University of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers against Texas Christian University in the second quarter of the NCAA College Football National Championship in California, on January 9, 2023.
Credit: © Mike Goulding, UPI/Alamy Images

On Monday, January 9th, 2023, the University of Georgia Bulldogs showed up to play against the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Georgia, the number one seed, only allowed the number three seed, TCU, one touchdown during the entire game. Georgia won the NCAA National Championship last year and now holds the title for two years in a row. Georgia not only won with a final score of 65 to 7, but with the 58-point lead, Georgia also secured the largest defeat in a bowl game in the history of college football.

Throughout the game, surrounded by thousands of fans, Georgia overwhelmed TCU. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV, nicknamed “the mailman,” made four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns to tie with former Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow’s most touchdowns scored in a game. Bennett became the first player to score at least two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a national title game in recent history.

The game began with Georgia quickly shutting down TCU’s opening drive and answering with a rushing touchdown by Bennett. Quickly the Bulldogs regained the ball and scored a field goal to raise the score to double digits. Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan marched 75 yards to score TCU’s first and only touchdown of the game. It was still in the first quarter. Georgia secured three more touchdowns, unanswered, before halftime. The teams retreated to their huddles with the scoreboard displaying 38 to 7. Georgia had scored on all six of its possessions in the first half.

Soon after halftime, it became apparent that the Bulldogs had the title in the bag with a 52 to 7 lead. With such a lead, Bennett stepped out of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter, allowing backup Branson Robinson to score two touchdowns. The Bulldogs celebrated their monumental win and senior quarterback Bennett as he moves his sights to the NFL draft.

French soccer player Kylian Mbappé
Credit: © ph.FAB/Shutterstock

France secured a spot in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after defeating England this Saturday, December 11th. France’s star player Kylian Mbappé is stealing the show as the top scorer in the entire tournament. Scoring 5 goals in 4 games, 23-year-old Mbappé is solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s best soccer players. Mbappé has also clocked speeds up to 22 miles (35 kilometers) per hour, the fastest speed in the tournament so far. In another historical record, Morocco beat Portugal on Saturday, becoming the first African and first Arab country to reach the World Cup semifinals. France will pair up against Morocco on Wednesday, December 14th, to see who moves on to the finals.

Kylian Mbappé Lottin was born on Dec. 20, 1998, in Paris. Mbappé’s mother is from Algeria and his father is from Cameroon. He grew up in Bondy, a suburb of Paris. Mbappé began playing soccer at a young age. He stars for France’s Paris Saint-Germain FC (commonly known as PSG), one of soccer’s top teams. FC stands for football club. Mbappé also plays for the French national team, commonly known as les Bleus (the Blues). As a forward, Mbappé’s primary responsibility is scoring goals. Mbappé is known for his dexterity in using both feet, speed, intelligent plays, and composure in front of the goal.

Mbappé is used to the spotlight. Mbappé began his professional career with AS Monaco FC of Ligue 1, France’s top soccer league, in 2015, when he was only 16 years old. AS stands for association sportive, or sporting association. In 2017, Mbappé helped Monaco win the Ligue 1 title. Later that year, he joined PSG. Mbappé has helped PSG win four Ligue 1 titles, in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022. He has been named the Ligue 1 player of the year three times. Mbappé has led Ligue 1 in goals scored four times.

In 2017, Mbappé debuted for the French national team. The following year, he helped France win the FIFA World Cup. During the 2018 World Cup tournament in Russia, Mbappé became only the second teenager, after the Brazilian star Pelé, to score a goal in a World Cup championship game. He scored the final goal to defeat Croatia 4 to 2, securing his first World Cup championship. Mbappé was named the French Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

Los Angeles, United States. 13th Feb, 2022. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) pulls in a one-yard game winning touchdown while covered by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, 2022. The Rams defeated the Bengals 23-20.
Credit: © John Angelillo, UPI/Alamy Images

The Los Angeles Rams rallied late and unleashed a stifling second-half defense to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Jan. 13, 2022. The victory gave the Rams their second Super Bowl title and their first since the team relocated back to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016. For Cincinnati, the team suffered its third Super Bowl loss, returning to the title game after a 33-year drought.  

