Defunct franchises

Historical NFL franchises

Franchises that played at least one NFL, APFA, AAFC, or AFL season but no longer exist as independent clubs. Includes APFA charter members, AAFC entries that did not survive the 1949 merger, and short-lived 1920s teams. Click any column header to sort, and the +/− to expand a franchise's season-by-season record.

Canton Bulldogs
Canton · APFA/NFL · 1920–1926
35-18-10Win% 0.6356 seasons
19221923
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Canton Bulldogs430.5637th
1921Canton Bulldogs520.6504th
1922Canton Bulldogs1000.9171stChampion
1923Canton Bulldogs1100.9581stChampion
1925Canton Bulldogs440.50011th
1926Canton Bulldogs190.19219th
Akron Pros
Akron · APFA/NFL · 1920–1926
25-26-11Win% 0.4927 seasons
1920
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Akron Pros600.8331stChampion
1921Akron Pros830.7083rd
1922Akron Pros350.40010th
1923Akron Pros160.14317th
1924Akron Pros260.250T-13th
1925Akron Pros420.6256th
1926Akron Indians140.31313th
Detroit Wolverines
Cleveland/Detroit · NFL · 1923–1928
30-16-7Win% 0.6325 seasons
1924
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1923Cleveland Indians310.6436th
1924Cleveland Bulldogs710.8331stChampion
1925Cleveland Bulldogs580.39312th
1927Cleveland Bulldogs840.6544th
1928Detroit Wolverines720.7502nd
Frankford Yellow Jackets
Frankford · NFL · 1924–1931
70-45-15Win% 0.5968 seasons
1926
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1924Frankford Yellow Jackets1120.8213rd
1925Frankford Yellow Jackets1370.6505th
1926Frankford Yellow Jackets1410.8821stChampion
1927Frankford Yellow Jackets690.4177th
1928Frankford Yellow Jackets1130.7503rd
1929Frankford Yellow Jackets1040.6583rd
1930Frankford Yellow Jackets4130.2509th
1931Frankford Yellow Jackets160.1889th
Providence Steam Roller
Providence · NFL · 1925–1931
41-32-11Win% 0.5547 seasons
1928
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1925Providence Steam Roller650.54210th
1926Providence Steam Roller570.42311th
1927Providence Steam Roller850.6075th
1928Providence Steam Roller810.8181stChampion
1929Providence Steam Roller460.4177th
1930Providence Steam Roller640.5915th
1931Providence Steam Roller440.5006th
Pottsville Maroons
Pottsville/Boston · NFL · 1925–1929
31-24-2Win% 0.5615 seasons
1925
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1925Pottsville Maroons1020.8331st
1926Pottsville Maroons1020.7863rd
1927Pottsville Maroons580.3858th
1928Pottsville Maroons280.2008th
1929Boston Bulldogs440.5004th
Baltimore Colts (1950)
Baltimore · AAFC/NFL · 1947–1950
11-40-1Win% 0.2214 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1947Baltimore Colts2110.1794th
1948Baltimore Colts770.5002ndPlayoffs
1949Baltimore Colts1110.0837th
1950Baltimore Colts1110.0837th
Dallas Texans (1952)
Boston/New York/Dallas · NFL · 1944–1952
24-73-6Win% 0.2629 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1944Boston Yanks280.2004th
1945Boston Yanks360.350T-3rd
1946Boston Yanks280.2275th
1947Boston Yanks470.3753rd
1948Boston Yanks390.2505th
1949New York Bulldogs1100.1255th
1950New York Yanks750.5833rd
1951New York Yanks190.1676th
1952Dallas Texans1110.0836th
Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC)
Brooklyn · AAFC · 1946–1948
8-32-2Win% 0.2143 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1946Brooklyn Dodgers3100.250T-2nd
1947Brooklyn Dodgers3100.2503rd
1948Brooklyn Dodgers2120.1434th
Staten Island Stapletons
Brooklyn/New York/Staten Island · NFL · 1926–1932
28-46-11Win% 0.3947 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1926Brooklyn Lions380.27315th
1927New York Yankees780.4696th
1928New York Yankees480.3467th
1929Staten Island Stapletons340.4506th
1930Staten Island Stapletons550.5006th
1931Staten Island Stapletons460.4097th
1932Staten Island Stapletons270.2927th
Buffalo Bills (AAFC)
Buffalo · AAFC · 1946–1949
23-26-5Win% 0.4724 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1946Buffalo Bisons3100.250T-2nd
1947Buffalo Bills840.6432nd
1948Buffalo Bills770.5001stTitle game
1949Buffalo Bills550.5004thPlayoffs
Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo · APFA/NFL · 1920–1929
35-37-12Win% 0.4889 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Buffalo All-Americans410.7502nd
