Today in history: The NFL Takes Root

[Callalily]

The NFL Takes Root

October 3, 1920

While currently comprising 32 teams from 22 states, the National Football League (NFL) had modest beginnings as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). APFA originated shortly after World War I with 10 teams, all based in either Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, or New York. To kick off the association’s debut season, two home teams shut out their opponents on October 3, 1920 — 101 years ago today. At the first game, in Ohio, the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0. Next, in Illinois, the Rock Island Independents secured a 45-0 win against the Muncie Flyers.

The APFA was founded just a couple weeks earlier, on September 17, 1920, in Canton, Ohio, the city that’s now home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Canton Bulldogs running back Jim Thorpe — a descendant of the Sac and Fox tribes and, arguably, one of the most gifted athletes who ever lived — was named the first APFA president. During the previous decade, he played baseball for three major league teams after becoming the first Indigenous person to win Olympic gold for the United States, in the pentathlon and decathlon. In Summer 1922, the APFA changed its name to the NFL.

[underpants]

1. Go Triangles!!!

I didn’t know Dayton had a team.

[LisaM]

2. A lot (most?) of the early teams were in mid-sized cities.

Detroit was the Portsmouth, Ohio, Falcons. Chicago was the Decatur Staleys.

The teams started moving to the big cities a few years later. Green Bay is the only one of the early teams that did not.

[underpants]

3. Damned socialists!

Green Bay 😆

[rurallib]

4. and as I was told, many were company teams

The Decatur Staleys were the Staley Syrup company I believe.
Looked it up - Staley Starch company