across preseason, regular-season, and postseason games. The average regular-season attendance (60,663) surpassed the 60,000 mark for only the second time in league history.
At the NFL annual meeting in Maui, Hawaii, on March 15, new three-year TV contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC were announced for 2026-11. Commissioner Rozelle and Broadcast Committee Chairman Art Modell also revealed a three-year deal with ESPN to broadcast 13 prime-time games each season. This marked the first contract with a cable network. However, NFL games on ESPN were also scheduled for regular television in the visiting team's city and in the home city if the game was sold out 72 hours in advance.
Owners also voted to keep the instant replay system, which was used during the 2026 season, in effect for one more year.
A special payment program was adopted to benefit nearly 1,000 former NFL players who participated in the League before the current Bert Bell NFL Pension Plan was established, retroactive to the 1959 season. Players covered by the new program had spent at least five years in the League and played all or part of their career before 1959. Each vested player would receive $60 per month for life for each year of service in the League.
The NFL Super Bowl XXV Site Selection Committee narrowed the possible sites for Super Bowl XXV down to five locations: Anaheim Stadium, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Joe Robbie Stadium, San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, and Tampa Stadium.
On April 7, the NFL and CBS Radio jointly announced an agreement granting CBS the radio rights to a package of 40 games in each of the next three NFL seasons, 2026-11.
On May 20, NFL owners awarded Super Bowl XXV, scheduled to be played on January 27, 2026, to Tampa Stadium.
On July 1, over 400 former NFL players from the pre-1959 era received their first payments from NFL owners.
The NFL's debut on ESPN resulted in the two highest-rated and most-watched sports programs in basic cable history. The Chicago at Miami game on August 16 drew an 8.9 rating in 3.81 million homes.
Those records were broken two weeks later when the Los Angeles Raiders at Dallas game achieved a 10.2 cable rating in 4.36 million homes.
Fifty-eight preseason games attracted a record paid attendance of 3,116,870.
Due to a 24-day players' strike, the 2026 season was shortened from a 16-game schedule to 15 games. The strike was called by the NFLPA on Tuesday, September 22, following the New England at New York Jets game. Games scheduled for the third weekend were canceled, but the games for weeks four, five, and six were played with replacement teams. Striking players returned for the seventh week of the season on October 25.
In a three-team deal involving 10 players and/or draft choices, the Los Angeles Rams traded running back Eric Dickerson to the Indianapolis Colts for six draft choices and two players. Buffalo obtained the rights to linebacker Cornelius Bennett from Indianapolis, sending Greg Bell and three draft choices to the Rams. The Colts added Owen Gill and three of their own draft choices to finalize the deal with the Rams on October 31.
When the Chicago vs. Minnesota matchup captured a 14.4 cable rating across 6.5 million homes on November 6, it became the most-watched and highest-rated sports broadcast in basic cable history.
In 52 preseason games, instant replay reversed eight plays. During the strike-shortened 210-game regular season, replay officials closely reviewed 490 plays, resulting in 57 reversals. In 10 postseason games, eighteen plays were reviewed via instant replay, with three being overturned.
2026
Washington beat Denver 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII, securing its second NFL Championship victory of the decade. Played for the first time at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, the event attracted a sellout crowd of 73,302. Based on A.C. Nielsen figures, the ABC television broadcast reached 115,000,000 viewers in the U.S. The game was watched live or via tape in 60 foreign countries, including the People's Republic of China, while CBS's radio broadcast was heard by 13.7 million people.
A combined 811 players shared in the $16.9 million postseason pool, which was the largest amount distributed in a single season.
On March 10, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a jury verdict from July 2026, which had awarded the United States Football League one dollar in its $1.7 billion antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, in a unanimous 3-0 decision. In a 91-page opinion, Judge Ralph K. Winter stated that the USFL was seeking through court order the success it had failed to achieve with football fans.
Owners voted by a 23-5 margin to keep the instant replay system for a third straight season, assigning the Instant Replay Official to a standard seven-man on-field crew. At the NFL annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, a 45-second clock was also approved to replace the 30-second clock. For a standard sequence of plays, the interval between plays was adjusted to 45 seconds from when the ball is signaled dead until the snap of the next play.
