Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Football

National Football League

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

The National Football League (NFL) is the top professional American football league in the United States. It has 32 teams split evenly between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

What it is

The NFL was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association and adopted its current name in 1922. It is headquartered in New York City and is the highest level of professional American football.

Organization and season

The league consists of 32 teams divided equally between the AFC and NFC, each with four divisions. The season includes a regular season followed by playoffs that lead to the Super Bowl, the championship game.

Significance

The NFL is one of the major professional sports leagues in North America, with a strong television audience and commercial value. It is widely followed by Canadian fans, and the Super Bowl draws significant Canadian viewership.

In short

  • The NFL is the top professional American football league in the US.
  • It has 32 teams split between the AFC and NFC.
  • Founded in 1920, renamed in 1922.
  • The Super Bowl is the championship game.
Canadian angle

The NFL is followed by many Canadian fans and is one of the major professional sports leagues in North America. Its games, especially the Super Bowl, draw significant Canadian television audiences.

Quick questions

What is the National Football League?
The NFL is the top professional American football league in the United States, with 32 teams split between the AFC and NFC.
When was the NFL founded?
It was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association.
How many teams are in the NFL?
There are 32 teams in the NFL.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League
    Supports: 32 teams, AFC/NFC split, headquarters in New York City, highest professional level of American football
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Football-League
    Supports: Founded in 1920 in Canton, Ohio as the American Professional Football Association; current name adopted in 1922
  3. Sportico — https://www.sportico.com/t/nfl/
    Supports: 32 teams, merger with AFL, Super Bowl, season structure, commissioner
  4. EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/sports-and-leisure/national-football-league-nfl
    Supports: 32 teams, AFC/NFC structure, 17-game regular season, Super Bowl as championship