National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of American Football in the USA, and started in 1920 (and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2020). Irish-born players have been involved right from the start
National Football League Irish Players and Coaches
NFL Irish Players and Coaches
ARLINGTON, USA – SEP 15, 2015: Interior view of the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas, United States [Photo Credit; David J. Maldonaldo on Shutterstock.com]
(Strength & Conditioning Coach – Cleveland Browns 2016, Houston Texans 2017)
(Kicker – New York Giants 1980-1981, Baltimore Colts 1982)
(Kicker – Buffalo Bills 1977, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1978-1979, St. Louis Cardinals 1980-1985)
(Chaplain – Pittsburgh Steelers 1974-1976)
(Linebacker – Philadelphia Eagles 1968-1972, Chicago Bears 1972, Detroit Lions 1973)
(Kicker – New York Giants 1965, Atlanta Falcons 1966)
National Football League
The most successful teams in the Ohio League and Upstate New York Pro Football Circuit joined forces in 1920, in attempt at creating a true National Football League, in order to provide a common set of rules and to cut down on the spiralling wage demands, which saw players jump from team to team in search of the best pay packet. This League, the American Professional Football Association, renamed itself the National Football League in 1922, and has since become the most popular sports league in America, although from 1920-1932 it was still a Minor (AAA) League in status.
National Football League Seasons
NFL seasons; NFL preseasons
Photo Contributor – Jamie Lamor Thompson – Players on Field – week #3 of the 2019 NFL Pre-Season Game Atlanta Falcons Host the New York Jets on Thursday August 15th 2019 at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta Georgia USA
National Football League Super Bowl Era (1967-Present)
National Football League Super Bowl 1967-Present
National Football League and American Football League 1966-1969 (Irish Players) (Tom Furlong and Adrian Young)
National Football League 1970-1975 (Irish Players) (Adrian Young)
National Football League (Irish Players) 1976-1987 (Neil O’Donoghue and John Sinnott)
National Football League (Seasons):
National Football League (Preseasons):
1986 1990 1992 1994 1995 2012 2019 2020
National Football League Championship Era (1920-1966)
National Football League Championship Game 1933-1966
National Football League (USA) Champions 1920-1932
National Football League 1920-1925 (Irish Players)
Major League Football (NFL & Independents):
American Football Leagues Era (1923-1983)
Only the American Football League of 1960-1969 has been successful long-term, leading to both the start of the Super Bowl between the AFL Winners and the NFL Winners in 1967 and the eventual merger of the two leagues (They are now the American & National Football Conferences in the NFL – the Super Bowl is still played between the winners of the two Conferences)
The first Major rival to the NFL to use the American Football League name was the AFL of 1926, and from then until 1950 Leagues using this name came and went, usually lasting only one or two seasons. Theses Leagues, however, are notable for the genesis of teams such as the Cleveland (Now Los Angeles) Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore (now Indianapolis) Colts, which later joined the NFL. The AFL of 1960 also reused the names of some of these teams (Buffalo Bills & Cincinnati Bengals), teams which are now also in the NFL.
After the 1950s when the National Football League started playing International games in Canada and against Canadian opposition, and the Canadian Football League and Leagues in the New York Metropolitan Area provided a AAA Alternative to the NFL, new AAA Leagues started up again in the 1960s. The Continental Football League (1965-1969), World Football League (1974-1975) and United States Football League (1983-1985) are the most famous and biggest of these leagues.
Most of these Leagues, in particular the WFL & USFL tried, and failed to become another American Football League of 1960-1969 which was so successful it forced a merger with the NFL, with the winners of the two Leagues (now conferences since the merger in 1970) playing each other in the Super Bowl. (see National Football League )
The United Football League (1961-1964) was the first of these, and then from 1965-1969 the Continental Football League was the first to put teams in both Canada and Mexico.
The Southwestern Football League of 1972-1973 was the precursor to the World Football League (1974-1975) which aimed to bring the sport to the World, although Hawaii was as far as it got. The American Football association of 1977-1983 was another attempt at a AAA League although it was put out of business by the United States Football League (1983-1985) which was the first Major Spring League. It featured High Profile Owners, such as the later US President Donald Trump, but was itself put out of business by the NFL’s collusion with the Major TV Networks to keep it off the air, as was proved in a later anti-trust trial.
American Football Leagues Era (1923-1983)
AAFC 1946-1949; Pacific Pro Football League 1940-1948; AFLs 1926-1944;
American Football Leagues Era Champions:
American Football Leagues Era AAA Champions 1926-1949
American Football Association 1977-1983 (*)
World Football League 1974-1975 (Irish Players)
Southwestern Football League 1972-1973 (*)
Southwestern Football League (Seasons): 1973
All-America Football Conference (Overviews & seasons):
All-American Football Conference 1946-1949
Pacific Coast Pro Football League 1940-1948
American Football Leagues (Overviews):
American Football League 1940-1941
American Football League 1938-1939
American Football League 1936-1937
Pacific Coast and Southern Football Leagues (Seasons):
Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933
California Winter League 1927-1928
American Football Leagues (Overview and Seasons)
National Football League International
National Football League International
NFL International Series; NFL American Bowl;
National Football League International Series (Major League)
National Football League International Regular Season Games in Mexico 2005-Present
National Football League International Regular Season Games in London 2007-Present
National Football League International Regular Season Games in Canada 2008-2013
National Football League American Bowls (Preseason Games):
National Football League Intercontinental 1972-1978
National Football League International Preseason American Bowl in Europe 1986-1997
National Football League International Preseason American Bowl in Canada 1988-Present
National Football League International Preseason American Bowl in Japan 1989-2005
National Football League International Preseason American Bowl in Mexico 1994-2001
National Football League International Preseason American Bowl in Australia 1999
National Football League v Other Leagues
NFL v Other Leagues
NFL v CFL;
NFL/AFL v Canadian Football League Internationals (1926-1969) :
National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969
National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961
Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948
American Football League International 1926
NFL v American Football Leagues (1927-1942)
Whilst not strictly speaking International matches, the National Football League has also played matches against American Football League teams in the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.
National Football League v American Football League 1927-1928
California Winter League 1927-1928
Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933
National Football League v Pacific Coast Football League 1936
National Football League Teams
The most successful teams in the Ohio League and Upstate New York Pro Football Circuit joined forces in 1920, in attempt at creating a true National Football League, in order to provide a common set of rules and to cut down on the spiralling wage demands, which saw players jump from team to team in search of the best pay packet. This League, the American Professional Football Association, renamed itself the National Football League in 1922, and has since become the most popular sports league in America, although from 1920-1932 it was still a Minor (AAA) League in status.
National Football League Teams
NFL seasons; NFL preseasons
National Football League Teams in Chronological Order of Current Identity.
Defunct Teams, Retired Names and Abandoned Cities (NFL)