I should of made this my 1000th post put I didnt think about it so heres my supposed to be 1000th post...Got it mostly from www.nfl.com 1892 Pudge Heffelfinger was the first player to get paid. 1909 Feild Goal points droped from 4 to 3 1920 Hammond Pros 2-5? 1920 Cleveland Tigers and Chicago Tigers... 1921 Hammond Pros 1-4? 1922 Hammond Pros 0-5? 1922 Bears changed from Staleys to Bears 1926 Hammond Pros last season of sucking... 1926 Kansas City Cowboys... 1927 New York Yankees NFL TEAM?! 1932 Portsmouth Spartans and the Chicago Bears 1st playoff game 1950 First starting of the Baltimore Ravens... 1-11 1951 No Baltimore Ravens... 1953 Baltimore Ravens come back!! AND SUCKED 1955 Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants first OT game 1956 Bart Starr, QB, Alabama -200th overall byDa Packers 1957 Paul Hornung, QB/HB Green Bay Packers 1960 AFL starts... American Football League 1970 AFL joins NFL teams/ 1983 John Elway, QB Baltimore Colts Most Seasons League Champion 12 Green Bay, 1929-1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961-62, 1965-67, 1996 9 Chi. Bears, 1921, 1932-33, 1940-41, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985 6 N.Y. Giants, 1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990 ARIZONA CARDINALS - The Cardinals originally played in Chicago as a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The team moved to St. Louis in 1960 and then to Phoenix in 1988. Contrary to popular logic, the team was not named after the beautiful bird but instead because the team played in used maroon jerseys the original team (in pre-NFL years) had purchased from the University of Chicago. When an observer scoffed that the jerseys were ?faded red,? team owner Chris O?Brien countered that they weren?t ?faded red,? they were ?cardinal red.? ATLANTA FALCONS - A fan contest was held and the team received more than 1,300 entries suggesting 558 different names. Although several entries in a fan contest suggested Falcons, a schoolteacher was declared the winner because of her reason ??the falcon is proud and dignified with great courage and fight.? BALTIMORE RAVENS - On March 29, 1996, Baltimore?s NFL team became the Ravens. The nickname was selected from among three finalists in a poll conducted by the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore fans selected the name in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, the American poet who penned his famous poem, ?The Raven? while living in Baltimore. BUFFALO BILLS - Buffalo?s team in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946 was the Bisons. In 1947 a contest was held to rename the team, which was owned by James Breuil of the Frontier Oil Company. The winning entry suggested Bills, reflecting on the famous western frontiersman, Buffalo Bill Cody. Carrying the ?frontier? theme further, the winning contestant further offered that the team was being supported by Frontier Oil and was ?opening a new frontier in sports in Western New York.? When Buffalo joined the new American Football League in 1960, the name of the city?s earlier pro football entry was adopted. CAROLINA PANTHERS - Team owner Jerry Richardson?s son Mark is responsible for the selection of Panthers as the team name. Mark, who fe lt that there should be some ?synergy? between the name and the team colors also suggested the team colors of black, blue and silver. CHICAGO BEARS - When this team became a charter member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920, the team was located in Decatur, IL, and was named after team sponsor, the Staley Starch Company. The team moved to Chicago in 1921 and became the Chicago Staleys. In 1922, after team founder-manager and star end George Halas purchased the team, he changed the name to the Bears. Halas reasoned that because football players were generally bigger than baseball players, and the city?s baseball team was the Cubs, then logically the football team should be the Bears. CLEVELAND BROWNS - The Cleveland All-America Football Conference franchise conducted a fan contest in 1945 to name the team. The most popular submission was ?Browns? in recognition of the team?s first coach and general manager Paul Brown, who was already a popular figure in Ohio sports. Brown at first vetoed the choice and the team selected from the contest entries the name ?Panthers.? However, after an area businessman informed the team that he owned the rights to the name Cleveland Panthers, from an earlier failed football team, Brown rescinded his objection and agreed to the use of his name. DALLAS COWBOYS - In the initial months following the its formation, the Dallas team was known as the ?Steers.? After a few weeks, however, the name was changed to ?Rangers.? At the same time, a baseball team operated in Dallas under that name, but was scheduled to fold before the 1960 football season. However, when the baseball team decided to play one more season, Clint Murchison Jr. and Bedford Wynne, two owners of the new NFL team, selected the name of Cowboys to avoid confusion. DENVER BRONCOS - ?Broncos? was the winning entry in a fan contest held in 1960 by the original AFL team. The football team, however, isn?t the first to be called the Denver Broncos. Denver?s 1921 entry in the Midwest Baseball League was also called the Broncos. DETROIT LIONS - The Lions name was chosen by George A. Richards, the Detroit radio executive who purchased the Portsmouth Spartans and moved the team to Detroit in 1934. ?The lion is monarch of the jungle,? a team spokesperson said, ?and we hope to be the monarch of the league.? GREEN BAY PACKERS - The name was a natural since the team was sponsored first by the Indian Packing Company and later the Acme Packing Company. Although both companies went out of business, the team prospered under the name Packers. HOUSTON TEXANS - After Houston was awarded the NFL's 32nd franchise on October 6, 1999, a series of focus groups were formed to help come up with a nickname for the team. On March 2, 2000, the team announced five choices, the Apollos, Bobcats, Stallions, Texans and Wildcatters. The list was then shaved to the Apollos, Stallions and Texans a month later. After careful deliberation, the team unveiled the Texans' name, colors, and logo at a rally held in downtown Houston on September 6, 2000. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Baltimore?s first pro football team was a member of the 1947 AAFC. A fan contest produced the Colts name reflecting the great tradition and proud history of horse breeding and racing in the Baltimore region. The original Colts disbanded after the 1950 season but the name was retained when a new Baltimore franchise began play in 1953. The team moved to Indianapolis in 1984. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - The Jaguars name was selected through a fan contest. Finalists for the name included the Sharks, Stingrays and even Panthers, but Jaguars was ultimately selected on December 6, 1991. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - The AFL franchise began in 1960 as the Dallas Texans. When the team was moved to Kansas City in 1963, the new name was selected by a fan contest. MIAMI DOLPHINS - A fan contest drew 19,843 entries to name the AFL expansion team. A total of 622 contestants suggested ?Dolphins.? Team owner Joe Robbie said he liked the name because, ?The dolphin is one of the fastest and smartest creatures in the sea.? MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Bert Rose, the first general manager of the Minnesota team that began NFL play in 1961, selected the Vikings name because so many people in Minnesota and the surrounding area traced their heritage to Scandinavia. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - The new AFL team originally located in Boston, was named the Patriots because of the area?s heritage as the birthplace of the American Revolution. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - The name Saints was the popular choice in a fan contest staged by the New Orleans States-Item. However, with or without the contest, the New Orleans team would most likely have been called the Saints. The franchise was awarded on All Saints Day, November 1, 1966. New Orleans was famous worldwide as the city of jazz and the famous marching song, ?When the Saints Go Marching In.? NEW YORK GIANTS - Owner Tim Mara ?borrowed? the Giants name from the city?s Major League Baseball team of the same name. This was not unusual among early day pro football franchises. At one time or another there were NFL franchises named the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. NEW YORK JETS - New York?s original AFL team was called the Titans. When Sonny Werblin took over the franchise in 1963, he changed the team name to Jets to reflect the modern approach of his team and the star-studded performances he hoped his team would produce. OAKLAND RAIDERS - For a brief period, the new AFL team was known as the Senors but by the time the 1960 season started, the Oakland team was known as the Raiders. The origin of the Raiders name is not known but, since it is doubtful a fan contest would have been staged in Oakland since the first team would have to play in San Francisco, it is most likely the name was chosen by principal owner Chet Soda and his partners. