A color-coded, chronological, history of the National Football League (NFL) from its inception until now.

1. FOOTBALL
The Evolution of the NFL

2. September 17, 1920
Canton Bulldogs (OH) – Cleveland Indians (OH)
Dayton Triangles (OH) – Akron Pros (OH)
Massillon Tigers (OH)– Rochester Jeffersons (NY)
Rock Island Independents (IL) – Muncie Flyers (IN)
Staleys of Decatur (IL) – Chicago Cardinals (IL)
Racine Legion (WI)– Hammond Pros (IN)

3. 1925 NFL
Akron
Pros (4)
Chicago
Cardinals (1)
Detroit
Panthers (3)
Hammond
Pros (14)
Pottsville
Maroons (2)
Buffalo
Bisons (15)
Cleveland
Bulldogs (12)
Duluth
Kelleys (16)
Kansas City
Cowboys (13)
Providence (10)
Steam Roller
Canton
Bulldogs (11)
Columbus
Tigers (16)
Frankford (6)
Yellow Jackets
Milwaukee
Badgers (16)
Rochester (16)
Jeffersons
Chicago
Bears (7)
Dayton (16)
Triangles
Green Bay
Packers (9)
New York
Giants (4)
Rock Island (8)
Independents

4. 7th Season
1926 NFL
Akron
Indians (16)
Chicago
Cardinals (10)
Detroit
Panthers (12)
Hammond
Pros (21)
Pottsville
Maroons (3)
Louisville
Colonels (21)
Buffalo
Rangers (9)
Los Angeles
Buccaneers (6)
Duluth
Eskimos (8)
Kansas City
Cowboys (4)
Providence (11)
Steam Roller
Canton
Bulldogs (20)
Columbus
Tigers (19)
Frankford (1)
Yellow Jackets
Milwaukee
Badgers (15)
Brooklyn
Lions (14)
Chicago
Bears (2)
Dayton (16)
Triangles
Green Bay
Packers (5)
New York
Giants (6)
Hartford
Blues (13)
Racine (16)
Tornadoes

5. 1930 NFL
Brooklyn (Dayton)
Dodgers (4)
Chicago
Cardinals (7)
Providence (5)
Steam Roller
Minneapolis
Red Jackets (10)
Portsmouth
Spartans (8)
Green Bay
Packers (1)
Newark
Tornados (11)
Staten Island
Stapletons (6)
Frankford (9)
Yellow Jackets
Chicago
Bears (3)
New York
Giants (2)

6. 1940 NFL
Eastern Division
Western Division
Washington Redskins
Chicago Bears
Brooklyn Dodgers
Green Bay Packers
New York Giants
Detroit Lions
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Rams
Philadelphia Eagles
Chicago Cardinals

7. 1950 NFL
American Conference
Cleveland Browns
(1950)
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
National Conference
Los Angeles Rams
(1946)
Chicago Bears
New York Yanks
(1949)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Detroit Lions
Chicago Cardinals
Green Bay Packers
Washington Redskins
San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore Colts
(1950)
(1950)

8. 1961 NFL
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
New York Giants
Green Bay Packers
Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions
Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Colts
St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago Bears
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys
(1960)
Washington Redskins
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
(1961)

9. Eastern Conference
1969 NFL
Western Conference
Capitol Division
Coastal Division
Dallas Cowboys
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Redskins
Baltimore Colts
New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons
Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Century Division
Central Division
Cleveland Browns
Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants
Detroit Lions
St. Louis Cardinals
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Chicago Bears

10. 10th Season (AFL)
1969 AFL
Eastern Division
Western Division
New York Jets
Oakland Raiders
Houston Oilers
Kansas City Chiefs
Boston Patriots
San Diego Chargers
Buffalo Bills
Denver Broncos
Miami Dolphins (1966)
Cincinnati Bengals (1968)

11. NFL – AFC
1970 -1990
AFC – East
AFC – Central
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Houston Oilers
Kansas City Chiefs
Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Cleveland Browns
San Diego Chargers
(1984)
New York Jets
New England
Patriots (1971)
AFC – West
Oakland Raiders
(Los Angeles 1982/1994)
(1976 NFC , 1977 AFC)
Denver Broncos

12. NFL – NFC
1970 -1990
NFC – East
NFC – Central
NFC – West
New York Giants
Chicago Bears
San Francisco
49ers
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Bucs
New Orleans Saints
(1976 AFC, 1977 NFC)
Washington
Redskins
Detroit Lions
Los Angeles Rams
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons
Phoenix Cardinals
Minnesota Vikings
(1988)

13. NFL – AFC
2000
AFC – East
AFC – Central
AFC – West
Miami Dolphins
Tennessee Oilers
(1997, Titans – 1999)
Oakland Raiders
Indianapolis Colts
Baltimore Ravens
Denver Broncos
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars
Seattle Seahawks
New England
Patriots
Cincinnati Bengals
(1996)
(1995)
Cleveland Browns
(1999)
San Diego Chargers

14. NFL – NFC
2000
NFC – East
NFC – Central
NFC – West
New York Giants
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Redskins
Green Bay Packers
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions
San Francisco 49ers
Arizona Cardinals
Chicago Bears
Atlanta Falcons
(1994)
(1995)

15. 2002 – 2013 NFL
AFC East
AFC North
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland Browns
2002 – 2013 NFL
AFC South
AFC West
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans (2002)
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
San Diego Chargers
Oakland Raiders

16. 2002 – 2013 NFL
NFC East
NFC North
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Washington Redskins
Green Bay Packers
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
2002 – 2013 NFL
NFC South
NFC West
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers
Arizona Cardinals
St. Louis Rams

17. Top Row – Andy Lotshaw (Trainer), Joe LaFleur (FB-Marquette), Frank Hanny (E-Indiana),
Ed Healy (T-Dartmouth), Ralph Scott (T-Wisconsin), Jim McMillen (G-Illinois),
Oscar Knopp (FB-Illinois), Verne Mullen (E-Illinois)
Bottom Row – George Halas (E-Illinois), Laurie Walquist (QB-Illinois), Roy White
(FB-Valparaiso), Hugh Blacklock (T-Michigan State), George Trafton (C-Notre Dame),
Hunk Anderson (G-Notre Dame), Ralph “Jake” Lanum (B-Illinois & Millikin),
Edward “Dutch” Sternaman (HB), Joe Sternaman (HB-Illinois)

18. http://www.oldestlivingprofootball.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=155840502 and 114581283
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_NFL_season through http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_NFL_season
Halas by Halas McGraw-Hill, 1979. jgillis767@aol.com