List of NFL seasons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States and the highest professional level of American football in the world.[1] It was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before adopting its current name for the 1922 season. After initially determining champions through end-of-season standings, a playoff system was implemented in 1933 that culminated with the NFL Championship Game. Following an agreement to merge the NFL with the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1966, the Super Bowl was first held in 1967 to determine a champion between the best team from each league and has remained as the final game ever since the merger was completed in 1970. All AFL records, including the Championship Games, were added to NFL record books as part of the merger agreement, and the teams were evenly divided between the newly formed American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC).[2]
Since 2002, the league has consisted of 32 teams based across the United States. Each NFL season, since 2021, has started with a three-week preseason in August, followed by an 18-week regular season which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference (four division winners and three wild cards) advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament that culminates in the Super Bowl, which is contested in February between the two conference champions.
Early years (1920–1932)
Early championships between 1920 and 1932 were awarded to the team with the best won-lost record, initially rather haphazardly, as some teams played more games than others, or scheduled games against non-league, amateur or collegiate teams. This led to the 1920 title being determined during a league meeting after the season,[3] the 1921 title being decided on a controversial tiebreaker,[4] a disputed 1925 title,[5] and the scheduling of an impromptu 1932 indoor playoff game.[6]
| Season | No. of teams |
Champion | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 14 | Akron Pros[a] | [7] |
| 1921 | 21 | Chicago Staleys[b] | [8] |
| 1922 | 18 | Canton Bulldogs | [9] |
| 1923 | 20 | Canton Bulldogs | [10] |
| 1924 | 18 | Cleveland Bulldogs | [11] |
| 1925 | 20 | Chicago Cardinals[c] | [12] |
| 1926 | 22 | Frankford Yellow Jackets | [13] |
| 1927 | 12 | New York Giants | [14] |
| 1928 | 10 | Providence Steam Roller | [15] |
| 1929 | 12 | Green Bay Packers | [16] |
| 1930 | 11 | Green Bay Packers | [17] |
| 1931 | 10 | Green Bay Packers | [18] |
| 1932 | 8 | Chicago Bears[d] | [19] |
- No official standings were recorded for the 1920 season and teams played games against opponents outside of the league. The championship was awarded to the Akron Pros during the league meeting on April 30, 1921.[3]
- The Chicago Staleys defeated the Buffalo All-Americans on a controversial tiebreaker to decide the 1921 league championship.[4]
- The Chicago Cardinals were awarded the 1925 championship controversially because the Pottsville Maroons had been suspended from the NFL for playing an exhibition game against a group of Notre Dame All-Stars.[5]
- The Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans finished with identical win–loss records, tying for first place in the 1932 season. To resolve the tie, a playoff game was held between the two, counting towards the regular-season total. Chicago won the game and the championship while Portsmouth's loss dropped them to third place, behind the Green Bay Packers.[6]
1933–1959
In 1933, the teams were divided between the Eastern and Western divisions. This became the American and National conferences in 1950 after the NFL absorbed the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC), then the Eastern and Western conferences in 1953. The two division/conference regular season champions then played in the NFL Championship Game. If two teams tied for the division/conference championship at the end of the regular season, then a one-game playoff was played to determine who would advance to the NFL Championship Game.[20][21]
- The Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers in a one-game playoff.
- The Washington Redskins defeated the New York Giants in a one-game playoff.
- The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a one-game playoff.
- The Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Giants in a one-game playoff.
- The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chicago Bears in a one-game playoff.
- The Detroit Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a one-game playoff.
- The Detroit Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a one-game playoff.
War with the AFL (1960–1969)
The rival American Football League (AFL) began play in 1960 with its own Eastern and Western divisions and AFL Championship Game. Following an agreement to merge the NFL with AFL, the Super Bowl was first held at the conclusion of the 1966 season to determine an overall champion between the champions of the two leagues. The NFL then established a four-team postseason tournament in 1967, and the AFL did the same in 1969.[49]
- The Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in a one-game playoff for the AFL Eastern Division.
- The Green Bay Packers defeated the Baltimore Colts in a one-game playoff for the NFL Western Conference.
- The Oakland Raiders defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a one-game playoff for the AFL Western Division.
- The New York Jets were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the expanded four-team 1969 AFL playoffs.
Modern era (1970–present)
The AFL–NFL merger between the two leagues was completed before the 1970 season. The teams were divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The two conference playoff champions then played in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL champion.[70]
- This conference top seed hosted the third-seeded team in the divisional playoff round rather than the last-seeded wild card team because, prior to 1990, two teams from the same division could not meet during this postseason round.
