Timeline of the National Central Football League

This timeline of the National Central Football League (NCFL) tracks the history of each of the league's 36 current franchises from the early days of the league, through its merger with the National Football Association (NFA), and the International Football Association (IFA). The history of franchises that began as independent teams, other defunct leagues are shown as well.

1920-1933 Birth of the NCFL

1920

The National Central Football League is formed September 17, 1920, at Canton, Ohio. The fourteen teams were mainly drawn from the Ontario-Quebec State League, New York professional League, and other leagues. A $100 membership fee was charged. The Chicago Giants folded after the season.

Team folded this season ^

1920 NCFL

Albany All-Pros	0	Detroit Tigers
Boston Hammers	0	Montreal Blues
Brooklyn Steel	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Ontario Lakers
Chicago Giants^	0	Philadelphia Renegades
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Rochester Americans
Cleveland Lions	0	Toronto Wolves

1921

With the low entry barrier of a $100 membership fee, the number of teams balloons to 20. Four of these franchises would last only one season, with the Chicago Chippers only making it through a single game. Two other franchises folded mid-season.

1921 name changes

1920 team name	1921 team name
Brooklyn Steel	Brooklyn Steelers

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

Only season in the league *^

1921 NCFL

Albany All-Pros	0	Indianapolis Indians*
Baltimore Cannon*^	0	Louisville Reds*
Boston Hammers	0	Mississauga Millers*^
Brooklyn Steelers	0	Montreal Blues
Buffalo Warthogs	0	New York Dragons
Chicago Chippers*^	0	Ontario Lakers
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Philadelphia Renegades^
Cleveland Lions	0	Rochester Americans
Detroit Tigers	0	St. Louis Triangles*
Hartford Whaling Ships*^	0	Toronto Wolves^

1922

Two Franchises were awarded. While two disbanded.

1922 name changes

1921 team name	1922 team name
Indianapolis Indians	Indiana Indians

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

Only season in the league *^

1922 NCFL

Albany All-Pros	0	Louisville Reds^
Boston Hammers	0	Montreal Blues
Brooklyn Steelers^	0	New York Dragons
Chicago Centrals*^	0	Ontario Lakers
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Rochester Americans
Cleveland Lions	0	Rockford Rail Kings*
Detroit Tigers	0	St. Louis Triangles
Indiana Indians	0	Syracuse Spartans*

1923

Two new franchises were awarded

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

1923 NCFL

Albany All-Pros	0	Montreal Blues
Boston Hammers	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Ontario Lakers
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Rochester Americans
Cleveland Lions	0	Rockford Rail Kings^
Detroit Tigers	0	St. Louis Triangles
Indiana Indians	0	Syracuse Spartans
Massachusetts Meerkats*	0	Washington Presidents*

1924

Two new times were franchised, while the Cleveland Lions folded mid-season.

1924 name changes

1923 team name	1924 team name
St. Louis Triangles	Missouri Chiefs

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

1924 NCFL

Akron All-Stars*	0	Missouri Chiefs
Albany All-Pros	0	Montreal Blues
Boston Hammers	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Ontario Lakers
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Providence Minutemen*
Cleveland Lions^	0	Rochester Americans
Detroit Tigers	0	Syracuse Spartans
Indiana Indians	0	Washington Presidents
Massachusetts Meerkats	0

1925

The Boston Hammers relocated from Boston to Chicago, to become the Chicago Hammers. The Rochester Americans and the Albany All-Pros merged into the Albany Americans, at the end of the season.

1925 name changes

1924 team name	1925 team name
Boston Hammers	Chicago Hammers

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

Team merged into another ^^

1924 NCFL

Akron All-Stars	0	Missouri Chiefs
Albany All-Pros	0	Montreal Blues^
Baltimore Braves*	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Ontario Lakers
Chicago Hammers	0	Pittsburgh Hawks*
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Portland Islanders*
Detroit Tigers	0	Providence Minutemen
Indiana Indians	0	Rochester Americans^^
Massachusetts Meerkats	0	Syracuse Spartans
Milwaukee Redskins	0	Washington Presidents

1926

One team was franchised, while the Milwaukee Redskins folded.

