Who was the first team in the NFL?

Answer 1

In 1920 the teams were; Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Decatur Staleys, Rock Island Independents, Dayton Triangles, Chicago Cardinals, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, Detroit Heralds, Chicago Tigers, Columbus Panhandles, Muncie Flyers, Rochester Jeffersons, Hammond Pros.

Of those original teams, only two survive directly to today: The 1920 Decatur Staleys became the 1921 Chicago Staleys, who in 1922 became the Chicago Bears. The 1920 Chicago Cardinals are indeed today's Arizona Cardinals. Also, through a tortured history, it can be argued that todays Indianapolis Colts are descendents of the Dayton Triangles (the Triangles eventually became the Brooklyn Dodgers, who merged with the Boston Yanks, who eventually became the New York Yanks, who folded after 1951. The remants of this franchise were reborn as the 1952 Dallas Texans, which folded midseason. The remnants of the Texans became the 1953 Baltimore Colts, although for some reason the league does not acknowledge this Colts lineage)

Answer 2

The American Professional Football Conference changed its name to the National Football League on June 24, 1922. According to NFL.Com Jim Thorpe became part of the NFL in 1913 when he played for the Pine Village Pros in Indiana. So clearly we see the NFL taking its roots back to the Athletic Club Era.

In 1892 two teams from the Pittsburgh area played each other, the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. William (Pudge) Heffelfinger was paid $500 by Allegheny to play in a game becoming the first person to be paid to play football, November 12, 1892.

In 1899 Chris O'Brien organized a team playing under the name the Morgan Athletic Club, and played on Chicago's south side. The team was later known as the Normals, before becoming the Cardinals. The Chicago Cardinals, then St. Louis Cardinals, and now the Phoenix Cardinals, is the oldest continuing team in pro football.

Over the next several years the teams moved around and Ohio became the center for football. According to NFL.com there were at least 7 teams in the Ohio League in1904.

Shelby (Ohio) AC signed a contract with Halfback Charles Follis making him the first known black pro player.

In 1905 Canton Ohio joined the league. In 1906 the forward pass was legalized.

The American Professional Football Association legally changed its name to the National Football League, June 24. 1922. The NFL fielded 18 teams, including an all-Indian team, the Oorang Indians of Marion, Ohio. It featured Jim Thorpe, Joe Guyon, and Pete Calac.

For more info see NFL.com history.

Answer 3

1899 Chris O'Brien formed a neighborhood team, which played under the name the Morgan Athletic Club, on the south side of Chicago. The team later became known as the Normals, then the Racine (for a street in Chicago) Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals, and, in 1994, the Arizona Cardinals. The team remains the oldest continuing operation in pro football. 1902 Baseball's Philadelphia Athletics, managed by Connie Mack, and the Philadelphia Phillies formed professional football teams, joining the Pittsburgh Stars in the first attempt at a pro football league, named the National Football League.

Answer 4

The Chicago bears were the first team in the nfl. They were created by the maker of the nfl, george halas.

Answer 5

Washington Redskins