The 1920 season marked the inaugural year for the American Professional Football Association (APFA), a league that would eventually evolve into the National Football League. This period was characterized by a unique set of operational dynamics, reflecting the nascent stage of professional football. Unlike today's highly structured leagues, the APFA in 1920 operated with considerable autonomy granted to individual teams, leading to diverse schedules,
varied competition, and an informal approach to championship determination. Understanding these early dynamics provides insight into the foundational challenges and characteristics of professional football's formative years.
Decentralized Scheduling and Diverse Competition
One of the most striking features of the 1920 APFA season was the decentralized approach to scheduling. The league office had no influence on setting schedules, leaving each team to arrange its own slate of games. This autonomy resulted in wide variations in the total number of games played by each club, the number of games played against fellow association members, and the strength of opponents added to their schedules. For instance, the Rochester Jeffersons primarily played local teams from their sandlot circuit and the New York Professional Football League, with only one game against an APFA opponent.
This meant that a significant portion of the games played by APFA teams were against non-affiliated opponents. Out of the 90 games played by APFA teams during the 1920 season, 51 were against teams not officially part of the association. This practice highlights the transitional nature of professional football at the time, where teams often maintained traditional local rivalries regardless of their new league affiliation. The focus was often on securing games and generating revenue, rather than strictly adhering to an internal league schedule.
The Concept of a "League" in 1920
Historians have noted that the APFA in 1920 did not resemble a modern sports league. Instead, it functioned more like a professional association, primarily focused on membership and the articulation of some general principles. Its role was likened to a
