How do you separate eras of the NFL?

[Oszuscik]

Everyone here is a history buff when it comes to the NFL. I'm curious how you look back on the history of the NFL and if you have your own eras that you divide the league up into, such as the 14-game era, the pre-free agency era, etc. Thought it'd be interesting to hear how different researchers view the league through the lens of time.

[JohnTurney]

Everyone here is a history buff when it comes to the NFL. I'm curious how you look back on the history of the NFL and if you have your own eras that you divide the league up into, such as the 14-game era, the pre-free agency era, etc. Thought it'd be interesting to hear how different researchers view the league through the lens of time.

1978 is one era, 1977 another.. that is probably the most clear divider ... I see 1945 to 1959 as well an era, maybe 1946 ...
then there are overlapping ... COmmon draft ... is divider for me

[SeahawkFever]

Everyone here is a history buff when it comes to the NFL. I'm curious how you look back on the history of the NFL and if you have your own eras that you divide the league up into, such as the 14-game era, the pre-free agency era, etc. Thought it'd be interesting to hear how different researchers view the league through the lens of time.

1978 is one era, 1977 another.. that is probably the most clear divider ... I see 1945 to 1959 as well an era, maybe 1946 ...
then there are overlapping ... COmmon draft ... is divider for me

78 rule changes definitely separate an era given the defensive performances in the decade before vs years after.

Another I’d argue is 1992.

Given that the Skins and Giants were the champions of 90 and 91, and the AFC runner up was still the Broncos in 91 (with some of the players from the Super Bowl teams), the 1990 and 1991 seasons might belong with the 80’s.

In 1992, we have our first Triplet Cowboys title, and the first of the four NFC Championship Games that Steve Young played in.

Also, didn’t Favre start to take over in Green Bay in 92, and in the AFC, did Bill Cowher start coaching then?

Generally I see things broken down by decade straight up, but 92 and 78 are definitely separations that didn’t occur cleanly at the change of a decade.

[RichardBak]

I generally think of the first and last years of the 1950s and '60s as convenient bookends to certain eras:

In 1950 you have the absorption of the AAFC into the NFL, and from 1951 through 1959 the league settles into a 12-team/12-game pattern. NFL starts to take off thanks to TV and integrated rosters.

1960 through 1969 is the era of expansion, both in leagues (AFL), teams, schedules (from 12 to 14 games) and postseason.

1970s is the beginning of the modern NFL as we know it today. I would agree 1978 marks the end of the decade and the start of a new era.

Personally, I love the 1950-70 era the best.

[Bob Gill]

Personally, I love the 1950-70 era the best.

I basically agree with that, though if I had to tighten it I'd just vote for 1960-69.

If pressed to extend my favorite era a little, I'd say 1950-77, until the rule changes, the 16-game schedule and the addition of the first extra wild card teams.

[Ten Minute Ticker]

In my own head, not necessarily for historic purposes, I have it as follows.

1978-81: NFL as I experienced it first-hand as a kid. No franchise moves, just one stadium change (Rams to Anaheim).
What I didn’t understand at the time was the rule change that helped define the era.
Reasonable parity with nearly every team having a playoff or .500 season mixed in.

1982-92: A time of turmoil. Two season-altering strikes and a somewhat diluted league roughly between the two strikes due to the USFL. Quite honestly, the period from 1983-85, maybe through to 1986, should be looked upon with more scrutiny than it is due to many proven or future stars playing in the USFL. It changed the gulf in roster talent disparity. It was a weaker league easier for the good teams to dominate.
Franchise moves - actual or threatened - dominate this period so it doesn’t feel as stable.
Towards the end of this period, you get half-assed free agency (Plan B!) and the looming reality that real free agency was coming.
Revenue sharing was under threat too and this period exposes franchises/owners who don’t have independent revenue streams or who are purely incompetent or both.

1993-98: The effect of free agency is felt - some of the first free agent-built champions, like the ‘96 Packers, emerge, but there’s still an old school sense of teams sticking together. Offensive lines stayed intact, etc. The established power teams more or less stayed powerful.
Our experience as fans change with Fox entering the picture, breaking up the long-established CBS-NBC ways. Cable is becoming more prominent.
Expansion comes into the mix to shake up the near 20-year 28-team NFL, further diluting the talent.