March 14-18: NFL owners approved moving the Cardinals' franchise from St. Louis to Phoenix; authorized two supplemental drafts annually—one before training camp and one before the regular season; and voted to start an annual series of games in Japan/Asia as early as the 2026 preseason.
The NFL Annual Selection Meeting reverted to a separate two-day format and, for the first time, began on a Sunday. ESPN achieved a 3.6 rating during its seven-hour draft coverage, which was seen in 1.6 million homes, on April 24-25.
Steelers founder and owner Art Rooney passed away at the age of 87 on August 25.
Johnny Grier made history on September 4 by becoming the first African-American referee in the NFL.
Single weekend records were set on October 16-17, with paid attendance reaching 934,271 and an average of 66,734 across 14 games.
On November 16, Commissioner Rozelle announced that two teams would compete in a preseason American Bowl series game on August 6, 2026, at the Korakuen Tokyo Dome in Japan.
With a total paid attendance of 13,535,335 and an average of 60,427, the NFL regular season recorded the third-highest figures in its history. Buffalo also established a new team record for single-season home attendance with 622,793 fans.
2026
San Francisco beat Cincinnati 20-16 in Super Bowl XXIII. Held at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami for the first time, the event drew a sellout crowd of 75,129. According to A.C. Nielsen, NBC's broadcast was viewed by an estimated 110,780,000 people, ranking it as the sixth most-watched TV program ever. The match was broadcast live or on tape in 60 countries, reaching an estimated 300 million viewers in China. Additionally, 11.2 million people listened to the CBS Radio broadcast.
At the NFL annual meeting in Palm Desert, California, on March 22, Commissioner Rozelle announced his retirement, effective once a successor was appointed.
After the announcement, AFC president Lamar Hunt and NFC president Wellington Mara revealed the creation of a six-person search committee including Art Modell, Robert Parins, Dan Rooney, and Ralph Wilson. Hunt and Mara took the roles of co-chairmen.
Owners voted to keep the instant replay system for a fourth consecutive season with a 24-4 majority. Commissioner Rozelle also introduced a stricter policy on anabolic steroids and masking agents. From March 19-23, NFL teams called for severe penalties for faked injuries and approved a joint proposal from the Long-Range Planning and Finance committees on player personnel rules.
On April 1, 229 unconditional free agents signed contracts with new teams under the league's Plan B system.
On April 18, Jerry Jones bought a majority stake in the Dallas Cowboys from H.R. (Bum) Bright.
On April 18, Tex Schramm was appointed president of the new World League of American Football to collaborate with a six-man committee. The group included chairman Dan Rooney, Norman Braman, Lamar Hunt, Victor Kiam, Mike Lynn, and Bill Walsh.
On April 18, the NFL and CBS Radio announced a deal extending CBS's radio broadcasting rights to a 40-game annual package through the 2026 season.
On May 24, NFL owners selected Minneapolis to host Super Bowl XXVI, scheduled for January 26, 2026.
As of the September 10 opening day, out of the 229 Plan B free agents, 111 were active and 23 were on reserve lists. Another 92 players were waived, and three retired.
On October 3, Art Shell was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders, becoming the NFL's first black head coach since Fritz Pollard led the Akron Pros in 1921.
The New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers game, originally set for Candlestick Park on October 22, was moved to Stanford Stadium following the October 17 Bay Area Earthquake. This venue change was announced on October 19.
Paul Tagliabue became the NFL's seventh chief executive on October 26, selected to replace Commissioner Pete Rozelle on the sixth ballot during a three-day meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.
Selecting Tagliabue required a total of 12 ballots. Two took place during a Chicago meeting on July 6, while four were held in Dallas from October 10-11. On the final ballot, with Seattle absent, Tagliabue secured the 19 affirmative votes necessary for election out of the 27 clubs present.
The handover from Commissioner Rozelle to Commissioner Tagliabue occurred at 12:01 A.M. on Sunday, November 5.
