NFL Franchise Origins

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

Here is what the current 32 teams in the National Football League have to show for the years they have put in as members of the American Professional Football Association (APFA), the NFL, the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the American Football League (AFL). Years given for league titles indicate seasons championships were won—Super Bowls held following January.

American Football Conference

 First SeasonLeague TitlesFranchise Stops
Baltimore Ravens1996 (NFL)1 Super Bowl (2000)* Cleveland (1946–95)1
Buffalo Bills1960 (AFL)2 AFL (1964-65)* Buffalo (1960-72)
 Orchard Park, NY (1973—)
Cincinnati Bengals1968 (AFL)None* Cincinnati (1968—)
Cleveland Browns1946 (AAFC)4 AAFC (1946-49)
4 NFL (1950,54-55,64)
* Cleveland (1999—)1
Denver Broncos1960 (AFL)2 Super Bowls (1997-98)* Denver (1960—)
Houston Texans2002 (NFL)None* Houston (2002—)
Indianapolis Colts1953 (NFL)3 NFL (1958-59,68)
1 Super Bowl (1970)
* Baltimore (1953-83)
 Indianapolis (1984—)
Jacksonville Jaguars1995 (NFL)None* Jacksonville, FL (1995—)
Kansas City Chiefs1960 (AFL)3 AFL (1962,66,69)
1 Super Bowl (1969)
* Dallas (1960-62)
 Kansas City (1963—)
Miami Dolphins1966 (AFL)2 Super Bowls (1972-73)* Miami (1966—)
New England Patriots1960 (AFL)3 Super Bowls (2001,03,04)* Boston (1960-70)
 Foxboro, MA (1971—)
New York Jets1960 (AFL)1 AFL (1968)
1 Super Bowl (1968)
* New York (1960-83)
 E. Rutherford, NJ (1984—)
Oakland Raiders1960 (AFL)2 AFL (1967)
3 Super Bowls (1976,80,83)
* Oakland (1960-81, 1995—)
 Los Angeles (1982-94)
Pittsburgh Steelers1933 (NFL)5 Super Bowls (1974-75,78-79,05)* Pittsburgh (1933—)
San Diego Chargers1960 (AFL)1 AFL (1963)* Los Angeles (1960)
 San Diego (1961—)
Tennessee Titans1960 (AFL)2 AFL (1960-61)* Houston (1960-96)
 Memphis (1997)
 Nashville (1998—)
1. The Cleveland Browns team moved to Baltimore in 1996 but Cleveland retained the rights to the name, colors, and history of the franchise to be reactivated in the 1999 expansion team.

National Football Conference

 First SeasonLeague TitlesFranchise Stops
Arizona Cardinals1920 (APFA)2 NFL (1925,47)* Chicago (1920-59)
 St. Louis (1960-87)
 Tempe, AZ (1988—)
Atlanta Falcons1966 (NFL)None* Atlanta (1966—)
Carolina Panthers1995 (NFL) * Clemson, SC (1995)
 Charlotte, NC (1996—)
Chicago Bears1920 (APFA)8 NFL (1921, 32-33,40-41,43,46,63)
1 Super Bowl (1985)
* Decatur, IL (1920)
 Chicago (1921—)
Dallas Cowboys1960 (NFL)5 Super Bowls (1971,77,92-93,95)* Dallas (1960-70)
 Irving, TX (1971—)
Detroit Lions1930 (NFL)4 NFL (1935,52-53,57)* Portsmouth, OH (1930-33)
 Detroit (1934-74, 2002—)
 Pontiac, MI (1975-2001)
Green Bay Packers1921 (APFA)11 NFL (1929-31,36,39,44,61-62,65-67)
3 Super Bowls (1966-67,96)
* Green Bay (1921—)
Minnesota Vikings1961 (NFL)1 NFL (1969)* Bloomington, MN (1961-81)
 Minneapolis, MN (1982—)
New Orleans Saints1967 (NFL)None* New Orleans (1967—)
New York Giants1925 (NFL)4 NFL (1927,34,38,56)
2 Super Bowls (1986,90)
* New York (1925-73,75)
 New Haven, CT (1973-74)
 E. Rutherford, NJ (1976—)
Philadelphia Eagles1933 (NFL)3 NFL (1948-49,60)* Philadelphia (1933—)
St. Louis Rams1937 (NFL)2 NFL (1945,51)
1 Super Bowl (1999)
* Cleveland (1937-45)
 Los Angeles (1946-79)
 Anaheim (1980-94)
 St. Louis (1995—)
San Francisco 49ers1946 (AAFC)5 Super Bowls (1981,84,88-89,94)* San Francisco (1946—)
Seattle Seahawks1976 (NFL)None* Seattle (1976—)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers1976 (NFL)1 Super Bowl (2002)* Tampa, FL (1976—)
Washington Redskins1932 (NFL)2 NFL (1937,42)
3 Super Bowls (1982,87,91)
* Boston (1932-36)
 Washington, DC (1937-96)
 Raljon, MD (1997—)
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