This timeline of the National Football League (NFL) tracks the history of each of the league's 32 current franchises from the early days of the league, through its merger with the American Football League (AFL). The history of franchises that began as independent teams, or as members of the Ohio League, New York Pro Football League, and other defunct leagues are shown as well.
DateFormat = yyyyImageSize = width:1100 height:auto barincrement:25PlotArea = left:20 right:20 bottom:20 top:20
Period = from:1885 till:2024TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
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id:columbia_blue value:rgb(0.35,0.57,0.8)
id:49ers_lightgold value:rgb(0.85,0.62,0.46) id:49ers_red value:rgb(0.58,0.0,0.16) id:bengals_orange value:rgb(1,0.15,0.0) id:black value:rgb(0.0,0.0,0.0) id:black2 value:rgb(0.06,0.11,0.14) id:browns_brown value:rgb(0.3,0.14,0.05) id:buccaneers_gray value:rgb(0.2,0.19,0.17) id:buccaneers_tan value:rgb(0.4,0.36,0.31) id:cardinals_gold value:rgb(1,0.77,0.05) id:cardinals_red value:rgb(0.69,0.01,0.22) id:celtsgold value:rgb(0.93,0.86,0.51) id:chargers_blue value:rgb(0.02,0.09,0.23) id:chargers_lightblue value:rgb(0.06,0.51,0.72) id:chiefs_black value:rgb(0.0,0.0,0.0) id:chiefs_red value:rgb(0.77,0.0,0.14) id:colts_blue value:rgb(0.0,0.25,0.49) id:darkblue value:rgb(0.0,0.07,0.25) id:darkblue2 value:rgb(0.0,0.16,0.36) id:darkblue3 value:rgb(0.0,0.18,0.3) id:dolphins_orange value:rgb(1,0.39,0.16) id:dolphins_teal value:rgb(0.0,0.42,0.47) id:eagles_green value:rgb(0.0,0.18,0.19) id:eagles_silver value:rgb(0.93,0.93,0.93) id:falcons_black value:rgb(0.14,0.12,0.13) id:falcons_red value:rgb(0.65,0.1,0.19) id:giants_darkblue value:rgb(0.0,0.19,0.33) id:gold value:rgb(1,0.75,0.0) id:jaguars_teal value:rgb(0.0,0.51,0.61) id:jets_green value:rgb(0.09,0.25,0.2) id:lightblue value:rgb(0.0,0.5,0.75) id:lions_black value:rgb(0.93,0.95,0.97) id:lions_lightblue value:rgb(0.0,0.43,0.63) id:lions_white value:rgb(0.96,0.96,0.96) id:orange value:rgb(1,0.39,0.17) id:packers_green value:rgb(0.16,0.26,0.22) id:panthers_teal value:rgb(0.0,0.59,0.77) id:patriots_silver value:rgb(0.78,0.79,0.8) id:raiders_silver value:rgb(0.71,0.73,0.74) id:rams_gold value:rgb(0.75,0.63,0.36) id:ravens_gold value:rgb(0.96,0.64,0.169) id:ravens_purple value:rgb(0.17,0.01,0.36) id:red value:rgb(0.84,0.19,0.23) id:red2 value:rgb(0.93,0.18,0.17) id:redskins_darkred value:rgb(0.55,0.0,0.1) id:saints_black value:rgb(0.0,0.04,0.09) id:saints_light_gold value:rgb(0.77,0.66,0.46) id:seahawks_darkblue value:rgb(0.01,0.06,0.12) id:seahawks_green value:rgb(0.24,0.54,0.22) id:seahawks_lime value:rgb(0.41,0.75,0.16) id:silver value:rgb(0.63,0.65,0.67) id:titans_dark_blue value:rgb(0.0,0.17,0.29) id:vikings_gold value:rgb(1,0.67,0.17) id:vikings_purple value:rgb(0.14,0.04,0.4)
ScaleMajor = start:1890 increment:10 gridcolor:majorGridColor
LineData = at:1920 color:lineColor layer:back width:0.66 #APFA (later NFL) forms at:1946 color:lineColor layer:back width:0.66 #AAFC forms at:1960 color:lineColor layer:back width:0.66 #AFL forms at:1966 color:lineColor layer:back width:0.66 #Super Bowl Debuts (Jan. 1967) at:1970 color:lineColor layer:back width:0.66 #AFL–NFL merger
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Define $Right = anchor:till align:left shift:(2,)Define $RightMargin = anchor:till align:right shift:(-2,)Define $RightIn = anchor:till align:right shift:(-25,)
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Define $champ = text:"•" textcolor:white fontsize:L shift:(5,-1)
TextData = pos:(25,265) textcolor:black tabs:(60-left) text:"• won NFL championship (1920–65) or Super Bowl (1966–present)" text: text:"1920^formation of the APFA (later renamed NFL)" text:"1946^formation of the AAFC" text:"1960^formation of the AFL" text:"1966^first Super Bowl played (Jan. 1967)" text:"1970^NFL–AFL merger" text: text:"Ind^independent team" text:"Ohio^Ohio League, active 1903–1919" text:"NY^New York Pro Football League, active 1908–19" text:"AFL I^American Football League, active 1926" text:"Midwest^Midwest Football League, active 1935–40" text:"AFL II^American Football League, active 1936–37" text:"AAFC^All-America Football Conference, active 1946–49" text:"AFL^American Football League, active 1960–69"
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bar:Cardinals #Arizona Cardinals bar:Panhandles #Columbus Panhandles/Tigers bar:Heralds #Detroit Heralds/Tigers bar:Flyers #Muncie Flyers bar:RockIsland #Rock Island Independents bar:AkronPros #Akron Pros / Indians bar:Jeffs #Rochester Jeffersons bar:Canton #Canton Pros-Bulldogs bar:Triangles #Dayton Triangles/Brooklyn Dodgers bar:Buff #Buffalo All Americans / Bisons / Rangers bar:Bears #Chicago Bears bar:ChiTigers #Chicago Tigers bar:Hammond #Hammond Pros bar:Cleveland #Cleveland Tigers
bar:Brecks #Louisville Breckenridges bar:Kardex #Tonawanda Kardex bar:Marines #Minneapolis Marines bar:Packers #Green Bay Packers bar:Celts #Cincinnati Celts bar:Evansville #Evansville Crimson Giants bar:Brickley #New York (Brickley) Giants bar:Senators #Washington Senators