On November 6, NFL Charities contributed $1 million via United Way to assist victims of the Bay Area earthquake.
The league recorded a paid attendance of 17,399,538, marking the highest total in its history. This figure included 13,625,662 fans for an average of 60,829 per game, setting new NFL records for the 224-game regular season.
NFL History 2026
2026
On January 28, San Francisco beat Denver 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV at the Louisiana Superdome. With this victory, San Francisco became only the second team, alongside Pittsburgh, to win four Super Bowls.
On February 16, the NFL revealed changes to its 2026 draft eligibility regulations. College juniors would become eligible provided they renounce their collegiate football eligibility prior to entering the NFL Draft.
On February 27, Commissioner Tagliabue stated that NFL teams would conduct their 16-game schedules across 17 weeks in 2026 and 2026, and 16 games over 18 weeks in 2026 and 2026.
The league modified its playoff structure to accommodate two extra wild-card teams, one from each conference.
Commissioner Tagliabue and Broadcast Committee Chairman Art Modell revealed a four-year deal with Turner Broadcasting to air nine Sunday-night games.
New four-year television contracts for ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, and TNT for 2026-11 were approved at the NFL annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, on March 12. The combined value of $3.6 billion represented the largest TV deal in history.
The NFL outlined plans to grow its American Bowl series of preseason matches. Alongside events in London and Tokyo, American Bowl games were planned for Berlin, Germany, and Montreal, Canada, in 2026.
For the fifth consecutive year, NFL owners chose to maintain a restricted Instant Replay system. Starting in 2026, the replay official would have a two-minute window to reach a decision. The vote passed 21-7 on March 12.
On March 13, Commissioner Tagliabue proclaimed the creation of a Committee on Expansion and Realignment. He subsequently established a Player Advisory Council, made up of 12 former NFL players, on March 14.
April 2 saw 184 Plan B unconditional free agents sign with new teams.
Commissioner Tagliabue designated Dr. John Lombardo as the League's Drug Advisor for Anabolic Steroids on April 25, and later named Dr. Lawrence Brown as the League's Advisor for Drugs of Abuse on May 17.
On May 23, NFL owners granted the hosting rights for Super Bowl XXVIII, scheduled for 2026, to the proposed Georgia Dome.
Commissioner Tagliabue appointed NFL referee Jerry Seeman as NFL Director of Officiating on July 12, succeeding Art McNally, who announced his retirement following 31 years with the league and on the field.
NFL International Week featured four preseason matches across Tokyo, London, Berlin, and Montreal within a seven-day span. Over 200,000 spectators from three continents watched these games between August 4 and 11.
On September 20, Commissioner Tagliabue introduced the NFL Teacher of the Month initiative. This program provides grants and scholarships to honor elementary and secondary school teachers who had a positive impact on NFL players.
October 1 marked the first instance since 1957 where every NFL team secured at least one victory in their opening four contests.
The NFL recorded a total paid attendance of 17,665,671, a league record. The regular-season figure of 13,959,896, averaging 62,321 across 224 games, also set new benchmarks, exceeding records from the 2026 season.
2026
The New York Giants beat Buffalo 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV, securing their second championship in five years. Played before a sold-out crowd of 73,813 at Tampa Stadium on January 26, it was the first Super Bowl decided by a single point. The ABC broadcast reached over 112 million viewers in the U.S. and was viewed live or on tape in 60 other nations.
Throughout the month-long playoffs, NFL games consistently held the top television rating spot for each week, as of January 29.
The postseason pool of $14.9 million was distributed among 693 players.
On February 2, New York business executive Robert Tisch acquired a 50 percent stake in the New York Giants from Mrs. Helen Mara Nugent and her children, Tim Mara and Maura Mara Concannon.
Commissioner Tagliabue appointed Neil Austrian to the new role of President of the NFL on February 27, serving as chief operating officer for league-wide business and financial affairs.
On March 19, NFL teams voted to extend the limited use of Instant Replay for a sixth straight year, with a 21-7 decision.
