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Throughout the years, a number of teams in the '''[[National Football League]]''' (NFL) have either '''moved or merged'''.
  
Throughout the years, a number of teams in the '''[[National Football League]]''' (NFL) have either '''moved or merged'''.
   
−
In the early years, the NFL was not stable and teams moved frequently to survive, or were folded only to be resurrected in a different city with the same players and owners. The [[Great Depression]] era saw the movement of most surviving small-town NFL teams to the large cities to ensure survival. Franchise mergers were popular during [[World War II]] in response to the scarcity of players. Few of these relocations and mergers were accompanied with widespread controversy.
 +
In the early years, the NFL was not stable and teams moved frequently to survive, or were folded only to be resurrected in a different city with the same players and owners. The Great Depression era saw the movement of most surviving small-town NFL teams to the large cities to ensure survival. Franchise mergers were popular during World War II in response to the scarcity of players. Few of these relocations and mergers were accompanied with widespread controversy.
   
−
Franchise moves became far more controversial in the late 20th century when a vastly more popular NFL, free from financial instability, allowed many franchises to abandon long-held strongholds for perceived financially greener pastures. Despite a [[Pete Rozelle]] promise to [[United States Congress|Congress]] not to relocate franchises in return for a law exempting the league from certain aspects of [[antitrust]] laws, making possible the [[AFL-NFL merger]], several franchises have relocated in the years since the merger and the passage of the law (Public Law 89-800) which sanctioned it.
 +
Franchise moves became far more controversial in the late 20th century when a vastly more popular NFL, free from financial instability, allowed many franchises to abandon long-held strongholds for perceived financially greener pastures. Despite a [[Pete Rozelle]] promise to Congress not to relocate franchises in return for a law exempting the league from certain aspects of antitrust laws, making possible the [[AFL-NFL Merger|AFL-NFL merger]], several franchises have relocated in the years since the merger and the passage of the law (Public Law 89-800) which sanctioned it.
   
−
While owners invariably cited financial difficulties as the primary factor in such moves, many fans bitterly disputed these contentions, especially in [[Baltimore]], [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], and [[Cleveland]], each of which eventually received teams some years after their original franchises left. However, [[Los Angeles]], the second-largest [[media market]] in the United States, [[History of the National Football League in Los Angeles|has not had an NFL team since 1995]] and the league is promoting an expansion there.<ref>The lukewarm attitude of Los Angelenos towards having an NFL franchise in such a large market has been an embarrassment to the otherwise successful league.[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/02/03/NFL_Canada060203.html Canadian expansion not on NFL radar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Another city that is often mentioned as a potential site for a moved franchise is [[Toronto, Ontario]], the site of [[National Football League in Toronto|frequent speculation regarding a future franchise]].
 +
While owners invariably cited financial difficulties as the primary factor in such moves, many fans bitterly disputed these contentions, especially in Baltimore, St. Louis, and Cleveland, each of which eventually received teams some years after their original franchises left. However, Los Angeles, the second-largest media market in the United States, [[History of the National Football League in Los Angeles|has not had an NFL team since 1995]] and the league is promoting an expansion there.<ref>The lukewarm attitude of Los Angelenos towards having an NFL franchise in such a large market has been an embarrassment to the otherwise successful league.[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/02/03/NFL_Canada060203.html Canadian expansion not on NFL radar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Another city that is often mentioned as a potential site for a moved franchise is Toronto, Ontario, the site of [[National Football League in Toronto|frequent speculation regarding a future franchise]].
   
−
Additionally, with the increasing [[suburbanization]] of the U.S., the building of new stadiums and other team facilities in the [[suburb]]s instead of the central city became popular from the 1970s on, though at the turn of the 2000 millennium a reverse shift back to the central city became somewhat evident.
 +
Additionally, with the increasing suburbanization of the U.S., the building of new stadiums and other team facilities in the suburbs instead of the central city became popular from the 1970s on, though at the turn of the 2000 millennium a reverse shift back to the central city became somewhat evident.
   
