How did the 32 NFL clubs arrive at a name? Well, take a look:

	CHICAGO BEARS George Halas moved the Decatur Staleys to Chicago in 1921. The Staleys played at Wrigley Field, the home of baseball’s Cubs. Halas determined that if the baseball tenants were Cubs, then his more rugged gridiron combatants should be known as the Bears.
	CINCINNATI BENGALS Paul Brown chose this nickname for Cincinnati’s 1968 AFL expansion team because there had been earlier football teams in the city called the Bengals. The elder Bengals were members of the AFL in 1937, competed as an independent club in 1938, then played in a new AFL from 1939-41 before the league again folded.
	BUFFALO BILLS The nickname refers to William F. Cody, who was known as "Buffalo Bill." Buffalo had a football team called the Bisons, but the city’s minor league baseball and hockey teams had the same name. The football team held a contest to select a new nickname following the 1946 season. More than 4,500 entries were submitted and Bills beat out Bullets, Nickels and Blue Devils.
	DENVER BRONCOS This nickname was also selected through a contest in January of 1960. Broncos was the winner, referring to Denver’s Wild West heritage. Denver’s 1921 entry in the Midwest Baseball League team was also named the Broncos.
	CLEVELAND BROWNS Cleveland’s All-American Football Conference entry was founded in 1946. Paul Brown was named the team’s first coach and general manager. The Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996, but the team’s history remained, paving the way for the Browns to be resurrected as an expansion team in 1999.
	TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS This name defeated more than 400 entries in a radio-sponsored competition, held one month after Tampa was awarded the first of two expansion franchises on April 24, 1974. Buccaneers was the winner, beating out such noble competitors as Buzzards, Sea Horses and (yes) Mafia.
	ST. LOUIS CARDINALS A football club on the southwest side of Chicago was formed in 1898. The team was known as the Normals until 1901, when founder Chris O’Brien secured some hand-me-down jerseys from the University of Chicago. The jerseys were actually maroon, but the colour had faded, striking O’Brien as more of a cardinal tint. The team became the Racine Cardinals, keeping the nickname as the club moved from Chicago (1922) to St. Louis (1960) and, finally, to Phoenix (1988).
	SAN DIEGO CHARGERS The Los Angeles AFL franchise held a contest in 1960. Hollywood resident Gerald Courtney was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Mexico City and Acapulco after submitting Chargers. Three reasons for choosing Chargers have been offered - it sounded dynamic; the club’s new stationary featured a horse; and owner Baron Hilton had recently instituted the Carte Blanche card. The team kept the name when it moved to San Diego the following year.
	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS This original AFL franchise was originally the Dallas Texans but relocated to Kansas City. Owner Lamar Hunt picked Chiefs as a nickname to honour Kansas City mayor Roe "The Chief" Bartle for his efforts in securing the team. Bartle promised to enlarge Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium and guaranteed Hunt three times as many season ticket sales as his club had in Dallas.
	INDIANAPOLIS COLTS In 1946, the Miami Seahawks of the All-American Football Conference were relocated to Baltimore. Charles Evans of Middle River, MD., won a name contest by submitting Colts. His reasoning? "Colts are the youngest entry in the league, Maryland is famous for its race horses and it is short, easily pronounced and fits well in newspaper headlines." The franchise kept the name when it moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
	DALLAS COWBOYS This name might seem like an easy choice in Dallas, but Rangers was actually the first name suggested. The club went with Cowboys since Rangers might cause confusion with a local minor-league team of the same name.
	MIAMI DOLPHINS After Miami was awarded an AFL expansion franchise in 1965, a contest was held to determine the name. A dozen names were forwarded to a seven-member screening committee of local media and Dolphins was the runaway winner. Although 622 entrants submitted Dolphins, Mrs. Robert Swanson of Miami won the two lifetime passes to Dolphins games. The tiebreaker was picking the winner and score of a 1965 tilt between Notre Dame and the University of Miami. The game ended in a scoreless tie.
	PHILADELPHIA EAGLES The NFL’s Frankford Yellowjackets were awarded to a syndicate headed by Bert Bell and Lud Wray in 1933. Bell named the new Philadelphia team Eagles in honour of the symbol of the New Deal’s National Recovery Act.
	ATLANTA FALCONS Atlanta held a contest in 1965 and many chose Falcons for the NFL’s newest team. The best argument was submitted by Julia Elliot, a teacher from Griffin, Ga. - "the Falcon is proud and dignified, with great courage and fight. It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has a great sporting tradition."