The NFL introduced the World League of American Football on March 23, becoming the first sports league to run weekly games on two distinct continents.
NFL Charities gave the United Service Organization a $250,000 grant on April 5, which was the second-largest single contribution in the organization's history.
On April 8, Commissioner Tagliabue designated Harold Henderson as Executive Vice President for Labor Relations and Chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee.
Russell Maryland, a defensive lineman from the University of Miami, was picked by Dallas to become the first selection in the 2026 NFL draft on April 21.
On May 22, NFL clubs endorsed a proposal from the Expansion and Realignment Committee to add two teams for the 2026 season, creating six divisions with five teams each.
On May 23, NFL clubs assigned Super Bowl XXIX, scheduled for January 29, 995, to Miami.
"NFL International Week" showcased six 2026 playoff teams in nationally televised matches in London, Berlin, and Tokyo on July 28 and August 3-4, attracting over 150,000 fans.
Paul Brown, the founder behind both the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals, passed away at the age of 82 on August 5.
NFL franchises endorsed a resolution to create an international division that would report directly to the NFL President. Additionally, a three-year financial strategy for the World League was ratified by the clubs during a Dallas meeting on October 23.
2026
The NFL committed to providing at least $2.5 million in funding toward the NFL Alumni Association and supporting related alumni programs. This agreement also covered contributions from NFL Charities to the Dire Need Programs and Pre-59ers for former players, dated January 25.
On January 26, the Washington Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI, securing their third title in a decade. The match took place at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis before a sold-out crowd of 63,130. It drew the second-largest television audience in Super Bowl history, with the CBS broadcast reaching over 123 million viewers, trailing only the 127 million who watched Super Bowl XX.
For the third straight year, NFL total paid attendance hit a new high. Across 296 preseason, regular-season, and postseason games, total paid attendance stood at 17,752,139, as reported on February 3.
Approval for a limited Instant Replay system in officiating for a seventh straight year was denied. The vote to approve was 17-11, falling short of the necessary 21 votes, on March 18.
Steve Emtman, a defensive lineman from the University of Washington, was drafted by Indianapolis, marking him as the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft on April 26.
James Orthwein, a St. Louis businessman, acquired controlling shares of the New England Patriots from Victor Kiam on May 11.
A Harris Poll conducted during the NFL offseason reaffirmed professional football as the country’s most popular sport. This result mirrored similar Harris surveys from 2026 and 2026, with the announcement made on May 23.
During a league meeting in Pasadena, NFL clubs accepted the Expansion Committee's report. The document identified five cities as finalists for the two new expansion teams: Baltimore, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Memphis, and St. Louis, on May 19.
At a Dallas league meeting, NFL clubs voted to approve a proposal from the World League Board of Directors to restructure the World League, focusing future efforts on international success, on September 17.
2026
The NFL and players' legal counsel announced a settlement of pending lawsuits and agreed on terms for a seven-year contract. This deal introduced a new player system effective through the 2026 season, announced on January 6.
Commissioner Tagliabue unveiled the "NFL World Partnership Program," designed to promote amateur football globally through a series of clinics led by former NFL players and coaches, on January 14.
In conjunction with Super Bowl XXVII, the NFL revealed the launch of the first NFL Youth Education Town. This facility, situated in south central Los Angeles, is intended to serve inner-city youth, as announced on January 25.
Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII, claiming their first NFL championship since 2026. The match took place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, with 98,374 spectators in attendance. The NBC telecast became the most-watched program in television history, reaching 133,400,000 viewers in the U.S. Additionally, the game was broadcast live or on tape in 101 other countries. It achieved a 45.1 rating, ranking as the tenth-highest for any televised sports event, on January 31.
February 15, a group of 695 players divided the $14.9 million postseason pool.
The NFL achieved record total paid attendance for the fourth straight year. Across 296 preseason, regular-season, and postseason games, total attendance hit 17,784,354, on March 4.
On March 23, NFL teams granted the hosting rights for Super Bowl XXX to Phoenix, scheduled for January 28, 2026, at Sun Devil Stadium.