 
==Timeline==
  
==Timeline==
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== Teams making more significant moves, in chronological order ==
  
== Teams making more significant moves, in chronological order ==
   
−
*[[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur Staleys]]: to [[Chicago]] in 1921 (renamed the [[Chicago Bears]] in 1922)
 +
*[[Chicago Bears|Decatur Staleys]]: to Chicago in 1921 (renamed the [[Chicago Bears]] in 1922)
−
*[[Toledo Maroons]]: to [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]] in 1924 [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/toledomaroons.shtml]
 +
*[[Toledo Maroons]]: to Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1924 [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/toledomaroons.shtml]
−
*[[Cleveland Bulldogs]]: to [[Detroit]] as the [[1928 Detroit Wolverines (NFL) season|Wolverines]] in 1928
 +
*[[Cleveland Bulldogs]]: to Detroit as the [[1928 Detroit Wolverines (NFL) season|Wolverines]] in 1928
−
*[[Pottsville Maroons]]: to [[Boston]] as the [[Pottsville Maroons|Bulldogs]] in 1929
 +
*[[Pottsville Maroons]]: to Boston as the [[Pottsville Maroons|Bulldogs]] in 1929
−
*[[Dayton Triangles]]: to [[Brooklyn]] as the [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Dodgers]] in 1930 (renamed [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Tigers]] in 1944)
 +
*[[Dayton Triangles]]: to Brooklyn as the [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Dodgers]] in 1930 (renamed [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Tigers]] in 1944)
−
*[[Detroit Lions|Portsmouth Spartans]]: to [[Detroit]] as the [[Detroit Lions|Lions]] in 1934<ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 323–325.">Willis, 2010, p. 323–325.</ref><ref name="Peterson, 1997, p. 122.">Peterson, 1997, p. 122.</ref><ref name="McDonough, 1994, p. 50.">McDonough, 1994, p. 50.</ref>
 +
*[[Detroit Lions|Portsmouth Spartans]]: to Detroit as the [[Detroit Lions|Lions]] in 1934<ref name="Willis, 2010, p. 323–325.">Willis, 2010, p. 323–325.</ref><ref name="Peterson, 1997, p. 122.">Peterson, 1997, p. 122.</ref><ref name="McDonough, 1994, p. 50.">McDonough, 1994, p. 50.</ref>
−
*[[Washington Redskins|Boston Redskins]]: to [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1937
 +
*[[Washington Redskins|Boston Redskins]]: to Washington, D.C. in 1937
−
*[[St. Louis Rams|Cleveland Rams]]: to [[Los Angeles]] in 1946
 +
*[[St. Louis Rams|Cleveland Rams]]: to Los Angeles in 1946
−
*[[History of the Chicago Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]]: to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] in 1960
 +
*[[History of the Chicago Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]]: to St. Louis in 1960
−
*[[San Diego Chargers|Los Angeles Chargers]]: to [[San Diego]] in 1961 while in the [[American Football League]] (AFL)
 +
*[[San Diego Chargers|Los Angeles Chargers]]: to San Diego in 1961 while in the [[American Football League]] (AFL)
−
*[[Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]]: to [[Kansas City, Missouri]] as the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] in 1963 while in the AFL
 +
*[[Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]]: to Kansas City, Missouri as the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] in 1963 while in the AFL
−
*[[Oakland Raiders]]: to [[Los Angeles]] in 1982
 +
*[[Oakland Raiders]]: to Los Angeles in 1982
−
*[[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]]: to [[Indianapolis]] in 1984
 +
*[[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]]: to Indianapolis in 1984
 
*[[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]]: to Tempe, Arizona as the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988 and became the Arizona Cardinals in 1994
  
*[[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]]: to Tempe, Arizona as the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988 and became the Arizona Cardinals in 1994
−
*[[History of the Los Angeles Rams|Los Angeles Rams]]: to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] in 1995
 +
*[[History of the Los Angeles Rams|Los Angeles Rams]]: to St. Louis in 1995
 