	SAN FRANCISCO 49ers Owner Anthony J. Morabito chose 49ers for his All-America Football Conference squad because it reflected San Francisco’s link to the California Gold Rush. The 49ers kept the name when they joined the NFL in 1950.
	NEW YORK GIANTS In 1925, Tim Mara purchased New York’s first professional football team for a reported $500. Mara decided on Giants because his team would play at the Polo Grounds, the home of baseball’s New York Giants. The original Giants derived their name from the city’s giant buildings.
	JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Jacksonville held a contest in 1991, two years before the city was awarded the NFL’s 30th franchise. Jaguars claimed the majority of votes, besting a group that included Sharks, Stingrays and (ironically) Panthers.
	NEW YORK JETS New York’s AFL squad was originally the Titans. In 1963, after three seasons, a five-man syndicate bought the franchise. On the same day they hired Weeb Ewbank, the owners announced that they were changing the team’s name to Jets. It sounded like New York’s baseball Mets and LaGuardia Airport was nearby.
	DETROIT LIONS Detroit radio executive George Richards purchased the NFL’s Portsmouth Spartans and moved them to the Motor City in 1934. Richards chose Lions. Felines were already prevalent in Detroit. Baseball could claim the Tigers and a Detroit football team called the Panthers had folded after two years in 1927.
	GREEN BAY PACKERS In 1919, Earl "Curly" Lambeau and George Calhoun pieced together a group in the Green Bay Press-Gazette editorial room with the notion of starting a football team. Lambeau’s employer at the Indian Packing Company - Frank Peck - provided jerseys, equipment and use of its athletic field for practice. Early on, the club was identified as a project of the company, hence Packers became a natural fit.
	CAROLINA PANTHERS The nickname for Carolina’s 1995 expansion team was selected by team president Mark Richardson, the son of owner Jerry Richardson. The younger Richardson also chose the Panthers’ colours of Panther blue, silver and black.
	NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS A group of New England sportswriters picked Patriots as a tribute to Patriot Day, which celebrates Paul Revere’s ride.
	OAKLAND RAIDERS In 1960, Oakland held a contest to pick a name for its AFL team. The fans chose Senors, but Oakland management opted for Raiders.
	ST. LOUIS RAMS In 1936, Cleveland’s new AFL franchise decided to take its name from one of the top collegiate teams of the era, the Fordham Rams. The Rams name stuck with eventual moves to Los Angeles (1946) and St. Louis (1995).
	BALTIMORE RAVENS After a 12-year void, Baltimore again acquired an NFL team in 1996 when the Cleveland Browns relocated. Owner Art Modell allowed the Browns’ name, colors and history to remain in Cleveland. Baltimore then set up focus groups and fan polls to help secure a new name. Ravens won out over Americans and Marauders. The name refers to the mythical bird in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven.” Poe lived and died in Baltimore.
	WASHINGTON REDSKINS George Marshall headed a syndicate that purchased a NFL team for Boston in 1933. The team would play at the home of baseball’s Boston Braves so it adopted the same name. The following year, the Braves moved to Fenway Park and changed their name to the Redskins. The name remained when the team moved to Washington in 1937.
	NEW ORLEANS SAINTS The New Orleans NFL franchise was awarded on All Saints Day (Nov. 1) in 1966. Plus, the song "When the Saints Go Marchin’ In" in often associated with the city of New Orleans.
	SEATTLE SEAHAWKS In a 1975 contest, Seattle’s expansion franchise received 20,365 entries, extolling 1,741 different names. Seahawks, a name denoting the city’s link to the sea, was on 151 ballots.
	PITTSBURGH STEELERS Pittsburgh’s professional football team (founded in 1933) was, like its baseball neighbours, initially dubbed the Pirates. In 1940, owner Art Rooney changed the name to Steelers, reflecting the city’s ties to the steel industry. The name was allegedly suggested by the wife of the team’s ticket manager.
	HOUSTON TEXANS Houston’s expansion team was christened the Texans on September 6, 2000.
	TENNESSEE TITANS The Houston Oilers, who played at the Astrodome from 1960-96, moved to Nashville for the 1997 season. After two seasons as the Tennessee Oilers, owner Bud Adams announces the team will change its nickname to the Titans. "Titans come from early Greek mythology and the fact that Nashville is known as the ‘Athens of the South’ makes the Titans name very appropriate," Adams said.
	MINNESOTA VIKINGS General manager Bert Rose recommended Vikings to Minnesota’s Board of Directors in 1960. The name represents both an aggressive person and the Nordic tradition inherent in the region.

