The NFL otherwise known as the National Football League was founded on September 17, 1920 in Canton, Ohio, by team executives. This new league did fit some key themes of the decade. For one the league certainly fit into a culture that was private sector based. The creation of the league also fit the general concept of a changing culture during the decade. This was because previously there was no national League, as the sport was obscure and not mainstream. This status improved when the league was formed but things were certainly not perfect. The NFL also fit the broad idea that sports was becoming more popular within the decade, especially amongst the middle class. Despite this though other more established sports like boxing, baseball, college football, etc enjoyed much more success during this decade.
A large element that separated the NFL from having the same success as other sports during the decade, was the lack of a star that was of the caliber of the other sports. Stars like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, etc, fit this bill, although it should be noted that the commissioner of the league Jim Thorpe also did meet this status. The star gap between the NFL and its counterparts was in large part simply due to the fact that their sports that had garnered more credibility among the masses over time. The gap the NFL faced within the sports world was also related to the fact that many teams did not last long, which thus made it harder to build sustained fanbases. Another part of this was that pro football during this time was played in small towns, whereas other sports were played in big markets, where many middle class and upper middle class people lived.1 Coenen, Craig. From The Sandlots To The Super Bowl, (2005) pg 5 . The league was also behind other sports geographically as it was mostly a mid western sport at first.2 The Birth of the National Football League, History.com, May 28, 2025, accessed at May 28, 2025, https://www.history.com/authors/christopher-klein .
Pro football during the twenties did share some things with other sports that went back decades. For one pro football during the twenties was a white dominated game. The sports audience was also mostly male. The sport was covered via newspaper. The sport also showcased traditional concepts, such as hard work, individual discipline, and sportsmanship.3 Dumenil, Lynn. Modern Temper, (1995), pg 78 . As was the case with other sports in past decades, sponsors were a major component of revenue for the NFL.4 Coenen, Craig. From The Sandlots To The Super Bowl, (2005) pg 7, . The growing pains that the league faced echoed some similar tribulations that the more established sports of the decade faced when they were starting out in previous decades. A major result of these issues for the NFL and its older counterparts was that players worked part time, blue collar jobs during the offseason.
While their were some things about the league that related to the decade and thus other sports, there were many other components of the decade that had no direct connection to the NFL. For one the NFL had little to due with religious controversies, as these debates were centered on political hot button topics such as the new women, the teaching of evolution, etc. The league also did not relate to the jazz music of the decade as the connection between sports and music was still limited during the twenties.5 Dumenil, Lynn. Modern Temper, (1995), pg 135, . While the NFL did have some immigrant fans, it also was not part of the broader debate about immigration restrictions as the league was focused on simply gaining stability.
- 1Coenen, Craig. From The Sandlots To The Super Bowl, (2005) pg 5
- 2The Birth of the National Football League, History.com, May 28, 2025, accessed at May 28, 2025, https://www.history.com/authors/christopher-klein
- 3Dumenil, Lynn. Modern Temper, (1995), pg 78
- 4Coenen, Craig. From The Sandlots To The Super Bowl, (2005) pg 7,
- 5Dumenil, Lynn. Modern Temper, (1995), pg 135,
