HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL  

HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Selected moments from past

No comments | 6. November 1869 - 6. February 2011

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HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

30 events | No comments | 6. November 1869 - 6. February 2011

1869-11-06

Rutgers and Princeton

Rutgers and Princeton played a college soccer football game, the first ever, November 6. The game used modified London Football Association rules. During the next seven years, rugby gained favor with the major eastern schools over soccer, and...

6. November 1869

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1876-01-01

the first rules for American football

At the Massasoit convention, the first rules for American football were written. Walter Camp, who would become known as the father of American football, first became involved with the game.

1. January 1876

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1892-11-12

first professional football player.

In an era in which football was a major attraction of local athletic clubs, an intense competition between two Pittsburgh area clubs, the Allegheny Athletic Association (AAA) and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club (PAC), led to the making of the first...

12. November 1892

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1893-01-01

first known pro football contract

The Pittsburgh Athletic Club signed one of its players, probably halfback Grant Dibert, to the first known pro football contract, which covered all of the PAC’s games for the year.

1. January 1893

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1902-11-21

National Football League.

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...

21. November 1902

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1903-03-13

Pro football

The Franklin (Pa.) Athletic Club won the second and last World Series of pro football over the Oreos AC of Asbury Park, New Jersey; the Watertown Red and Blacks; and the Orange AC. Pro football was popularized in Ohio when the Massillon Tigers, a...

13. March 1903

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1920-08-20

American Professional Football Conference.

Pro football was in a state of confusion due to three major problems: dramatically rising salaries; players continually jumping from one team to another following the highest offer; and the use of college players still enrolled in school...

20. August 1920

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1923-01-01

Franchises considered to be part of the NFL fielded teams.

For the first time, all of the franchises considered to be part of the NFL fielded teams. Thorpe played his second and final season for the Oorang Indians. Against the Bears, Thorpe fumbled, and Halas picked up the ball and returned it 98 yards for a...

1. January 1923

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1925-01-04

Five new franchises were admitted to the NFL

Five new franchises were admitted to the NFL—the New York Giants, who were awarded to Tim Mara and Billy Gibson for $500; the Detroit Panthers, featuring Jimmy Conzelman as owner, coach, and tailback; the Providence Steam Roller; a new Canton Bulldogs...

4. January 1925

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1933-01-01

Three new franchises joined the league

The NFL, which long had followed the rules of college football, made a number of significant changes from the college game for the first time and began to develop rules serving its needs and the style of play it preferred...

1. January 1933

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1940-12-08

Most decisive victory in NFL history

A six-team rival league, the third to call itself the American Football League, was formed, and the Columbus Bullies won its championship. Halas’ Bears, with additional coaching by Clark Shaughnessy of Stanford, defeated the Redskins 73-0 in the NFL...

8. December 1940

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1951-12-23

Championship Game was televised

The Pro Bowl game, dormant since 1942, was revived under a new format matching the allstars of each conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The American Conference defeated the National Conference 28-27, January 14...

23. December 1951

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1955-08-28

Overtime rule

The sudden-death overtime rule was used for the first time in a preseason game between the Rams and Giants at Portland, Oregon, August 28. The Rams won 23-17 three minutes into overtime. A rule change declared the ball dead immediately if the ball...

28. August 1955

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1958-01-29

The bonus selection in the draft was eliminated

The bonus selection in the draft was eliminated, January 29. The last selection was quarterback King Hill of Rice by the Chicago Cardinals. Halas reinstated himself as coach of the Bears. Jim Brown of Cleveland gained an NFL-record 1,527 yards rushing..

29. January 1958

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1959-08-14

American Football League

Lamar Hunt of Dallas announced his intentions to form a second pro football league. The first meeting was held in Chicago, August 14, and consisted of Hunt representing Dallas; Bob Howsam, Denver; K.S...