1926 name changes

1925 team name	1926 team name
Albany All-Pros	Albany Americans

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

1926 NCFL

Akron All-Stars	0	Milwaukee Redskins^
Albany Americans	0	Missouri Chiefs
Baltimore Braves	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Ontario Lakers
Chicago Hammers	0	Pittsburgh Hawks
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Portland Islanders
Detroit Tigers	0	Providence Minutemen
Indiana Indians	0	Syracuse Spartans
Kalamazoo Kangaroos*	0	Washington Presidents
Massachusetts Meerkats	0

1927

Two franchises the Brooklyn Rangers and the Philadelphia Phillies were franchised, while the Washington Presidents folded.

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

1927 NCFL

Akron All-Stars	0	Massachusetts Meerkats
Albany Americans	0	Missouri Chiefs
Baltimore Braves	0	New York Dragons
Brooklyn Rangers*	0	Ontario Lakers
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Philadelphia Phillies*
Chicago Hammers	0	Pittsburgh Hawks
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Portland Islanders
Detroit Tigers	0	Providence Minutemen
Indiana Indians	0	Syracuse Spartans
Kalamazoo Kangaroos	0	Washington Presidents^

1928

Two teams were added to the league, the Lancaster Lancers, and the New York Giants. This was the first year that no team folded. The Ontario Lakers changed their name to the Toronto Lakers.

1928 name changes

1927 team name	1928 team name
Ontario Lakers	Toronto Lakers

First season in NCFL *

1928 NCFL

Akron All-Stars	0	Lancaster Lancers*
Albany Americans	0	Massachusetts Meerkats
Baltimore Braves	0	Missouri Chiefs
Brooklyn Rangers	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Giants*	0	Pittsburgh Hawks
Chicago Hammers	0	Portland Islanders
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Providence Minutemen
Detroit Tigers	0	Syracuse Spartans
Indiana Indians	0	Toronto Lakers
Kalamazoo Kangaroos	0

1929

A team was franchised, and another folded. The 22 team high of the NCFL would not be matched until 1970.

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

1929 NCFL

Akron All-Stars	0	Lancaster Lancers
Albany Americans	0	Massachusetts Meerkats
Baltimore Braves	0	Missouri Chiefs
Brooklyn Rangers	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Giants	0	Pittsburgh Hawks
Chicago Hammers	0	Portland Islanders^
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Providence Minutemen
Detroit Tigers	0	Syracuse Spartans
Indiana Indians	0	Toronto Lakers
Kalamazoo Kangaroos	0	Washington Elephants*

1930

The Great Depression resulted in the folding of 8 teams, including two during the season, the Providence Minutemen and Syracuse Spartans. The Kalamazoo Kangaroos moved to Milwaukee, as the Greens.

1928 name changes

1927 team name	1928 team name
Kalamazoo Kangaroos	Milwaukee Greens

First season in NCFL *

Team folded this season ^

1929 NCFL

Akron All-Stars^	0	Massachusetts Meerkats
Albany Americans	0	Milwaukee Greens
Baltimore Braves^	0	Missouri Chiefs
Brooklyn Rangers^	0	New York Dragons
Buffalo Warthogs	0	Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Giants	0	Pittsburgh Hawks^
Chicago Hammers	0	Providence Minutemen^
Cincinnati Fighting Eagles	0	Syracuse Spartans^
Detroit Tigers	0	Toronto Lakers
Indiana Indians^	0	Washington Elephants
Lancaster Lancers^	0

The 2000's

2014-Present

2014–present NCFL teams

NAFA	North	Central	South
	Boston Meerkats	Cincinnati Bears	Chicago Giants
	New York Eagles	Philadelphia Penguins	Indianapolis Phantoms
	Quebec Sharks	Detroit Raptors	Nashville Elephants
	Toronto Lancers	Pittsburgh Falcons	St. Louis Warriors
NFA	North	Central	West
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IFA	North	Central	West
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