American Football
The origins of American football are unclear, but it was influenced and most likely derived from rugby. In the 1800s, Harvard, Princeton, and other schools on the east coast had different games similar to modern American football. Many of these games were banned by the 1860s because they had grown too violent. Like other sports, American football did not gain much traction until the rules were standardized.
Walter Camp is considered the father of American football because he played a large role in the creation of the game's rules. Between 1873 and 1880, he led many meetings to establish the game as a mainstream sport. During the late nineteenth-century, American football went from being popular in parts of the Northeast to spreading across the United States in colleges and athletic associations.
In 1892, William "Pudge" Heffelfinger became the first professional player. Although the game was growing very popular, President Roosevelt threatened to ban it in 1905 if it did not 'clean up its act.' The first national professional league was created in 1920 (American Professional Football Association), and in two years it became the National Football League (NFL). American football became a nationally popular sport by the 1930s. The American Football League (AFL) was created in 1960, and the first Super Bowl was held in 1967. The Super Bowl was played between the champions of the AFL and NFL. The two leagues would eventually merge into the AFC and NFC conferences of the NFL. Since the merger, American Football has grown to become the most popular sport in the United States.
Walter Camp is considered the father of American football because he played a large role in the creation of the game's rules. Between 1873 and 1880, he led many meetings to establish the game as a mainstream sport. During the late nineteenth-century, American football went from being popular in parts of the Northeast to spreading across the United States in colleges and athletic associations.
In 1892, William "Pudge" Heffelfinger became the first professional player. Although the game was growing very popular, President Roosevelt threatened to ban it in 1905 if it did not 'clean up its act.' The first national professional league was created in 1920 (American Professional Football Association), and in two years it became the National Football League (NFL). American football became a nationally popular sport by the 1930s. The American Football League (AFL) was created in 1960, and the first Super Bowl was held in 1967. The Super Bowl was played between the champions of the AFL and NFL. The two leagues would eventually merge into the AFC and NFC conferences of the NFL. Since the merger, American Football has grown to become the most popular sport in the United States.