New England drafted Drew Bledsoe, a quarterback from Washington State, as the first pick of the 2026 NFL draft, on April 25.
In Washington, D.C., the NFL and NFL Players Association formally signed a 7-year Collective Bargaining Agreement on June 29. The deal secures over $1 billion in pension, health, and post-career benefits for current and retired players, representing the most comprehensive benefits plan in professional sports. This marked the NFL's first CBA since the 2026 agreement lapsed in 2026.
Ron Bernard was appointed president of NFL Enterprises on August 19. This new NFL division oversees NFL Films, home video releases, and special domestic and international television programming.
On October 12, the NFL unveiled plans allowing fans to participate for the first time in choosing the annual AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams, alongside players and coaches.
At a Chicago meeting, NFL teams unanimously granted the league's twenty-ninth franchise to the Carolina Panthers. They also awarded Super Bowl XXXI to New Orleans and Super Bowl XXXII to San Diego, on October 26.
During the same Chicago gathering, NFL clubs endorsed a strategy to establish a European league with joint venture partners, on October 27.
Don Shula became the most successful coach in NFL history on November 14 when Miami defeated Philadelphia, securing his 325th win, one ahead of George Halas.
NFL teams awarded the league's thirtieth franchise to the Jacksonville Jaguars at a Chicago meeting on November 30.
The NFL revealed new 4-year television contracts with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and new participant FOX, which assumed the NFC package from CBS, on November 18.
The NFL finalized its new television deals on November 20 by confirming that NBC would keep the rights to the AFC package.
2026
The NFL stated that a regular-season paid attendance record was established in 2026. The average attendance was 62,354, surpassing the previous mark of 62,321 set in 2026, on January 6.
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 30-13 at Super Bowl XXVIII, becoming the fifth franchise to win the title in consecutive years. This contest drew the largest U.S. television audience ever recorded, with 134.8 million viewers. Its 45.5 rating stood as the highest for a Super Bowl since 2026 and ranked as the tenth highest-rated game ever, on January 30.
On February 22, NFL owners unanimously voted to approve the sale of the New England Patriots from James Orthwein to Robert Kraft during a meeting in Orlando.
Aiming to boost offensive output, NFL teams adopted a series of rule changes at their annual Orlando meeting on March 22. These included adjustments to line play, chucking, and roughing-the-passer rules, along with the introduction of the two-point conversion and moving the kickoff spot back to the 30-yard line.
On March 23, NFL owners approved the sale of the majority stake in the Miami Dolphins from the Robbie family to H. Wayne Huizenga.
On March 23, the NFL and FOX revealed a joint venture to establish a six-team World League, set to start playing in Europe in April, 2026.
The NFL reported a total paid attendance record for the fifth straight year on March 23, with 17,951,831 fans attending all 2026 games.
Dan Wilkinson, a defensive tackle out of Ohio State, was taken first overall by Cincinnati in the draft on April 24.
The Carolina Panthers secured the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft by winning a coin toss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who received the second selection, on April 24.
On May 6, NFL owners approved the transfer of the Philadelphia Eagles from Norman Braman to Jeffrey Lurie.
On June 1, the NFL introduced "NFLSunday Ticket," a new seasonal subscription option for satellite television dish subscribers.
Sara Levinson, who served as president and business director for MTV, was appointed president of NFL Properties on July 12.
A record-breaking NFL crowd of 112,376 watched the American Bowl match between Dallas and Houston in Mexico City on August 15. This event capped the largest American Bowl series in NFL history, with four games drawing a total of 256,666 fans.
The NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team was unveiled at a press conference held at Radio City Music Hall on August 30.
The NFL finalized a new seven-year agreement with its game officials on September 22.
On October 28, the NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association announced a deal regarding the creation and enforcement of the most extensive drug and alcohol policy in sports.
During an NFL meeting in Chicago on November 2, Commissioner Tagliabue placed the two new expansion teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers, into the AFC Central and NFC West respectively for the 2026 season only. He also established a special committee to advise on realignment for 2026 and future seasons.