bar:Toledo #Toledo/Kenosha Maroons bar:RacineLegion #Racine Legion bar:Oorang #Oorang Indians bar:Badgers #Milwaukee Badgers
bar:CleBulldogs #Cleveland Indians/Bulldogs bar:Duluth #Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos bar:Allstars #St. Louis All-Stars
bar:YellowJack #Frankford Yellow Jackets bar:KCBlues #Kansas City Blues/Cowboys
bar:Steam #Providence Steam Roller bar:Pottsville #Pottsville Maroons/Boston Bulldogs bar:NYGiants #New York Giants bar:DetPanthers #Detroit Panthers
bar:Blues #Hartford Blues bar:LionHorse #Brooklyn Lions-Horsemen bar:LABucs #Los Angeles Buccaneers
bar:NYYankees #New York Yankees
bar:Wolverines #Detroit Wolverines
bar:Orange #Orange Tornadoes bar:Stapes #Staten Island Stapletons bar:RedJackets #Minneapolis Red Jackets
bar:DetLions #Detroit Lions
bar:CLE_IND #Cleveland Indians
bar:Redskins #Washington Redskins/Commanders
bar:PhillyEagles #Philadelphia Eagles bar:Steelers #Pittsburgh Steelers bar:Reds #Cincinnati Reds
bar:Gunners #St. Louis Gunners
bar:Rams #Cleveland/St. Louis/LA Rams
bar:Steagles #Phil-Pitt Steagles
bar:BostonYanks #Boston Yanks-Bulldogs bar:CardPitt #Card-Pitt
bar:Dons #LA Dons bar:AAFCcolts #AAFC Baltimore Colts bar:49ers #San Francisco 49ers bar:Browns #Cleveland Browns
bar:IndyColts #Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts bar:DalCowboys #Dallas Cowboys bar:Vikings #Minnesota Vikings bar:Falcons #Atlanta Falcons bar:Saints #New Orleans Saints bar:Patriots #Boston/New England Patriots bar:Bills #Buffalo Bills bar:Bengals #Cincinnati Bengals bar:Broncos #Denver Broncos bar:TenTitans #Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans bar:Chiefs #Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs bar:Dolphins #Miami Dolphins bar:NYJets #New York Jets bar:Raiders #LA/Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders bar:Chargers #San Diego/LA Chargers bar:Seahawks #Seattle Seahawks bar:Bucs #Tampa Bay Buccaneers bar:CarPanthers #Carolina Panthers bar:Jaguars #Jacksonville Jaguars bar:Ravens #Baltimore Ravens bar:HouTexans #Houston Texans
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bar:49ers from:1946 till:1950 color:notpro $Left text:"(AAFC)" bar:49ers from:1950 till:end color:49ers_red textcolor:49ers_lightgold $RightIn text:"San Francisco 49ers"
at:49ers at:1981 $champ mark:(line, 49ers_red) at:49ers at:1984 $champ mark:(line, 49ers_red) at:49ers at:1988 $champ mark:(line, 49ers_red) at:49ers at:1989 $champ mark:(line, 49ers_red) at:49ers at:1994 $champ mark:(line, 49ers_red)
bar:AAFCcolts from:1946 till:1950 color:notpro $Left text:"(AAFC)" bar:AAFCcolts from:1950 till:1951 color:kellygreen $Right text:"Baltimore Colts"
bar:AkronPros from:1908 till:1920 color:notpro text:"(Ohio)" bar:AkronPros from:1920 till:1927 color:blue $Right text:"Akron Pros" bar:AkronPros at:1920 $champ mark:(line, black)
bar:Bears from:1919 till:1920 color:notpro $Left text:"Decatur Staleys (Ind)" bar:Bears from:1920 till:1921 color:darkblue textcolor:orange $Left bar:Bears from:1921 till:1922 color:orange textcolor:white $UpRight text:"Chicago ~Staleys" bar:Bears from:1922 till:end color:darkblue textcolor:orange $RightIn text:"Chicago Bears"
at:Bears at:1921 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Bears at:1932 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1933 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1940 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1941 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1943 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1946 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1963 $champ mark:(line, darkblue) at:Bears at:1985 $champ mark:(line, darkblue)
bar:Bengals from:1968 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:Bengals from:1970 till:end color:black2 textcolor:bengals_orange $RightIn text:"Cincinnati Bengals"
bar:Bills from:1960 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:Bills from:1970 till:end color:red2 textcolor:darkblue $RightIn text:"Buffalo Bills"
bar:BostonYanks from:1944 till:1945 color:kellygreen $UpLeft text:"Boston Yanks" bar:BostonYanks from:1945 till:1946 color:gray2 $Down text:"The Yanks" bar:BostonYanks from:1946 till:1949 color:kellygreen $Up bar:BostonYanks from:1949 till:1950 color:blue $UpLeftMargin text:"New York Bulldogs / Yanks" bar:BostonYanks from:1950 till:1952 color:silver bar:BostonYanks from:1952 till:1953 color:darkblue3 $DownRight text:"Dallas Texans"
bar:LionHorse from:1926 till:1927 color:red $Left text:"Brooklyn Lions/Horsemen"
bar:Broncos from:1960 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:Broncos from:1970 till:end color:orange textcolor:darkblue3 $RightIn text:"Denver Broncos" at:Broncos at:1997 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:Broncos at:1998 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:Broncos at:2015 $champ mark:(line, orange)
bar:Browns from:1946 till:1950 color:notpro $Left text:"(AAFC)" bar:Browns from:1950 till:1996 color:orange textcolor:browns_brown text:"Cleveland Browns" bar:Browns from:1999 till:end color:orange textcolor:browns_brown $RightIn text:"Cleveland Browns" at:Browns at:1950 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Browns at:1954 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:Browns at:1955 $champ mark:(line, orange) at:Browns at:1964 $champ mark:(line, orange)
