NFL Football History Timeline

NFL football history began with eleven professional teams in 1920. First known as the American Professional Football Association, the league changed its name in 1922.

The NFL was the brainchild of Jim Thorpe, a football player and coach of the Canton Bulldogs. Only two teams of the original league are still in existence--the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) and the Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals).

The Green Bay Packers are the oldest team in the league that never switched locations. By 1933, the fledgling NFL had officially begun an annual championship game.

Between 1933-1945, the NFL was a segregated league, prohibiting African-Americans from playing. In 1936, the NFL had its first official college draft.

NFL Football Today News - Coach Ed Thomas Shot

NFL Football Today News - High school football coach Ed Thomas was shot and killed by one of his players in Parkersburg, IA on Wednesday. Thomas was 58 years old.

Previously, Thomas was the coach at Aplington-Parkersburg High School. During his tenure there, Thomas produced four NFL linemen.

Thomas was shot by 24-year-old Mark Becker, a former player of Thomas'. Becker shot Thomas in the weight room where the coach was working with about 20 players. Becker was supposed to be in a facility undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

"We didn't just lose a football coach. We lost an icon," commented Thomas' barber, Tom Teeple.

Print Out Your NFL Football Game Schedule

For football fans, this is a tough time of year. The draft is over, and preseason seems like it's eons away.

To help pass the time before the first game of the season, try printing out the 2009 NFL football game schedule. Visit DocSports.com and check out the schedules page for an easy-to-read, printable NFL schedule.

You can also visit the calendars page of KeepandShare.com. This site offers a one-page, printable NFL calendar that includes all preseason and regular season games.

Once your schedule is printed, you can highlight the games you're most looking forward to and that are broadcast on TV. Remember, preseason begins August 9th, so the wait is almost over.

Finding NFL Football Scores Online

Once preseason arrives, hardcore fans can't live without their NFL football scores. Thankfully, there are several easily accessible sites online to find scores in a flash.

The largest site is ESPN.com, where you can view scores and get game predictions. Fans can even download a scoreboard widget for their desktops to stay apprised of all the latest NFL games.

If you need your scores on the go, you can also sign up for free ESPN alerts on your mobile device. You will receive single game scores as well as breaking league news.

Another helpful site is CBSSports.com. The CBS site is regularly updated with all the latest games and also offers a scoreboard widget for die-hard fans.

NFL Football Schedule Preseason 2009

If you're an avid football fan and just can't wait until fall for the official season, you're in luck. Preseason 2009 begins on Sunday, August 9.

For the official NFL football schedule for the preseason, check out NFL.com/schedules. You can find full listings for the preseason, regular season, and postseason.

The schedule contains a wealth of information, including the locations and times of the games as well as if they're available for network viewing. Networks hosting this year's preseason games include FOX, ESPN, and CBS.

The schedule also has a link for fans to buy tickets to any listed preseason game. The link will show you a website and a phone number through which you can purchase tickets.