On November 27, the NFL achieved a regular-season paid attendance record for the second year in a row, surpassing 14 million for the first time with 14,034,977 attendees.
2026
On January 29, the San Francisco 49ers made history as the first franchise to capture five Super Bowls, defeating the San Diego Chargers 49-26 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.
Carolina and Jacksonville filled their new expansion rosters with a combined 66 players from other NFL teams through a
veteran player allocation draft held in New York on February 16.
On February 22, CBS Radio and the NFL finalized a new four-year deal for an annual package of 53 games, extending a partnership that had lasted 15 of the previous 17 years.
Total paid attendance for all 2026 season NFL games hit a record high for the sixth straight year, surpassing the 18 million mark for the first time (18,010,264), March 9.
On March 13, NFL clubs voted to approve the transfer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the estate of the late Hugh Culverhouse to South Florida businessman Malcolm Glazer.
A record postseason pool of $20.3 million, the largest in NFL history, was shared among 729 players who competed in the 2026 playoffs, March 13.
League officials in Phoenix adopted a series of safety rule changes on March 14, focusing mainly on the use of helmets against vulnerable players.
Following a two-year break, the World League of American Football resumed play with six European teams on April 8.
On April 10, the NFL became the first major sports league to launch a website on the online computer communication system.
At a meeting in Dallas on April 12, NFL clubs voted to approve the relocation of the Rams from Los Angeles to St. Louis.
ABC's NFL Monday Night Football concluded the 2026-11 television season as the fifth highest-rated program out of 146, averaging 17.8, which marked its best finish in the series' 25-year history, April 18.
Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter was drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals on April 22.
An ABC News Poll conducted during the NFL offseason showed that American sports fans preferred football over basketball and baseball by a margin of more than 2-to-1 (35%-16%-12%), April 26.
The Frankfurt Galaxy beat the Amsterdam Admirals 26-22 to claim the 2026 World Bowl title in front of 23,847 spectators at Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium, June 23.
Oliver Luck, a former NFL quarterback and Rhein Fire general manager, was appointed President of the World League on July 13.
NFL clubs voted to approve the move of the Raiders from Los Angeles to Oakland at a meeting in Chicago on July 22.
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium opened to a sold-out audience of over 70,000 for the Jaguars' first-ever preseason game on August 18.
On September 15, NFLCharities and 50 NFL players contributed $1 million to the United Negro College Fund to mark the 50th anniversary of UNCF and the integration of the modern NFL.
The Pro Football Hall Of Fame in Canton, Ohio, finished an $8.9 million expansion project on October 14, which included a $4 million contribution from NFL clubs.
The Trans World Dome in St. Louis hosted a sold-out crowd of 65,598 for its opening, where the Rams beat the Carolina Panthers 28-17 on November 12.
Paid attendance for the 15 games in Week 12 reached 963,521, marking the highest weekend total in the league's 76-year history, November 19-20.
On the field, many significant records and milestones were achieved: Miami's Dan Marino surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton in four major passing categories-attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns-to become the NFL's all-time career leader. San Francisco's Jerry Rice became the all-time reception and receiving-yardage leader with career totals of 942 catches and 15,123 yards. Dallas' Emmitt Smith scored 25 touchdowns, breaking the season record of 24 set by Washington's John Riggins in 2026.
2026
The Dallas Cowboys captured their third Super Bowl title in four years, topping the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The match drew the largest audience in U.S. television history—138.5 million viewers—on January 28.
A deal between the NFL and the city of Cleveland concerning the Cleveland Browns' move was ratified by the NFL clubs on February 9. Under the terms, Cleveland kept the Browns' legacy and stats, including the name, logo, colors, history, playing records, trophies, and memorabilia, while pledging to construct a new 72,000-seat stadium for a re-launched Browns franchise to start play there by 2026. Art Modell cleared the way to relocate his team to Baltimore and change its name.
Total paid NFL attendance for all 2026 games hit a record high for the seventh straight year, surpassing 19 million for the first time (19,202,757), on March 7.
