Question hello i was wondering who was the first pro football teams and years that they originated. Was it in the 20's?? thanks
Answer TIM,
This is a good question and the answer might be a bit confusing but here goes. First off let me give you some background that should help to explain my answer if I may.
If we go back to the very first "pro" team we would be moving the clock all the way back to 1896 when the Allegheny Athletic Association team fielded the first completely professional team for its abbreviated two-game season. Then in 1987, The Latrobe Athletic Association football team went entirely professional, becoming the first team to play a full season with only professionals.
Now the first modern team that people today would recognize was began in 1899 Chris O'Brien formed a neighborhood team, which played under the name the Morgan Athletic Club, on the south side of Chicago. The team later became known as the Normals, then the Racine (for a street in Chicago) Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals, and, in 1994, the Arizona Cardinals. The team remains the oldest continuing operation in pro football.
Now in 1902 and this is where is gets complicated, 1902
Baseball's Philadelphia Athletics, managed by Connie Mack, and the Philadelphia Phillies formed professional football teams, joining the Pittsburgh Stars in the first attempt at a pro football league, named the National Football League. The Athletics won the first night football game ever played, 39-0 over Kanaweola AC at Elmira, New York, November 21. All three teams claimed the pro championship for the year, but the league president, Dave Berry, named the Stars the champions. Pitcher Rube Waddell was with the Athletics, and pitcher Christy Mathewson a fullback for Pittsburgh. The first World Series of pro football, actually a five-team tournament, was played among a team made up of players from both the Athletics and the Phillies, but simply named New York; the New York Knickerbockers; the Syracuse AC; the Warlow AC; and the Orange (New Jersey) AC at New York's original Madison Square Garden. New York and Syracuse played the first indoor football game before 3,000, December 28. Syracuse, with Glen (Pop) Warner at guard, won 6-0 and went on to win the tournament.
Technically speaking the Allegheny Athletic Association team and the Latrobe Athletic Association football team would be the first two teams considered professional (as we understand the term today) and that would be in the years 1896 and 1987.
That's a mouthful to say the least. I hope this helps. If I can clear anything up or if you need more information, please feel free to write me back!
