The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The league was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before changing its name to the NFL in 1922.
The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, with an estimated 190 million viewers in the United States alone. It is also one of the most profitable, with revenues exceeding $16 billion annually. The league's popularity can be attributed to its unique combination of athleticism, strategy, and spectacle, as well as its extensive coverage on television and online media.
The NFL is also known for its rigorous player development program, which includes a draft of college players each year and extensive training and conditioning regimens. Players are often considered the elite of American sports and can earn millions of dollars in salary and endorsement deals.
However, the NFL has also been the subject of controversy over the years, particularly regarding player safety and the long-term effects of concussions. The league has implemented several measures to address these concerns, including stricter penalties for hits to the head and improved medical protocols for injured players.
Today, the NFL is the most popular sports league in the United States and has a global following. The league has expanded to 32 teams and generates billions of dollars in revenue annually. It is a testament to the vision of Jim Thorpe and the other founders who believed in the potential of professional football and worked tirelessly to build a league that would become an integral part of American culture.
| Year | # of NFL viewers |
|---|---|
| 1970 : | 44 Million |
| 1980 : | 76 Million |
| 1990 : | 81 Million |
| 2000 : | 86 Million |
| 2010 : | 105 Million |