bar:Ravens from:1996 till:end color:ravens_purple textcolor:ravens_gold $RightIn text:"Baltimore Ravens" at:Ravens at:2000 $champ mark:(line, ravens_purple) at:Ravens at:2012 $champ mark:(line, ravens_purple)
bar:Bucs from:1976 till:end color:red textcolor:buccaneers_gray $RightIn text:"Tampa Bay Buccaneers" at:Bucs at:2002 $champ mark:(line, red) at:Bucs at:2020 $champ mark:(line, red)
bar:Buff from:1915 till:1920 color:notpro $Left text:"Buffalo All-Stars" bar:Buff from:1918 till:1919 color:notpro #text:"Buffalo Niagaras" bar:Buff from:1919 till:1920 color:notpro $NY #text:"B. Prospects" bar:Buff from:1920 till:1924 color:orange #text:"B. All-Americans" bar:Buff from:1924 till:1926 color:black #text:"B. Bisons" $Down bar:Buff from:1926 till:1927 color:orange #text:"B. Rangers" $Up bar:Buff from:1927 till:1928 color:black bar:Buff from:1929 till:1930 color:orange textcolor:black $Right text:"Buffalo All Americans / Bisons / Rangers"
bar:Cleveland from:1919 till:1920 color:notpro textcolor:black $Left text:"Cleveland Tigers (Ind)" bar:Cleveland from:1920 till:1921 color:black bar:Cleveland from:1921 till:1922 color:orange textcolor:black $Right text:"Cleveland Indians" bar:Canton from:1911 till:1918 color:notpro $Left text:"Canton Pros (Ohio)" bar:Canton from:1919 till:1920 color:notpro bar:Canton from:1920 till:1927 color:maroon $Right text:"Canton Bulldogs" at:Canton at:1922 $champ mark:(line, maroon) at:Canton at:1923 $champ mark:(line, maroon)
bar:Cardinals from:1898 till:1900 color:notpro $Left text:"Morgan AC (Ind)" bar:Cardinals from:1900 till:1901 color:notpro $UpLeftMargin text:Racine Normals bar:Cardinals from:1901 till:1905 color:notpro $DownLeftMargin text:Racine Street Cardinals bar:Cardinals from:1913 till:1918 color:notpro bar:Cardinals from:1919 till:1920 color:notpro $UpLeftMargin textcolor:whitetext:"Racine ~Cardinals" bar:Cardinals from:1920 till:1922 color:black textcolor:black bar:Cardinals from:1922 till:1944 color:cardinals_red text:"Chicago Cardinals" textcolor:white bar:Cardinals from:1945 till:1960 color:cardinals_red bar:Cardinals from:1960 till:1988 color:black textcolor:white text:"St. Louis Cardinals" bar:Cardinals from:1988 till:1994 color:cardinals_red textcolor:white $Up text:"Phoenix ~Cardinals" bar:Cardinals from:1994 till:end color:cardinals_red textcolor:white $RightIn text:"Arizona Cardinals" at:Cardinals at:1925 $champ mark:(line, cardinals_red) at:Cardinals at:1947 $champ mark:(line, cardinals_red)
bar:CardPitt from:1944 till:1945 color:cardinals_red textcolor:blue $Left text:"Card-Pitt"
bar:CarPanthers from:1995 till:end color:black textcolor:panthers_teal $RightIn text:"Carolina Panthers"
bar:Chargers from:1960 till:1961 color:notpro $Left text:"Los Angeles Chargers (AFL)" bar:Chargers from:1961 till:1970 color:notpro textcolor:gold shift:35 text:"San Diego Chargers" bar:Chargers from:1970 till:2017 color:chargers_blue bar:Chargers from:2017 till:end color:chargers_lightblue textcolor:gold $UpLeft text:"Los Angeles ~Chargers"
bar:ChiTigers from:1920 till:1921 color:orange $Right text:"Chicago Tigers"
bar:Chiefs from:1960 till:1963 color:notpro $Left text:"Dallas Texans (AFL)" bar:Chiefs from:1963 till:1970 color:notpro bar:Chiefs from:1970 till:end color:chiefs_red textcolor:chiefs_black shift:-195 text:"Kansas City Chiefs" at:Chiefs at:1969 $champ textcolor:chiefs_black mark:(line, notpro) at:Chiefs at:2019 $champ mark:(line, chiefs_red) at:Chiefs at:2022 $champ mark:(line, chiefs_red) at:Chiefs at:2023 $champ mark:(line, chiefs_red)
bar:Celts from:1921 till:1922 color:celtsgold text:"Cincinnati Celts" $Right
bar:Reds from:1933 till:1935 color:red $Left text:"Cincinnati Reds"
bar:CleBulldogs from:1923 till:1924 color:red $Left text:"Cleveland Indians" bar:CleBulldogs from:1924 till:1928 color:maroon $Right text:"Cleveland Bulldogs" at:CleBulldogs at:1924 $champ mark:(line, black)
bar:CLE_IND from:1931 till:1932 color:red $Left text:"Cleveland Indians" bar:Panhandles from:1901 till:1920 color:notpro $I bar:Panhandles from:1920 till:1927 color:gold $Left text:"Columbus Panhandles" $Right
bar:DalCowboys from:1960 till:end color:silver textcolor:darkblue3 $RightIn text:"Dallas Cowboys" at:DalCowboys at:1971 $champ mark:(line, silver) at:DalCowboys at:1977 $champ mark:(line, silver) at:DalCowboys at:1992 $champ mark:(line, silver) at:DalCowboys at:1993 $champ mark:(line, silver) at:DalCowboys at:1995 $champ mark:(line, silver)
bar:Triangles from:1913 till:1916 color:notpro $Left text:"St. Mary's Cadets" bar:Triangles from:1916 till:1920 color:notpro $LeftMargin text:"Dayton Triangles" bar:Triangles from:1920 till:1930 color:orange bar:Triangles from:1930 till:1944 color:blue text:"Brooklyn Dodgers" textcolor:white bar:Triangles from:1944 till:1945 color:orange $UpRight text:"Brooklyn ~Tigers"
bar:Heralds from:1905 till:1911 color:notpro $Left text:"Detroit Heralds (Ind)" bar:Heralds from:1911 till:1920 color:notpro $Ohio bar:Heralds from:1920 till:1921 color:black bar:Heralds from:1921 till:1922 color:red $Right text:"Detroit Tigers"
