In the midst of World War I, sports underwent a radical transformation, giving birth to some of the most iconic teams in American history. The game that would become the National Football League was born out of this tumultuous period, its players hailing from various countries including the UK and France.

Initially, the sport was played on rough-hewn fields with minimal equipment, but as the war drew to a close, leagues were formed, and teams began to compete for supremacy. The formation of the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1920 marked the beginning of the National Football League, with ten founding members.

As the league expanded, it attracted talented players from across the globe, including those who had fought on the front lines during World War I. These players brought their unique skills and experiences to the gridiron, shaping the game into what we know today. The intersection of sports and war history would become a defining feature of this new era of American football, as teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Gothams emerged with their own distinct identities.