The National Football League (NFL) is a major football organization founded in 1920. The first president of this organization was Jim Thorpe, who was not only an exceptional athlete on the field, but also a player in the league. When the NFL was founded, there were a total of 14 teams that played during the first season: one from Michigan, two from New York, two from Indiana, four from Illinois, and five teams from Ohio.
The NFL and AFL
Prior to becoming the strongest football league in America, the NFL fought through countless years of instability and competitions with rival organizations. However, one of the greatest contributions to the NFL’s leading role was the American Football League (AFL). In the 1960s, the American Football League (AFL) and the NFL decided to combine themselves into one league. This transition became final in 1970, with a new total of 26 teams. Ever since the NFL and AFL combined together, the league expanded four times and led to the inclusion of six franchises.
Females in the NFL
In 2015, the NFL hired the very first woman coach, Sarah Thomas. As of 2021, there are 38% of women working in the management department, and a total of two women as referees.
Facts about the NFL
- It wasn’t mandatory to wear helmets until 1943
- There are only three teams that have had a perfect winning streak: The Chicago Bears (1934 and 1942), Miami Dolphins (1972), and the most recent, the New England Patriots (2007).
- The Chicago Bears tied 6 games in 1932.
- It costs over 5 million dollars to place a 30-second commercial in the Super Bowl.
- The Dallas Cowboys franchise is worth over 5 billion dollars and is known to be one of the most valuable franchises in all sports.
- With a total of $5 billion, the Dallas Cowboys are the most expensive franchise team alongside any other league.
- Eli and Peyton Manning are the only two brothers to have both won the Super Bowl MVP.
Resources:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Football-League
- Op-Ed: In a year riddled with barriers, women continued to break them (nfl.com)
- https://www.ducksters.com/sports/national_football_league.php
- Which teams have completed a perfect regular season in the NFL?
Photo Credits: Unsplash