*Information compiled from NFL team media guides and The Complete Book of Sports Nicknames.

Listed below are defunct team names from the APFA (American Professional Football Association) and later to be named the National Football League.

Akron-OH–Pros (1920-25) and Indians (1926)

Baltimore–Colts (1950)

Boston–Bulldogs (1926) and Yanks (1944-48)

Brooklyn–Lions (1926), Dodgers (1930-43) and Tigers (1944)

Buffalo–All-Americans (1920-23), Bisons (1924-25), Rangers (1926), Bisons (1927,1929)

Canton-OH–Bulldogs (1920-23,1925-26) 

Chicago–Tigers (1920)

Cincinnati–Celts (1921) and Reds (1933-34)

Cleveland–Tigers (1920), Indians (1921), Indians (1923), Bulldogs (1924-25,1927) and Indians (1931)

Columbus-OH–Panhandles (1920-22) and Tigers (1923-26)

Dallas–Texans (1952)

Dayton-OH–Triangles (1920-29) 

Detroit–Heralds (1920-21), Panthers (1925-26) and Wolverines (1928)

Duluth-MN–Kelleys (1923-25) and Eskimos (1926-27) 

Evansville-IN–Crimson Giants (1921-22)

Frankford-PA–Yellow Jackets (1924-31) (Frankford is a suburb of Philadelphia)

Hammond-IN–Pros (1920-26)

Hartford–Blues (1926)

Kansas City–Blues (1924) and Cowboys (1925-26)

Kenosha-WI–Maroons (1924); Los Angeles–Buccaneers (1926)

Louisville–Brecks (1921-23) and Colonels (1926)

Marion-OH–Oorang Indians (1922-23)

Milwaukee–Badgers (1922-26)

Minneapolis–Marines (1922-24) and Red Jackets (1929-30)

Muncie-IN–Flyers (1920-21).

New York–Giants (1921), Yankees (1927-28), Bulldogs (1949) and Yankees (1950-51) 

Newark-NJ–Tornadoes (1930)

Orange-NJ–Tornadoes (1929)

Pottsville-PA–Maroons (1925-28)

Providence-RI–Steam Roller (1925-31) 

Racine-WI–Legion (1922-24) and Tornadoes (1926)

Rochester-NY–Jeffersons (1920-25)

Rock Island-IL–Independents (1920-26) 

Staten Island-NY–Stapletons (1929-32)

St. Louis–All-Stars (1923) and Gunners (1934)

Toledo-OH–Maroons (1922-23)

Tonawanda-NY–Kardex (1921), also called Lumbermen

Washington–Senators (1921).