1999-2001: The power teams fall off and a new set of title aspirants come to the fore. Still feels like the post-‘78 NFL
with six divisions, but this part of the period of stadium chamge, etc. NFL starts to get away from fan-accommodated notions like late-season night games at warm locales, etc.

2002-2009-ish: Eight divisions and a schedule that rotates more evenly as far as non-divisional games are concerned. Game on the field is still recognizable to long-time fans, though many long-held X and O, strategic and clock management dogmas begin to be challenged.

2010-present: NFL innovation on the field changes the game. Running back are managed differently. Defenses become more fluid in terms of positional roles, etc. Coaches are less risk-averse, going for it on fourth down more often being just one example.
Player safety measures begin to affect the game. Fewer kick and punt returns. A major deemphasis of the big hit culture, etc.
Our experience continues to evolve with more off-Sunday games, more uniform changes, more games overseas, etc. I would say this period feels far more corporate - in good and bad ways.
The once-a-week nature of the NFL gives it an advantage in the media landscape as it is largely immune to cord-cutting compared to other leagues. Gives the impression that NFL is even more dominant than ever over the other major leagues. There’s a truth to it.
On the other hand, social media and the fragmentation of our collective experiences dilutes our knowledge of all but the biggest stars. Players, even good ones, seem to come and go without much notice.

That’s my own impressions based on my own experience.

[RichardBak]

In my own head, not necessarily for historic purposes, I have it as follows.

1978-81: NFL as I experienced it first-hand as a kid. No franchise moves, just one stadium change (Rams to Anaheim).
What I didn’t understand at the time was the rule change that helped define the era.
Reasonable parity with nearly every team having a playoff or .500 season mixed in.

1982-92: A time of turmoil. Two season-altering strikes and a somewhat diluted league roughly between the two strikes due to the USFL. Quite honestly, the period from 1983-85, maybe through to 1986, should be looked upon with more scrutiny than it is due to many proven or future stars playing in the USFL. It changed the gulf in roster talent disparity. It was a weaker league easier for the good teams to dominate.
Franchise moves - actual or threatened - dominate this period so it doesn’t feel as stable.
Towards the end of this period, you get half-assed free agency (Plan B!) and the looming reality that real free agency was coming.
Revenue sharing was under threat too and this period exposes franchises/owners who don’t have independent revenue streams or who are purely incompetent or both.

1993-98: The effect of free agency is felt - some of the first free agent-built champions, like the ‘96 Packers, emerge, but there’s still an old school sense of teams sticking together. Offensive lines stayed intact, etc. The established power teams more or less stayed powerful.
Our experience as fans change with Fox entering the picture, breaking up the long-established CBS-NBC ways. Cable is becoming more prominent.
Expansion comes into the mix to shake up the near 20-year 28-team NFL, further diluting the talent.

1999-2001: The power teams fall off and a new set of title aspirants come to the fore. Still feels like the post-‘78 NFL
with six divisions, but this part of the period of stadium chamge, etc. NFL starts to get away from fan-accommodated notions like late-season night games at warm locales, etc.

2002-2009-ish: Eight divisions and a schedule that rotates more evenly as far as non-divisional games are concerned. Game on the field is still recognizable to long-time fans, though many long-held X and O, strategic and clock management dogmas begin to be challenged.

2010-present: NFL innovation on the field changes the game. Running back are managed differently. Defenses become more fluid in terms of positional roles, etc. Coaches are less risk-averse, going for it on fourth down more often being just one example.
Player safety measures begin to affect the game. Fewer kick and punt returns. A major deemphasis of the big hit culture, etc.
Our experience continues to evolve with more off-Sunday games, more uniform changes, more games overseas, etc. I would say this period feels far more corporate - in good and bad ways.
The once-a-week nature of the NFL gives it an advantage in the media landscape as it is largely immune to cord-cutting compared to other leagues. Gives the impression that NFL is even more dominant than ever over the other major leagues. There’s a truth to it.
On the other hand, social media and the fragmentation of our collective experiences dilutes our knowledge of all but the biggest stars. Players, even good ones, seem to come and go without much notice.

That’s my own impressions based on my own experience.

That's a pretty solid summary!

[Brian wolf]

The Bert Bell era got the ball rolling in terms of football gaining popularity but he had no idea how television would make the sport a juggarnaut ...

The Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue eras took advantage of the popularity with television while making more money for the owners but due to the violence and desperation of the sport, many players took a physical toll when they left the game.

