What's The Deal: The Founding of the NFL

From a few leatherheads to a whole lot of greenbacks.

August 21, 2021

As the 2021 NFL season kicks off, let's look back at the beginnings of the National Football League.

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Welcome To The NFL nrg CRACKED.co As summer turns to fall, fans across the country rejoice at the return of football, both real and fantasy. Football is so ingrained in American culture that you'd think the Pilgrims brought it over on the Mayflower, but it's a little more recent.

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL College Rules PITY 27 CRACKED COM The game of football was first played at colleges. In fact, the NCAA (est. 1906) is older than the NFL. The first college football head-to-head was between Rutgers and Princeton, on Nov. 6, 1869, kicking off a rivalry that continues today. — Source: History

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Pudge's Payday CRACKED Football spread from there to games mostly across the Midwest. With the payment of $500 to excellent football player and nickname-haver William Pudge Heffelfinger, the first professional football player was created. — Source: Pro Football Hall Of Fame

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Organized Chaos oor 100 100 DOI in (IN) I This CRACKEDO The precedent had been established, but order... had not. Players became frustrated with the lawless non-league, where the best players were constantly poached by the top bidder, also sending salaries sky-high. — Source: History

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Huddle Up CRACKED .COM Chief among the irritated was Ralph Hay, the owner of the Canton Bulldogs. Hay invited representatives from, three other Ohio pro football teams to his auto showroom, where they began laying groundwork for a new league. — Source: History

WHAT'S THE DEAL: FOUNDING OF THE NFL Sports Meet RALPH E.HAY JORDAN & HTPMOBILE SERVICE CRACKEDO .COM On September 17, 1920, 11 teams arrived at Hay's showroom: The Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Dayton Triangles, Decatur Staleys, Hammond Pros, Massillon Tigers, Muncie Flyers, Racine Cardinals, Rochester Jeffersons, and the Rock Island Independents. — Source: Pro Football Hall Of Fame

The NFL

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What's The Deal: The Founding of the NFL

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What's The Deal: The Founding of the NFL

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