NFL 100
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| NFL 100 | |
|---|---|
| Name | NFL 100 Celebration |
| Caption | Centennial logo and commemorative patch |
| Date | 2019 |
| Location | United States |
| Organizer | National Football League |
| Duration | One season (2019) |
| Notable | Centennial Season celebrations, special broadcasts, commemorative merchandise |
NFL 100
The NFL centennial celebration marked the 100th anniversary of the National Football League's founding in 1920, commemorating a century of professional American football involving franchises such as the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys. The initiative spanned the 2019 season and encompassed league-wide programming, special events, historical retrospectives, and branded merchandise connecting teams like the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles with league milestones and personalities including Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, and Jerry Rice.
Background and Concept
The centennial concept originated from commemorations for early professional clubs such as the Akron Pros, Decatur Staleys, Canton Bulldogs, Rock Island Independents, and Duluth Kelleys and was coordinated by the National Football League office, owners like the Glazers, Steinbrenners, Jones family (Dallas Cowboys), and executives including Roger Goodell and league historians. It referenced landmark moments such as the 1966 Super Bowl I, the 1985 Chicago Bears season, the 1972 Miami Dolphins season, the 1958 NFL Championship Game, and rule changes from rule committees that shaped play alongside rulemakers and coaches such as Vince Lombardi, Bill Belichick, Chuck Noll, Don Shula, and Bill Walsh. Planning involved coordination with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the NFL Players Association, franchises like the Los Angeles Rams, St. Louis Cardinals (football), and venues such as Lambeau Field, MetLife Stadium, Soldier Field, Arrowhead Stadium, and Gillette Stadium.
Programming and Events
Centennial programming included special commemorative games, halftime ceremonies featuring alumni from franchises including the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and Seattle Seahawks, and museum exhibitions produced with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Events recalled championship trophies including the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy and anniversaries of drafts like the NFL Draft and the AFL–NFL merger. Centennial weeks, legacy weekends, and throwback initiatives featured alumni reunions with figures like Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Joe Namath, Alan Page, and Terrell Owens.
Special Broadcasts and Media Initiatives
Television and streaming partners such as NBC Sports, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video produced documentaries, anthologies, and game telecasts with centennial branding. Series examined historical narratives involving franchises like the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Minnesota Vikings and profiled personalities including Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Eli Manning. Radio partners including Westwood One and international broadcasters coordinated special coverage, while outlets such as NFL Network, ESPN Films, HBO Sports, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and Bleacher Report produced commemorative features and oral histories.
Commemorative Merchandise and Branding
Licensed merchandise included centennial patches, helmets, jerseys, and footballs sold through team stores for franchises such as the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Cincinnati Bengals. Apparel manufacturers including Nike (corporation), New Era Cap Company, and Fanatics released special edition caps, hoodies, and authentic uniforms. Stadium branding, commemorative ticket designs, limited-edition trading cards from firms like Panini Group, and collector items tied to auctions and foundations such as the NFL Foundation and charitable programs involved former players and coaches like Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman.
Reception and Impact
Reception blended praise from historians, alumni, and broadcasters with critique from commentators in outlets including The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Athletic, and ESPN about commercialism, historical representation, and labor narratives involving the NFL Players Association and collective bargaining. Academics and writers connected centennial content to cultural touchstones such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and media shifts from networks like NBC to streaming platforms, while fan reactions spanned supporter groups from regional booster clubs and alumni associations to fantasy football communities.
Legacy and Subsequent Celebrations
The centennial established precedents for later league anniversaries, archival practices at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and partnerships with educational and cultural institutions including the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. It influenced commemorative strategies for milestone seasons by franchises like the Green Bay Packers' own centennial-related programming, inspired documentary projects at ESPN Films and NFL Network, and informed future observances including team jubilees, Hall of Fame Class ceremonies, and league heritage initiatives tied to youth programs and global outreach with partners such as the International Federation of American Football and NFL international offices.