American football grew out of rugby and soccer-style games played at U.S. colleges in the 1800s. Rule changes, especially Walter Camp’s line of scrimmage and downs system and the legal forward pass, turned it into the game played today.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1869 | Rutgers and Princeton play what is often called the first college football game, closer to soccer than modern football |
| 1874 to 1876 | Harvard and McGill games spread rugby-style rules; college rules conventions follow |
| 1880s | Walter Camp introduces the line of scrimmage and the system of downs |
| 1892 | William “Pudge” Heffelfinger is paid to play, often cited as the first professional player |
| 1906 | Forward pass legalized amid safety reforms |
| 1920 | American Professional Football Association founded; renamed the NFL in 1922 |
| 1960 | American Football League (AFL) begins |
| 1967 | First AFL-NFL World Championship Game, later known as Super Bowl I |
| 1970 | AFL and NFL complete their merger |
Why safety shaped the game
Early football was extremely violent, with mass formations causing serious injuries. Pressure for reform in the early 1900s led to new rules, the forward pass and the organization that became the NCAA. Safety debates continue today, especially around concussions.
Frequently asked questions
When was American football invented?
It developed gradually from the 1860s to the 1880s.
Who is the father of American football?
Walter Camp is usually credited for key rule innovations.
When was the first Super Bowl?
January 1967.