*[[Oakland Raiders|Los Angeles Raiders]]: back to Oakland in 1995
  
*[[Oakland Raiders|Los Angeles Raiders]]: back to Oakland in 1995
−
*[[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]]: temporarily to [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] in 1997 as the [[History of the Tennessee Titans|Tennessee Oilers]] and permanently to [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] in 1998 (renamed [[Tennessee Titans]] in 1999)
 +
*[[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]]: temporarily to Memphis in 1997 as the [[History of the Tennessee Titans|Tennessee Oilers]] and permanently to Nashville in 1998 (renamed [[Tennessee Titans]] in 1999)
  +
*[[History of the Los Angeles Rams|St. Louis Rams]]: back to Los Angeles in 2016
  +
*[[Los Angeles Chargers|San Diego Chargers]]: back to Los Angeles in 2017
   
 
== Quasi-moves: movement of more or less intact teams from one city to another ==
  
== Quasi-moves: movement of more or less intact teams from one city to another ==
   
 
The NFL considers these separate franchises but there is significant continuity from one to the other
  
The NFL considers these separate franchises but there is significant continuity from one to the other
−
*[[Canton Bulldogs]]: mothballed for the 1924 season when the owner of the [[Cleveland Bulldogs]] bought it and took the players and nickname to [[Cleveland]]. Franchise resurrected in 1925
 +
*[[Canton Bulldogs]]: mothballed for the 1924 season when the owner of the [[Cleveland Bulldogs]] bought it and took the players and nickname to Cleveland. Franchise resurrected in 1925
 
*[[Cleveland Bulldogs]]: to Detroit, Michigan in 1928 as the [[Detroit Wolverines (NFL)|Detroit Wolverines]]
  
*[[Cleveland Bulldogs]]: to Detroit, Michigan in 1928 as the [[Detroit Wolverines (NFL)|Detroit Wolverines]]
 
*[[Duluth Eskimos]]: to Orange, NJ as the [[Orange Tornadoes]] in 1929 (separate franchises but same players)
  
*[[Duluth Eskimos]]: to Orange, NJ as the [[Orange Tornadoes]] in 1929 (separate franchises but same players)
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*[[New York Yanks]] (formerly New York Bulldogs) folded after the 1951 season; players transferred to new [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] franchise for the 1952 season
  
*[[New York Yanks]] (formerly New York Bulldogs) folded after the 1951 season; players transferred to new [[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]] franchise for the 1952 season
 
*[[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]]: operated out of Hershey, PA for the last five games of the 1952 season, playing their last three games in Akron, OH. Franchise folded after season's end and players awarded to new [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] franchise in 1953.
  
*[[Dallas Texans (NFL)|Dallas Texans]]: operated out of Hershey, PA for the last five games of the 1952 season, playing their last three games in Akron, OH. Franchise folded after season's end and players awarded to new [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] franchise in 1953.
−
*[[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]] and [[History of the Los Angeles Rams|Los Angeles Rams]] corporate entities (but not players) swap cities after 1971, in similar move to 1940 Eagles-Steelers relocations.
 +
*[[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] and [[St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]] corporate entities (but not players) swap cities after 1971, in similar move to 1940 Eagles-Steelers relocations.
 
*[[Cleveland Browns]]: to Baltimore as the [[Baltimore Ravens|Ravens]] in 1996. In 1995 Browns owner [[Art Modell]] announced plans to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore for the 1996 season. The NFL, the city of Cleveland and Modell reach an agreement whereby the Browns franchise and history would remain in Cleveland to be resurrected by 1999. Modell was given a new franchise for Baltimore, made up of players from the 1995 Cleveland Browns. For more information on this particular move, see [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy]].
  
*[[Cleveland Browns]]: to Baltimore as the [[Baltimore Ravens|Ravens]] in 1996. In 1995 Browns owner [[Art Modell]] announced plans to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore for the 1996 season. The NFL, the city of Cleveland and Modell reach an agreement whereby the Browns franchise and history would remain in Cleveland to be resurrected by 1999. Modell was given a new franchise for Baltimore, made up of players from the 1995 Cleveland Browns. For more information on this particular move, see [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy]].
   
