List of American and Canadian football leagues
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This is a list of current and defunct leagues of American football and Canadian football.
Leagues in North America[]
Current professional leagues in North America[]
Professional outdoor leagues[]
Major
National Football League (NFL), 1920–
- Originally American Professional Football Conference, American Professional Football Association (1920–1921)
- Merged with the American Football League (1960–69)
Canadian Football League (CFL), 1909– (Grey Cup Canadian Football Championships since 1909)
- Formed from Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (1909) and Western Interprovincial Football Union (1936).
Other
XFL, 2001; 2020; 2023–
Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), 2016–
Fútbol Americano de México (FAM), 2019–
Professional arena/indoor leagues[]
Indoor Football League, (12 teams) 2009–
- Formed from United Indoor Football and Intense Football League
Champions Indoor Football, (8 teams) 2015–
National Arena League, (6 teams) 2017–
American Arena League, (14 teams) 2018–
- Formed from Arena Pro Football and Can-Am Indoor Football League
American West Football Conference, (5 teams) 2019–
Fan Controlled Football League, (4 teams) 2021-
Developmental leagues[]
Gridiron Developmental Football League,[1][2] 2010–
Rivals Professional Football League,[3][2][4][5] 2015–
The Spring League, 2017–
Current semi-professional leagues[]
Chicagoland Football League, 1917–1934, 2005-
Northern Football Conference, 1954-
, 1961-
Empire Football League, 1969–
, 1978-
Alberta Football League, 1984-
, 1993-
New England Football League, 1994–
, 1997-
, 1997–
, 1999-
Maritime Football League, 2001-
, 2006-
Florida Football Alliance, 2007–
, 2008-
,[6] 2009–
,[2][7] 2012–
American 7s Football League,[8] 2014–
Collegiate and amateur leagues[]
National Collegiate Athletic Association, 1906–
National Federation of State High School Associations, 1920–
California Community College Athletic Association, 1929–
Collegiate Sprint Football League, 1934–
National Junior College Athletic Association, 1938–
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, 1940–
U Sports, 1961-
Quebec Junior Football League, 1970-
Canadian Junior Football League, 1974-
Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Fútbol Americano, 1978–
Atlantic Football League, 2009-
, 2010–
National Club Football Association, 2010–
, 2019 -
Current Women's Leagues[]
Women's Football Alliance, 2009–
United States Women's Football League, 2010–
Women's National Football Conference, 2019–
Women's Indoor/Arena leagues[]
Legends Football League, 2009–
- Operated as the Lingerie Football League from 2009 to 2012.
Planned women's leagues[]
Planned leagues in North America[]
National Gridiron League, TBA (proposed to begin in 2021) (Outdoor Eight-man football)
Freedom Football League, TBA (proposed to begin in 2020)
Major League Football, TBA (proposed to begin in 2021)
American Patriot League, TBA (proposed to begin in 2022)
United States Football League, TBA (proposed to begin in 2022)
Historical leagues in North America[]
Major outdoor leagues[]
Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, 1892–19406
National Football League, 1902
Ohio Independent Championship (Ohio League), 1903–19196
New York Pro Football League, c. 1913–19206
American Football League, 1926, 1936–1937, and 1940–1941 (all unrelated, three separate leagues)
All-America Football Conference, 1946–19491
American Football League, 1960–19692
World Football League, 1974���1975
United States Football League, 1983–1985
Minor outdoor leagues[]
American Football Union (1886–1895)
Anthracite League (1924) / Eastern League of Professional Football (1926)
, 1925-1929
Pacific Coast League, 1926
Eastern League of Professional Football, 1926-1927
, 1928-1929
, 1932-1933
- Became Interstate Football League in 1933
, 1934-1935
- Originally the New Jersey Football Circuit (1934)
American Football League, 1934
American Legion League, 1934-1935
Northwest Football League, 1935–1938
Midwest Football League, 1935–1937, became American Professional Football Association in 1938, American Football League in 1939
Dixie League, 1936–1947 – originally South Atlantic Football Association
American Association 1936–1941/American Football League 1946–19503
, 1936
Virginia-Carolina Football League, 1937
California Football League, 1938
Eastern Pennsylvania Football League, 1938
American Football League, 1938–19394
Pacific Coast Professional Football League, 1940–1948
Northeast Football League, 1940–1942
Northwest War Industries Football League, 1942
, 1944
American Football League, 19445
Virginia Negro League, 1946
, 1948–1953
Pacific Football Conference, 1957–1958
American Football Conference, 1959–1961
- Low-level fall league that was fully organized in September 1959 with five independent teams who played the other teams sporadically. The original teams were Duquesne Ironmen (Pennsylvania), Melvindale Redskins (Michigan), Toledo Tornadoes, Dayton Triangles (Ohio) and Newark Rams (New Jersey). Players were from both pro and college teams.[11] Teams also end up play in Sarnia, Zaneville (Ohio Colts), Port Huron and Detroit,[12] while Toledo Tornadoes leave for the larger United Football League (1961–1964).[13]
