NFL in the 1920 season

NFL in the 1920 season - became the first season of the National Football League , until 1922 called the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The league was formed on August 20, 1920 by independent professional American football players from across the country, who had previously played in the Ohio League or the New York Professional Football League (NPFL). At the meeting, it was decided to call the league the American Professional Football Association . The second meeting was held in Canton on September 17, at which several more teams joined the league. Four teams have joined the league as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Jim Thorpe of the Canton Bulldogs was named the APFA's first president but continued to play for the team.

Scheduling was left up to each team. There were wide variations, both in the overall number of games played and in the number played against other Association members. Thus, no official standings were maintained. In addition, football teams in the APFA also faced independent football teams not associated with the league. For instance, the Rochester Jeffersons played a schedule consisting mostly of local teams from their local sandlot circuit and the NYPFL, not the APFA.

The Akron Pros ended the season as the only undefeated team in the Association. Despite this, two one-loss teams — the Decatur Staleys and Buffalo All-Americans —who both tied Akron that year made cases for a co-championship. At the league meetings in Akron on April 30, 1921, the Pros were awarded the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup for the 1920 season, the only year the trophy was used. According to modern NFL tie-breaking rules, the 1920 Buffalo All-Americans would be co-champions. They would be tied with the Akron Pros in win percentage, 9.5 wins to 1.5 losses (.864), both teams beating out the Staleys, who would have a season that counted 11 wins to 2 losses (.846).