Line 66: Line 68:
 
*[[New York Jets]]: from Manhattan to Queens in 1964 and to East Rutherford, NJ in 1984
  
*[[New York Jets]]: from Manhattan to Queens in 1964 and to East Rutherford, NJ in 1984
 
*[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]: to the North Shore from the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in 1970
  
*[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]: to the North Shore from the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in 1970
−
*[[San Francisco 49ers]]: from Golden Gate Park to Hunters Point neighborhood in 1971 and to Santa Clara, CA in 2014.
 +
*[[San Francisco 49ers]]: from Golden Gate Park to Hunters Point neighborhood in 1971, and to Santa Clara, California in 2014
−
*[[Dallas Cowboys]]: to Irving, Texas in 1971, to Arlington, Texas in 2009
 +
*[[Dallas Cowboys]]: to Irving, Texas in 1971, and to Arlington, Texas in 2009
 
*[[New England Patriots|Boston Patriots]]: to Foxborough, MA in 1971 and renamed [[New England Patriots]]
  
*[[New England Patriots|Boston Patriots]]: to Foxborough, MA in 1971 and renamed [[New England Patriots]]
 
*[[Buffalo Bills]]: to Orchard Park, NY in 1973
  
*[[Buffalo Bills]]: to Orchard Park, NY in 1973
Line 81: Line 83:
   
 
The following are not actually relocations, but temporary moves because these teams' home stadiums were either under construction or otherwise adversely affected:
  
The following are not actually relocations, but temporary moves because these teams' home stadiums were either under construction or otherwise adversely affected:
  +
*[[Oakland Raiders]]: On September 23, 1973, the Raiders' game vs. the [[Miami Dolphins]] was moved to [[California Memorial Stadium]], home of the [[California Golden Bears|University of California Golden Bears]], due to a scheduling conflict with the Oakland Athletics MLB team.
−
*[[New York Giants]]: The Giants played their home games at the [[Yale Bowl]] in 1974 and 1975 while [[Giants Stadium]] was being constructed.
 +
*[[New York Giants]]: The Giants played their home games at the [[Yale Bowl]] in the second half of 1973 and all of 1974, and in [[Shea Stadium]] in 1975 while [[Giants Stadium]] was being constructed.
−
*[[San Francisco 49ers]]: On October 22, 1989, the 49ers' home game vs. the [[New England Patriots]] was played at [[Stanford Stadium]], home of the [[Stanford Cardinal|Stanford University Cardinal]] (and site of [[Super Bowl XIX]] five years earlier), due to the Loma Prieta earthquake in northern California.
 +
*[[San Francisco 49ers]]: On October 22, 1989, the Niners' home game vs. the [[New England Patriots]] was played at [[Stanford Stadium]], home of the [[Stanford Cardinal|Stanford University Cardinal]] (and site of [[Super Bowl XIX]] five years earlier), due to the Loma Prieta earthquake in northern California.
−
*[[Carolina Panthers]]: The Panthers began play in 1995 but spent their first season at [[Memorial Stadium, Clemson|Memorial Stadium]] in Clemson, South Carolina while their [[Bank of America Stadium|new stadium]] in Charlotte, North Carolina was still being built.
 +
*[[Carolina Panthers]]: The Panthers began play in 1995 but spent their first season at [[Clemson Memorial Stadium|Memorial Stadium]] in Clemson, South Carolina while their [[Bank of America Stadium|new stadium]] in Charlotte, North Carolina was still being built.
 
*[[Seattle Seahawks]]: Played three games in 1994 at [[Husky Stadium]] as the [[Kingdome]] was undergoing emergency repairs, and returned there for the entire 2000 and 2001 seasons before Seahawks Stadium (now [[CenturyLink Field]]) was completed.
  
*[[Seattle Seahawks]]: Played three games in 1994 at [[Husky Stadium]] as the [[Kingdome]] was undergoing emergency repairs, and returned there for the entire 2000 and 2001 seasons before Seahawks Stadium (now [[CenturyLink Field]]) was completed.
 
*[[Chicago Bears]]: Spent the 2002 season at [[Memorial Stadium (Champaign)|Memorial Stadium]] in Champaign, Illinois while [[Soldier Field]] was being renovated.
  