United Football League, 1961–1964
, 1962-1975
Midwest Football League, 1962-1978
Atlantic Coast Football League, 1962–1971, 1973
Midwest Football League, 1962–1978
, 1963-1965
North Pacific Football League, 1963-1966
, 1964-1967
- Renamed North Atlantic Football League in 1967
Continental Football League, 1965–1969
, 1965–1966
, 1965-1967
Texas Football League 1966–1968
United American Football League, 1967
, 1967
Trans-American Football League, 1970–1971
, 1970–1972
Seaboard Football League, 1971–1974
Southwestern Football League, 1972–1973
California Football League, 1974-1982
American Football Association, 1978–1983
International Football League, 1984 (never played)[14]
Professional Spring Football League, 1992
World League of American Football 1991–1992[a]/NFL Europe 1995-2007
Regional Football League, 1999[15][13]
International Football Federation, 2000 (never played)
Spring Football League, 2000[16]
XFL, 2001
World Football League, 2008–2010
United Football League, 2009–2012
Stars Football League, 2011–2013
North American Football League, 2014 (never played)
Fall Experimental Football League, 2014–2015
Your Call Football, 2018–2019
Alliance of American Football, 2019
- 1: Two teams now in NFL
- 2: Agreed to merger with the NFL in 1966, with merger completed in 1970
- 3: American Association suspended operations for duration of U.S. involvement in World War II; in 1946 the AA was renamed American Football League
- 4: Known as the American Professional Football Association in 1938; renamed American Football League in 1939; dissolution after 1939 season caused by formation of 1940–1941 AFL major league
- 5: Merged with PCPFL in 1945
- 6: Informal association of teams
Indoor leagues[]
World Series of Football, 1902–03
Arena Football League, 1987–2008, 2010–2019
Professional Indoor Football League, 1998–2000 (Bought out by Af2 in 2001)
Indoor Football League, 1999–2000 (Bought out by Af2 in 2001;not related to the Indoor Football League that began play in 2009)
Indoor Professional Football League, 1999–2001
Arenafootball2 (af2), 2000–2009 (assets acquired in the same transaction as that noted above for Arena Football League)
National Indoor Football League, 2001–2007
American Professional Football League, 2003–2013
Intense Football League, 2004–2008 (merged into current incarnation of the Indoor Football League)
United Indoor Football, 2005–2008 (merged into current incarnation of the Indoor Football League)
American Indoor Football, 2005–2010, 2012–2016
Continental Indoor Football League, 2006–2014
World Indoor Football League, 2007
Southern Indoor Football League, 2008–2011 (teams divided into either the Lone Star Football League, the Professional Indoor Football League, or American Indoor Football)
Ultimate Indoor Football League, 2011–2014
Lone Star Football League, 2012–2014
Professional Indoor Football League, 2012–2015
Champions Professional Indoor Football League, 2013–2014
X-League Indoor Football, 2014–2015
Collegiate and amateur leagues[]
Texas Sixman Football League, 1999–2012
Women's leagues[]
Women's Professional Football League, 1965-1973
, 1967-1982
Women's Professional Football League, 1999–2007
National Women's Football Association, 2000–2008
Women's American Football League, formed 2001, became the AFWL in 2002
American Football Women's League (AFWL), 2002
Women's Football Association, 2002–2003
Women's Football League, 2002–2007
Leagues outside North America[]
Current professional leagues outside North America[]
- European League of Football, began play in June 2021
Current minor, semi professional and amateur leagues outside North America[]
Central and South America:
Brazil - CBFA Brasil Futebol Americano[17]
Colombia - FECOFA [18]
Uruguay - LUFA Liga Uruguaya de Football Americano
Europe:
Austria - AFL Austrian Football League
Belgium - BFL Belgian Football League
Croatia - HFL Hrvatska Football Liga
Czech Republic - CLAF Česká Liga Amerického Fotbalu
Denmark - NL National Ligaen
Finland - VL Vaahteraliiga
France - LEFA Ligue Élite de Football Américain
Germany - GFL German Football League
Hungary - HFL Hungarian Football League
Ireland - IAFL Irish American Football League
Italy - FIDAF Prima Divisione FIDAF
Netherlands - AFBN AFBN Division One
Poland - PLFA Polish American Football League
Poland - LFA Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego
Portugal - LPFA Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Americano
Romania - CNFA Campionatul Naţional de Fotbal American
Russia - UAFR Russian American Football Championship
Slovakia - SLAF Slovenská futbalová liga
Slovenia - SNFL Slovenian Football League
Serbia - NLS Nacionalna Liga Srbije
Spain - LNFA Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano
Sweden - Superserien
Switzerland - NLA Nationalliga A
Switzerland - NSFL Non Professional Swiss Romande American Football League
Turkey - TKFL Türkiye Korumalı Futbol Ligi
Ukraine - ULAF Super League
United Kingdom - BAFANL BAFA National Leagues
