What was the NFL called when it was founded in 1920?

When it was founded in 1920, the NFL was called the American Professional Football Association.

The organization was created during a series of meetings in Canton, Ohio, as professional football clubs sought more orderly scheduling and wanted to reduce bidding wars for players. The September 17, 1920 meeting formalized the league under the name American Professional Football Association, commonly abbreviated APFA.

Jim Thorpe, one of the era’s best-known athletes, was elected the association’s first president. The original membership included teams such as the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Dayton Triangles, Decatur Staleys, and Racine Cardinals. The Akron Pros were later recognized as the 1920 champions.

The APFA adopted its current name, National Football League, in 1922. That timing is the source of a common mix-up: the league was founded as the APFA, but it became the NFL only after its first two seasons. The Decatur Staleys eventually became the Chicago Bears, while the Racine Cardinals became today’s Arizona Cardinals.