*[[Chicago Bears]]: Spent the 2002 season at [[Memorial Stadium (Champaign)|Memorial Stadium]] in Champaign, Illinois while [[Soldier Field]] was being renovated.
Line 89: Line 92:
 
*[[New Orleans Saints]]: Due to damage to the [[Louisiana Superdome]], their home field, by Hurricane Katrina, the Saints played three home games of the 2005 season in the [[Alamodome]] in San Antonio, Texas, where the team set up temporary operations, as well as four home games at [[Tiger Stadium (LSU)|Tiger Stadium]] in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (and officially one at [[Giants Stadium]] in East Rutherford, New Jersey). The Saints returned to New Orleans in 2006. See also [[Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans Saints]].
  
*[[New Orleans Saints]]: Due to damage to the [[Louisiana Superdome]], their home field, by Hurricane Katrina, the Saints played three home games of the 2005 season in the [[Alamodome]] in San Antonio, Texas, where the team set up temporary operations, as well as four home games at [[Tiger Stadium (LSU)|Tiger Stadium]] in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (and officially one at [[Giants Stadium]] in East Rutherford, New Jersey). The Saints returned to New Orleans in 2006. See also [[Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans Saints]].
 
*[[Minnesota Vikings]]: The roof of the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|Metrodome]] collapsed from excessive snow and wind on December 12, 2010, requiring the Vikings' home game against the [[New York Giants]] to be delayed and played on Monday, December 13 at [[Ford Field]] in Detroit. Minnesota's next home game was relocated to [[TCF Bank Stadium]] on the campus of the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers|University of Minnesota]].
  
*[[Minnesota Vikings]]: The roof of the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|Metrodome]] collapsed from excessive snow and wind on December 12, 2010, requiring the Vikings' home game against the [[New York Giants]] to be delayed and played on Monday, December 13 at [[Ford Field]] in Detroit. Minnesota's next home game was relocated to [[TCF Bank Stadium]] on the campus of the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers|University of Minnesota]].
  +
*The Vikings moved to back into TCF Bank Stadium for the [[2014 Minnesota Vikings|2014]] and [[2015 Minnesota Vikings|2015]] seasons, while the new [[U.S. Bank Stadium]] was under construction on the same plot where the Metrodome was before.
   
 
== Ultimate disposition of the 14 charter franchises ==
  
== Ultimate disposition of the 14 charter franchises ==

Latest revision as of 09:36, 2 August 2017

Throughout the years, a number of teams in the National Football League (NFL) have either moved or merged.

In the early years, the NFL was not stable and teams moved frequently to survive, or were folded only to be resurrected in a different city with the same players and owners. The Great Depression era saw the movement of most surviving small-town NFL teams to the large cities to ensure survival. Franchise mergers were popular during World War II in response to the scarcity of players. Few of these relocations and mergers were accompanied with widespread controversy.

Franchise moves became far more controversial in the late 20th century when a vastly more popular NFL, free from financial instability, allowed many franchises to abandon long-held strongholds for perceived financially greener pastures. Despite a Pete Rozelle promise to Congress not to relocate franchises in return for a law exempting the league from certain aspects of antitrust laws, making possible the AFL-NFL merger, several franchises have relocated in the years since the merger and the passage of the law (Public Law 89-800) which sanctioned it.

While owners invariably cited financial difficulties as the primary factor in such moves, many fans bitterly disputed these contentions, especially in Baltimore, St. Louis, and Cleveland, each of which eventually received teams some years after their original franchises left. However, Los Angeles, the second-largest media market in the United States, has not had an NFL team since 1995 and the league is promoting an expansion there.[1] Another city that is often mentioned as a potential site for a moved franchise is Toronto, Ontario, the site of frequent speculation regarding a future franchise.

Additionally, with the increasing suburbanization of the U.S., the building of new stadiums and other team facilities in the suburbs instead of the central city became popular from the 1970s on, though at the turn of the 2000 millennium a reverse shift back to the central city became somewhat evident.

