History of Football

Before Football

Nov 1, 1860

Befroe It Was Called Football
Before it was called football Princeton and Harvard played little games. Pinceton called it "Ballown" and Harvard caled it "Bloody Monday"

Birthdate of Football

Nov 6, 1869

Football Birthday
The teams Rutgers and Princeton University met to play a game. Early games had 20 players to a team and resembled rugby than modern day american football.

Rules

Nov 1, 1873

Invention of Rules
Representatives from Colombia, Rutgers, Princeton, and Yale Universities met in New York to make up rules for an increasingly popular sport. A new rule only allowed teams up to 15 players.

Founding Father

Oct 1, 1880

Walter Camp
From 1873 to 1880 walter camp had attended meetings to makes more sets of rules for football. He cam up with the line of scrimmage and snap (center and quarterback). He wanted football to not resemble rugby to become a league of its own.

First Professional Player

Nov 1, 1892

William 'Pudge' Heffelfinger
He was payed $500 to play in just one match for Allegheny Atghletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. William was definetly worth the money as Allgheny won 32-0 against Pittsburgh.

4 Points a Field Goal

Sep 1, 1898

Touchdown!
scoring a field goal was only considered 5 points. Rules changed and now they're 4 points.

First Rose Bowl

Nov 1, 1902

Rose Bowl
The first Grand Finale Rose Bowl was played.

Football Banned!?

Oct 1, 1905

Horrible Physical Health
The physical health of most players was really bad. President Roosevelt threatened to ban the sport if it didnt 'clean up its act.' Many different rule changes were made during this time

First National League

Sep 1, 1920

American Proffesional Football Association
Became the first national league for football. Now better known today as the National Football League or NFL.

First NFL Team

Jan 13, 1921

Chicago Bears
Chicago had become known as the bears. they're baseball team had been known as the cubs so the tough, gridiron football team should be called the Bears

Last of Its Kind

Jan 28, 1922

Last College Player
Before this day athletes that wer still in college would play with proffesional teams. The last known team with college players was Green Bay who had to withdraw from the league due to rules.

Add Another Official

Jul 28, 1929

One More Referee
Another rwef was added onto the field thus making it 4 officials. The fourth ref was called the field judge.

Eagles

Jan 1, 1933

Philidelphia Eagles
Started off as the Frankfod Yellowjackets. After the choaches changed then they changed the name to Eagles

Bengals

Jan 1, 1937

Cincinatti BAngals
The Bengals had started as an independent team for the AFL. The name waas then chosen again in 1968 as the league was reborn.

Bills

Jan 1, 1946

Buffalo Bills
Buffalo had a team called the Bisons but since their baseball team was already called that they had a contest for names. Bills had beat out 3 other names, Bullets, Nickels, And Blue Devils.

Browns

Jan 1, 1946

Cleveland Browns
Founded in 1946. Although being sold to Balltimore, the Browns ressurrected in 1999

Colts

Jan 1, 1946

Indianapolis Colts
First started in baltimore but kept its name as it moved to Indianapolis

49ers

Jan 1, 1950

San Fransisco 49ers

Broncos

Jan 1, 1960

Denver BroncosThis name was alos chosen from a contest and was chosen due to Ddenvers wild west background.

Chargers

Jan 1, 1960

Sand Diego Chargers
Also chosen by contest, first started in Los Angeles but kept the name once moved to San Diego

NFL Hall of Fame

Sep 7, 1963

Hall of Fame
The NFL Hall of Fame was finalized. After getting $400000 worht of donations to build the two-building complx.

Dolphins

Jan 1, 1965

Miami Dolphins
Also chosen ina contest the winner had an all lifetime season pass to th Dolphins games

Falcons

Jan 1, 1965

Atlanta Falcons
Also holding a contest Falcons was chosen as the winner.

First Superbowl

Jan 15, 1967

Superbowl
The NFL and AFC, being two different leagues, decided to make and AFL which meant outting they're champions against each other in what we know as the Superbowl. Green Bay and Kansas City were the first teams.

Coldest Game Ever

Dec 31, 1967

Coldest game
PLayed on Lambeau Field in Green Ba, Wisconsin. Was -13 degrees but with a -48 degree windchill. Green Bay was playing Dallas and won 21-17

Walter Payton Award

Aug 1, 1970

Man of The Year
THis award was renamed in 1999 as The Walter Payton Award for the legendary, hall of fame, Chicago Bears running back. Been given annually since 1970.

Buccaneers

Apr 24, 1974

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A contest held by radio had picked the name over hundreds of entries. Beat out Buzzards, Sea Horses, and Mafia.

Cardinals

Jan 1, 1988

Arizona Cardinals
First known as the Racine Cardinals. Then moved to Chicago, then St Louis, then finally Phoenix

Houston Back In Game

Oct 6, 1999

Hoston With Another
Houston wanted to get back into the NFL. On this day the NFL owners vote 29-0 to award the #@nd NFL franchise to Houston and Bob McNair for a record amount of $700 million

Cowboys

Jan 16, 2014

Dallas Cowboys
Rangers was the first thought of the name instead of Cowboys.