bar:DetPanthers from:1925 till:1927 color:orange $Left text:"Detroit Panthers" bar:Wolverines from:1928 till:1929 color:gold $Left text:"Detroit Wolverines"
bar:DetLions from:1930 till:1934 color:purple textcolor:black $Left text:"Portsmouth Spartans" bar:DetLions from:1934 till:end color:lions_lightblue textcolor:lions_white $RightIn text:"Detroit Lions" at:DetLions at:1935 $champ mark:(line, lions_lightblue) at:DetLions at:1952 $champ mark:(line, lions_lightblue) at:DetLions at:1953 $champ mark:(line, lions_lightblue) at:DetLions at:1957 $champ mark:(line, lions_lightblue)
bar:Dolphins from:1966 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:Dolphins from:1970 till:end color:dolphins_teal textcolor:white $RightIn text:"Miami Dolphins" at:Dolphins at:1972 $champ mark:(line, dolphins_teal) at:Dolphins at:1973 $champ mark:(line, dolphins_teal)
bar:Dons from:1946 till:1950 color:notpro $Left text:"Los Angeles Dons (AAFC)"
bar:Dons from:1950 till:1950 $Right text:"(merged with Los Angeles Rams)"
bar:Duluth from:1923 till:1926 color:red $Left text:"Duluth Kelleys" bar:Duluth from:1926 till:1928 color:darkblue3 $Right text:"Duluth Eskimos" $Right bar:Evansville from:1921 till:1923 color:chiefs_red text:"Evansville Crimson Giants" $Right
bar:Falcons from:1966 till:end color:falcons_black textcolor:white $RightIn text:"Atlanta Falcons"
bar:YellowJack from:1909 till:1924 color:notpro $I bar:YellowJack from:1924 till:1932 color:vikings_gold $Right text:"Frankford Yellow Jackets" at:YellowJack at:1926 $champ mark:(line, vikings_gold)
bar:Hammond from:1920 till:1927 color:vikings_purple text:"Hammond Pros" $Right bar:Blues from:1924 till:1926 color:notpro $UpLeft text:"Waterbury Blues~(Ind)" bar:Blues from:1926 till:1927 color:iceblue $UpLeftMargin text:"Hartford Blues" bar:Blues from:1927 till:1928 color:notpro $DownRight text:"Hartford Giants"
bar:HouTexans from:2002 till:end color:darkblue textcolor:red $RightIn text:"Houston Texans"
bar:IndyColts from:1953 till:1984 color:colts_blue textcolor:white text:"Baltimore Colts" bar:IndyColts from:1984 till:end color:blue $RightIn text:"Indianapolis Colts" textcolor:white at:IndyColts at:1958 $champ mark:(line, colts_blue) at:IndyColts at:1959 $champ mark:(line, colts_blue) at:IndyColts at:1970 $champ mark:(line, colts_blue) at:IndyColts at:2006 $champ mark:(line, blue)
bar:Jaguars from:1995 till:end color:jaguars_teal textcolor:white $RightIn text:"Jacksonville Jaguars"
bar:Kardex from:1916 till:1920 color:notpro $Left $NY bar:Kardex from:1920 till:1921 color:notpro $RightMargin $I bar:Kardex from:1921 till:1922 color:darkblue2 $Right text:"Tonawanda Kardex" bar:KCBlues from:1924 till:1925 color:blue $Left text:"Kansas City Blues" bar:KCBlues from:1925 till:1927 color:black $Right text:"Kansas City Cowboys"
bar:LABucs from:1926 till:1927 color:orange $Left text:"Los Angeles Buccaneers" textcolor:black bar:Brecks from:1899 till:1921 color:notpro $I bar:Brecks from:1921 till:1924 color:red $UpRight text:"Louisville Breckenridges" bar:Brecks from:1926 till:1927 color:red $DownRight text:"Louisville Colonels"
bar:Badgers from:1922 till:1927 color:orange text:"Milwaukee Badgers" $Right bar:Marines from:1905 till:1921 color:notpro $I bar:Marines from:1921 till:1925 color:blue $Right text:"Minneapolis Marines" bar:RedJackets from:1929 till:1931 color:red $Left text:"Minneapolis Red Jackets"
bar:Flyers from:1905 till:1920 color:notpro $I $Left bar:Flyers from:1920 till:1922 color:red $Left text:"Muncie Flyers" bar:Flyers from:1923 till:1926 color:notpro $I
bar:Brickley from:1921 till:1922 color:gold $Right text:"New York Brickley Giants"
bar:NYYankees from:1926 till:1929 color:blue $Left text:"New York Yankees"
bar:NYGiants from:1925 till:end color:giants_darkblue textcolor:white text:"New York Giants" $RightIn at:NYGiants at:1927 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:1934 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:1938 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:1956 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:1986 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:1990 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:2007 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue) at:NYGiants at:2011 $champ mark:(line, giants_darkblue)
bar:NYJets from:1960 till:1963 color:notpro $Left text:"Titans of New York (AFL)" bar:NYJets from:1963 till:1970 color:notpro textcolor:white bar:NYJets from:1970 till:end color:jets_green textcolor:black shift:-205 text:"New York Jets" at:NYJets at:1968 $champ textcolor:black mark:(line, notpro)
bar:Oorang from:1922 till:1924 color:gold $Left text:"Oorang Indians" $Right bar:Orange from:1887 till:1929 color:notpro $I bar:Orange from:1929 till:1930 color:redorange $UpLeft text:"Orange Tornadoes" bar:Orange from:1930 till:1931 color:black $UpRight text:"Newark Tornadoes" bar:Orange from:1931 till:1936 color:notpro $Down text:"(Ind.)" bar:Orange from:1936 till:1947 color:notpro $Down text:"(American Association)" bar:Orange from:1963 till:1965 color:notpro $UpLeft text:"(Atlantic Coast FL)" bar:Orange from:1965 till:1970 color:notpro $Down text:"(Continental FL)" bar:Orange from:1970 till:1972 color:notpro $UpLeftIn text:"(Atlantic Coast FL)"