Due to that, and the NFL having to admit the price concussions were playing on the sport, the Roger Goodell era has emphasized less violence and desperation for more offensive skill and athleticism, upping the "entertainment" value while leaving more defensive attrition to the past.

I dont really see more innovation on the field, its just more of a horizontal rather than vertical game that runners can thrive on if they are utilized more, but the rules changes and defenses getting more handcuffed and fined for aggressiveness, have allowed passing the football to more encouraged.

The question is, can skill position players stay healthy and take advantage of this heavily flagged, offensive era?

The days of actual pocket passing QBs could be lessening, as more running QBs enter the league. Who would have thought that in another possible five seasons that the NFL could have its first QB hitting 10,000 career rushing yards(Jackson) and another QB reaching 100 or more career rushing TDs(Allen)?

[ShinobiMusashi]

1920 to 1932, the beginning of the NFL, leather or no helmets, completely different shaped ball, forward passing was in caveman days, Red Grange and Ernie Nevers, revolving door of teams in and out of the league from year to year, no NFL title game, no divisions, no official stats kept.

1933 to 1949, 33 the beginning of a new era without question, the first year with the league divided up into divisions, first year we got an official title game, first year official stats were kept, the wild wild west of teams trimmed down to the core teams of the NFL going forward. I believe there was a color barrier during this era with blacks not being allowed in the league. That started to chip away after WWII or during I'm not sure but know that was a thing. Leather helmets and iron man football still during this era. AAFC popped up in 1946 and played their final season in 1949 splitting the talent in the country at the pro level across the two leagues during those 4 years. You could really split this era into 3 different sub-era's, from 1933 to 1941 seemed like a different time. The Great Depression was an issue those years. 1942 to 1945 being heavily effected by World War 2, then 1946 to 1949 being the NFL vs AAFC years. But I would say all 3 of those little mini-era "windows" fit comfortably within this 33 to 49 time period.

1950-1959, 50 is major season of change as pointed out in this thread. From what I understood this was the year free substitution was legalized which gave us positional specialists(which changed the game big time). Also plastic helmets I believe became the norm in 1950 I believe that changed tackling in the NFL. Also 50 the year they merged the AAFC/Browns/49ers into the NFL. The rise of the NFL on the national level during this era with the advent of live NFL games on TV; "The Greatest Game Ever Played" taking place in 1958 with Unitas in the first sudden death title game win. Maybe you could divide this era into 2, from 1950 to 1955 being the Browns/Lions window, while 1956 to 1959 felt different from that.

1960-1969, the beginning of the AFL in 1960 seemed like the beginning of a new era. The era here with the two leagues competing against each other, resulting in the Super Bowl and common draft in 1966. Like the 50's you could really split this into 2 as well, to me the AFL those last 3 years 67-68-69 felt different. I believe those 3 years were the window when the NFL divided into the 4 team per division format as well(started in 66 I think). So maybe you could split the 60's era up into 1960 to 1966, then 1967 to 1969.

1970-1977, the merger taking place in 1970 and 1977 being the last year before the major rules changes make this a time all of it's own.

1978-1992, Lineman being able to use their hands to block and defenders not being able to Mel Blount receivers starting in 78 changed the game, plus the change to 16 games from 14. I like how another posted lumped 91 and 92 into the 80's I would agree with that. You could divide this period up into different era's as well within this, 1978-1980 had it's own feel, while 1981-1982-1983 to me feels like an underappreciated period full of players/games/moments/teams that aren't nearly as romanticized as those in surrounding periods from this era. 1984 to 1987 felt like it's own time, while 1988 seemed like the beginning of some new modern age of the league(attendance numbers would back this up) that peaked in 1992.

1993-2009, League started to radically change starting with unrestricted free agency being introduced in 1993, teams starting to overhaul their uniforms, salary cap introduced in 1994 with more rules changes to allow for even more offense and scoring. New expansion teams in 95, Oilers/Browns relocation drama in 95-96-97, another new expansion team in 1999, then another with a total division realignment in 2002 setting up what we have now. Teams moving all over the place during this era. The internet becoming a thing in 1993 also makes that a good start of a new era. Even though it wouldn't have a big effect on the league for a few years. NFL on Fox starting in 1994 another big deal. I feel like 2009 was the end of this era before something corporate happened within the NFL that shifted the way they market the league going forward in 2010. Also the Saints bountygate happening in that 2009 playoffs, they wouldn't get punished for that until the next year if I remember correctly. The 2008 Super Bowl felt like the end of an era in real time while watching it knowing it was Madden's last call. Maybe you could bring it back to that with 93 to 2008 but I like 2009. Could divide this up with 1993 to 2001, then 2002 to 2009 after the realignment.

