National Football League

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional sports league, operating as a trade association, headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and adopted its current name two years later. The league merged with the rival American Football League (AFL) in 1970.

Local racing promoter Alf Knight endeavored unsuccessfully to launch a professional football team in Birmingham in the late 1950s. A major obstacle was the city's ongoing public battle between segregationists and Civil Rights activists. Many also considered that the overwhelming popularity of college football would be a hindrance to a successful professional team. Notably, Alabama football coach Bear Bryant declined to endorse professional football in Birmingham.

During the NFL-AFL merger process in the late 1960s, it was presumed that the combined league would add four new teams to bring the total to 28, and Birmingham was considered a favorite to land an expansion franchise. Around 57,000 fans packed into Legion Field on April 13, 1966, showcasing the city's ability to draw crowds for professional football.

Hugh Morrow III and others incorporated as Birmingham Professional Football Inc. to formally solicit an AFL expansion team, or an opportunity to acquire an existing franchise. Among those mentioned were the Denver Broncos, which had recently failed to get public support for a new stadium, or the Boston Patriots, which shared Fenway Park with the Red Sox. The group organized for the Patriots to play their regular season opener against the New York Jets at Legion Field on September 22, 1968. That game only drew 27,000 fans, though, and may have cooled interest from the AFL. In 1968 Morrow offered Joe Robbie $8.5 million for his then-struggling Miami Dolphins franchise. By the end of the decade, the NFL appeared satisfied with its Southern expansion to Dallas, New Orleans and Atlanta and the AFL was secure in Houston and Miami.

See also

• List of NFL and AFL exhibition games at Legion Field
• 1968 Boston Patriots vs. New York Jets football game
• List of NFL players born in the Birmingham area

References

• Stephenson, Creg (July 25, 2023) "The NFL’s multi-decade flirtation with Birmingham: Part One." AL.com

References

• Marshall, Benny (August 14, 1966) "List of NFL and AFL exhibition games at Legion Field." The Birmingham News