National Football Day - July 19, 2024

History of National Football Day

Originating from early versions of rugby football and association football in 19th century Britain, American football was shaped into its current form primarily by one man, Walter Camp. This Yale player, frequently referred to as the “Father of American Football,” adapted the rules of British football games to feature elements like line scrimmages and down-and-distance rules that are distinctive factors of American football.

With popularity growing throughout the late-19th and early-20th centuries, several professional and semi-professional leagues emerged. In 1920, the American Professional Football Association was born. It eventually developed into the National Football League (NFL) we know today by 1922.

About halfway through the 20th century, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began establishing more concrete rules and regulations for collegiate football. This development coincided with the introduction of televised broadcasts of games in the 1950s, which increased public awareness and popularity of the sport.

In the year 1960, another major American football league was founded - the American Football League (AFL), posing as a rival to the NFL. The rivalry was concluded in 1970 when the two leagues merged, forming today’s NFL split into the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference.

Presently, American football is one of the most highly regarded sports in the U.S. The NFL’s flagship event, the Super Bowl, has become an annual television phenomenon drawing in vast global audiences. Today, the sport continues to enthrall spectators worldwide with its intricate strategies, physical rigor, and thrilling games.