1921Buffalo All-Americans910.8332nd
1922Buffalo All-Americans540.5509th
1923Buffalo All-Americans540.5429th
1924Buffalo Bisons650.5459th
1925Buffalo Bisons160.22214th
1926Buffalo Rangers440.5009th
1927Buffalo Bisons050.00012th
1929Buffalo Bisons170.16710th
Chicago Hornets
Chicago · AAFC · 1946–1949
11-40-3Win% 0.2324 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1946Chicago Rockets560.4644th
1947Chicago Rockets1130.0714th
1948Chicago Rockets1130.0714th
1949Chicago Hornets480.333T-5th
Chicago Tigers
Chicago · APFA · 1920–1920
1-5-1Win% 0.2141 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Chicago Tigers150.21410th
Card-Pitt (1944)
Chicago-Pittsburgh · NFL · 1944–1944
0-10-0Win% 0.0001 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1944Chi/Pitt Carpitts0100.0005th
Cincinnati Celts
Cincinnati · APFA · 1921–1921
1-3-0Win% 0.2501 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921Cincinnati Celts130.250T-14th
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati/St.Louis · NFL · 1933–1934
4-16-1Win% 0.2142 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1933Cincinnati Reds360.3504th
1934Cincy/St.Louis Reds/Gunners1100.0915th
Cleveland Tigers
Cleveland · APFA · 1920–1921
4-9-2Win% 0.3332 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Cleveland Tigers140.2868th
1921Cleveland Indians350.37511th
Cleveland Indians (NFL)
Cleveland · NFL · 1931–1931
2-8-0Win% 0.2001 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1931Cleveland Indians280.2008th
Columbus Panhandles
Columbus · APFA/NFL · 1920–1926
11-44-1Win% 0.2057 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Columbus Panhandles050.00014th
1921Columbus Panhandles180.11117th
1922Columbus Panhandles080.00018th
1923Columbus Tigers540.5508th
1924Columbus Tigers440.50011th
1925Columbus Tigers090.00019th
1926Columbus Tigers160.14320th
Dayton Triangles
Dayton/Brooklyn · APFA/NFL · 1920–1944
77-151-17Win% 0.34925 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Dayton Triangles420.6255th
1921Dayton Triangles440.50010th
1922Dayton Triangles430.5637th
1923Dayton Triangles160.18816th
1924Dayton Triangles260.250T-13th
1925Dayton Triangles070.06317th
1926Dayton Triangles140.25016th
1927Dayton Triangles160.18810th
1928Dayton Triangles070.00010th
1929Dayton Triangles060.00012th
1930Brooklyn Dodgers740.6254th
1931Brooklyn Dodgers2120.14310th
1932Brooklyn Dodgers390.2508th
1933Brooklyn Dodgers540.5502nd
1934Brooklyn Dodgers470.364T-3rd
1935Brooklyn Dodgers560.4582nd
1936Brooklyn Dodgers380.2924th
1937Brooklyn Dodgers370.3184th
1938Brooklyn Dodgers440.5003rd
1939Brooklyn Dodgers460.4093rd
1940Brooklyn Dodgers830.7272nd
1941Brooklyn Dodgers740.6362nd
1942Brooklyn Dodgers380.2734th
1943Brooklyn Dodgers280.2004th
1944Brooklyn Tigers0100.0005th
Detroit Panthers
Detroit · NFL · 1925–1926
12-8-4Win% 0.5832 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1925Detroit Panthers820.7503rd
1926Detroit Panthers460.41712th
Detroit Heralds
Detroit · APFA · 1920–1921
2-8-1Win% 0.2272 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Detroit Heralds130.2509th
1921Detroit Heralds150.21416th
Duluth Eskimos
Duluth/Orange/Newark · NFL · 1923–1930
20-35-8Win% 0.3817 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1923Duluth Kelleys430.5717th
1924Duluth Kelleys510.8332nd
1925Duluth Kelleys030.00020th
1926Duluth Eskimos650.5368th
1927Duluth Eskimos180.11111th
1929Orange Tornadoes350.4178th
1930Newark Tornadoes1100.12511th
Evansville Crimson Giants
Evansville · APFA/NFL · 1921–1922
3-5-0Win% 0.3752 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921Evansville Crimson Giants320.6006th
1922Evansville Crimson Giants030.00017th
Hammond Pros
Hammond · APFA/NFL · 1920–1926
5-26-4Win% 0.2007 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Hammond Pros030.00013th
1921Hammond Pros130.30013th
1922Hammond Pros050.08316th
1923Hammond Pros150.21415th
1924Hammond Pros220.50010th
1925Hammond Pros140.20015th
1926Hammond Pros040.000T-21st
Hartford Blues
Hartford · NFL · 1926–1926
3-7-0Win% 0.3001 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1926Hartford Blues370.30014th
Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City · NFL · 1924–1926
