{"id":504,"date":"2024-07-19T16:33:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T20:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=504"},"modified":"2025-12-27T15:22:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T19:22:39","slug":"the-complete-nfl-expansion-history-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/07\/the-complete-nfl-expansion-history-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Expansion History: Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on December 27, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NFL, a name synonymous with athletic excellence, billion-dollar contracts, and electrifying Sundays, boasts a rich and fascinating history. But where did this powerhouse league begin? Today, we embark on a captivating journey through The Complete NFL Expansion History, a series that unveils the stories behind the teams that laid the foundation for the NFL’s modern landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this first installment, we travel back in time to 1920, a period where professional football was still taking its first wobbly steps. We’ll meet the 10 courageous teams who dared to form the American Professional Football Association (APFA), the league that would eventually morph into the NFL we know and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the powerhouse squads like the Canton Bulldogs to the underdogs with larger-than-life personalities, each team brought a unique story and a burning passion for the game. We’ll delve into their first seasons, explore the challenges they faced, and celebrate their victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare to be surprised! You’ll discover how these early teams redefined the game with innovative strategies and iconic players. We’ll also analyze the crucial moments and decisions that shaped the APFA’s evolution, ultimately leading to the birth of the National Football League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, buckle up that leather helmet and grab your virtual history book as we get ready to step back in time! This is the story of the NFL’s humble beginnings with early small town teams and players filled with grit, determination, and the unwavering spirit that continues to define the game today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Pro Football Organizes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Players getting paid to play American football had occurred since the early 1890s, and attempts to organize the pro game were unfruitful until after World War I. This all changed when a group of progressive team owners gathered in a humble car dealership showroom in Canton, Ohio, on September 17, 1920.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This group of men would organize a conference of teams that would keep track of records and standings compared to each other. They would organize under the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and, in two years, would be rebranded as the National Football League. Here are the original teams that organized to play under the APFA banner in 1920.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n 1920<\/a><\/span>\n Canton Bulldogs<\/span>\n \n Rosters, Stats, Schedule<\/span>\n <\/h2>\n
\n \n \n \n \n Next Season<\/a>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n Record:<\/strong> 7-4-2, 8th in\n\tAPFA<\/a>\n  (Schedule and Results<\/a>)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Coach:<\/strong> \n Jim Thorpe<\/a> (7-4-2)<\/p>\n\n\n

Points For:<\/strong> 208 (16.0\/g) 4th of 14<\/p>\n

Points Against:<\/strong> 57 (4.4\/g) 5th of 14<\/p>\n

Expected W-L<\/a>:<\/strong> 12.4-0.6<\/p>\n

SRS<\/strong><\/a>: 18.19 (2nd of 14), \n SOS<\/strong><\/a>: 6.57\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Owned by Ralph Hay<\/a>, who also owned the Hupmobile Showroom that hosted the September 20th meeting, the Canton Bulldogs were a powerhouse in the mythical Ohio League that led up to this new organization of football franchises. Their star player and captain was the legendary Jim Thorpe<\/a>, who also served as the league’s first president. Pete Henry, Joe Guyon, and Tex Grigg also manned positions for the Dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n 1920<\/a><\/span>\n Akron Pros<\/span>\n \n Rosters, Stats, Schedule<\/span>\n <\/h2>\n
\n \n \n \n \n Next Season<\/a>\n \n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n Record:<\/strong> 8-0-3, 1st in\n\tAPFA<\/a>\n  (Schedule and Results<\/a>)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Coach:<\/strong> \n Elgie Tobin<\/a> (8-0-3)<\/p>\n\n\n

Points For:<\/strong> 151 (13.7\/g) 6th of 14<\/p>\n

Points Against:<\/strong> 7 (.6\/g) 1st of 14<\/p>\n

Expected W-L<\/a>:<\/strong> 11.0-0.0<\/p>\n

SRS<\/strong><\/a>: 20.43 (1st of 14), \n SOS<\/strong><\/a>: 7.34\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t\n