History
The National Football League has grown through several key phases, reshaping the structure of the competition and gradually building toward the modern 32‑team format. This page documents the major changes to league membership, including franchises, relocations that created new markets, and structural shifts such as the 1970 merger and the 2002 realignment.
The timeline below shows how the league evolved from its early years to its current structure.
| Season | Team | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920‑1949 |
League founded as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), later renamed the NFL (1922). Numerous early franchises enter and leave; the league gradually stabilises around core clubs such as the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Washington, and Philadelphia Eagles. |
1950 |
Cleveland Browns (AAFC) (E) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC) (E) Baltimore Colts (AAFC) (E, later folded) AAFC–NFL merger brings the league to 13 teams. |
| 1953‑1959 |
Baltimore Colts (new franchise) (E) replace the folded AAFC Colts (1953). League remains at 12 teams through the 1950s with a stable core membership. |
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| 1960‑1961 |
Dallas Cowboys (E) (1960). Minnesota Vikings (E) (1961). First wave of modern in response to the rival AFL. |
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| 1966‑1967 |
Atlanta Falcons (E) (1966). New Orleans Saints (E) (1967). NFL continues southern while merger plans with the AFL are agreed. |
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| 1970 | St. Louis Cardinals (FM) Atlanta Falcons (FM) Baltimore Colts (FM) Buffalo Bills (FM) Chicago Bears (FM) Cincinnati Bengals (FM) Cleveland Browns (FM) Dallas Cowboys (FM) Denver Broncos (FM) Detroit Lions (FM) Green Bay Packers (FM) Houston Oilers (FM) Kansas City Chiefs (FM) Los Angeles Rams (FM) Miami Dolphins (FM) Minnesota Vikings (FM) Boston Patriots (FM) New Orleans Saints (FM) New York Giants (FM) New York Jets (FM) Oakland Raiders (FM) Philadelphia Eagles (FM) Pittsburgh Steelers (FM) San Diego Chargers (FM) San Francisco 49ers (FM) Washington Redskins (FM) |
AFL–NFL merger creates a 26‑team league split into AFC and NFC | |
| 1976 | Seattle Seahawks (E) | Expansion | Joined NFC West |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (E) | Expansion | Joined AFC West | |
| 1984 | Baltimore Colts > Indianapolis Colts (R) | Relocation | Moved overnight to Indianapolis |
| 1988 | St. Louis Cardinals > Phoenix Cardinals (R) | Relocation | Moved overnight to Phoenix |
| 1994 | Phoenix Cardinals > Arizona Cardinals (R) | Name Change | Permanent name change |
| 1995 | Carolina Panthers (E) | Expansion | Joined NFC West |
| Jacksonville Jaguars (E) | Expansion | Joined AFC Central | |
| 1996 | Cleveland Browns (F) | Suspended | Operations paused 1996–1998; history & records remained in Cleveland |
| Baltimore Ravens | Expansion | Joined AFC Central | |
| 1997 | Houston Oilers > Tennessee Oilers (R) | Relocation | Temporary name before rebrand |
| 1999 | Tennessee Oilers > Tennessee Titans (NC) | Name Change | Permanent identity established |
| 2002 | Houston Texans (E) | Expansion | Returned NFL to Houston |
| 2016 | St. Louis Rams > Los Angeles Rams (R) | Relocation | Returned after 21 seasons in St. Louis |
| 2017 | San Diego Chargers > Los Angeles Chargers (R) | Relocation | Joined Rams in LA market |
| 2020 | Oakland Raiders > Las Vegas Raiders (R) | Relocation | New stadium in Nevada |
| Washington Redskins > Washington Football Team (NC) | Name Change | Temporary identity | |
| 2022 | Washington Football Team > Washington Commanders (NC) | Name Change | Permanent rebrand |
LEGEND
E – or newly admitted franchise (including re‑activated markets)
F – Folded or departed franchise (not listed exhaustively on this page)