- Despite having the same record as the Los Angeles Rams, the Minnesota Vikings clinched the 1975 NFC top seed by winning the point rating system tiebreaker.
- Despite having the same record as the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles Rams clinched the 1978 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Pittsburgh Steelers, the San Diego Chargers clinched the 1979 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys clinched the 1979 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, the San Diego Chargers clinched the 1980 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Atlanta Falcons clinched the 1980 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- A player's strike shortened the 1982 regular season to 9 games, the divisions were temporarily suspended, and eight teams from each conference qualified for a special 16-team playoff tournament.
- Despite having the same record as the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Raiders clinched the 1983 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Raiders clinched the 1985 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better record against common opponents.
- Despite having the same record as the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants clinched the 1986 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- A player's strike shortened the 1987 regular season to 15 games.
- Despite having the same record as the Buffalo Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched the 1988 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the 1992 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Each team was given two bye weeks in 1993 instead of one.
- Despite having the same record as the Houston Oilers, the Buffalo Bills clinched the 1993 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the 1997 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- In the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001, a number of games were rescheduled.
- Despite having the same record as the Tennessee Titans, the Oakland Raiders clinched the 2002 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as both the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the 2002 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as the St. Louis Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the 2003 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys clinched the 2007 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Carolina Panthers, the New York Giants clinched the 2008 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots clinched the 2014 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as both the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks clinched the 2014 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as both the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos clinched the 2015 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season games against both teams.
- Game was officially rendered as Super Bowl 50 in Western Arabic numerals instead of "Super Bowl L" in Roman numerals.
- Despite having the same record as the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots clinched the 2017 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Minnesota Vikings, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the 2017 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better record against common opponents.
- Despite having the same record as the Los Angeles Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs clinched the 2018 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better division record.
- Despite having the same record as both the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the 2019 NFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season games against both teams.
- Despite having the same record as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Tennessee Titans clinched the 2021 AFC top seed by virtue of winning their head-to-head regular season game.
- Despite having the same record as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers clinched the 2021 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as both the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the 2023 NFC top seed by virtue of having a better conference record.
- Despite having the same record as the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos clinched the 2025 AFC top seed by virtue of having a better record against common opponents.
Future seasons
Listed below is the current schedule of division matchups for the next few upcoming regular seasons, based on the three-year intraconference and four-year interconference rotations in place since 2021. Each year, in addition to the home and away games against their three division rivals (6 games), all four teams in each division listed at the top will play one game against all four teams in both of the divisions to which it has been assigned — one from the AFC (4 games) and the other from the NFC (4 games). Each team will also play an intraconference game against each of the divisions to which it has not been assigned (2 games), based on the prior season's standings. Finally, each team will also play an additional interconference "17th game" from another division based on the prior season's standings, with the AFC team hosting it in odd years and the NFC team hosting it in even years. This table also lists the sites of the corresponding Super Bowls. For the sites of the regular season games that are planned to be held outside the United States, please refer to the NFL International Series.
| Season | Scheduled division matchups[127] | Super Bowl | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | |||
| 2026 | AFC | West | South | North | East | South | East | North | West | |
| NFC | North | South | East | West | West | South | North | East | ||
| 17th Game | at NFC West | at NFC East | at NFC North | at NFC South | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West | AFC East | ||
| 2027 | AFC | South | West | East | North | East | West | South | North | |
| NFC | East | West | South | North | South | West | East | North | ||
| 17th Game | NFC South | NFC North | NFC West | NFC East | at AFC West | at AFC North | at AFC East | at AFC South | ||
| 2028 | AFC | North | East | West | South | North | South | West | East |
|
| NFC | West | East | North | South | North | East | West | South | ||
| 17th Game | at NFC North | at NFC South | at NFC East | at NFC West | AFC South | AFC East | AFC North | AFC West | ||
| 2029 | AFC | West | South | North | East | West | North | East | South |
|
| NFC | South | North | West | East | West | South | North | East | ||
| 17th game | at NFC East | at NFC West | at NFC South | at NFC North | AFC East | AFC West | AFC South | AFC North | ||
See also
- Lists of NFL team seasons
- Timeline of the National Football League
- American Football League (1926) (AFL I)
- American Football League (1936) (AFL II)
- American Football League (1940) (AFL III)
- All-America Football Conference (AAFC)
- Ohio League
- New York Pro Football League
- Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit
- Anthracite League
- Midwest Football League (1935–1940)