The American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference, which both have 32 teams, make up the National Football League (NFL), the premier professional American football league (NFC).
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Each NFL team is made up of athletes, coaches, and support staff who are committed to greatness on and off the field. Each team in the NFL has a unique name as a result of the league’s long history, which frequently reflects the city or region the team represents. The history of each NFL team’s name will be discussed in this article.
List of NFL Team Names In Alphabetical Order By History & City
The NFL is a top professional football league that gained popularity in the early 1900s. Since then, a lot has changed. For example, more teams have joined, new rules have been added, and new divisions have been made. Now, the NFL has 32 teams, each with its own name and identity.
One of the best things about the NFL is that each team has a unique name that reflects the culture and history of the city it comes from. For instance, the New England Patriots represent the revolutionary spirit of Boston, while the New Orleans Saints honor the city’s religious roots. Other team names are inspired by local animals, landmarks, or events, which make the league very colorful.
We have arranged a list of all the NFL teams in alphabetical order, along with their current and previous names, as well as any changes that have happened over the years. This is a great article for those who want to know about the history of the NFL league and each team’s history behind the name, whether you’re a big fan or just getting started.
So, grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy exploring the exciting world of the NFL and its iconic teams!
NFL Team Names Ideas
Apex Predators |
Radiant Rush |
Sonic Surges |
Noble Knights |
Legends Reborn |
Titans of Tomorrow |
Birds of Prey |
Ferocious Felines |
Quantum Quarters |
Galactic Gladiators |
1. Arizona Cardinals
The name of the NFL’s oldest team, the Arizona Cardinals, first appeared in the late 1880s. The team’s original home base was Chicago, where they played under the name Racine Cardinals.
The team moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960, then to Phoenix in 1988, where the name was changed to Arizona Cardinals. This occurred after the name was changed back to Chicago Cardinals in 1922. The cardinal red and white of the University of Chicago are thought to have inspired the name “Cardinals.”
2. Atlanta Falcons
In 1965, the Atlanta Falcons were established, and a public vote determined the team’s name. Atlanta wanted to draw a brand-new AFL team but was given an NFL franchise instead. The name Falcons, which was selected from more than 500 suggestions, was given to the team. The name was chosen to honor the great tradition of falconry in the area, which is the use of trained birds of prey for hunting.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Given that they were founded in 1996, the Baltimore Ravens are the NFL’s newest team. The poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, a well-known literary work, inspired the choice of the name. The Baltimore Stallions were the team’s initial name, but to avoid conflict with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, the name was changed to the Ravens.
4. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the Buffalo Bills, a minor league baseball team that existed in the city from 1877 to 1985. The winning application was provided by a fan who had won a trip to the 1960 NFL Draft, and the name was picked through an open competition.
5. Carolina Panthers
In 1995, a professional football team called the Carolina Panthers was established. The name was chosen to pay homage to the area’s long heritage of huge cats like the black panther and the cougar. The team’s original name was the Charlotte Panthers, and the last name was picked from more than 2,000 applications in a public contest.
6. Chicago Bears
In 1919, the Chicago Bears were established, and the name was chosen to pay homage to the city’s baseball team, the Cubs, who had taken on the moniker “Bears” earlier in the year. The Decatur Staleys were the team’s previous name until it was renamed to Chicago Bears in 1921.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were founded in 1968, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s strong ties to the military. The team’s original name was the Cincinnati Bengals, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s strong ties to the military. The name was chosen from over 4,000 entries during a public contest.
8. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns were founded in 1945, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Cleveland Spiders. The team’s original name was the Cleveland Browns, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Cleveland Spiders.
9. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of cattle ranching and rodeo. The team’s original name was the Dallas Rangers, but the name was changed to the Dallas Cowboys in 1961.
10. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of gold mining. The team’s original name was the Denver Broncos, and the name was chosen to keep the region’s proud history of gold mining.
11. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions were founded in 1930, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Detroit Tigers. The team’s original name was the Portsmouth Spartans, but the name was changed to the Detroit Lions in 1934.
12. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers were founded in 1919, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s professional baseball team, the Green Bay Packers. The team’s original name was the Acme Packers, but the name was changed to the Green Bay Packers in 1921.
13. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans were founded in 2002, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of independence. The team’s original name was the Houston Oilers, but the name was changed to the Houston Texans in 1996.
14. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were founded in 1953, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Indianapolis Hoosiers. The team’s original name was the Baltimore Colts, but the name was changed to the Indianapolis Colts in 1984.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars were founded in 1995, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of big cats, such as the jaguar. The team’s original name was the Jacksonville Sharks, but the name was changed to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.
16. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of Native American tribes. The team’s original name was the Dallas Texans, but the name was changed to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of electricity and power. The team’s original name was the Los Angeles Chargers, which was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of electricity and power.
18. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams were founded in 1936, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Los Angeles Rams. The team’s original name was the Cleveland Rams, but the name was changed to the Los Angeles Rams in 1946
19. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins were founded in 1966, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of fishing and ocean life. The team’s original name was the Miami Seahawks, but the name was changed to the Miami Dolphins in 1966.
20. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings were founded in 1961, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of exploration and discovery. The team’s original name was the Minnesota Vikings, which was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of exploration and discovery.
21. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots were founded in 1959, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of the Revolutionary War. The team’s original name was the Boston Patriots, but the name was changed to the New England Patriots in 1971.
22. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were founded in 1967, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of religion and faith. The team’s original name was the New Orleans Saints, which was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of religion and faith.
23. New York Giants
The New York Giants were founded in 1925, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the New York Giants. The team’s original name was the New York Giants, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the New York Giants.
24. New York Jets
The New York Jets were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of aviation and flight. The team’s original name was the New York Titans, but the name was changed to the New York Jets in 1963.
25. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were founded in 1933, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Philadelphia Eagles. The team’s original name was the Frankford Yellow Jackets, but the name was changed to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers were founded in 1933, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former steel industry. The team’s original name was the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the name was changed to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1940.
27. San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers were founded in 1946, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of the 1849 Gold Rush. The team’s original name was the San Francisco 49ers, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of the 1849 Gold Rush.
28. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks were founded in 1976, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of Native American tribes. The team’s original name was the Seattle Seahawks, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of Native American tribes.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were founded in 1976, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of pirates and privateers. The team’s original name was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of pirates and privateers.
30. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans were founded in 1960, and the name was chosen to honor the region’s proud history of Greek mythology. The team’s original name was the Houston Oilers, but the name was changed to the Tennessee Titans in 1997.
31. Washington Football Team
The Washington Football Team was founded in 1932, and the name was chosen to honor the city’s former baseball team, the Washington Senators. The team’s original name was the Boston Braves, but the name was changed to the Washington Football Team in 1933.
NFL team names are a representation of the league’s illustrious history of great teams and great players. Every team name, from the Washington Football Team to the Arizona Cardinals, is a distinctive expression of the location and history it honors.
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