Rams quarterback Matt Stafford, who joined Los Angeles as part of a blockbuster off-season trade with the Detroit Lions, struck first in the game with a 17-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the first quarter. Beckham Jr. later left the game with a non-contact knee injury and did not return. Cincinnati answered with a 29-yard field goal by their reliable rookie kicker Evan McPherson. The Rams again marched downfield early in the second quarter when Stafford hit Cooper Kupp with an 11-yard touchdown pass. However, a blown extra point attempt left the Rams leading 13-3. The Bengals then mounted a seven-minute drive capped by a trick play where running back Joe Mixon took the handoff and tossed it 6 yards to wide receiver Tee Higgin in the end zone. The Rams held a slim 13-10 lead going into halftime.  

The halftime show was the first all hip-hop show in Super Bowl history. The performers included legendary rap and hip-hop artists Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent. Dr. Dre helped launch the careers of Snoop Dogg and Eminem. The outstanding performance featured hit songs connecting with multiple generations.

After receiving the second-half kickoff, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow immediately connected on an explosive 75-yard touchdown pass to Higgins to take the lead 17-13. Replays of the touchdown showed that Higgins grabbed the facemask of Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. However, the referees did not throw a penalty flag on the play. On the following possession by the Rams, Stafford’s pass to rookie wide receiver Ben Skowronek deflected off his fingertips and was intercepted by Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. The Bengals converted that takeaway to a 38-yard McPherson field goal to take a 20-13 lead with momentum swinging their way.  

That momentum quickly stalled as the Rams defense sprang to life, with defensive tackle Aaron Donald and linebacker Von Miller each sacking Bengals quarterback Burrow twice to snuff out drives. The defensive stalemate continued late into the fourth quarter. It was finally broken when Stafford capped a long Los Angeles drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to receiver Cooper Kupp, giving the Rams a 23-20 lead with 1 minute 25 seconds remaining in the football game. The Bengals, who had been an explosive second-half team in the playoffs, had time enough to respond. But Aaron Donald bull-rushed the Bengals offensive line and pressured Burrow into an errant throw on fourth down, to secure victory for the Rams.  

Cincinnati quarterback Burrow finished the game with 22 completions in 33 pass attempts for 263 yards and one touchdown. The Los Angeles defense sacked him a total of seven times. Rams quarterback Stafford completed 26 of 40 passes for 283 yards, with two passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Rams wide receiver Kupp, who led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns throughout the regular season, finished the Super Bowl with 8 catches for a team-high 92 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).  

Sophomore Joshua Cypert, left, signs to freshman Xavier Gamboa, right, members of the Cubs, the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, varsity football team, during their game against the Desert Christian Knights in Riverside, Calif., on Friday night, Nov. 12, 2021.
Credit: © Adam Perez, The New York Times/Redux Pictures

In a true underdog story, the varsity football team from the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, in Riverside, California, made its way to the division championship for the first time in the 68-year school history this fall. Riverside is the only school for the deaf in southern California. It ranges from preschool through high school and only has 168 students. The football team plays in an eight-player league designed for smaller schools.

The California School for the Deaf (CSDR) Cubs rely on American Sign Language to communicate in huddles and on the field. Coach and physical education teacher Keith Adams is also deaf and has two sons on the team. The team’s closeness and mastery of coded hand signals led them through the record-breaking season.

The CSDR coaches and players have switched the narrative. Instead of hearing impairments being an obstacle to the game, they view them as an advantage. Some of the coaches have explained that hearing impairments lead to heightened visual senses, enabling players to take in more of what is going on around the field. Playing against hearing teams, they also do not have to make calls or run to the sidelines to get instructions from their coach.

The Cubs were undefeated 12-0 until they faced the Faith Baptist Contenders on Nov. 27. While the Cubs lost to the Contenders 74-22, the team counts it as a win for their school and the deaf community. The team is still reeling after the unprecedented season. With 21 of their 23 players eligible to play again next year, the Cubs are looking forward to next season, making plans to become an even stronger team.

