NFL & NCAA Football News & Stats
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A Brief History of NFL Football
The Earliest Days of USA Football
The American Professional Football Association (APFA) was founded in 1920 before renaming itself the National Football League in 1922.
The first 11 professional football teams were in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and New York. They were the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Dayton Triangles, Decatur Staleys, Hammond Pros, Massillon Tigers, Muncie Flyers, Racine Cardinals, Rochester Jeffersons and Rock Island Independents.
The first APFA game took place on September 26th, 1920, at Douglas Park in Rock Island, Illinois. The Rock Island Independents destroyed the St. Paul Ideals 48-0.
The first season was a tough one for the APFA. Fans didn't pay much attention to the games, nor did the press. Average crowds in the early years ran around 4,000 people per game.
The APFA didn't have a playoff system or championship game like the Super Bowl. The league didn't even choose a champion until four months after the season ended; the championship was decided by ballot.
Players on the championship team received golden fobs in the shape of a football. They were inscribed “World Champions.”
Pre-Super Bowl Era NFL Football
Ten football teams gathered in Canton, Ohio to create the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920, now known as the National Football League (NFL).
Four more teams joined the league later that year, rounding out the 14 original NFL team locations. The teams that joined the league included: Buffalo All-Americans, Chicago Tigers, Columbus Panhandles and Detroit Heralds. The Muncie Flyers played in only one game and dropped out of the league before the season's end on December 19th.
A playoff system was implemented in 1933 that featured a championship game; that system stayed in place until 1966.
The NFL's Super Bowl Era
An agreement was reached after the 1966 season to merge the NFL with the American Football League (AFL.) The leagues held a common draft and instituted a championship game, The Super Bowl.
During the transition period to being one league, the NFL won the first two Super Bowls in 1967 and 1968. An AFL team won Super Bowl III and Super Bowl IV in 1969 and 1970.
The reorganization into one league resulted in the establishment of two conferences. The National Football Conference, or NFC, included most of the NFL teams from before the merger. The American Football Conference, or AFC, included all of the AFL teams, plus three additional pre-merger NFL teams.
The Super Bowl remains the ultimate, championship-deciding football game to this day. It is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
Since the establishment of the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most wins; both teams have won the Super Bowl six times.
Basics of the Game of Football
Specs of the Football Field
The football field, including the end zones, is a 360 feet long by 160 feet wide rectangle. Two rows of hash marks were added near the field's center at one yard intervals in 1933 to assist with spotting the ball between plays.
The field has lines around its perimeter, including sidelines and end lines. The goal lines are on the field of play ten yards from and parallel to the end lines. The field of play must be a league-approved green shade. Areas bounded by goal lines, end lines and sidelines are referred to as end zones.
The NFL rulebook also stipulates some other details about the markings on the field.
- Line Markings: At intervals of 5 yards, yard lines (3-11-9) parallel to the goal lines are marked in the field of play.
- Inbound Lines: In line with the inbound lines there are marks at 1-yard intervals between each distance of 5 yards for the full length of the field.
- Goal Line: Measurements are made from the inside edges of the line marking the boundary lines.
The Football & Other Equipment
The ball is made up of an inflated (12½ to 13½ pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It has the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight shall be: long axis, 11 to 11¼ inches; long circumference, 28 to 28½ inches; short circumference, 21 to 21¼ inches; weight, 14 to 15 ounces.
All players are required to wear the equipment and uniform apparel enumerated below, which must be designed and produced by a professional football equipment manufacturer.
- Helmet, Face Protectors
- Jerseys
- Numerals
- Pants
- Shoulder Pads, Thigh Pads, and Knee Pads
- Game Socks and/or Leg Coverings
- Shoes
The NFL also lists other recommended, optional, and prohibited equipment and apparel.
The Rules of Football
The NFL rulebook is very detailed and has evolved over time. Here are the sections:
- Rule 1. The Field
- Rule 2. The Ball
- Rule 3. Definitions
- Rule 4. Game Timing
- Rule 5. Players, Substitutes, Equipment, General Rules
- Rule 6. Free Kicks
- Rule 7. Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Scrimmage
- Rule 8. Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble
- Rule 9. Scrimmage Kick
- Rule 10. Opportunity to Catch a Kick, Fair Catch
- Rule 11. Scoring
- Rule 12. Player Conduct
- Rule 13. Non-Player Conduct
- Rule 14. Penalty Enforcement (Governing all cases not otherwise specifically provided for)
- Rule 15. Instant Replay
- Rule 16. Overtime Procedures
- Rule 17. Emergencies, Unfair Acts
- Rule 18. Guidelines for Captains
- Rule 19. Officials
American Football Guides and Opinions
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