Timeline

  • Main article: National Football League franchise timeline

Teams making more significant moves, in chronological order

Quasi-moves: movement of more or less intact teams from one city to another

The NFL considers these separate franchises but there is significant continuity from one to the other

  • Canton Bulldogs: mothballed for the 1924 season when the owner of the Cleveland Bulldogs bought it and took the players and nickname to Cleveland. Franchise resurrected in 1925
  • Cleveland Bulldogs: to Detroit, Michigan in 1928 as the Detroit Wolverines
  • Duluth Eskimos: to Orange, NJ as the Orange Tornadoes in 1929 (separate franchises but same players)
  • Newark Tornadoes: The Newark franchise was forfeited to the league and ordered to be disposed of to the highest bidder after the 1930 season. The next franchise granted was the Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins franchise) in 1932. So, while it is possible that Newark franchise was sold to the Boston group in 1932, there is no documentation available. Neither Newark nor Boston played in 1931. The team itself joined the minor-league American Association later in the 1930s and adopted the name Newark Bears.
  • Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers corporate entities and players (but not franchises) swap cities after the 1940 season after complex ownership deal.
  • Boston Yanks franchise to New York City as the New York Bulldogs in 1949 (separate franchise but same owner and players)
  • New York Yanks (formerly New York Bulldogs) folded after the 1951 season; players transferred to new Dallas Texans franchise for the 1952 season
  • Dallas Texans: operated out of Hershey, PA for the last five games of the 1952 season, playing their last three games in Akron, OH. Franchise folded after season's end and players awarded to new Baltimore Colts franchise in 1953.
  • Baltimore Colts and Los Angeles Rams corporate entities (but not players) swap cities after 1971, in similar move to 1940 Eagles-Steelers relocations.
  • Cleveland Browns: to Baltimore as the Ravens in 1996. In 1995 Browns owner Art Modell announced plans to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore for the 1996 season. The NFL, the city of Cleveland and Modell reach an agreement whereby the Browns franchise and history would remain in Cleveland to be resurrected by 1999. Modell was given a new franchise for Baltimore, made up of players from the 1995 Cleveland Browns. For more information on this particular move, see Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.

Franchise mergers

Teams moving between cities/boroughs within their metropolitan area, chronologically by team's first such move

  • Orange Tornadoes to nearby Newark, NJ in 1930, renamed the Newark Tornadoes
  • New York Giants: from Manhattan to The Bronx in 1956, temporarily relocated to New Haven, CT for the second half of the 1973 and the entire 1974 season, then temporarily relocated to Queens for the 1975 season, then permanently to East Rutherford, NJ in 1976
  • Philadelphia Eagles: from North Philadelphia to West Philadelphia (University City) in 1958, and then on to South Philadelphia in 1971
  • Oakland Raiders: from San Francisco to Oakland in 1962
  • New York Jets: from Manhattan to Queens in 1964 and to East Rutherford, NJ in 1984
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: to the North Shore from the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh in 1970
  • San Francisco 49ers: from Golden Gate Park to Hunters Point neighborhood in 1971, and to Santa Clara, California in 2014
  • Dallas Cowboys: to Irving, Texas in 1971, and to Arlington, Texas in 2009
  • Boston Patriots: to Foxborough, MA in 1971 and renamed New England Patriots
  • Buffalo Bills: to Orchard Park, NY in 1973
  • Detroit Lions: to Pontiac, MI in 1975 and back to Detroit in 2002
  • New Orleans Saints: from Uptown New Orleans to the Central Business District in 1975
  • Los Angeles Rams: to Anaheim, CA in 1980
  • Minnesota Vikings: from suburban Bloomington to downtown Minneapolis in 1982
  • Miami Dolphins: to unincorporated northern Dade County (now the city of Miami Gardens) in 1987
  • Washington Redskins: to Landover, MD in 1997
  • Arizona Cardinals: from the eastern Phoenix suburb of Tempe to western suburb of Glendale in 2006

Temporary moves, in chronological order

The following are not actually relocations, but temporary moves because these teams' home stadiums were either under construction or otherwise adversely affected:

Ultimate disposition of the 14 charter franchises

By the start of the 1920 APFA season, the nascent National Football League was composed of 14 franchises. Of those teams, only two are still in operation as of 2012 (denoted in bold):

