Professional Football Team Names

and Franchise Histories

(For other sports, go to Professional Sports Team Names.)

(Also see Pro Team Names with variable listing.)

(Also see College Team Names with variable listing.)

The following lists give the years and the franchise names that each team played under.  The source of this information is primarily from Sportsline and Hickok Sports.

Abbreviations are as follows:  

AFL I - American Football League I; 1926

AFL II - American Football League II; 1936-1937

AFL III - American Football League III; 1940-1941

AFL IV - American Football League IV; 1960-1967

AAFC - All-American Football Conference; 1946-1949

APFA - American Professional Football Assoc. (becomes NFL); 1921

NFL - National Football League (former APFA); 1920-now

    AFC — American Football Conference

    NFC — National Football Conference

Ind. — Independent football team;

CFL - Continental Football League; 1965-1969

USFL - United States Football League; 1983-1985

WFL - World Football League; 1974-1975

—— Current Teams ——

1994- now, Arizona Cardinals; NFL-NFC West

1988-1993, Phoenix Cardinals; NFL

1960-1987, St. Louis Cardinals; NFL

1945-1959, Chicago Cardinals; NFL

1944-1944, Card/Pitt; NFL

1922-1943, Chicago Cardinals; NFL

1921-1921, Chicago Cardinals; APFA

1901-1920, Chicago Cardinals; Ind

1966- now, Atlanta Falcons; NFL-NFC South

1996- now, Baltimore Ravenss; NFL-AFC North

1950-1995, Cleveland Browns; NFL

1946-1949, Cleveland Browns; AAFC

1970- now, Buffalo Bills; NFL-AFC East

1960-1969, Buffalo Bills; AFL IV

1995- now, Carolina Panthers; NFL-NFC South

1922- now, Chicago Bears; NFL-NFC North

1921-1921, Chicago Staleys; APFA

1920-1920, Decatur Staleys; APFA

1999- now, Cleveland Browns; NFL-AFC North

1970- now, Cincinnati Bengals; NFL-AFC North

1968-1969, Cincinnati Bengals; AFL IV

1960- now, Dallas Cowboys; NFL-NFC East

1970- now, Denver Broncos; NFL-AFC West

1960-1969, Denver Broncos; AFL IV

1934- now, Detroit Lions; NFL-NFC North

1930-1933, Portsmouth Spartans; NFL

1922- now, Green Bay Packers; NFL-NFC North

1920-1921, Green Bay Packers; APFA

2002- now, Houston Texans; NFL-AFC South

1984- now, Indianapolis Colts; NFL-AFC South

1953-1983, Baltimore Colts; NFL

1952-1952, Dallas Texans; NFL

1950-1951, New York Yanks; NFL

1949-1949, New York Bulldogs; NFL

1944-1948, Boston Yanks; NFL

1995- now, Jacksonville Jaguars; NF-AFC South

1970- now, Kansas City Chiefs; NFL-AFC West

1963-1969, Kansas City Chiefs; AFL IV

1960-1962, Dallas Texans; AFL IV

1970- now, Miami Dolphins; NFL-AFC East

1966-1969, Miami Dolphins; AFL IV

1961- now, Minnesota Vikings; NFL-NFC North

1971- now, New England Patriots; NFL-AFC East

1970-1970, Boston Patriots; NFL

1960-1969, Boston Patriots; AFL IV

1967- now, New Orleans Saints; NFL-NFC South

1925- now, New York Giants; NFL-NFC East

1970- now, New York Jets; NFL-AFC East

1963-1969, New York Jets; AFL IV

1960-1962, New York Titans; AFL IV

