What are the original eight NFL teams?

The inaugural season for the National Football League was in 1920 — with the league members calling themselves the American Professional Football Association for the first two seasons.

There were actually 14 teams playing in the APFA’s first season (won-lost-tied):

• Akron Pros (8–0–3)
• Decatur Staleys (10–1–2)
• Buffalo All-Americans (9–1–1)
• Chicago Cardinals (6–2–2)
• Rock Island Independents (6–2–2)
• Dayton Triangles (5–2–2)
• Rochester Jeffersons (6–3–2)
• Canton Bulldogs (7–4–2)
• Detroit Heralds (2–3–3)
• Cleveland Tigers (2–4–2)
• Chicago Tigers (2–5–1)
• Hammond Pros (2–5–0)
• Columbus Panhandles (2–6–2)
• Muncie Flyers (0–1–0)

1920 APFA season - Wikipedia

The league didn’t have a balanced schedule, e muitas das equipas da APFA jogaram contra equipas em ligas profissionais rivais. A NFL não realizou um jogo do campeonato até 1933 - então a equipe com a melhor porcentagem conquistou o título. Como os Pros do Akron não perderam um jogo, foram declarados campeões.

Apenas duas equipes da temporada inaugural ainda estão ativas na NFL - os Decatur Staleys (agora os Chicago Bears) e os Chicago (agora Arizona) Cardinals. O Green Bay Packers juntou-se à liga para a sua segunda temporada. Eles são as três franquias sobreviventes mais antigas dos primeiros 100 anos da NFL.