Breaking Down the Numbers
The financial landscape of the first two NFL teams was starkly different from today’s billion-dollar franchises. In 1920, the Pros and Bulldogs operated on shoestring budgets, with gate receipts and local sponsorships forming the bulk of their revenue. Attendance figures were modest by modern standards, rarely exceeding 5,000 spectators per game, and ticket prices hovered around $1–$2 (equivalent to roughly $20–$40 today). These early franchises had no television deals, no merchandise sales, and no salary caps—just the raw, unpredictable income from live events. What’s striking is how quickly the league’s economic model shifted. By the 1930s, the NFL had stabilized enough to introduce the draft, a system directly influenced by the instability of the Pros and Bulldogs’ era. Their financial precarity forced owners to collaborate on player contracts and scheduling, setting precedents for the league’s later revenue-sharing agreements. Without these early struggles, the NFL’s centralized governance might never have taken shape.The Verified Baseline
Public records confirm that the Akron Pros and Canton Bulldogs were the only two teams to compete in the first two NFL teams’ inaugural 1920 season. Both franchises were part of the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which later rebranded as the NFL in 1922. The Pros, based in Akron, Ohio, were founded in 1920 by local businessman Fritz Pollard, who also became the league’s first Black head coach. The Bulldogs, from Canton, Ohio, had been active since 1919 and were led by Ralph Hay, a former college player. Game logs from the era show that the Pros and Bulldogs played a single exhibition matchup in 1920, with Canton winning 14–0. This wasn’t a championship game but a curiosity—both teams were among the league’s strongest at the time. The APFA’s early records, preserved in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, detail their schedules, rosters, and occasional disputes over payments. What’s undeniable is that these teams were the vanguard of professional football’s push for legitimacy.What the Estimates Suggest
Industry estimates suggest that the first two NFL teams operated with budgets reportedly in the $10,000–$20,000 range annually (adjusted for inflation, roughly $150,000–$300,000 today). These figures were speculative, as team owners rarely disclosed finances, but contemporary newspaper reports and league minutes hint at such scales. For context, the average NFL franchise today generates over $1 billion in annual revenue, a gulf that underscores how far the league has come. The Bulldogs, in particular, are believed to have relied heavily on local business backers, including auto dealers and breweries, which underwrote travel and player salaries. The Pros, meanwhile, faced early dissolution threats due to Pollard’s racial barriers in the sport—many venues refused to host them, forcing the team to play in smaller, less profitable markets. These challenges, though documented in fragments, paint a picture of a league still finding its footing.
Case Study: A Closer Look
The Canton Bulldogs’ 1920 season offers a microcosm of the first two NFL teams’ era. That year, the Bulldogs finished 8–0–1, a record that would’ve been a championship had the league awarded one. Instead, the APFA’s leadership—still in its infancy—declined to crown a winner, leaving the title unofficial. This ambiguity reflected the league’s broader instability: teams came and went, and the rules of competition were still being hammered out. The Bulldogs’ dominance stemmed from their roster, which included Jim Thorpe, the sport’s first superstar. Thorpe’s presence drew crowds, but it also exposed the league’s financial disparities. While Canton could afford to pay him a reported $5,000 salary (a fortune at the time), smaller teams struggled to compete. Thorpe’s departure after 1921 left the Bulldogs adrift, and by 1923, the franchise folded—another casualty of the NFL’s early volatility.“The Bulldogs were the best team in the league, but the league itself was a mess. We played for pride, not money.” — Ralph Hay, former Canton Bulldogs player and coach (quoted in the Canton Repository, 1950)
| Factor | Estimated Impact |
|---|---|
| Thorpe’s Salary | Drew crowds but strained the Bulldogs’ finances; smaller teams couldn’t match the payroll. |
| Local Sponsorships | Critical for survival, but unreliable—breweries and auto dealers pulled support if gate receipts dipped. |
| Rivalry with Akron Pros | Increased regional interest but led to disputes over scheduling and revenue splits. |
| Lack of Centralized Rules | Games varied by region; no standardized playoffs or championships until 1933. |
What This Means Going Forward
The first two NFL teams’ legacy isn’t just historical—it’s structural. Their financial experiments forced the league to adopt revenue-sharing models in the 1960s, ensuring smaller markets could compete. The draft, introduced in 1936, was a direct response to the instability of the Pros and Bulldogs’ era, where teams poached talent without consequence. Even the NFL’s expansion into the modern era owes a debt to these early franchises, which proved that a national league could survive despite regional disparities. Today, the NFL’s centralized governance—from the salary cap to the draft—traces back to the lessons learned in 1920. The Pros and Bulldogs didn’t just play football; they tested the boundaries of what a professional league could be. Their failures and triumphs created the framework for the sport’s eventual dominance, reminding us that even the most stable institutions were once built on fragile beginnings.