1995- now, Oakland Raiders; NFL-AFC West

1982-1994, Los Angeles Raiders; NFL

1970-1981, Oakland Raiders; NFL

1960-1969, Oakland Raiders; AFL IV

1944- now, Philadelphia Eagles; NFL-NFC East

1943-1943, Philadelphia/Pittsburgh Steagles; NFL

1933-1942, Philadelphia Eagles; NFL

1924-1931, Frankford Yellow Jackets; NFL

1945- now, Pittsburgh Steelers; NFL-AFC North

1944-1944, Card/Pitt; NFL

1943-1943, Philadelphia/Pittsburgh Steagles; NFL

1941-1942, Pittsburgh Steelers; NFL

1933-1940, Pittsburgh Pirates; NFL

1994- now, St. Louis Rams; NFL-NFC West

1946-1994, Los Angeles Rams; NFL

1937-1945, Cleveland Rams; NFL

1970- now, San Diego Chargers; NFL-AFC West

1963-1969, San Diego Chargers; AFL IV

1960-1962, Los Angeles Chargers; AFL IV

1950- now, San Francisco 49ers; NFL-NFC West

1946-1949, San Francisco 49ers; AAFC

1976- now, Seattle Seahawks; NFL-NFC West

1976- now, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; NFL-NFC South

1999- now, Tennessee Titans; NFL-FC South

1997-1998, Tennessee Oilers; NFL

1970-1996, Houston Oilers; NFL

1960-1969, Houston Oilers; AFL IV

1937- now, Washington Redskins; NFL-NFC East

1933-1936, Boston Redskins; NFL

1932-1932, Boston Braves; NFL

—— Defunct Teams ——

1926-1926, Akron Indians; NFL

1922-1925, Akron Pros; NFL

1920-1921, Akron Pros; APFA

1918-1919, Akron Pros; Ind

1916-1916, Akron Burkhardts; Ind

1947-1950, Baltimore Colts; NFL

1946-1946, Miami Seahawks; AFL

1929-1929, Boston Bulldogs; NFL

1925-1928, Pottsville Maroons; NFL

1944-1944, Brooklyn Tigers; NFL

1930-1943, Brooklyn Dodgers; NFL

1922-1929, Dayton Triangles; NFL

1920-1921, Dayton Triangles; APFA

1929-1929, Buffalo Bisons; NFL

1926-1927, Buffalo Rangers; NFL

1924-1925, Buffalo Bisons; NFL

1922-1923, Buffalo All-Americans; NFL

1920-1921, Buffalo All-Americans; APFA

1925-1926, Canton Bulldogs; NFL

1920-1921, Canton Bulldogs; APFA

1915-1920, Canton Bulldogs ; Ind

1911-1914, Canton Pros; Ind

1921-1921, Cincinnati Celts; APFA

1931-1931, Cleveland Indians; NFL

1921-1921, Cleveland Indians; APFA

1920-1920, Cleveland Tigers; APFA

1924-1926, Columbus Tigers; NFL

1922-1923, Columbus Panhandles; NFL

1920-1921, Columbus Panhandles; APFA

1907-1919, Columbus Panhandles; Ind

1921-1921, Detroit Tigers; APFA

1920-1920, Detroit Heralds; APFA

1911-1919, Detroit Heralds; Ind

1925-1926, Detroit Panthers; NFL

1928-1928, Detroit Wolverines; NFL

1924-1927, Cleveland Bulldogs; NFL

1923-1923, Cleveland Indians; NFL

1922-1922, Evansville Crimson Giants; NFL

1921-1921, Evansville Crimson Giants; APFA

1922-1926, Hammond Pros; NFL

1920-1921, Hammond Pros; APFA

1926-1926, Hartford Blues; NFL

1925-1926, Kansas City Cowboys; NFL

1924-1924, Kansas City Blues; NFL

1924-1924, Kenosha Maroons; NFL

1922-1923, Toledo Maroons; NFL

1906-1921, Toledo Maroons; Ind

1926-1926, Los Angeles Buccaneers; NFL

1926-1926, Louisville Colonels; NFL

1922-1923, Louisville Brecks; NFL

1921-1921, Louisville Brecks; APFA

