1921 through 1930 Era of American Football

The decade of the Roaring 1920s started with prosperity for the nation and ended in the financial woes of the Great Depression, and each of these affected the game of football.

College football was in it's golden era with players like Red Grange, Ernie Nevers, and the Four Horseman of Notre Dame running acorss the fields of America.

Iconic coaches such as Bob Zuppke, Knute Rockne and Andy Smith had their teams playing top notch football as the traditional powers of the East started to fade in comparison.

Birth of the NFL:

The 1920s saw the National Football League (NFL) take its first wobbly steps. Founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), it was a ragtag bunch of mostly Midwestern teams playing under college rules.

Leather Helmets and Mud:

Games were rough-and-tumble affairs, played on muddy fields with minimal padding and leather helmets. Stars like Red Grange and Ernie Nevers captivated fans with their daring runs and hard tackles.

The forward pass gained popularity, revolutionizing the game. The T-formation, a more balanced offensive scheme, began to emerge.

The NFL was far from stable. Teams folded and joined at will, and rival leagues like the American Football League (AFL) briefly challenged its dominance.

Join us in a year-by-year look at the decade of the 1920s in the following posts.

Interesting Facts About Some of the Oldest and Most Reputable Football Teams in the USA

Football is a sport that is very special to many people. It combines grit and power with endurance and elegance. If you're a fan of football now, you've most likely been one for the past few years and will continue to be one for the rest of your life. That's the thing about football: once you love the sport, you can't shake it. With the tremendous arena games, all the way over the thrill of simply watching it at home, football has a little something for everyone. 

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There are certain teams that have been around for a long time, that have garnered a lot of support over the years and that have proven that they belong as some of the most reputable football teams and franchises around. This article aims to shed light on exactly that. 

-The Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are the oldest football team in the whole of the USA. This is a very special feat and one that is extremely impressive, especially in a country that lives and breathes football as much as the USA. They even bet on the sport to show just how engrossed they are in the game. Betting platforms are rather popular amongst football fans, who even stray away from football when it becomes too heated and try to find a good online fish shooting game with real money and no deposit, so that they have a thrilling distraction from the game. 

This team started its humble beginnings in 1898. Their name back then was actually different, it went as the Morgan Athletic Club. Back then, they were even based in the south side of Chicago. The reason they got their name as the Cardinals is because, in the early 1900s, the teams' managers received an old shipment of faded cardinal red football jerseys and just like that, the name stuck. 

The team was excellent when it started, which is exactly what propelled them to being part of the NFL in 1920 when it officially started. That was over a century ago, and since then, as you can imagine, the team has gone through many significant changes, never losing its Cardinal name, though. The team is now based in Phoenix. They're the oldest team in the franchise, but unfortunately, they have only won two NFL titles in the last 100 years. They are one of the least successful teams in the bunch; however, who knows, maybe the tides will change for them. 

-The Chicago Bears

Just like the Arizona Cardinals, the Chicago Bears started out under a different name. In 1920, they got their name from their then-founder, A.E. Staley, as the Decatur team. However, then Staley passed on the team to the famous George Halas in 1921, who moved the team all the way over to Chicago. After their first year, they were already showing success and Halas was already given the endearing name of 'Papa Bear', as he was known for walking up and down the field at every game, trying to help his team as much as possible. You see where the story and the name change are going. In 1922, seeing as they were located in Chicago and their managed was known as 'Papa Bear', the team got the endearing name of the Chicago Bears and the rest has been history. 

This team has done extremely well for themselves in the NFL and has proven time and time again that they are the ones to look out for. They have won 8 NFL Championships since they started and they have even won one Super Bowl Championship, to boot. Showing that they are truly the ones to watch and they continue to be successful even today. 

-The New York Giants

The New York Giants started their success in the early 1920s, they started their franchise in 1925 specifically and have shown progress and improvements right from then. They started their journey on the famous Polo Grounds in Manhatten, marking one of the most esteemed training grounds. As one of the only teams to have never changed their name, this team often says that it has been marked for success right from the very beginning. 

They naturally joined the NFL the moment they became a functioning team and actually managed to win the title four times over, in 1939, 1941, 1944 and 1946. Doing this made them one of the best teams to ever enter the NFL Championship and certainly a team to look out for. Another reason they are one of the most popular teams, even today, is because they have also won the Superbowl four times over, which is an incredible feat. 

Today, the New York Giants continue to be one of the most influential teams on the roster and one that shows incredible promise. 

-A Solid Foundation

One of the most impressive things about these older teams is that they continue to play, even today. The fact that football seems to truly be based on history and heritage, makes it far more understanding that football is one of the most beloved sports in the USA. Fans have been watching their favorite teams play for years and years, passing the love of the sport on to the next generation. Football also certainly shows no sign of slowing down. 
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