Changes

The 1930s saw more formal rules and procedures that further professionalized the NFL. A championship game was added in 1932. By 1941 there was a commissioner. After World War II, the NFL began to develop more teams. In 1958, the championship game was broadcast live on TV, which turned out to be a key moment for the NFL. By 1959, the newer American Football League had begun to compete with the NFL. This competition, however, eventually led to the NFL merging with the AFL, as the AFL found success in bringing high profile players. The merged system eventually formed what today are the NFC and AFC within the NFL. During that time the rules did refine, although a lot of the rules now adapted to television (e.g, timeouts), as audiences became to be a big part of the NFL's revenue.<ref>For a history of the NFL, see: Crepeau, Richard C. 2014.<i>NFL Football: A History of America’s New National Pastime. Sport and Society</i>. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.</ref>

The evolution of American football has been varied. Key influences were likely Greco-Roman games that left their mark in Europe. With the Medieval Period, those games emerged to form the beginnings of what would become rugby and soccer (or football). However, within that were the origins of American football. In the United States, it was concern over safety that led to rules that shaped what became American football and how it differed from its European counterparts (i.e., rugby and soccer). The formalization of rules and social events such as war (e.g., World War I) further shaped the sport. The rapid expansion of popularity in the early 20th century eventually led to professional teams, which served as the foundation of the modern NFL. Along the way after the founding of the NFL, rules were refined, often influenced by the medium of television.

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