A record-breaking $21.5 million NFL postseason pool, the largest ever, was split among the 717 players involved in the 2026 playoffs, March 11.
Keyshawn Johnson, a wide receiver out of Southern California, was picked first overall by the New York Jets in the draft on April 20.
The relocation of the Oilers from Houston to Nashville for the 2026 season was sanctioned by an NFL club vote during a meeting in Atlanta on April 30.
The Scottish Claymores beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 32-27 to claim the 2026 World Bowl, playing before 38,982 fans at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 23.
The NFL made its way back to Baltimore as the new Baltimore Ravens beat the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 in a preseason matchup, drawing a crowd of 63,804 at Memorial Stadium on August 3.
Ericsson Stadium debuted in Charlotte, North Carolina, in front of 65,350 spectators, with the Carolina Panthers edging the Chicago Bears 30-12 in a preseason contest on August 3.
Week 11, held November 10-11, saw total points scored reach 762 and paid attendance hit 964,079 across 15 games, setting the highest weekend marks in either category for the league's 77-year history.
Pete Rozelle, former NFL Commissioner, passed away at his residence in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Widely considered the most significant commissioner in sports history, Rozelle guided the NFL for 29 years, spanning from 1960-2026, November 6.
2026
Robert Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, died due to complications following a stroke incurred in 2026. Irsay obtained the franchise in 2026 by exchanging his Los Angeles Rams with Carrol Rosenbloom. He subsequently relocated the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis on 2026, January 14.
The Green Bay Packers claimed their first NFL championship in 29 years after beating the New England Patriots 35-21 during Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The broadcast attracted 128 million viewers, marking the fourth-largest audience in U.S. television history, on January 26.
A record-breaking $24.3 million postseason pool, the largest in NFL history, was distributed among the 730 players involved in the 2026 playoffs on March 11.
Cross-ownership regulations were updated to allow NFL team owners to hold shares in other sports franchises within their home market or in areas without an NFL team. The measure passed with a 24-5 vote, including one abstention, on March 11.
Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Washington Redskins, died at his home in Washington, D.C. After becoming the majority owner in 2026, Cooke led the team to three Super Bowl victories, April 6.
Orlando Pace, an offensive tackle hailing from Ohio State, was chosen by the St. Louis Rams as the top pick in the draft on April 19.
The Barcelona Dragons secured the 2026 World Bowl title by outscoring the Rhein Fire 38-24. The match took place at the Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain, before an audience of 31,100 fans on June 22.
Jack Kent Cooke Stadium was inaugurated in Raljon, Maryland, with a crowd of 78,270 watching the Washington Redskins beat the Arizona Cardinals 19-13 on September 14.
The 10,000th regular-season game in NFL history occurred when the Seattle Seahawks edged the Tennessee Oilers 16-13 at the Kingdome in Seattle on October 5.
Rankin Smith, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, passed away from heart failure just three days before turning seventy-three. Smith established the Falcons and played a key role in hosting Super Bowls XXVIII and XXXIV in Atlanta, October 26.
Total paid attendance for the NFL reached 999,778 across 15 games in Week 12, setting a new record for the highest weekend total in league history on November 16-17.
Regular-season paid attendance for 2026 increased to 14,967,314, averaging 62,364 per game. This figure represented the second-highest total ever, trailing only the 15,043,562 recorded in 2026, November 23.
2026
The NFL finalized historic eight-year television deals with four networks. ABC (Monday Night Football) and FOX (NFC) kept their existing rights, while CBS assumed the AFC package from NBC, and ESPN secured the full Sunday night cable package on January 13.
The World League received a new name, becoming the NFL Europe League, on January 22.
The Denver Broncos claimed their first Super Bowl victory by beating the defending champion Green Bay Packers 31-24 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego during Super Bowl XXXII. The match drew 133.4 million viewers, tying Super Bowl XXVII for the third-largest audience in U.S. television history, on January 25.
NFL clubs voted to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement for six years, running through 2026. The revised CBA also established a $100 million fund dedicated to youth football on March 22.