1922-1926, Milwaukee Badgers; NFL

1929-1930, Minneapolis Redjackets; NFL

1922-1924, Minneapolis Marines; NFL

1921-1921, Minneapolis Marines; APFL

1920-1921, Muncie Flyers; APFA

1916-1919, Muncie Flyers; Ind

1910-1915, Congerville Flyers; Ind

1930-1930, Newark Tornadoes; NFL

1929-1929, Orange Tornadoes; NFL

1926-1927, Duluth Eskimos; NFL

1923-1925, Duluth Kelleys; NFL

1921-1921, New York Brickley's Giants; APFA

1922-1923, Oorang Indians; NFL

1925-1931, Providence Steam Roller; NFL

1916-1924, Providence Steam Roller; Ind

1926-1926, Racine Tornadoes; NFL

1922-1924, Racine Legion; NFL

1918-1921, Horlick/Racine Legion; Ind

1922-1925, Rochester Jeffersons; NFL

1920-1921, Rochester Jeffersons; APFA

1910-1919, Rochester Jeffersons; Ind

1926-1926, Rock Island Independents; AFL

1922-1925, Rock Island Independents; NFL

1920-1921, Rock Island Independents; APFA

1923-1923, St. Louis All-Stars; NFL

1935-1941, St. Louis Gunners; Ind

1934-1934, St. Louis Gunners; NFL

1933-1934, Cincinnati Reds; NFL

1931-1932, Staten Island Stapes; NFL

1929-1930, Staten Island Stapletons; NFL

1927-1928, New York Yankees; NFL

1926-1926, Brooklyn Lions; NFL

1915-1925, Staten Island Stapletons; Ind

1921-1921, Tonawanda Lumbermen (Kardex); APFA

1921-1921, Washington Senators; APFA

1926-1926, Boston Bulldogs; AFL I

1926-1926, Brooklyn Horsemen; AFL I

1926-1926, Chicago Bulls; AFL I

1926-1926, Cleveland Panthers; AFL I

1926-1926, Los Angeles Wildcats; AFL I

1926-1926, New York Yankees; AFL I

1926-1926, Newark Bears; AFL I

1926-1926, Philadelphia Quakers; AFL I

1926-1926, Rock Island Independents; AFL I

1936-1937, Boston Shamrocks; AFL II

1936-1936, Brooklyn Tigers; AFL II

1937-1937, Cincinnati Bengals; AFL II

1936-1936, Cleveland Rams; AFL II

1937-1937, Los Angeles Bulldogs; AFL II

1936-1937, New York Yankees; AFL II

1936-1937, Pittsburgh Americans; AFL II

1936-1937, Rochester Tigers; AFL II

1940-1940, Boston Bears; AFL III

1940-1941, Buffalo Indians; AFL III

1940-1941, Cincinnati Bengals; AFL III

1940-1941, Columbus Bullies; AFL III

1940-1941, Milwaukee Chiefs; AFL III

1940-1940, New York Yankees; AFL III

1941-1941, New York Americans; AFL III

1946-1948, Brooklyn Dodgers; AAFC

1949-1949, Brooklyn-New York Yankees; AAFC

1946-1946, Buffalo Bisons; AAFC

1947-1949, Buffalo Bills; AAFC

1946-1948, Chicago Rockets; AAFC

1949-1949, Chicago Hornets; AAFC

1946-1949, Cleveland Browns; AAFC

1946-1949, Los Angeles Dons; AAFC

1946-1946, Miami Seahawks; AAFC

1947-1949, Baltimore Colts; AAFC

1946-1948, New York Yankees; AAFC

1946-1949, San Francisco 49ers; AAFC

1967-1967, Akron Vulcans; CFL

1968-1969, Alabama Hawks; CFL

1968-1969, Arkansas Diamonds; CFL

1966-1966, Brooklyn Dodgers; CFL

1965-1968, Charleston Rockets; CFL

1968-1969, Chicago Owls; CFL

1969-1969, Dallas Rockets; CFL

1967-1967, Eugene Bombers; CFL

1965-1965, Fort Wayne Warriors; CFL

1969-1969, Fort Worth Braves; CFL

1965-1967, Hartford Charter Oaks; CFL

