American football developed gradually, but the first game that is widely recognized as American football was played on November 6, 1869, between Rutgers and Princeton.
Early beginnings
The 1869 Rutgers–Princeton matchup used rules closer to soccer and rugby, but it is considered the starting point for American football in the United States. The sport’s basic idea—advancing a ball toward an opponent’s goal—came from British football traditions in the mid‑19th century.
Shaping the modern game
In the 1870s and 1880s, colleges like Harvard, Yale, and others shifted from soccer-style rules to a more rugby-like game that gradually became distinct. Walter Camp, often called the “Father of American Football,” introduced key rules from 1880 onward, such as the line of scrimmage, the snap, downs, and 11‑player teams, which define modern American football.
Professionalization
Professional American football emerged later, with the first recorded paid player appearing in 1892 and organized professional leagues forming in the early 1900s. These developments turned what began as a college pastime in 1869 into today’s major professional sport.
