The NFL, one of the biggest names in American football, actually started out as the American Professional Football Association back in 1920 in Canton, Ohio. Jim Thorpe, a legendary athlete, was the league's first president and also played in the league. The NFL only got its current name in 1922. Back in those early days, the league had just 10 teams, none of which are still around today. The Green Bay Packers, who joined in 1921, are the only team from that era that's still going strong. The league struggled a bit at first, with many teams coming and going. The last team to fold did so in 1952. Things took an interesting turn in 1959 when the American Football League (AFL) was formed. The AFL quickly became a major competitor to the NFL, especially when it came to attracting players. By 1970, the two leagues decided to join forces, but the NFL embraced many of the AFL's fresh ideas and innovations, which helped shape the league as we know it today.