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - When Bert Bell established his NFL franchise in Philadelphia in 1933, the country was struggling to recover from the Great Depression. New president Franklin D. Roosevelt had introduced his ?New Deal? program through the National Recovery Administration, which had the Eagle as its symbol. Since Bell hoped his franchise also was headed for a new deal, he picked Eagles as the team name. PITTSBURGH STEELERS - The original 1933 team was named the Pirates after the city?s major league baseball team. In 1940, Owner Art Rooney Sr. changed the team name to Steelers to more properly represent the city?s dominant steel industry. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - Barron Hilton agreed after his general manager, Frank Ready picked the Chargers name when he purchased an AFL franchise for Los Angeles. The Chargers played in Los Angeles in 1960 and moved to San Diego in 1961. ?I liked it because they were yelling ?charge? and sounding the bugle at Dodgers Stadium and at USC games.? SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - The 49ers name was adopted when San Francisco obtained an AAFC franchise in 1946. The name was selected as a recognition of the pioneering and adventurous spirit of the men of the 1849 gold rush in the Sierra Nevada mountains east of San Francisco. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - The nickname Seahawks was the result of a fan contest that drew 20,365 entries and suggested 1,742 different names. Seahawks was suggested by 151 entrants and judged by the team ownership as the best choice. ST. LOUIS RAMS - The franchise was originated in Cleveland in 1936 as a member of the American Football League. In 1937 the team joined the NFL. Principal owner Homer Marshman and his general manager, Damon ?Buzz? Wetzel picked the Rams name because Wetzel had said his favorite football team had always been the Fordham Rams and Marshman liked the sound of the name. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - A team advisory board reviewed 400 name possibilities and selected Buccaneers. TENNESSEE TITANS - Originally located in Houston, the team was known as the Oilers. After playing two seasons as the Tennessee Oilers, team owner Bud Adams formed an advisory committee to research names and a ?Guess the Name? contest to gain additional feedback was also held. The committee selected Titans citing the desire to have a nickname that reflected ?strength, leadership and other heroic qualities.? WASHINGTON REDSKINS - George Preston Marshall acquired an NFL franchise in 1932 and named it the Boston Braves after the city?s Major League Baseball team. However, after a financially devastating and poorly attended season in 1932, Marshall abandoned the Braves name in favor of the Redskins. The Redskins name was retained when the team was moved to Washington in 1937. First Pro November 12, 1892 ? William "Pudge" Heffelfinger is paid $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association. First Night Game November 21, 1902 ? The Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Kanaweola A.C. at Elmira, New York, on a lighted field. First Indoor Game December 28, 1902 ? The Syracuse A.C. defeated New York 5-0 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. First African-American 1904 ? Halfback Charles Follis reportedly signed a contract to play with the Shelby Athletic Club. First Season a Touchdown was Worth Six Points 1912 ? From 1892 to 1898, a TD was worth four points. From 1898 to 1911, it was worth five points. First Professional Football League Formed September 17, 1920 ? the American Professional Football Association, renamed the National Football League in 1922, was formed in Canton, Ohio. First League President 1920 ? The legendary Jim Thorpe was named the president of the NFL, then known as the APFA. First Game Featuring an NFL Team September 26, 1920 - The first game featuring an APFA team was played at Rock Island's Douglas Park. A crowd of 800 watched the Independents defeat the St. Paul Ideals 48-0. First NFL Game October 3, 1920 ? Dayton Triangles 14, Columbus Panhandles 0; Rock Island Independents 45, Muncie Flyers 0. First NFL Champions 1920 ? Akron Pros. First Two-Time NFL Champions 1922-1923 ? Canton Bulldogs First NFL Team to Train Out of Town 1926 - New York Giants at Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania First NFL Team to Host a Night Game November 6, 1929 ? Providence Steam Roller lost to the Chicago Cardinals, 16-0. First NFL Indoor Game December 17, 1930 ? The Chicago Bears defeated the Chicago Cardinals in an exhibition game in Chicago Stadium. First NFL Rule Book