American Football

History Of The NFL (National Football League)

The National Football League (NFL) was formed in August 1920 as the American Professional Football Conference. One month later the name was changed to the American Professional Football Association and finally in June 1922 the league formally became the National Football League or as it is better known as the NFL.

The game of football has been played professionally in America since 1892 with College Football being the most popular version of the game before the 1960s. The NFL gained popularity following the 1958 NFL Championship Game and the merger in 1969 with the rival American Football League along with the failure of the competitive United States Football League in the 1980s.

The NFL went on to form the World League of American Football in 1991, known simply as NFL Europe until it ceased operations in 2007. The NFL is also responsible for the championship end-of-season game known as the Super Bowl and an all-star game played annually in Hawaii identified as the Pro Bowl.

The NFL shield is one of the most recognized sports logos in the world which was first designed in the 1940s. The logo went through an extreme makeover in 2008 which saw changes including a narrower, taller design, a redesigned football in the shield that now resembles the football that sits on the top of the Super Bowl (Vince Lombardi Championship) Trophy.

What do the eight stars mean on the NFL logo?

The most noticeable change to the logo is a reduction from twenty-five to eight stars on the shield. There is no documentation to explain why there was twenty-five in the first place. The reduction to eight does make sense, though.

The thirty-two NFL teams are spread through a total of eight divisions. Those divisions are evenly split between two conferences. League play-offs pit division finalists through rounds to determine conference champions. The two conference winning teams battle for league supremacy in the Super Bowl Championship game:

 

American Football Conference

 

 

AFC East Teams

 

Buffalo Bills

Established in 1960, the Buffalo Bills are known for having a few records in the American football history. They have never won a Super Bowl, yet they appeared four consecutive times. They have won four conference championships.

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Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins were established in 1966 and are among the American football teams with the most dedicated fans. They have won back to back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973. In 1972 they finished with a Perfect Season, going 17-0. They also have five conference championships.

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New England Patriots

The New England Patriots were established in 1960. Over the past decades, the team has grabbed the Super Bowl title six times, not to mention the nine conference championships.

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New York Jets

The New York Jets have been through one name change since it was established in 1959. Also, it has one Super Bowl title in its history – 1968, when Joe Namath guaranteed the win.

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AFC North Team

 

Baltimore Ravens

Established in 1996, the Baltimore Ravens are among the new American football names. They have won two conference championships and two Super Bowl wins.

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Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals were created about half a century ago, in 1968. Although the team has won two conference championships, it is one of the teams that has never won a Super Bowl.

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Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are one of the oldest American football teams. Established in 1946, they have won 11 conference championships. They have won the Championship title 4 times. But since the Super Bowl did not begin until 1966, they are noted as not having won any Super Bowl championships.

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Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are certainly a veteran team in American football. The team was established in 1933 and won eight conference championships, as well as a league leading six Super Bowls.

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AFC South Teams

 

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are the newest team in American football. They were established in 1999 as an expansion team. They have won their division title 3 times yet are still waiting for their first conference championship and Super Bowl.

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Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts has had an unusual history since they were established in 1953 in Baltimore. They moved to Indianapolis in 1984 after they were unable to come to terms for building a new stadium with the city of Baltimore. The Colts have won seven conference championships and two Super Bowl championships.

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Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars were officially established in 1993. They have a short history when compared to other teams, so it has not grabbed any conference or Super Bowl titles so far. They have won their Division title twice.

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Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans were established in 1960 as the Houston Oilers.  They moved to Tennessee in 1997 as the Tennessee Oilers and officially became the Tennessee Titans in 1999.  They were League Champions in 1960 & 1961 before the emergence of the Super Bowl.  Since moving to Tennessee they have 1 conference championship and 3 division titles.

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AFC West Teams

 

Denver Broncos

Also known as the Orange Crush in the 1970s, the Denver Broncos were established in 1960. They have eight conference championships and four Super Bowl wins.

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Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs were established in 1960 as the Dallas Texans.  The team moved to Missouri and took up the new name in 1963.  They have 2 League Championships, prior to the inception of the Super Bowl.  They also won Super Bowl IV in 1969 and now Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

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Las Vegas Raiders Formely The Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders have a pretty rich history since 1960, when it became official. They had a 13 year stint as the Los Angeles Raiders before moving back to Oakland in 1995.  They have won four conference titles and three Super Bowl championships.

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Los Angeles Chargers Formely The San Diego Chargers

Established in 1959, the San Diego Chargers have won one conference championship throughout its history. They also have a League Championship that occurred before the start of the Super Bowl era.

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View our Los Angeles Chargers display cases.

 

National Football Conference

 

NFC East Teams

 

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most prolific American football teams. They are nicknamed “America’s team.”  They were established in 1960 and won 10 conference championships, as well as five Super Bowls.

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New York Giants

The New York Giants are among the oldest and most traditional American football teams. They were established in 1925 and won 11 conference championship titles, 8 league championships, including 4 Super Bowl Championships.

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Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles were established in 1933. They have 3 League Championships, prior to the merger.  They have appeared in 3 Super Bowl games and finally won there 1st Lombardi trophy in 2018 being the underdogs against the New England Patrtiots.

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Washington Commanders Formely The Washington Redskins

Known for its impressive history since 1932, the Washington Redskins have won a total of 5 League Championships, 2 prior to the inception of the Super Bowl.  They have brought the Lombardi home with 3 Super Bowl wins.

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NFC North Teams

 

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears were established almost a century ago, in 1919.  With it’s long history, the team won 8 League Championships, prior to the merger.  The 1985 Bears won Super Bowl XX.

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Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions were established in 1930.  They won 4 League Championships before the Super Bowl era.  However a Super Bowl win has eluded them thus far.

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Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are among the veterans of American football. Established in 1919, the team has won nine conference titles, not to mention the four Super Bowl wins.

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Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings were established in 1961. Despite the four conference championships in its portfolio, the team still has not succeeded in the Super Bowl.

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NFC South Teams

 

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have been in existence since 1965, but it is still waiting for its share of fame. They have 5 division titles but have only won one conference championship throughout their existence.

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Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are relatively new when compared to other American football legends only in existence since 1993. However, over its short history, it has managed to grab 6 division titles and 1 conference championship title. They lost in Super Bowl XXXIX to the Patriots.

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New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints was established about half a century ago – 1966. They have 5 division titles, won one conference title, as well as a Super Bowl.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers became a professional American football team in 1976. They were six time division champions.  In 2002, they won their first and only conference championship title, as well as the Super Bowl vs the Oakland Raiders. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Chiefs in their home Stadium and won their 2nd Super Bowl LV.

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NFC West Teams

 

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have a rich history in American football – established more than a century ago, in 1898.  They were established in Chicago and moved to St. Louis in 1960.  Before the 1988 season, they moved again and became the Arizona Cardinals.  They have 7 division titles as well as 2 league championships prior to the merge.  The Cardinals do not have a Super Bowl win as they lost in Super Bowl XLIII to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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San Francisco 49ers

Created in 1946, the San Francisco 49ers is one of the most prolific American football teams. The 49ers have 19 division titles.  They have won six conference championships, and taken home the Lombardi trophy 5 times.

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Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have moved pretty fast since they were established in 1974. They have won three conference championship titles, as well as one Super Bowl vs the Denver Broncos.

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Los Angeles Rams Formely The St. Louis Rams

The Rams were established in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. After becoming NFL champions in 1945 they moved to Los Angeles.  They moved again in 1995 to St. Louis.  They have 3 league championships, 2 before the Super Bowl era.  They won Super Bowl XXXIV vs the Tennessee Titans in 1999.

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