The **National Football League (NFL)** is the premier professional American football organization, founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before adopting its current name in 1922. It began with 14 teams mostly from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, New York, and Michigan, with only two original franchises still active today—the Chicago Bears (formerly Decatur Staleys) and the Arizona Cardinals (originally the Chicago Cardinals)[1][2][3][6]. Throughout its history, the NFL faced competition from rival leagues, including various iterations of the American Football League (AFL) and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The most significant competition came from the AFL in the 1960s, which led to a landmark merger in 1970. This merger combined the two leagues into a single entity with two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The merger introduced the Super Bowl, a championship game that has become a cultural phenomenon and a major business and media event[1][2][3]. The NFL has grown substantially since its inception, expanding to 32 teams and becoming the dominant professional football league in the United States. It has a massive economic footprint, generating billions annually through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising, and ticket sales. The league is also notable for its strategic use of technology, including advanced data analytics for player performance, broadcast innovations, and fan engagement platforms, positioning it at the intersection of sports, media, and technology[1][2][3]. Key achievements include the establishment of the Super Bowl as one of the world’s most-watched sporting events and the NFL's successful navigation of multiple expansions and relocations of franchises, such as the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the merger era. The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, commemorates the league’s rich history and iconic players[1][3][5][