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- CEFL Central European Football League
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- EEAFC Eastern European American Football Cup
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- EESL Eastern European Super League
Asia:
Israel - IFL Israel Football League
Japan - X-League
South Korea - Korea American Football Association
Philippines - ATFFP Philippine–American Football League
China - CNFL Chinese National Football League
Oceania:
Australia - Gridiron Australia
Australia - Australian Gridiron League
Australia - Ladies Gridiron League
New Zealand - New Zealand American Football Association
Defunct minor leagues around the world[]
- Australian American Football League 1984–1998
- Torneio Touchdown 2009–2015
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- Continental Football League, 1965–1969
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Intercontinental Football League - Intended to begin play in 1975, folded before first game[19]
- BCAFL British Collegiate American Football League, 1985–2007
- BAFL British American Football League, 1987–2010
- ISAF Icelandic Society for American Football, 1988–1991
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- Intended to begin play in 1990, folded before first game[20]
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World League of American Football/NFL Europe/NFL Europa, 1991–1992, 1995–2007
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Football League of Europe, 1994-1995
- National Gridiron League of Australia 1991–1995
Europe - BIG6 BIG6 European Football League
Europe - CL IFAF Europe Champions League
- Philippine Tackle Football League
Collegiate and amateur leagues[]
See also[]
- International Federation of American Football (IFAF), international governing body for American football
- European Federation of American Football (EFAF)
- British American Football Association (BAFA)
- Association of Professional Football Leagues - compact of NFL and three minor leagues, 1946–1948
- List of professional sports leagues#Football: American and Canadian
- American-style football quarterback leaderboard
Notes[]
- ^ The league was in hiatus and re-branded as the NFL Europe League in 1995.
References[]
- ^ Wallace, Scott (January 23, 2018). "Bulldawgs Join Gridiron Developmental Football League". The Tennessee Tribune. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Earlywine, Aaron (February 9, 2017). "A closer look at football developmental leagues". SI.com. Time, Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Shea, Bill (March 23, 2014). "Spring football ... in Detroit? 2 groups think so". Crain's Detroit Business. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ George M., Thomas (February 27, 2014). "Former Zip looks to bring pro football to University of Akron". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ Davis, Jason Carmel (April 17, 2014). "Rivals football league provides athletes with chance to fulfill dream". Journal. C & G Publishing. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ http://www.acfafootball.net/
- ^ Jones, Elane; Eagle, Daily Mountain. "P-Town Wreckaz switch leagues, tapped to host Kick-off Classic". Daily Mountain Eagle. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ http://www.a7fl.com/about-a7fl/
- ^ "Women's Football League Association – About". Women's Football League Association. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ Gaydos, Ryan. "Fitness guru Santia Deck makes history signing multimillion-dollar deal with football team". Fox News. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Ironmen Join Grid Conference". The Pittsburgh Press. September 9, 1959. p. 50. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- ^ "Sarnia Stays of Top with 8 Straight Wins". Hamilton Daily News Journal. Hamilton, Ohio. AP. October 30, 1961. p. 18. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Autullo, Ryan (April 3, 2014). "New league not coming to Toledo". The Blade. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121180/index.htm
- ^ "So you want to start a pro football league? (side bar)". Sports Business journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. January 29, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ Shea, Bill (March 23, 2014). "Passes at pro football league alternatives". Crain's Detroit Business. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ CBFA official website Archived 2014-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pagina Oficial FECOFA
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-18. Retrieved 2011-05-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), Origins of the WLAF.
- ^ International League Delays Debut; Football: ILAF cancels season that was to open next month in Europe, blaming lack of preparation time., The Los Angeles Times, March 1, 1990.
External links[]
- dfusa
.net , Developmental Football USA news site - Spring League of American Football
Categories:
- American football leagues
- American football-related lists
- Canadian football leagues
- Lists of sports events