  • Akron Pros: Changed name to Akron Indians in 1926. Permanently suspended operations in 1927.
  • Buffalo All-Americans: Changed name to Buffalo Bisons in 1924, Buffalo Rangers in 1926, and changed back to Buffalo Bisons in 1927 before suspending operations halfway through 1927. Resumed play in 1929, but folded following the season. City is currently represented by the Buffalo Bills, a charter member of the American Football League in 1960.
  • Canton Bulldogs: Cleveland Bulldogs in 1923. Suspended operations in 1924. Resumed play in Canton in 1925. Folded following 1926 season. City is currently represented only by the preseason Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.
  • Chicago Cardinals: Merged with Pittsburgh Steelers for one year in 1944. Returned as an independent team in 1945. Moved to St. Louis in 1960. Moved to Phoenix in 1988. Changed name to Arizona Cardinals in 1994.
  • Chicago Tigers: Folded following 1920 season.
  • Cleveland Tigers: Folded following 1921 season. City is currently represented by the Cleveland Browns.
  • Columbus Panhandles: Changed name to Columbus Tigers in 1923. Folded following 1926 season.
  • Dayton Triangles: See "The case of the Indianapolis Colts" below.
  • Decatur Staleys: Moved to Chicago in 1921. Changed name to Chicago Bears in 1922.
  • Detroit Heralds: Changed name to "Tigers" and folded in the middle of the 1921 season, sending its players to Buffalo. City currently represented by the Detroit Lions.
  • Hammond Pros: Folded following 1926 season.
  • Muncie Flyers: Folded following 1921 season.
  • Rochester Jeffersons: Suspended operations following 1925 season; folded in 1928.
  • Rock Island Independents: Left NFL and became an independent team following 1924 season. Joined first American Football League in 1926, but folded before end of season.

The case of the Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have perhaps the most complex history of any football team in the NFL. The Colts can trace their history as far back as 1913, with the founding of the Dayton Triangles. The team then went through the following changes:[5]

  • Franchise became a road team in 1924, although it retained the "Dayton Triangles" name.
  • Franchise established a permanent home base in Brooklyn, New York and renamed Brooklyn Dodgers in 1930.
  • Changed name to Brooklyn Tigers in 1944. In the same year, the Boston Yanks are founded.
  • Merged with Boston Yanks in 1945 as the wartime "The Yanks."
  • Franchise canceled in 1945 by league and the team's temporary merger with the Boston Yanks is made permanent, as a parallel team (AAFC New York Yankees) is founded by the Tigers' former owner.
  • Boston Yanks moved to New York in 1949 and become New York Bulldogs. Renamed New York Yanks in 1950, absorbing much of the former AAFC New York Yankees' roster that year.
  • Team dissolved in 1951 and replaced by the Dallas Texans.
  • Texans, in turn, became a road team halfway through the 1952 season and were dissolved shortly thereafter; they are replaced by the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts in 1953, which absorbed the team name of a previous Baltimore Colts franchise, as well as its marching band.
  • Baltimore Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom and Los Angeles Rams owner Robert Irsay swap ownership of teams following the 1971 season. (Their heirs continued to own both franchises until 2010, when Rosenbloom's children sold the Rams to Stan Kroenke.) The Rams later move to St. Louis in 1995.
  • Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984 to become the Indianapolis Colts, which still play to this day. The marching band stays in Baltimore and associates itself with the Baltimore Ravens when they debut in 1996.

Officially, all of these teams except for the second Baltimore Colts and the Indianapolis Colts are considered separate franchises.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The lukewarm attitude of Los Angelenos towards having an NFL franchise in such a large market has been an embarrassment to the otherwise successful league.Canadian expansion not on NFL radar
  2. ↑ Willis, 2010, p. 323–325.
  3. ↑ Peterson, 1997, p. 122.
  4. ↑ McDonough, 1994, p. 50.
  5. ↑ http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/17-05-621.pdf

Bibliography

  • Official 2005 National Football League Record and Fact Book. New York: Time Inc. Home Entertainment. (2005). ISBN 1-932994-36-X
  • Carroll, Bob; with Gershman, Michael, Neft, David, and Thorn, John (1999). Total Football:The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-270174-6
  • McDonough, Will (1994). 75 Seasons: The Complete Story of the National Football League. Atlanta: Turner Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1-57036-056-1
  • Peterson, Robert W. (1997). Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507607-9
  • Willis, Chris (2010). The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8108-7669-9

External links

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