February 25, 1933 ? The NFL discontinued the use of the Collegiate Rules Book and began to develop its own rules. Many of the rule changes were the results of the 1932 NFL playoff game played indoors in Chicago. First College All-Star Game August 31, 1934 ? NFL Champion Chicago Bears and the College All-Stars played to 0-0 tie. First NFL Player to Rush for 1,000 Yards 1934 ? Beattie Feathers of the Chicago Bears gained 1,004 yards. First Player Picked in the First NFL Draft February 8, 1936 ? Jay Berwanger, University of Chicago Heisman Trophy winner, was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. First Pro Bowl January 15, 1939 ? the New York Giants defeated the Pro All-Stars, 13-10, at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, California. First Divisional Playoff Game December 14, 1941 ? The Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers, 33-14, in the NFL Western Division championship playoff game. First Adoption of Free Substitution Rule 1943 ? First adopted because of war-time manpower emergency. Rule was rescinded in 1946 but adopted on a permanent basis in 1950. First "Triple Crown" Winner 1943 ? Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins led the NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions. First Use of a Penalty Flag by NFL Officials 1948 First International Game by NFL Team August 12, 1950 ? The New York Giants defeated the CFL's Ottawa Roughriders, 20-6, in a game played in Ottawa. First to Rush for 1,000 Yards in Consecutive Seasons 1953-1954 ? Hall of Famer Joe Perry of the San Francisco 49ers First Overtime Game August 28, 1955 ? The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants, 23-17, in a preseason game played in Portland, Oregon. First Overtime Championship Game December 28, 1958 - In what is referred to as the "The Greatest Game Ever Played," the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23-17, in the 1958 NFL Championship Game. First Visitor to the Pro Football Hall of Fame September 7, 1963 ? Canton, Ohio First Soccer-Style Placekicker 1964 ? Pete Gogolak, Buffalo Bills First U.S. President to Attend NFL Game While in Office August 3, 1966 ? Lyndon Johnson at D.C. Stadium for pre-season game. Namath Namath, pro football's first 4,000-yard passer. First Quarterback to Pass for 4,000 Yards 1967 ? Joe Namath of the New York Jets totals 4,007 yards through the air. First Perfect Season by NFL Team 1972 ? The Miami Dolphins post a 17-0-0 record culminated with a win in Super Bowl VII. First Player to Rush for 2,000 Yards in a Season 1973 - O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills ran for 2,003 yards. First Use of Wireless Microphones by Referees 1975 First Use of 30-Second Clock Between Plays 1976 First NFL Game Outside of North America August 16, 1976 ? The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Diego Chargers, 20-10, in a pre-season game played in Tokyo, Japan. First Pro Bowl Game in Non-NFL City January 27, 1980 ? The NFL's All-Star Game is played in Honolulu, Hawaii for the first time. First NFL Game in Europe August 6, 1983 ? The Minnesota Vikings defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 28-10, at Wembley Stadium in London, England. First Use of Instant Replay on a Regular Basis 1986 First American Bowl Game August 3, 1986 ? The Chicago Bears defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 17-6, in Wembly Stadium in London. Firsts in Radio, TV in Pro Football November 29, 1934 ? First national radio broadcast of an NFL game. Graham McNamee was the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Lions-Chicago Bears Thanksgiving Day game. October 22, 1939 ? First telecast of an NFL game. NBC broadcast the Philadelphia Eagles-Brooklyn Dodgers game from Ebbets Field. December 8, 1940 ? First radio network coverage of an NFL championship game. Mutual Radio Network broadcast the Chicago Bears' 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins. 1950 NFL Season ? The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to televise all of its games ? home and away. December 23, 1951 ? First coast-to-coast telecast of NFL Championship game by the Dumont Network. 1956 ? CBS became the first network to televise some NFL games to selected television markets across the nation. 1960 ? ABC became the first network to sign a television contract with the American Football League. 1962 ? The NFL, for the fist time, entered into a single-network agreement with CBS for televising all regular season games. 1970 ? The first game of ABC's Monday Night Football series was played between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets in Cleveland, Ohio.