From 2010 on I wouldn't know where to break it up. I'd be interested to see where.

[SeahawkFever]

1920 to 1932, the beginning of the NFL, leather or no helmets, completely different shaped ball, forward passing was in caveman days, Red Grange and Ernie Nevers, revolving door of teams in and out of the league from year to year, no NFL title game, no divisions, no official stats kept.

1933 to 1949, 33 the beginning of a new era without question, the first year with the league divided up into divisions, first year we got an official title game, first year official stats were kept, the wild wild west of teams trimmed down to the core teams of the NFL going forward. I believe there was a color barrier during this era with blacks not being allowed in the league. That started to chip away after WWII or during I'm not sure but know that was a thing. Leather helmets and iron man football still during this era. AAFC popped up in 1946 and played their final season in 1949 splitting the talent in the country at the pro level across the two leagues during those 4 years. You could really split this era into 3 different sub-era's, from 1933 to 1941 seemed like a different time. The Great Depression was an issue those years. 1942 to 1945 being heavily effected by World War 2, then 1946 to 1949 being the NFL vs AAFC years. But I would say all 3 of those little mini-era "windows" fit comfortably within this 33 to 49 time period.

1950-1959, 50 is major season of change as pointed out in this thread. From what I understood this was the year free substitution was legalized which gave us positional specialists(which changed the game big time). Also plastic helmets I believe became the norm in 1950 I believe that changed tackling in the NFL. Also 50 the year they merged the AAFC/Browns/49ers into the NFL. The rise of the NFL on the national level during this era with the advent of live NFL games on TV; "The Greatest Game Ever Played" taking place in 1958 with Unitas in the first sudden death title game win. Maybe you could divide this era into 2, from 1950 to 1955 being the Browns/Lions window, while 1956 to 1959 felt different from that.

1960-1969, the beginning of the AFL in 1960 seemed like the beginning of a new era. The era here with the two leagues competing against each other, resulting in the Super Bowl and common draft in 1966. Like the 50's you could really split this into 2 as well, to me the AFL those last 3 years 67-68-69 felt different. I believe those 3 years were the window when the NFL divided into the 4 team per division format as well(started in 66 I think). So maybe you could split the 60's era up into 1960 to 1966, then 1967 to 1969.

1970-1977, the merger taking place in 1970 and 1977 being the last year before the major rules changes make this a time all of it's own.

1978-1992, Lineman being able to use their hands to block and defenders not being able to Mel Blount receivers starting in 78 changed the game, plus the change to 16 games from 14. I like how another posted lumped 91 and 92 into the 80's I would agree with that. You could divide this period up into different era's as well within this, 1978-1980 had it's own feel, while 1981-1982-1983 to me feels like an underappreciated period full of players/games/moments/teams that aren't nearly as romanticized as those in surrounding periods from this era. 1984 to 1987 felt like it's own time, while 1988 seemed like the beginning of some new modern age of the league(attendance numbers would back this up) that peaked in 1992.

1993-2009, League started to radically change starting with unrestricted free agency being introduced in 1993, teams starting to overhaul their uniforms, salary cap introduced in 1994 with more rules changes to allow for even more offense and scoring. New expansion teams in 95, Oilers/Browns relocation drama in 95-96-97, another new expansion team in 1999, then another with a total division realignment in 2002 setting up what we have now. Teams moving all over the place during this era. The internet becoming a thing in 1993 also makes that a good start of a new era. Even though it wouldn't have a big effect on the league for a few years. NFL on Fox starting in 1994 another big deal. I feel like 2009 was the end of this era before something corporate happened within the NFL that shifted the way they market the league going forward in 2010. Also the Saints bountygate happening in that 2009 playoffs, they wouldn't get punished for that until the next year if I remember correctly. The 2008 Super Bowl felt like the end of an era in real time while watching it knowing it was Madden's last call. Maybe you could bring it back to that with 93 to 2008 but I like 2009. Could divide this up with 1993 to 2001, then 2002 to 2009 after the realignment.

From 2010 on I wouldn't know where to break it up. I'd be interested to see where.

What corporate event happened in 2010 out of curiosity?