Changes

== History ==

== History ==

The origins of the NFL go back to a single game of soccer played between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869. The game used modified London Football Association rules that began the distinction between (American) soccer and rugby. The NFL was originally formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association but in 1922 it officially adopted the name of the National Football League as it is today. George Halas, of Chicago is credited with being the father of the league and is compared to [[George Washington]] by many enthusiasts of the game. Most of the original teams in 1922 no longer exist, but some like the Giants are still around. In 1960, [[Kansas City]] businessman Lamar Hunt founded the [[American Football League]] (AFL) to be a competitor to the NFL.  By 1970, the two leagues merged with most of the original NFL teams becoming the [[National Football Conference]] and the AFL teams plus the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh and Cleveland becoming the [[American Football Conference]]. During the 1970s, the league had many electrifying quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Roger Staubach and Fran Tarkenton. In the 1980s, one dynasty emerged as predominant- the 49ers led by [[Joe Montana]], although the 1985 Bears went 15-1 and won the Super Bowl with a top 3 all-time defense. Dallas Cowboys, with running back Emmitt Smith,  were a dynasty that won 3 Super Bowls in the 1990s. The 2000s had more parity, while the 2010's saw the rise of the New England Patriot dynasty.

The NFL was originally formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association and adopted its current name in 1922.  Only two teams from the league's founding remain in operation today: the Chicago Cardinals (now the [[Arizona Cardinals]]) and the Decatur Staleys (now the [[Chicago Bears]]).<ref>The [[Green Bay Packers]], considered one of the NFL's historic franchises, played its first two seasons as an independent club before joining in 1921.</ref>  Then Staleys coach (and owner) [[George Halas]] is credited with being the father of the league and is compared to [[George Washington]] by many enthusiasts of the game.

 

During its existence it has merged with all or parts of two rival football leagues:

*In 1950 it absorbed three teams from the All-America Football Conference (the [[Cleveland Browns]], the [[San Francisco 49ers]], and a team called the Baltimore Colts which is not related to the current franchise called the [[Indianapolis Colts]]).

*In 1970 it merged with the American Football League, which began operations in 1960.  As part of the merger agreement, beginning in 1967 it hosted a championship game between the leagues, which is now today's [[Super Bowl]].  Also, in order to equalize the number of teams between what would be the [[National Football Conference]] (comprised of NFL teams) and the [[American Football Conference]] (comprised of AFL teams), three NFL teams -- the Browns, the Colts and the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] -- were moved to the AFC.

==Arrangement==

==Arrangement==