bar:Packers from:1919 till:1921 color:notpro bar:Packers from:1921 till:end color:packers_green textcolor:gold $RightIn text:"Green Bay Packers" at:Packers at:1929 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1930 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1931 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1936 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1939 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1944 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1961 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1962 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1965 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1966 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1967 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:1996 $champ mark:(line, packers_green) at:Packers at:2010 $champ mark:(line, packers_green)
bar:Patriots from:1960 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:Patriots from:1970 till:1971 color:red2 textcolor:darkblue2 shift:-32 text:"Boston Patriots" bar:Patriots from:1971 till:end color:darkblue2 textcolor:silver $RightIn text:"New England Patriots" at:Patriots at:2001 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2) at:Patriots at:2003 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2) at:Patriots at:2004 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2) at:Patriots at:2014 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2) at:Patriots at:2016 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2) at:Patriots at:2018 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2)
bar:PhillyEagles from:1933 till:1943 color:eagles_green textcolor:eagles_silver bar:PhillyEagles from:1944 till:end color:eagles_green textcolor:eagles_silver $RightIn text:"Philadelphia Eagles" at:PhillyEagles at:1948 $champ mark:(line, eagles_green) at:PhillyEagles at:1949 $champ mark:(line, eagles_green) at:PhillyEagles at:1960 $champ mark:(line, eagles_green) at:PhillyEagles at:2017 $champ mark:(line, eagles_green)
bar:Pottsville from:1920 till:1925 color:notpro $Left text:"Pottsville Maroons (Ind)" bar:Pottsville from:1925 till:1929 color:maroon bar:Pottsville from:1929 till:1930 color:gold $Right text:"Boston Bulldogs" bar:Steam from:1916 till:1925 color:notpro $I bar:Steam from:1925 till:1933 color:brown $Right text:"Providence Steam Roller" at:Steam at:1928 $champ mark:(line, brown)
bar:RacineLegion from:1915 till:1918 color:notpro $Left $I bar:RacineLegion from:1919 till:1922 color:notpro bar:RacineLegion from:1922 till:1925 color:chiefs_red $Up text:"Racine ~Legion" bar:RacineLegion from:1926 till:1927 color:chiefs_red $DownRight text:"Racine Tornadoes"
bar:Raiders from:1960 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:Raiders from:1970 till:1981 color:raiders_silver text:"Oakland Raiders" textcolor:black bar:Raiders from:1981 till:1994 color:black textcolor:raiders_silver $Up text:"Los Angeles ~Raiders" bar:Raiders from:1994 till:2020 color:raiders_silver text:"Oakland Raiders" bar:Raiders from:2020 till:end color:black textcolor:black $UpLeft text:"Las Vegas ~Raiders" at:Raiders at:1976 $champ mark:(line, raiders_silver) at:Raiders at:1980 $champ mark:(line, raiders_silver) at:Raiders at:1983 $champ mark:(line, black)
bar:Rams from:1936 till:1937 color:notpro $Left text:"(AFL II)" bar:Rams from:1937 till:1943 textcolor:blue color:yellow bar:Rams from:1944 till:1946 textcolor:blue color:yellow shift:(-22,2) text:"Cleveland ~Rams" bar:Rams from:1946 till:1995 textcolor:yellow color:blue text:"Los Angeles Rams" bar:Rams from:1995 till:2016 textcolor:rams_gold color:darkblue2 text:"St. Louis Rams" bar:Rams from:2016 till:end textcolor:yellow color:blue $Up text:"Los Angeles ~Rams" at:Rams at:1945 $champ textcolor:blue mark:(line, yellow) at:Rams at:1951 $champ mark:(line, blue) at:Rams at:1999 $champ mark:(line, darkblue2) at:Rams at:2021 $champ mark:(line, blue)
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at:Redskins at:1937 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Redskins at:1942 $champ mark:(line, gold) at:Redskins at:1982 $champ mark:(line, gold) at:Redskins at:1987 $champ mark:(line, gold) at:Redskins at:1991 $champ mark:(line, gold)
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bar:Saints from:1967 till:end color:saints_black textcolor:saints_light_gold $RightIn text:"New Orleans Saints" at:Saints at:2009 $champ mark:(line, saints_black)
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bar:Steagles from:1943 till:1944 color:kellygreen textcolor:kellygreen $Left text:"Steagles"
bar:Steelers from:1933 till:1940 color:gold textcolor:black $Left text:"Pittsburgh Pirates" bar:Steelers from:1940 till:1943 color:black bar:Steelers from:1945 till:end color:black textcolor:gold $RightIn text:"Pittsburgh Steelers" at:Steelers at:1974 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Steelers at:1975 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Steelers at:1978 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Steelers at:1979 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Steelers at:2005 $champ mark:(line, black) at:Steelers at:2008 $champ mark:(line, black)