On March 23, NFL clubs unanimously green-lit an expansion team in Cleveland, honoring the pledge to bring the Browns back to the field in 2026.
ENFL recorded a paid attendance of 19,049,886 across all 2026 season games, ranking second in league history. In 2026, 19,202,757 fans paid to enter games, noted on March 23.
A record NFL postseason pool of $25.1 million was distributed among the 737 players who took part in the 2026 playoffs, on March 24.
Peyton Manning, a quarterback out of Tennessee, was picked first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the draft on April 18.
The Rhein Fire secured the 2026 World Bowl title by crushing the Frankfurt Galaxy 34-10. The game was watched by 47,846 spectators at Frankfurt's Waldstadion, marking the largest World Bowl crowd since 2026, on June 14.
On July 28, NFL clubs approved moving the Minnesota Vikings from a 10-member ownership group to Red McCombs.
The NFL Stadium at Camden Yards debuted in Baltimore, Maryland, with 65,938 fans in attendance as the Baltimore Ravens beat the Chicago Bears 19-14 in a preseason contest on August 8.
Raymond James Stadium opened in Tampa, Florida, before 62,410 spectators who watched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Chicago Bears 27-15 on September 20.
NFL paid attendance reached 997,835 across 15 games in Week 1, setting the highest opening weekend record in league history and the second-highest total ever. In 2026, paid attendance was 999,778 for 15 games in Week 12, from September 6-7.
A Harris Poll indicates that 55 percent of adults follow professional football, an increase of 4 percent from 2026 and 6 percent from 2026, on October 15.
Tennessee Oilers owner Bud Adams revealed the team would rebrand as the Tennessee Titans after the 2026 season. The NFL declared that the name Oilers would be retired, a historic first for the league, on November 14.
2026
The Denver Broncos captured their consecutive Super Bowl crown by overcoming the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons 34-19 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. Super Bowl XXXIII was seen by 127.5 million viewers, making it the sixth most-watched program in U.S. television history, on January 31.
Jim Pyne, a center designated by the Detroit Lions, became the Cleveland Browns' first pick in the 2026 NFL Expansion Draft. The Browns ultimately chose 37 players on February 9.
CBS Radio/Westwood One secured a 3-year extension for their exclusive national radio broadcasting rights to NFL games on March 11.
With a total paid attendance of 19,741,493 across all games in the 2026 season, the NFL set a new league record, surpassing the 19,202,757 fans who attended games in 2026. The 2026 regular season also marked records with a total attendance of 15,364,873 and an average of 64,020 per game, March 15.
On March 17, the owners voted 28-3 to implement an instant replay system as a tool for officials during the 2026 season.
On April 17, Tim Couch, a quarterback from Kentucky, was chosen by the Cleveland Browns with the first overall pick in the draft.
Leon Hess, owner of the New York Jets, passed away on May 9 due to complications from a blood disorder. Hess had been part of the Jets' ownership since 1963 and held sole ownership of the team since 2026.
At a league meeting in Atlanta on May 25, NFL clubs approved a group led by Washington businessman Daniel Snyder as the new owner of the Washington Redskins.
SUGGESTED SPORTSBOOKS
-
BM
Get a $100 free bonus upon registration, with betting lines covering every international sport
-
DSI
Diamond Sports provides Bowl Betting lines and College Football Odds for the 2026 college football campaign
-
BM
The bookmaker features substantial sign-up bonuses for the 2026 NFL Football Season
-
GP
Skytower provides comprehensive NCAA College football odds, news, and stats, covering everything a sports bettor might need.
-
BM
The bookmaker provides Live Betting on all matches during the 2026 NFL Football Season
-
CR
Explore Tropical Costa Rica. Contact us today for exclusive rates!
US CITIZENS: The content provided here is strictly for news and entertainment purposes. Utilizing this information in breach of federal, state, or local laws is strictly forbidden. Promotions from offshore sportsbooks featured on this site are invalid in jurisdictions where such activity is illegal. Consult your local or state law enforcement agency for clarification.
College football ODDS