14. August 1959

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1960-06-18

AFL signed a five-year television contract

Pete Rozelle was elected NFL Commissioner as a compromise choice on the twentythird ballot, January 26. Rozelle moved the league offices to New York City. Hunt was elected AFL president for 1960, January 26...

18. June 1960

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1963-01-08

The winningest head coach in NFL history

Don Shula, who went on to become the winningest head coach in NFL history, replaced Weeb Ewbank as head coach of the Colts, January 8. Paul Brown, head coach of the Browns since their inception, was fired on Januar y 9 and replaced the following day...

8. January 1963

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1966-02-01

The AFL-NFL war reached its peak

1966 The AFL-NFL war reached its peak, as the leagues spent a combined $7 million to sign their 1966 draft choices. The NFL signed 75 percent of its 232 draftees, the AFL 46 percent of its 181...

1. February 1966

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1971-01-24

The first AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Los Angeles,

Baltimore defeated Dallas 16-13 on Jim O’Brien’s 32-yard field goal with five seconds to go in Super Bowl V at Miami, January 17. The NFC defeated the AFC 27-6 in the first AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Los Angeles, January 24...

24. January 1971

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1974-04-01

Sweeping rules changes

Miami defeated Minnesota 24-7 in Super Bowl VIII at Houston, the second consecutive Super Bowl championship for the Dolphins, January 13. Rozelle was given a 10-year contract effective January 1, 1973, February 27...

1. April 1974

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1977-01-09

A collective bargaining agreement

1977 Oakland defeated Minnesota 32-14 in Super Bowl XI at Pasadena, January 9. The paid attendance was a pro record 103,438. The NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council ratified a collective bargaining agreement extending until 1982,...

9. January 1977

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1982-01-24

Contract with the three television networks

San Francisco defeated Cincinnati 26-21 in Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Silverdome, in the first Super Bowl held in the North, January 24. The CBS telecast achieved the highest rating of any televised sports event ever, 49.1 with a 73.0 share...

24. January 1982

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1985-01-20

Super Bowl XIX

1985 San Francisco defeated Miami 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California, January 20. President Ronald Reagan, who took his second oath of office before tossing the coin for the game, was one of 115,936,000 viewers...

20. January 1985

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1988-01-31

Super Bowl XXII

Washington defeated Denver 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII to earn its second victory this decade in the NFL Championship Game. The game, played for the first time in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, drew a sellout crowd of 73,302...

31. January 1988

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1993-01-25

"NFL World Partnership Program"

The NFL and lawyers for the players announced a settlement of various lawsuits and an agreement on the terms of a seven-year deal that included a new player system to be in place through the 1999 season, January 6...

25. January 1993

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1998-01-22

NFL Europe League

1998 The NFL reached agreement on record eight-year television contracts with four networks. ABC (NFL Monday Night Football) and FOX (NFC) retained their previous rights, CBS took over the AFC package from NBC, and ESPN won the right to broadcast the...

22. January 1998

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2000-01-30

Super Bowl XXXIV

New York businessman Robert Wood Johnson IV was approved by NFL clubs as the new owner of the New York Jets at a league meeting, January 18. The St. Louis Rams won their first Super Bowl by defeating the AFC champion Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Super...

30. January 2000

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2001-01-28

Super Bowl XXXV

NFL clubs approved additional league-wide revenue sharing at a special league meeting in Dallas. The teams agreed to pool the visiting team share of gate receipts for all preseason and regular-season games and divide the pool equally starting in...

28. January 2001

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2007-02-04

Super Bowl XLI

The Indianapolis Colts won their second Super Bowl, defeating the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida, February 4. Both teams were coached by African-Americans: Tony Dungy of the Colts and Lovie Smith of the Bears..

4. February 2007

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2011-02-06

Super Bowl XLV

The NFL appointed Pro Football Hall of Famers Ronnie Lott and John Madden as cochairs of a new Player Safety Advisory Panel. The panel provides recommendations on a variety of safety-related football matters, while taking a long-term view towards...

6. February 2011

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