What is the National Football League? (NFL)
The National Football League (NFL) is the major American football league in the United States, with 32 clubs competing for the championship. The winner of the league is determined by the end of season Super Bowl which serves as the final game of the championship. Today’s NFL is extremely competitive, allowing fans to watch the finest level of professional American football in the world.
Brief history of NFL
In 1920, professional American football teams from four different states decided to form a professional American football Association to raise the standard of American professional football. In September 1920, representatives of different American football clubs organized a meeting in which they set the foundation of the American Professional Football Association (APFA).
Professional Football teams including the Hammond Pros and Muncie Flyers from Indiana, Dayton, Canton, Cleveland, and Akron from Ohio, Racine Cardinals from Illinois, the Rock Island Independents, Decatur Staleys, and the Rochester Jeffersons from New York, became the founding members of the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The APFA became stronger and more effective as more teams from other states joined the association.
In 1922, the American Professional Football Association was renamed the National Football League (NFL). In the first season of the league, only 18 teams from different states competed for the championship title in the league’s debut season. Initially, the league champions were determined by the league table’s end-of-season standings. Later on, the NFL introduced a playoff system in the league. Learn more about how many teams are in the NFL or what the basics of an NFL match?
Here are some interesting facts about the NFL
- Origins: The NFL was founded on August 20, 1920, in Canton, Ohio, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). It later changed its name to the National Football League in 1922.
- Super Bowl: The Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL and is one of the most-watched sporting events globally. The first Super Bowl was held on January 15, 1967.
- Most Super Bowl Wins: The team with the most Super Bowl victories is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have won the championship game a record six times.
- Tom Brady: Considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Tom Brady has won seven Super Bowl titles, more than any other player in history. He achieved this feat with both the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Vince Lombardi Trophy: The winning team of the Super Bowl is awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
- Thanksgiving Day Games: The NFL tradition includes playing games on Thanksgiving Day. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted Thanksgiving Day games since 1934 and 1966, respectively.
- Franchise Value: The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable NFL franchise, with an estimated value of over $6 billion as of 2021.
- Longest Field Goal: The longest successful field goal in NFL history was kicked by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos on December 8, 2013. He made a 64-yard field goal during a game against the Tennessee Titans. Read more about the Enjoy The Match Supporters who help make this site stay alive!
- International Series: The NFL has been expanding its international presence with the International Series. London has hosted regular-season NFL games since 2007, and Mexico City has hosted games since 2016.
- Instant Replay: The NFL was the first major professional sports league to adopt instant replay for officiating purposes. It was introduced in 1986 to help review and overturn calls on the field.
These are just a few interesting facts about the NFL. The league has a rich history filled with remarkable records, memorable moments, and iconic players that have shaped American football.