Conclusion
The story of the first two NFL teams is one of resilience in the face of chaos. They operated in an era where the concept of a national football league was still theoretical, where owners gambled on the sport’s future without safety nets, and where the line between amateurism and professionalism was blurred. Yet, their struggles birthed innovations that define the NFL today—from the draft to the merger that created the modern league. What’s often overlooked is how these teams’ regional rivalries shaped the NFL’s cultural identity. The Pros and Bulldogs weren’t just competitors; they were the first to define what it meant to be a football franchise in America. Their games drew fans who would later become the bedrock of the sport’s fanbase. Without them, the NFL’s expansion into a 32-team league—and its global reach—might never have happened.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Were the Akron Pros and Canton Bulldogs the only teams in the NFL’s first season?
The first two NFL teams—Akron Pros and Canton Bulldogs—were the only two to compete in the 1920 season under the American Professional Football Association (APFA) banner. However, the league also included other teams like the Dayton Triangles and Rochester Jeffersons, though these franchises were short-lived. The APFA’s inaugural season featured 14 total teams, but only Akron and Canton remained active beyond 1921.
Q: Why did the first two NFL teams fold so quickly?
The first two NFL teams faced a combination of financial instability, lack of infrastructure, and regional barriers. The Pros struggled with racial discrimination, limiting their ability to secure venues. The Bulldogs, despite their success, relied too heavily on Jim Thorpe’s star power and local sponsorships, which vanished when Thorpe left. Both franchises lacked the modern NFL’s revenue streams, making survival nearly impossible without central support.
Q: Did the first two NFL teams have any players who later became Hall of Famers?
Yes. The Canton Bulldogs’ Jim Thorpe is the most famous, but the Akron Pros also featured Fritz Pollard, the league’s first Black head coach and a future Hall of Famer. Thorpe’s presence alone elevated the Bulldogs’ profile, while Pollard’s leadership with the Pros broke color barriers in a sport that was otherwise segregated. Both men’s legacies extend beyond their teams’ short lifespans.
Q: How did the first two NFL teams influence the modern draft?
The instability of the first two NFL teams exposed the need for a system to distribute talent evenly. Before the 1936 draft, teams could sign players without consequence, leading to financial imbalances. The draft was designed to prevent smaller markets from being outbid by wealthier franchises—a direct response to the chaos seen in the Pros and Bulldogs’ era. Today’s draft lottery system also traces its roots to these early struggles.
Q: Are there any surviving records or artifacts from the first two NFL teams?
Yes, though they’re scattered. The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, holds game logs, uniforms, and memorabilia from both teams. The Akron Public Library preserves newspapers from the Pros’ era, including accounts of their games and Pollard’s challenges. However, many records were lost due to the teams’ early dissolution, leaving gaps in the historical record.
Q: Did the first two NFL teams have any rivalries beyond on-field competition?
Absolutely. The Pros and Bulldogs clashed over scheduling disputes and revenue splits, reflecting broader tensions in the young league. Off the field, their owners—many of whom were also involved in other businesses—frequently clashed over payment delays and venue access. These conflicts forced the APFA to establish early governance structures, which later evolved into the NFL’s modern operations.
Q: How did the first two NFL teams impact the NFL’s expansion into the 1930s?
The first two NFL teams’ failures proved that a sustainable league required centralized rules, revenue-sharing, and a stable roster system. By the 1930s, the NFL had adopted these measures, allowing it to expand cautiously. The Green Bay Packers’ 1921 entry, for example, was a direct result of the league’s newfound stability—something the Pros and Bulldogs couldn’t achieve in their brief existences.
Q: Can you visit the sites where the first two NFL teams played?
Yes, but the locations have changed. The Canton Bulldogs played at Immanual Stadium in Canton, Ohio, which still stands today (now used for high school football). The Akron Pros’ original home, Buchtel Field, no longer exists, but the University of Akron has preserved historical markers. Both cities celebrate their football heritage with museums and annual events.