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bar:TenTitans from:1960 till:1970 color:notpro $Afliii bar:TenTitans from:1970 till:1997 color:columbia_blue textcolor:red text:"Houston Oilers" bar:TenTitans from:1997 till:1999 color:red textcolor:white $Up text:"Tennessee ~Oilers" bar:TenTitans from:1999 till:end color:titans_dark_blue textcolor:lightblue $RightIn text:"Tennessee Titans"
bar:Toledo from:1902 till:1922 color:notpro $Left $Ohio bar:Toledo from:1922 till:1924 color:maroon $Left text:"Toledo Maroons" bar:Toledo from:1924 till:1925 color:gold $Right text:"Kenosha Maroons"
bar:Vikings from:1961 till:end color:vikings_purple textcolor:vikings_gold $RightIn text:"Minnesota Vikings"
bar:Senators from:1921 till:1923 color:blue $Left text:"Washington Senators" bar:Senators from:1923 till:1941 color:notpro $I
The American Professional Football Association is formed September 17, 1920, at Canton, Ohio, with Jim Thorpe elected president.[1] The fourteen teams were mainly drawn from the Ohio League, Chicago Circuit, New York Pro Football League and other teams from the lower midwest. A $100 membership fee was charged. The Chicago Tigers folded after the season.[2]
| Team folded this season ^ |
The American Professional Football Association is reorganized at Akron, Ohio on April 30, 1921, with Joe F. Carr elected as new league president. With the low entry barrier of a $100 membership fee, the number of teams balloons to 21. Four of these franchises would last only one season, with Tonawanda Kardex only making it through a single game. Three other franchises folded mid-season.
| Cleveland Tigers | Cleveland Indians | |
| Decatur Staleys | Chicago Staleys | |
| Detroit Heralds |
| First season in APFA * | Team folded this season ^ | Only season in the league *^ |
| Minneapolis Marines * | |||||
| Buffalo All-Americans | Muncie Flyers ^ | ||||
| Detroit Tigers ^ | New York Brickley Giants *^ | ||||
| Chicago Cardinals | Evansville Crimson Giants * | ||||
| Chicago Staleys | Green Bay Packers * | ||||
| Cincinnati Celts *^ | Tonawanda Kardex *^ | ||||
| Cleveland Indians ^ | Louisville Brecks * | Washington Senators *^ |
The APFA was renamed the National Football League on June 24, 1922.[3] Four new franchises were awarded.
| Chicago Staleys | Chicago Bears |
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Evansville Crimson Giants ^ | Oorang Indians * | ||||
| Green Bay Packers | Racine Legion * | ||||
| Rochester Jeffersons | |||||
| Louisville Brecks | Rock Island Independents | ||||
| Milwaukee Badgers * | Toledo Maroons * |
A new and distinct Cleveland Indians franchise was formed. Two other teams joined the NFL, the Duluth Kelleys and the St. Louis All Stars. The St. Louis team folded after one season.
| Columbus Panhandles | Columbus Tigers |
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § | Only season in the league *^ |
| Cleveland Indians * | Hammond Pros | ||||||
| Louisville Brecks ^ | Rochester Jeffersons | ||||||
| Canton Bulldogs § | Rock Island Independents | ||||||
| Duluth Kelleys * | St. Louis All Stars *^ | ||||||
| Green Bay Packers | Oorang Indians ^ | Toledo Maroons ^ |
Before the season, the owner of the Cleveland Indians bought the Canton Bulldogs and "mothballed" it, taking the team's nickname and players to Cleveland for the season. The Canton Bulldogs had won the NFL championship in 1923, and won it again as the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924.
| Buffalo All-Americans | Buffalo Bisons | |
| Cleveland Indians |
| First season in NFL * | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § | Only season in the league *^ |
| Dayton Triangles | Kenosha Maroons *^ | ||||
| Frankford Yellow Jackets * | Minneapolis Marines § | ||||
| Racine Legion § | |||||
| Hammond Pros | Rochester Jeffersons | ||||
| Kansas City Blues * | Rock Island Independents |
The Canton Bulldogs were reactivated. Four other franchises were awarded, including most notably a New York City franchise awarded to Timothy J. Mara and Will Gibson for a $2,500 membership fee, the New York Giants. This was the final season for the Rochester Jeffersons.
| Kansas City Blues |
| First season in NFL * | Last active season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § |
| Team jumped to the AFL † | Rejoined the NFL ** |
| Cleveland Bulldogs § | New York Giants * | ||||||
| Pottsville Maroons * | |||||||
| Canton Bulldogs ** | Providence Steam Roller * | ||||||
| Detroit Panthers * | Rochester Jeffersons ^ | ||||||
| Rock Island Independents † |
The league grew to 22 teams, a figure that would not be equaled in professional football until 1961, adding the Brooklyn Lions, the Hartford Blues, the Los Angeles Buccaneers, and the Louisville Colonels, with Racine Tornadoes re-entering. At a league meeting held February 7, 1926, each franchise's roster was limited to a maximum of 18 players, with a minimum of 15.
