What is the NFL?

The National Football League is the heart of American football, a league where 32 teams battle for the title each season. It’s a fusion of emotion, tactics, and luxury—from the regular season to the legendary Super Bowl.

We will examine what the NFL is, how it originated, developed, and became a global system. It is a league that has turned the game into a cultural phenomenon and a sporting giant.

What is the NFL

The NFL is a professional American league that brings together the best players in the country:

The NFL consists of 32 professional teams divided between the AFC and NFC conferences.

Each season includes a preseason and a regular season, where each team plays 17 games and has one bye.

After the regular season, the teams advance to the playoffs, which include the division winners and wild cards, leading up to the Super Bowl.

The league was founded in 1920 in Canton, Ohio, under the name APFA, and by 1922 it became the NFL.

The NFL is the most profitable and most attended sports league in the world, and the Super Bowl is one of the biggest TV events.

The history of the birth of the major American football league

The league was born as a local attempt to bring talented clubs together and turn the game into an organized business. It went through unstable years before finding its form and structure. Gradually, the NFL began to dominate, ousting competitors and becoming a cultural phenomenon. The growth of technology and television significantly increased audience interest and the scale of events. Today, the NFL is a global platform where sports and media have merged into one.

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Creation of the league

The origins of the NFL began with the desire to create a unified professional structure for American football:

In 1920, the APFA was formed, uniting a dozen regional teams.

In 1922, the APFA was renamed the NFL to emphasize its national format.

The first clubs set the tone for development—some still exist today, such as the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals.

The early league was unstable: no strong structure, but with potential for growth.

Gradually, organizational improvements gave the NFL form and stability.

Growing popularity and the first stars

After its founding, the league slowly gained viewer interest and identified its first heroes:

More and more teams were added, and the rules and format of the season were improved.

In 1933, the first championship game was held, rather than simply calculating the standings.

Gradually, star players and clubs appeared that attracted fans and the media.

More competitions and records appeared—the league was gaining recognition.

The NFL’s popularity grew when the sport became entertainment rather than just counting points.

Merger with the AFL

One of the key milestones was the merger with the rival AFL league, which changed the face of American football:

In 1966, the NFL announced its merger with the AFL, its rival league.

Until 1970, the leagues played separately but held a joint championship in the form of the Super Bowl.

The seasons ran parallel, and the best team from each league met in the Super Bowl.

In 1970, the official merger took place, and the NFL became a single national league with two conferences.

This expanded the number of clubs and made the structure more stable and attractive to fans.

The era of television and expansion

Television and expansion made the NFL a cultural and commercial monster:

With the development of television, the NFL became more accessible to the whole country, and interest grew.

The Super Bowl became an instant hit on television, and the league became a media driver.

The number of clubs gradually increased, and the division structure took shape.

Regular seasons, playoffs, and the Super Bowl became part of American tradition and the calendar.

Popularity grew to mainstream levels—the NFL became a business, not just a sport.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/10/09/street-talk/the-nfl-2/