12-15-1Win% 0.4463 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1924Kansas City Blues270.22215th
1925Kansas City Blues250.31313th
1926Kansas City Cowboys830.7274th
Los Angeles Buccaneers
Los Angeles · NFL · 1926–1926
6-3-1Win% 0.6501 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1926Los Angeles Buccaneers630.6507th
Los Angeles Dons (AAFC)
Los Angeles · AAFC · 1946–1949
25-27-2Win% 0.4814 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1946Los Angeles Dons750.5713rd
1947Los Angeles Dons770.5003rd
1948Los Angeles Dons770.5003rd
1949Los Angeles Dons480.333T-5th
Louisville Colonels
Louisville · APFA/NFL · 1921–1926
1-12-0Win% 0.0774 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921Louisville Brecks020.000T-18th
1922Louisville Brecks130.250T-13th
1923Louisville Brecks030.00019th
1926Louisville Colonels040.000T-21st
Miami Seahawks (AAFC)
Miami · AAFC · 1946–1946
3-11-0Win% 0.2141 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1946Miami Seahawks3110.2144th
Milwaukee Badgers
Milwaukee · NFL · 1922–1926
16-27-6Win% 0.3885 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1922Milwaukee Badgers240.38911th
1923Milwaukee Badgers720.7084th
1924Milwaukee Badgers580.38512th
1925Milwaukee Badgers060.00018th
1926Milwaukee Badgers270.22217th
Minneapolis Red Jackets
Minneapolis · APFA/NFL · 1921–1930
6-33-3Win% 0.1796 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921Minneapolis Marines130.250T-14th
1922Minneapolis Marines130.250T-13th
1923Minneapolis Marines250.33313th
1924Minneapolis Marines060.00018th
1929Minneapolis Redjackets190.10011th
1930Minneapolis Redjackets170.16710th
Muncie Flyers
Muncie · APFA · 1920–1921
0-3-0Win% 0.0002 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Muncie Flyers010.000T-11th
1921Muncie Flyers020.000T-18th
New York Brickley's Giants
New York · APFA · 1921–1921
0-2-0Win% 0.0001 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921New York Brickley's Giants020.000T-18th
New York Yankees (AAFC)
New York/Brk-New York · AAFC · 1946–1949
35-17-2Win% 0.6674 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1946New York Yankees1030.7501stTitle game
1947New York Yankees1120.8211stTitle game
1948New York Yankees680.4293rd
1949Brk/New York Yankees840.6673rdPlayoffs
Oorang Indians
Oorang · NFL · 1922–1923
4-16-0Win% 0.2002 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1922Oorang Indians360.33312th
1923Oorang Indians1100.09118th
Phil-Pitt Steagles
Philadelphia-Pittsburgh · NFL · 1943–1943
5-4-1Win% 0.5501 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1943Phila-Pit Steagles540.5503rd
Racine Tornadoes
Racine · NFL · 1922–1926
15-15-6Win% 0.5004 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1922Racine Legion640.5916th
1923Racine Legion440.50011th
1924Racine Legion430.5508th
1926Racine Tornadoes140.20018th
Rochester Jeffersons
Rochester · APFA/NFL · 1920–1925
2-25-2Win% 0.1036 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Rochester Jeffersons010.000T-11th
1921Rochester Jeffersons230.40012th
1922Rochester Jeffersons040.10015th
1923Rochester Jeffersons040.00020th
1924Rochester Jeffersons070.00017th
1925Rochester Jeffersons060.07116th
Rock Island Independents
Rock Island · APFA/NFL · 1920–1925
24-14-11Win% 0.6026 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1920Rock Island Independents420.6434th
1921Rock Island Independents420.6435th
1922Rock Island Independents420.6435th
1923Rock Island Independents230.43812th
1924Rock Island Independents520.6675th
1925Rock Island Independents530.5919th
St. Louis All-Stars
St. Louis · NFL · 1923–1923
1-4-2Win% 0.2861 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1923St. Louis All-Stars140.28614th
Toledo Maroons
Toledo/Kenosha · NFL · 1922–1924
8-9-5Win% 0.4773 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1922Toledo Maroons520.6674th
1923Toledo Maroons330.50010th
1924Kenosha Maroons040.10016th
Tonawanda Kardex
Tonawanda · APFA · 1921–1921
0-1-0Win% 0.0001 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921Tonawanda Kardex010.00021st
Washington Senators (NFL)
Washington · APFA · 1921–1921
1-2-0Win% 0.3331 seasons
YearTeamWLWin%FinishNotes
1921Washington Senators120.3338th

Active 32: /teams/nfl. Source: NFL_all workbook, last refreshed 2026-05-12.