1969-1969, Portland Loggers; CFL

1969-1969, Hawaii Warriors; CFL

1968-1969; Indianapolis Capitals; CFL

1969-1969, Jersey Jays; CFL

1969-1969, Las Vegas Cowboys; CFL

1967-1967, Long Beach Admirals; CFL

1969-1969, Mexico (Monterrey)Golden Aztecs; CFL

1968-1968, Michigan (Detroit) Arrows; CFL

1966-1967, Montreal Beavers; CFL

1965-1965, Newark Bears; CFL

1966-1969, Norfolk Neptunes; CFL

1968-1969, Ohio Valley (Wheeling) Ironmen; CFL

1968-1968, Oklahoma City Plainsmen; CFL

1969-1969, Oklahoma (Tulsa) Thunderbirds; CFL

1968-1969, Omaha Mustangs; CFL

1967-1968, Orange County Ramblers; CFL

1966-1969, Orlando Panthers; CFL

1965-1967, Philadelphia Bulldogs; CFL

1965-1965, Providence Indians; CFL

1968-1968, Quad Cities (Moline) Raiders; CFL

1968-1968, Las Vegas Cowboys; CFL

1965-1967, Richmond Rebels; CFL

1967-1969, Sacramento Buccaneers; CFL

1969-1969, San Antonio Toros; CFL

1967-1967, San Jose Apaches; CFL

1967-1969, Seattle Rangers; CFL

1968-1969, Spokane Shockers; CFL

1965-1965, Springfield Acorns; CFL

1965-1965, Norfolk Neptunes; CFL

1969-1969, Texarkana Titans; CFL

1965-1967, Toronto Rifles; CFL

1969-1969, Tri-City (Midland) Apollos; CFL

1967-1967, Victoria Steelers; CFL

1969-1969, West Texas (Odessa-Midland) Rufneks; CFL

1965-1967, Wheeling Ironmen; CFL

1974-1974, Birmingham Americans; WFL

1975-1975, Birmingham Vulcans; WFL

1974-1974, Chicago Fire; WFL

1975-1975, Chicago Winds; WFL

1974-1974, Detroit Wheels; WFL

1974-1974, Florida Blazers; WFL

1975-1975, San Antonio Wings; WFL

1974-1975, The Hawaiians (Honolulu); WFL

1974-1974, Houston Texans; WFL

1974-1975, Shreveport Steamer; WFL

1974-1974, Jacksonville Sharks; WFL

1975-1975, Jacksonville Express; WFL

1974-1974, Memphis Southmen; WFL

1975-1975, Memphis Grizzlies; WFL

1974-1974, New York Stars; WFL

1974-1975, Charlotte Hornets; WFL

1974-1975, Philadelphia Bell; WFL

1974-1974, Portland Storm; WFL

1975-1975, Portland Thunder; WFL

1974-1975, Southern California Sun; WFL

1983-1984, Arizona Wranglers; USFL

1985-1985, Arizona Outlaws; USFL

1983-1985, Birmingham Stallions; USFL

1983-1983, Boston Breakers; USFL

1984-1984, New Orleans Breakers; USFL

1985-1985, Portland Breakers; USFL

1983-1984, Chicago Blitz; USFL

1983-1985, Denver Gold; USFL

1984-1985, Houston Gamblers; USFL

1984-1985, Jacksonville Bulls; USFL

1983-1985, Los Angeles Express; USFL

1984-1985, Memphis Showboats; USFL

1983-1984, Michigan Panthers; USFL

1983-1985, New Jersey Generals; USFL

1983-1985, Oakland Invaders; USFL

1984-1984, Oklahoma Outlaws; USFL

1983-1984, Philadelphia Stars; USFL

1985-1985, Baltimore Stars; USFL

1984-1984, Pittsburgh Maulers; USFL

1984-1985, San Antonio Gunslingers; USFL

1983-1985, Tampa Bay Bandits; USFL

1983-1984, Washington Federals; USFL

1985-1985, Orlando Renegades; USFL

See also Baseball Team Names, Basketball Team Names, and Hockey Team Names.

For a variable listing of all teams, go to All Team Names.