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What's The Deal: The Founding of the NFL

From a few leatherheads to a whole lot of greenbacks.

What's The Deal: The Founding of the NFL

August 21, 2021

As the 2021 NFL season kicks off, let's look back at the beginnings of the National Football League.

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Welcome To The NFL nrg CRACKED.co As summer turns to fall, fans across the country rejoice at the return of football, both real and fantasy. Football is so ingrained in American culture that you'd think the Pilgrims brought it over on the Mayflower, but it's a little more recent.

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL College Rules PITY 27 CRACKED COM The game of football was first played at colleges. In fact, the NCAA (est. 1906) is older than the NFL. The first college football head-to-head was between Rutgers and Princeton, on Nov. 6, 1869, kicking off a rivalry that continues today. — Source: History

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Pudge's Payday CRACKED Football spread from there to games mostly across the Midwest. With the payment of $500 to excellent football player and nickname-haver William Pudge Heffelfinger, the first professional football player was created. — Source: Pro Football Hall Of Fame

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Organized Chaos oor 100 100 DOI in (IN) I This CRACKEDO The precedent had been established, but order... had not. Players became frustrated with the lawless non-league, where the best players were constantly poached by the top bidder, also sending salaries sky-high. — Source: History

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Huddle Up CRACKED .COM Chief among the irritated was Ralph Hay, the owner of the Canton Bulldogs. Hay invited representatives from, three other Ohio pro football teams to his auto showroom, where they began laying groundwork for a new league. — Source: History

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Sports Meet RALPH E.HAY JORDAN & HTPMOBILE SERVICE CRACKEDO .COM On September 17, 1920, 11 teams arrived at Hay's showroom: The Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Dayton Triangles, Decatur Staleys, Hammond Pros, Massillon Tigers, Muncie Flyers, Racine Cardinals, Rochester Jeffersons, and the Rock Island Independents. — Source: Pro Football Hall Of Fame

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Making It Official CRACKED.co .COM Several hours (and beers) later, the APFA, or American Professional Football Association, officially entered existence. Along with it came its first ever president, Jim Thorpe, an admired if aging star from the Canton Bulldogs themselves. — Source: History

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Kicking Things Off CANNEA 58 0 CRACKED COM The first ever official APFA game was a face-off between the Rock Island Independents and the St. Paul Ideals, on September 26, 1920. And after the first season, the Akron Pros were voted the champions, and awarded a silver cup... that hasn't been seen since. — Source: History

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The NFL

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Teaming Up sun BRADY 2 CRACKED.COM By 1966, there were two pro football leagues: The APFA (now the NFL) & the American Football League (AFL). On June 8, 1966, the leagues announced a merger, creating not only the modern NFL, but the Super Bowl. The years since are often referred to as the Super Bowl Era. — Source: History

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WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Fields Of Green Wilson NEW CRACKED COM It's safe to say those leatherheads talking shop in a car showroom would be pretty happy with how everything turned out. The NFL isn't just an American pastime, but a profitable one. With upwards of $15 billion dollars a year in total revenue, it's safe to say, pigskin brought home the bacon. — Source: Statista

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