1921—Decatur Staleys move to Chicago

1922—Chicago Staleys renamed Bears

1933—Boston Braves renamed Redskins

1937—Boston Redskins move to Washington

1934—Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans move to Detroit and become Lions

1941—Pittsburgh Pirates renamed Steelers

1943—Philadelphia and Pittsburgh merge for one season and become Phil-Pitt, or the “Steagles”

1944—Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh merge for one season and become Card-Pitt

1946—Cleveland Rams move to Los Angeles.

1960—Chicago Cardinals move to St. Louis

1961—Los Angeles Chargers (AFL) move to San Diego

1963—New York Titans (AFL) renamed Jets and Dallas Texans (AFL) move to Kansas City and become Chiefs

 1971—Boston Patriots become New England Patriots

1982—Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles

1984—Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis

1988—St. Louis Cardinals move to Phoenix

1994—Phoenix Cardinals become Arizona Cardinals

1995—L.A. Rams move to St. Louis and L.A. Raiders move back to Oakland

1996—Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore and become Ravens. City of Cleveland retains rights to team name, colors and all memorabilia

1997—Houston Oilers move to Memphis and become Tennessee Oilers

1998—Tennessee Oilers move to Nashville

1999—Tennessee Oilers renamed Titans.

Of the 14 franchises that comprised the American Professional Football Association in 1920, only two remain—the Arizona Cardinals (then the Chicago Cardinals) and the Chicago Bears (originally the Decatur-IL Staleys). Green Bay joined the APFC in 1921 and the league changed its name to the NFL in 1922. Since then, 54 NFL clubs have come and gone, six rival leagues have expired and two other leagues have been swallowed up.

The NFL merged with the All-America Football Conference (1946-49) following the 1949 season and adopted three of its seven clubs—the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. The four remaining AAFC teams—the Brooklyn/NY Yankees, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Hornets and Los Angeles Dons—did not survive. After the 1950 season, the financially troubled Colts were sold back to the NFL. The league folded the team and added its players to the 1951 college draft pool. A new Baltimore franchise, also named the Colts, joined the NFL in 1953.

The formation of the American Football League (1960-69) was announced in 1959 with ownership lined up in eight cities—Boston, Buffalo, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York. Set to begin play in the autumn of 1960, the AFL was stunned early that year when Minneapolis withdrew to accept an offer to join the NFL as an expansion team in 1961. The new league responded by choosing Oakland to replace Minneapolis and inherit the departed team's draft picks. Since no AFL team actually played in Minneapolis, it is not considered the original home of the Oakland Raiders.

In 1966, the NFL and AFL agreed to a merger that resulted in the first Super Bowl (originally called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game) following the '66 league playoffs. In 1970, the now 10-member AFL officially joined the NFL, forming a 26-team league made up of two conferences of three divisions each.

Expansion/Merger Timetable

For teams currently in NFL.

1921–Green Bay Packer

1925–New York Giants;

1930–Portsmouth-OH Spartans (now Detroit Lions);

1932–Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins);

1933–Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Pirates (now Steelers);

1937–Cleveland Rams (now St. Louis);

1950–added AAFC's Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Colts (defunct after the 1950 season).

1953–Baltimore Colts (now Indianapolis).

1960–Dallas Cowboys;

1961–Minnesota Vikings;

1966–Atlanta Falcons;

1967–New Orleans Saints;

1970–added AFL's Boston Patriots (now New England), Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals (1968 expansion team), Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans), Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins (1966 expansion team), New York Jets, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers (the AFL-NFL merger divided the league into two 13-team conferences with old-line NFL clubs Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh moving to the AFC);

1976–Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Seattle was originally in the NFC West and Tampa Bay in the AFC West, but were switched to their current divisions in 1977);

1995–Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars;

1996—Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore and become Ravens. City of Cleveland retains rights to team name, colors and all memorabilia;

1999–Cleveland Browns return to the NFL.

2002- Houston Texans.