| Akron Pros | Akron Indians | |
| Buffalo Bisons | Buffalo Rangers | |
| Duluth Kelleys | Duluth Eskimos | |
| Racine Legion | Racine Tornadoes |
| Only season in the league *^ | Rejoined the NFL ** | Last active season ^ |
| Akron Indians ^ | Green Bay Packers | ||
| Brooklyn Lions *^ | Hammond Pros ^ | ||
| Buffalo Rangers | Hartford Blues *^ | ||
| Canton Bulldogs ^ | Kansas City Cowboys ^ | ||
| Chicago Bears | Los Angeles Buccaneers *^ | ||
| Chicago Cardinals | Louisville Colonels *^ | ||
| Columbus Tigers ^ | Milwaukee Badgers ^ | ||
| Dayton Triangles | New York Giants | ||
| Detroit Panthers ^ | Pottsville Maroons | ||
| Providence Steam Roller | |||
| Frankford Yellow Jackets | Racine Tornadoes ** ^ |
Prior to the season, the league decided to eliminate the financially weaker teams. As a result, the league dropped from 22 to 12 teams, and a majority of the remaining teams were centered around the East Coast instead of the Midwest, where the NFL had started. The New York Yankees were added from the American Football League and the Cleveland Bulldogs returned.
| Buffalo Rangers | Buffalo Bisons |
| Rejoined the NFL ** | Merged from 1926 AFL * | |
| Last active season ^ | Last season before hiatus, rejoined league later § |
| Buffalo Bisons § |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Cleveland Bulldogs ** |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Duluth Eskimos ^ |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| Green Bay Packers |
| New York Yankees * |
The league drops to 10 teams, the Buffalo Bisons sat out the season and the Duluth Eskimos folded. The Cleveland Bulldogs moved and played as the Detroit Wolverines.
| Last active season ^ |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Dayton Triangles |
| Detroit Wolverines ^ |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| Green Bay Packers |
| New York Yankees ^ |
| Pottsville Maroons |
The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of two franchises, the Staten Island Stapletons, and the Orange Tornadoes. Two mothballed teams activated for the season. Minneapolis re-entered as the Red Jackets along with the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons.
| Minneapolis Marines | Minneapolis Red Jackets | |
| Pottsville Maroons | Boston Bulldogs |
| First season in NFL * | Rejoined the NFL ** | Last active season ^ |
| Boston Bulldogs ^ | |
| Buffalo Bisons ** ^ | |
| Chicago Bears | |
| Chicago Cardinals | |
| style=“background-color: #FFC40C” | Dayton Triangles |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets | |
| Green Bay Packers | |
| Minneapolis Red Jackets ** | |
| Orange Tornadoes * | |
| Staten Island Stapletons * |
Prior to the season, Brooklyn businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark. The Portsmouth Spartans entered as a new team, bringing the total to 11 teams. The league roster limit was expanded to a maximum of 20 players, with a minimum of 16 required.
| Dayton Triangles | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Orange Tornadoes | Newark Tornadoes |
| First season in NFL * | Last active season ^ |
| Chicago Bears | |
| Chicago Cardinals | |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets | |
| Green Bay Packers | |
| Minneapolis Red Jackets ^ | |
| Newark Tornadoes ^ | |
| Portsmouth Spartans * | |
| Staten Island Stapletons |
The league decreased to 10 teams due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression. While the Cleveland Indians joined as an expansion team, the league lost the Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Newark Tornadoes, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets folded midway through the season.
| Only season in the league *^ | Last active season ^ |
| Chicago Bears | |
| Chicago Cardinals | |
| Cleveland Indians *^ | |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets ^ | |
| Green Bay Packers | |
| New York Giants | |
| Portsmouth Spartans | |
| Providence Steam Roller ^ | |
| Staten Island Stapletons |
The Boston Braves enfranchised bringing the total to 8 teams.
| First season in NFL * | Team folded this season ^ |
| Boston Braves * |
| Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Chicago Bears |
| Chicago Cardinals |
| Green Bay Packers |
| New York Giants |
| Portsmouth Spartans |
| Staten Island Stapletons ^ |
The barrier to entry was raised again with the July 8 decision to increase the league membership fee to $10,000. Despite the fee increase, three new teams were added to the league — the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The league split into Eastern and Western Divisions with the winner of each division playing in the NFL Championship Game. The 1933 season would be the first in which no NFL team folds or suspends operations.
| Boston Braves |
| First season in NFL * |
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals |
| New York Giants | Cincinnati Reds * |
| Philadelphia Eagles * | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Pirates * | Portsmouth Spartans |
| Portsmouth Spartans |
| Only season in the league *^ | Last active season ^ |
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals | |
| New York Giants | Cincinnati Reds ^[4] | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Green Bay Packers | |
St. Louis Gunners
|
| Boston Redskins | Chicago Bears | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Cardinals | |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
The Cleveland Rams would join the league from the AFL II and the Boston Redskins would move to Washington, D.C. in 1937. The league raised the roster limit to 30 players per team effective with the 1938 season.
| Boston Redskins |
| 1937 is first season in NFL * |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams * |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
The Pittsburgh franchise changed its nickname from the Pirates to the Steelers before the start of the 1940 campaign. The NFL also raised the maximum number of players allowed on a league roster from 30 to 33 players effective with the 1940 season.
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Team mothballed after season, rejoined league 1944 § |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Rams § |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
As America became more deeply embroiled in World War II, the Cleveland Rams suspend operations for the 1943 season due to a major loss in players. The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers were able to work around the player shortage by merging to form the "Phil-Pitt Steagles."