Marion Motley
Credit: © Bettmann/Getty Images

February is Black History Month, an annual observance of the achievements and culture of Black Americans. This month, Behind the Headlines will feature Black pioneers in a variety of areas. 

Today, many Black football players are in the National Football League (NFL). But, this was not always the case. Black players had played in the early history of professional football, but all had been forced out by 1934. This changed in 1946, when the Cleveland Browns teammates Marion Motley (1920-1999) and Bill Willis (1921-2007) became two of a handful of players who permanently broke football’s color barrier, opening professional football to Black players.

Marion Motley was born June 5, 1920, near Albany, Georgia. He grew up in Canton, Ohio, where he attended Canton McKinley High School. Motley attended South Carolina State College, a historically Black college, in 1939. He then played for the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1940 to 1942. In Reno, Motley played fullback on offense, linebacker on defense, and kick returner. According to local accounts, he was also a skilled kicker and passer.

Motley joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 and was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago, Illinois. There, he played football under head coach Paul Brown.

In 1946, the Cleveland Browns began play as part of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), a rival to the NFL. Paul Brown, Motley’s coach at Great Lakes, was named head coach and general manager. Brown recruited Motley to the new team. Motley anchored the powerful offense alongside quarterback Otto Graham. The Browns dominated the AAFC, winning championships all four years of the league’s existence.

Motley played fullback during his professional career. He was agile enough to dodge defenders, but he was also strong enough to break tackles. He did not shy away from hits and often ran defenders over.

In 1950, the Browns and two other teams from the AAFC joined the NFL. That year, Motley led the NFL with 810 rushing yards and was named to the Pro-Bowl team. The Browns went on to win the 1950 NFL championship game.

Motley was plagued by injuries in his later career, likely the result of his aggressive style of play. Motley left the Browns before the 1954 season and was later traded to the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. He appeared with the Steelers in a few games in 1955 before retiring. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Motley died on June 27, 1999, in Cleveland.

Bill Willis
Credit: © Bettmann/Getty Images

William Karnet Willis was born on Oct. 5, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio. He attended East High School. He then enrolled at Ohio State University, where he played under head coach Paul Brown. The Buckeyes won their first national championship in 1942. Willis was named to the All-American team in 1943 and 1944, his senior year.

In 1946, when the Cleveland Browns began play as part of the AAFC, Willis’s college coach Paul Brown recruited Willis to the new team. With Willis anchoring the defense, the Browns won all four AAFC championships.

Willis played middle guard, a position similar to middle linebacker in modern defensive play. He chose to play this position despite being relatively small for a defensive player, at 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 meters) and 213 pounds (96 kilograms). Despite his size, he became one of the most feared defensive players due to his exceptional quickness and strong tackling ability.

When the Browns and two other teams from the AAFC joined the NFL in 1950, Willis’s speed saved the Brown’s season during a playoff game against the New York Giants. On a play in which the Giants running back had broken away from the defense and was heading for the end zone, Willis chased him down and tackled him at the 4 yard-line. The play preserved Cleveland’s victory, and the Browns went on to win the 1950 NFL championship game.

Willis was named to three NFL Pro-Bowl teams. He retired after the 1953 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. Willis died Nov. 27, 2007, in Columbus.

Quarterback Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tosses a pass during Super Bowl LV. The Bucs beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9, giving Brady his seventh Super Bowl championship.
Credit: © Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images

On Sunday, February 7, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in the Super Bowl, at the Buccaneers’ home field in Tampa, Florida. The game was both one for the ages and a battle of the ages. Forty-three-year-old quarterback Tom Brady of the Buccaneers faced off against 25-year-old quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs. Brady, a now seven-time Super Bowl champion, cemented his legacy as the GOAT, an abbreviation popular with fans for greatest of all time. Mahomes, a one-time Super Bowl champion, has been called the Baby GOAT, but the young star may have a long career ahead in which to attempt to steal Brady’s title. Brady became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the oldest player ever to appear in one.

