The Evolution of the NFL- From Leather Helmets to High-Tech Stadiums

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest changes that have occurred over the decades, including the evolution of fields and equipment as well as the role technology has played in helping the NFL to reach a global television audience. 

Early days 

In 1920, what would later become the NFL was founded as the American Professional Football Association. In those days, the game was significantly different. As well as being much slower, the level of technology available was very primitive compared to today. Fields were often muddy and difficult to play on and the level of protection for players was much poorer, with leather helmets being the norm as well as minimal padding. 

Thankfully, the game evolved a lot in the decades to come but even in these early days, it was still very popular with fans and in late 1939, the first televised NFL game was broadcast between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles. 

Surge in popularity and the modern era of the NFL

The 1950s and 60s saw the beginning of what’s known as the modern era of the NFL. TVs becoming more commonplace in households across the US combined with the game becoming much more fast-paced and high scoring helped to propel it to a new level of popularity. 

This era also saw star players becoming household names, particularly quarterbacks such as Bart Starr. The quality of helmets and padding continued to improve during this time too, making the game significantly safer for the players and reducing the chance of injury. 

Two incredibly significant events took place during the late 1960s and early 70s that would shape the game for decades to come. The first was the merger of the league with the American Football League (AFL), which was announced in 1966. This meant that there would now be a single league with two conferences. Although it was announced four years prior, the merger didn’t officially happen until the 1970 season. 

The second significant event was the first Super Bowl taking place in 1967. The first Super Bowl saw the NFL champions, Green Bay Packers taking on the AFL champions, Kansas City Chiefs . The introduction of the Super Bowl played a huge part in making the sport more popular, both in the United States and across the globe. Many people now tune into the Super Bowl each year, even if they don’t follow the league for the rest of the year. 

Evolution of stadiums and equipment 

Going into the 80s and 90s, the quality of stadiums and equipment continued to improve. Stadiums in particular saw a lot of improvements, with better facilities for fans as well as improved playing surfaces that weren’t as impacted by poor weather conditions. 

During this era, the NFL and in particular the Super Bowl, became more than just about the sport and was about spectacle and entertainment too. The half time show of the Super Bowl would attract global superstars who would perform there, including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, U2 and The Rolling Stones to name just a few. This helped to make it appealing to people who might not otherwise be interested in football. 

The improvement of stadiums also helped to make the fan experience that much better. Things like giant screens, retractable roofs and high quality sound systems all helped to enhance the experience for fans in the stadium as well as adding to the atmosphere even for those watching at home. Instant replay technology has helped to improve the game too, with fans being able to analyze the game much better as well as giving referees the chance to make the correct call. 

In the 21st century, the NFL has been helped greatly by social media, with fans being able to easily interact with each other as well as giving players a chance to connect directly with their fans. 

What the future holds 

The NFL is in a very healthy state and it only looks set to become more popular in the future, with NFL betting in Canada becoming as increasingly popular too. The prevalence of smartphones has made it more appealing to fans globally since they can keep up with the league much easier than before as well as making it easier to play fantasy football. 

In the coming years, it’s likely that new technology will be integrated more and more, whether it’s improving the fan experience with things like AR and VR or making the game safer for the players with new regulations and improved equipment.