How It StartedOn Aug. 20, 1920, one meeting between representatives of five football teams helped create the National Football League. People representing the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians (not the baseball team), Rock Island Independents and Dayton Triangles convened in Canton, Ohio. From this gathering came the creation of the American Professional Football Conference (APFC). About a month later, on Sept. 17, another conference resulted in the renaming of the league to the American Professional Football Association (AFPA). Members of the AFPA named Jim Thorpe, a back for the Canton Bulldogs at the time and a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, the first president of the league. The AFPA consisted of 14 teams, but only two of them remain in the NFL today, the Decatur Staleys (Chicago Bears) and the Chicago Cardinals (Arizona Cardinals). Finally, on June 24, 1922, the APFA changed its name to the National Football League (NFL). Kicking It OffAs the new league began, teams played both league and non-league opponents and the members of the APFA did not keep official standings in 1920. However, the associates of the APFA awarded the championship to the Akron Pros, who had eight wins, zero losses and three ties. Back then, the league did not have a set number of games to be played, but beginning in 1935, they introduced a 12-game regular season. After this decision, the NFL cut the regular season to 11 games in 1937 and then ten in 1943 due to World War II. The league struggled during the war overseas as players left to serve in the armed forces. The most bizarre thing to have happen during that season was the temporary merging of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers (the Phil-Pitt Steagles). After the war, the regular season returned to 11 games in 1946 and then back to 12 the next season. Famous Players of the Early NFLMany football fans forget some early NFL legends. But I will throw some names out there that truly were influential athletes in the early NFL. And to avoid confusion, the NFL has been around since 1920, and the Super Bowl did not come into existence until 1966 (I'll discuss this topic in a later post). These players played in a completely different era of professional football well before Super Bowl I. Earl "Curly" LambeauA member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, Earl "Curly" Lambeau played for the Green Bay Packers from 1919-1929 as a halfback and kicker. Lambeau earned Second-team All-Pro honors from 1922-1924 and coached the Packers from 1919-1949, winning six NFL Championships. Lambeau also coached the Chicago Cardinals from 1950-1951, and the Washington Redskins from 1952-1953. Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame elected Lambeau into the Hall in 1963. The Green Bay Packers renamed their stadium, City Stadium, to Lambeau Field in 1965 after Lambeau's death earlier that year. "Papa Bear" George HalasAnother member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, George Halas played end, or tight end, for the Decatur Staleys/Chicago Stakeys/Chicago Bears from 1920-1929. (Yes, a lot of renaming for one team). Halas served as the head coach of the franchise from 1920-1967, with 324 victories, and owner from 1920 to his death in 1983. "Papa Bear" won six NFL championships, and the associates of the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him into Canton in 1963. Many years later, the National Football Conference named its trophy the George Halas Trophy. Don HutsonDon Hutson played for the Green Bay Packers as a split end, or wide receiver, from 1935-1945. Hutson recorded 7,991 receiving yards and 99 touchdowns, and won three NFL Championships. Hutson became a member of the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team and the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. The associates of the Pro Football Hall of Fame elected him into Canton with Halas and Lambeau in 1963. "Slingin' Sammy" BaughSammy Baugh played quarterback, defensive back and punter for the Washington Redskins from 1937-1952. Yes! He played offense, defense and special teams throughout his career. Baugh passed for 21,886 yards and 187 touchdowns, recorded 31 intercpetions on defense and averaged 45.1 yards per punt during his career. Baugh became a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. (1963 had an incredible class!) Bob WaterfieldBob Waterfield, a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, earned two Pro Bowls, three First team All-Pro honors and two NFL Championships. Waterfield passed for 11,849 yards and 97 touchdowns and earned the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1945. Waterfield coached for the Los Angeles Rams from 1954-1962, and became a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1965. Marion MOtleyMarion Motley, a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, played fullback and linebacker for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-1953 and Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955. Motley, along with Woody Strode, Kenny Washignton and Bill Willis, broke the NFL's color barrier in 1946. Motley won four straight All-American Football Conference (AAFC, a league that merged with the NFL after the 1949 season) Championhsips from 1946-1949, and an NFL Championship in 1950. Motley became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. That's all for this blog, and next week, I'll continue the timeline of the NFL into the 1950s.
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Daniel Benitez Archives
April 2020
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