Professional football’s championship game is known for its powerful performances—both athletic and musical. The night began with the R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. singing “America the Beautiful.” Then the country music singer-songwriter Eric Church and the R&B and hip-hop singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan shared the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman performed an original poem about the game’s three honorary captains. The captains were celebrated for their work in such fields as education, medicine, and veterans’ affairs, particularly in a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic (global outbreak of disease) and massive protests against racism and police violence in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Gorman became the first poet to recite a poem at the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs scored first, putting three points on the board. It was not until the last minute of the first quarter that the Buccaneers scored. Brady passed to tight end Rob Gronkowksi for a touchdown. (Gronkowski and Brady had played nine seasons together with the New England Patriots.) Gronkowski scored again a few minutes later, giving Tampa Bay a 14-3 lead. The Chiefs then scored another field goal. But the Buccaneers scored another touchdown, extending the lead to 21-6 at the half.

The Super Bowl is known for its halftime show, which has featured such famous musicians as Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and Prince. This year, the Canadian R&B singer, songwriter, and music producer The Weeknd performed. He sang a selection of his hits, including “Blinded by the Lights,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” and “Starboy.”

To start the second half, the Chiefs scored yet another field goal, cutting the lead to 21-9. But, that field goal would be the last score of the night for Kansas City. Halfway through the third quarter, the Buccaneers’ Leonard Fournette ran for 27 yards to score Tampa Bay’s fourth and final touchdown of the night. Following an interception, the Buccaneers’ kicker Ryan Succop scored the final points of the game, with a 52-yard field goal.

In the United States, the Super Bowl has become basically another holiday, with parties, festive foods, and gifts. (Well, at least the victors receive gifts—big, shiny rings.) But, like so many holidays this past year, this Super Bowl looked different than in years past. In many places, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of  COVID-19. Such efforts often include social distancing, meant to limit contact among people and thus the spread of germs. This year’s Super Bowl featured limited seating, and the fans in attendance were spaced for safety. Many of the fans were vaccinated healthcare workers who had been given free tickets to the game. Fans were also given masks and hand sanitizer.

For the fifth time in his career, Brady was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP). Not muffled by their masks, fans cheered for Brady as he thanked family and friends and celebrated lucky number seven.

DeVonta Smith scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Credit: © Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

On Monday, January 11, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State University Buckeyes 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami Gardens, Florida. It was coach Nick Saban’s sixth national title at Alabama and his seventh title overall. (Saban won the national championship in 2003 as head coach at Louisiana State University.) Alabama added yet another trophy to the school’s celebrated football history, dating back to its first championship title nearly 100 years ago.

In the first quarter, hard hits were met with even harder hits. Running backs tried to slice through defenses, while wide receivers tried to outpace their speedy opponents. Each team put one touchdown on the board. But then the score, much like Alabama’s DeVonta Smith, took off. Alabama exploded in the second quarter, scoring a whopping 28 points.

Smith’s performance was electric. The Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver had three touchdowns and 215 receiving yards—and that was only in the first half! He cemented several records, including most yards in a half, most single-season receiving yards in the Southeastern Conference, and most receiving yards in a College Football Playoff season. (Smith left early in the third quarter, due to a hand injury, and did not return.) Other Alabama superstars included the quarterback Mac Jones and the running back Najee Harris. Jones threw for five touchdowns and more than 400 passing yards. Harris barreled through Ohio State’s defense, picking up 79 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns.

This national championship—and the entire football season—nearly did not happen. In summer 2020, citing the pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19, several conferences canceled sports seasons. One of these conferences was the Big 10, of which Ohio State is a part. In September 2020, the Big 10 reversed its decision, but the season was shortened. Rather than play between 10 and 11 games, Ohio State played only 6. Many people questioned whether the team should even be considered for the playoffs. But the players proved themselves in the semifinal against Clemson, eviscerating the Tigers 49-28.

The effects of the ongoing pandemic and the efforts to stop the spread of disease were visible at the championship game. There was limited seating, and the fans that were there were spaced for safety. Yes, the fans wore masks. But, the masks did not mute the loud cheers! As the confetti rained down on the victors, the players celebrated with their beloved, boisterous fans, if only at a distance.

