The NFL was not created by just one person; it was founded by a group of team owners and representatives in 1920.
Founding event
- The league that became the NFL started on September 17, 1920, in Canton, Ohio, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA).
- Representatives from several early professional teams met there to organize a formal league structure.
Key people involved
- Ralph Hay, owner of the Canton Bulldogs, hosted the founding meeting in his automobile showroom.
- The group elected legendary athlete Jim Thorpe, who played for the Canton Bulldogs, as the league’s first president.
From APFA to NFL
- The APFA changed its name to the National Football League (NFL) in 1922.
- Early franchises involved in the formation included teams like the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Decatur Staleys (later the Chicago Bears), and the Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals).
