A Brief History
On January 28, 1960, the NFL expanded from 12 to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Those same Cowboys that would later be dubbed “America’s Team” would finish a dismal 0-11-1, narrowly avoiding all losses.
Digging Deeper
The other teams in the league included the Eagles, Browns, Giants, Cardinals, Steelers, Redskins, Packers, Lions, 49ers, Colts, Bears, and Rams. The Eagles beat the Packers in the title game, and believe it or not, a game was played between the Browns and the Lions for third place, called “The Playoff Bowl,” won by the Lions.
Games on TV were not in color and not shown in hometown areas, and of course, there was no instant replay or slow motion. Some players still wore no face mask, and others sported a single bar facemask. No domed stadiums protected players and fans from the weather, there was no artificial turf, and the NFL season lasted only 12 games.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Jaworski, Ron, et al. The Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays. ESPN, 2011.
National Football League. NFL 100: A Century of Pro Football. Abrams Books, 2019.
The featured image in this article, an illustration by Edurs34, is licensed under the Pixabay Content License.
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