April 8, 2020

Today, April 8, Behind the Headlines was originally scheduled to cover this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball championships in the United States. However, the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments were canceled in March because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The tournaments were not alone: nearly all sports leagues and sporting events have been suspended or canceled because of COVID-19, putting sports on hold in all corners of the globe. COVID-19 is a pneumonia-like disease caused by a coronavirus, a type of virus that also causes the common cold and other diseases of the upper respiratory system. To date, COVID-19 has killed more than 80,000 people among nearly 1.5 million confirmed cases.

Dodger Stadium sits empty in Los Angeles, California. Baseball stadiums, usually teeming with people at this time of year, are going unused throughout the world as leagues have been suspended or canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: John McCoy/Getty Images

All collegiate and high schools sports in the United States were suspended or canceled because of COVID-19 (the schools were then closed), and Little League Baseball, too, had to put off the start of its season. In professional sports, Major League Baseball, which had begun its annual spring training, canceled all exhibition games on March 12 and indefinitely delayed the start of the regular season. Minor League Baseball shut down, as did baseball leagues in Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and other countries. The National Basketball Association suspended its season on March 11, and basketball leagues in other countries were also shut down. The recently launched XFL football league suspended its first season on March 12, and the fledgling Basketball Africa League also lost its inaugural season, which had been scheduled to start on March 13.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo until 2021. Credit: Pakpoom Phummee/Shutterstock

Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League suspended their seasons in March, and other hockey and soccer leagues around the world were forced to do the same. Rugby and cricket leagues and tournaments were suspended, as were the upcoming Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and British Open golf competitions. In tennis, Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since World War II (1939-1945), and the French Open was postponed. The Kentucky Derby horse race and the Indianapolis 500 auto race were postponed, and the Monaco Gran Prix auto race was canceled. (All three races are usually run in May.) Marathons around the world have been canceled or postponed, and athletes of all types will have to wait for the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were postponed a year until July 2021.

This illustration of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) shows the spikes on the outer surface of the virus that appear as a corona, giving the virus its name. Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of sports continued to be played without fans in attendance, but fears for the safety of athletes quickly led to the canceling of the competitions themselves. Suspended and postponed sports leagues and events have issued optimistic timelines about when they will resume or take place. All timelines, however, depend on the containment or continued spread of COVID-19.

The sports cancellations are part of social distancing, also known as physical distancing, an effort to slow or stop the spread of a contagious disease by limiting contact between people. Social distancing is most effective against illnesses that can be transmitted by coughing or sneezing, direct or indirect physical contact, or through the air. Typical social distancing measures call for the closing of such public places as sports arenas, schools, restaurants, museums, and many offices and stores. They may also call for people to maintain a distance of around 6 feet (2 meters) between them in public places.

February 5, 2020

On Sunday, February 2, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 to win Super Bowl LIV (54), the championship of the National Football League (NFL), at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a furious fourth-quarter comeback to overcome a 20-10 deficit and give Kansas City its first championship since taking Super Bowl IV 50 years ago in 1970. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid earned a long-awaited first title after 366 games over 21 seasons as an NFL head coach.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball during Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2020. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

The Chiefs entered Super Bowl LIV with one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history, and the 49ers countered with the league’s top-ranked defense. After a brief ineffective possession by the Chiefs, the 49ers got on the board first with a 38-yard field goal. Late in the first quarter, Mahomes capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Chiefs on top 7-3. Kansas City then intercepted San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and turned the mistake into three points with a 31-yard field goal. Garoppolo recovered with a 15-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk to even the game at 10-10 before halftime.

In the second half, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould nailed a 42-yard field goal for a 13-10 San Francisco lead. The ‘Niners then turned an interception off Patrick Mahomes into a touchdown and a 20-10 advantage. Mahomes threw another interception and the 10-point lead began to look secure for San Francisco. With 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, however, Mahomes regained his normally excellent form. The young quarterback connected on a 44-yard heave to wide receiver Tyreek Hill and then drilled a short touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to make it a 20-17 game.