Size of the active roster reduced from 33 to 28 players per team.[6] Intent of this reduction was to appease the Office of Defense Transportation by reducing the impact of travel by road teams.[7] Additionally, teams primarily used day coaches rather than sleeper cars, a more efficient albeit less comfortable mode of travel. This continued through the 1944 season.
| Two teams merge for season † |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Phil-Pitt Steagles † | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
| Brooklyn Dodgers |
| First season in NFL * | Rejoined the NFL ** | Two teams merge for season † |
| Boston Yanks * | Chicago Bears |
| Brooklyn Tigers | Card-Pitt † |
| New York Giants | Cleveland Rams ** |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Washington Redskins | Green Bay Packers |
The Card-Pitt team was resplit into the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers for the 1945 season. The Brooklyn Tigers franchise was merged with Boston Yanks, named simply "The Yanks." The Active player limit was returned to its pre-war size of 33 players.
| Two teams merge for season † |
The National Football League began to colonize the Pacific coast when the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles, California ahead of the 1946 season. With World War II at an end, the Boston Yanks resumed normal operations, although the Brooklyn Tigers franchise was permanently terminated. Effective with the 1948 season, the NFL again raised its roster limit for member teams, increasing the maximum from 33 to 35 players.
| Cleveland Rams |
| Last active season was 1948 ^ |
| Boston Yanks ^ | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Chicago Cardinals |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Detroit Lions |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Green Bay Packers |
| Washington Redskins | Los Angeles Rams |
The Boston Yanks ceased operations at the end of the 1948 season, with remains of the team enfranchised for 1949 as the New York Bulldogs. Size of the active roster was reduced to 32 players.
| First season in NFL * |
| New York Bulldogs |
| Teams merge from AAFC ** | Last active season ^ |
The NFL increased the maximum size of team rosters from 32 to 33 players effective with the 1951 season. This would remain in effect through 1956. The New York Yanks franchise terminated following the 1951 season.
| Last active season ^ |
The Dallas Texans franchise was launched with the remains of the now-defunct New York Yanks, but the team terminated after one season. It remains the last NFL team to fold due to financial reasons.
| Only season in the league *^ |
The 1953 season saw a renaming of the league's two conferences, with the American Conference renamed the Eastern Conference and the National Conference renamed the Western Conference. A second and distinct Baltimore Colts team was enfranchised from the remains of the Dallas Texans. Effective with the 1957 season, the NFL raised its roster limit from 33 to 35 players per team. The roster limit was raised again for the 1959 season, this time to 36 players per team.[8]
| 1953 is first season in NFL * |
| Chicago Cardinals | Baltimore Colts * |
| Cleveland Browns | Chicago Bears |
| New York Giants | Detroit Lions |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Los Angeles Rams |
| Washington Redskins | San Francisco 49ers |
In 1960 the American Football League (AFL) began operations with eight teams as a rival to the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys were enfranchised by NFL. The year also marked the move of the Chicago Cardinals to St. Louis.
The roster limit was raised to 38 players per team for the 1960 season.
| Chicago Cardinals |
| First season in NFL * |
| + 1960 AFL teams | Eastern Division | Western Division |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Dallas Texans | |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos | |
| Houston Oilers | Los Angeles Chargers | |
| Titans of New York | Oakland Raiders | |
The NFL enfranchised the Minnesota Vikings in 1961, with the fledgling Dallas Cowboys moved to Eastern Division to balance division numbers.[9] The league also reduced the roster limit from 38 back to 36 players during these two years.
The AFL's Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego.
| Los Angeles Chargers |
| 1961 is first season in NFL * |
| +1961–1962 AFL teams | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Dallas Texans | |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos | |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders | |
| Titans of New York | San Diego Chargers |
In the AFL, facing a divided sports market due to the establishment of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City to become the Kansas City Chiefs. The New York Titans were also renamed as the New York Jets.
In the NFL, the roster limit was raised in 1963 to 37 players and in 1964 to 40 players — a number which remained constant until the end of the 1973 season.
| Dallas Texans | ||
| Titans of New York | New York Jets |
| +1963–1965 AFL teams | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Denver Broncos | |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders | |
| New York Jets | San Diego Chargers | |
The 1966 season saw the Atlanta Falcons enfranchised by the NFL and the Miami Dolphins by the AFL. The two leagues played the first AFL-NFL championship game (later known as the Super Bowl) after the conclusion of the season.
| First season in NFL * | First season in AFL ** |
| + 1966 AFL teams | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Denver Broncos | |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders | |
| Miami Dolphins ** | San Diego Chargers | |
| New York Jets |
| First season in NFL * |
| + 1967 AFL teams | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Denver Broncos | |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Houston Oilers | Oakland Raiders | |
| Miami Dolphins | San Diego Chargers | |
| New York Jets |
| First season in AFL ** |
| + 1968 AFL teams | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Cincinnati Bengals ** | |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos | |
| Houston Oilers | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Miami Dolphins | Oakland Raiders | |
| New York Jets | San Diego Chargers | |
| + 1969 AFL teams | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Patriots | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Buffalo Bills | Denver Broncos | |
| Houston Oilers | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Miami Dolphins | Oakland Raiders | |
| New York Jets | San Diego Chargers | |
The Boston Patriots are renamed New England Patriots. Size of the active player roster was increased in 1974 from 40 to 47 players before being lowered to 43 the following season.
| First season in NFL * |
There was realignment of divisions with Seattle moving from the NFC West to the AFC West and Tampa Bay moving from the AFC West to the NFC Central. In 1978 the size of the active roster was increased from 43 to 45 players, where it would remain through the 1981 season.
The Oakland Raiders relocated to Los Angeles. After the first two games of the 1982 season the size of the active roster was increased from 45 to 49 players, where it would remain through the end of the 1984 season.
The Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984. In 1985 size of the active roster was reduced again from 49 to 45 — where it would remain through the end of the 1990 season.
The St. Louis Cardinals moved to Phoenix in 1988. In 1991 the league allowed teams to add a third "emergency" quarterback to their active 45 man rosters—a system that would remain in effect through the end of the 2010 season.
| First season in NFL * |
See also: Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.
| First season in NFL * |
See also: History of the Tennessee Titans.
In 2011 the active roster limit was shifted from 45 + 1 emergency quarterback to an undifferentiated 46 players. This would remain in effect through the end of the 2019 campaign.
| 2002 is first season in NFL * |
The size of the active roster was increased to 47 players — 48 if there were 8 offensive linemen activated.
The Washington Football Team was renamed Washington Commanders in 2022. In 2023 the 47 man active roster was expanded to allow a third "emergency" quarterback.