The Chiefs defense quickly stopped the 49ers, and the Kansas City offense went back to work. Mahomes connected on a series of short passes before hitting receiver Sammy Watkins on a 38-yard completion. Running back Damien Williams then caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Kansas City in front 24-20. A desperate 49ers offense turned the ball over on downs at midfield, and the Chief’s Williams then sealed the win with a quick 38-yard touchdown run and a 31-20 lead with just 1:12 left in the game. After the clock ran down to zero, Patrick Mahomes was named the youngest Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl history–he had turned 24 in September 2019. He completed 26 of 42 passing attempts for 286 yards. The Niners’ Garoppolo connected on 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Williams ran for 104 yards on 17 carries for the Chiefs, and running back Raheem Mostert ground out 58 yards on 12 runs to lead the ‘Niners.

San Francisco’s Super Bowl loss ended an otherwise brilliant season that saw the team turn around a 4-12 record in 2018 to go 13-3 in 2019 and claim the National Football Conference’s top playoff spot. It was the 49ers’ seventh trip to the Super Bowl. The team last won it all in Super Bowl XXIX in early 1995. For Kansas City, it was the team’s third trip to the title game. The Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers in January 1967. They beat the Minnesota Vikings to win Super Bowl IV in 1970.

September 4, 2019

Tomorrow night, September 5, the Green Bay Packers will play their old rivals, the Chicago Bears, to open the 100th season of the National Football League (NFL). The NFL, the major professional football league in the United States, played its first season in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). In 1922, the association was renamed the National Football League. Since then, the NFL has gained wide popularity, and the league championship—the Super Bowl—is one of the biggest one-day events in American sports.

The National Football League (NFL) is celebrating its 100th season in 2019. Credit: © National Football League

The NFL will mark its 100th season in a variety of ways. The NFL has produced television series that will fill the rosters of the “NFL’s All-Time Team” as well the “NFL 100 Greatest” players. The league will also broadcast a series of interviews with current NFL stars and members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. An NFL program called “Huddle for 100″ will encourage fans to join players and coaches in giving at least 100 minutes of time to help local charities.

The APFA was formed in Canton, Ohio, and included 14 teams based in the Midwest and in New York. The association’s first president was the legendary athlete Jim Thorpe, who also starred for and coached the APFA’s Canton Bulldogs. The Dayton Triangles hosted the first APFA game on Oct. 3, 1920, when they defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0. The Akron Professionals won the first APFA championship. Only two teams from that first APFA season, the Racine (Chicago) Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) and the Decatur Staleys (now the Bears), remain as NFL teams.

Jim Thorpe, seen here in his Canton Bulldogs uniform, was the first president of the American Professional Football Association, the forerunner of the National Football League. Credit: UPI/Bettmann

The 1922 NFL had 18 teams. The number of teams has since varied as the league has expanded and retracted. In 1933, the 10-team NFL split into two divisions. Later that year, the Bears, the Western Division champion, hosted the New York Giants, the Eastern Division champion, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in the first official NFL Championship Game. (Before 1933, the team with the best season record was named league champion.) The Bears, led by head coach George Halas, fullback Bronco Nagurski, and halfback Red Grange, beat the Giants 23-21.

The first NFL draft of college players took place in February 1936. In October 1939, the first locally televised NFL game featured the Brooklyn Dodgers (not to be confused with the baseball team) and the Philadelphia Eagles. In December 1951, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cleveland Browns 24-17 in the first nationally televised NFL Championship Game.

The creation of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 meant new competition for the NFL. To eliminate bidding wars between the two leagues for players, the AFL and NFL established a common draft in 1966. As an outgrowth of this agreement, the first Super Bowl was played in 1967, with the NFL champion Packers defeating the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs. After continuing to operate separately through 1969, the leagues reached a merger agreement. Under the agreement, all AFL teams entered the NFL in 1970. The expanded NFL consisted of two 13-team conferences. The NFL now consists of 32 teams divided into the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference.