The National Football League (NFL) has been around for more than 120 years. From the teams and players to the overall rules and gameplay, there have been many changes over those years—perhaps one of the biggest being their logo.
About the NFL
1920 looked a lot different for football players than it does today. At the time, professional football was largely overshadowed by college football, which was mainly held in small industrial cities in the Midwest. Team owners were also struggling.
They continued to lose money due to rising player salaries and competition that would poach players from other teams. This pushed them towards creating a more solid league like the one baseball had so they could regain some control.
Ralph Hay was the owner of the Ohio League champion Canton Bulldogs. One summer night, he invited other in-state team representatives to a meeting where they came up with an outline of this proposed league.
A deal was officially struck between 14 men in the Canton Jordan and Hupmobile automobile showroom on the night of September 17. This meeting consisted of representatives from 11 different professional football clubs spanning across Ohio. This is where the American Professional Football Association (APFA) confederation was officially formed. Jim Thorpe was elected as their first official president.
The league’s first season faced financial struggles, inconsistent schedules, and little public attention. However, in 1921, Akron Pros were named champions despite controversy. In 1922, the APFA rebranded as the National Football League (NFL). Though it struggled early on, the NFL eventually grew into a major sport, with teams like the Bears and Cardinals tracing their origins back to this meeting.
The First NFL Logo
There is not much information on the first NFL logo used during the first 10 years of the league’s founding. One early logo that has floated around is one that was drawn in a shape similar to a police badge. The top of the badge is blue with gold 3D letters spelling “NFL” across the top. It used a more classic-style serif typeface. The bottom half consists of red and white vertical stripes The white stripes had a textured style. This may have been one of the earliest versions of the logo, but at the time, designing a logo was not one of the leagues top priorities. It is not really known exactly how this logo was used and whether or not it made it to players’ uniforms or other branded materials.
The 1930 Logo
In 1930, the NFL logo underwater a redesign. It looked very different from the first logo, but much more similar to the logo we see today. The new logo also was in the shape of a badge or shield. However, the top came to three separate points. The red and white stripes were removed, and instead, the bottom portion was all white with the red “NFL” letters inside. The bottom of the “F” was extended into the bottom point of the shield-shaped logo. The top also became a lighter shade of blue. In place of the letters was not the white shape of a football surrounded by 13 stars. This logo was also slanted, giving it more of an illusion of movement.
The 1940 Logo
Another large change happened to the logo in 1940. This logo was much more sharp and creative. The logo was no longer slanted but had the same general shape. This time there were 25 stars—one to represent each of the teams. The top was a darker royal blue color and the football in the center was larger and red instead of white. The bottom of the shield went back to having the red and white stripes. Each red stripe, the lacing in the football shape, and the bottom of the logo were outlined in bright red. The football and red stripes were filled in with a lighter red color. The “NFL” letters will still written in large red letters at the bottom. However, this time, they were written in a curly, old English style with bright red serif typeface.
The 1953 Logo
In 1953, the NFL logo was redesigned. The main difference was that the new logo was made in darker colors.
It still contained most of the same shape, but this time, the football at the top of the logo was filled in brown with white laces. The red outlines were also removed and displayed in a darker red shade.
The “NFL” letters were switched to a darker burgundy color, and the edges were drawn sharper, especially at the bottom of the “N” and the corner of the “L.”
The 1959 Logo
The NFL logo was changed again that same decade. In 1959, the logo was redone again in the same shape. This time, the football was changed back to white and was given red laces. The red stripes were once again removed, and instead, the bottom portion of the logo was outlined in red with thin red vertical stripes going across it. The edges of the “NFL” letters were also given a more rounded look and were reverted back to a brighter red color. This logo was designed to look cleaner and have a more modern and simple appeal.
The 1962 Logo
The 1962 version of the NFL logo once again removed the stripes from the logo altogether. Now the entire logo was outlined in blue and the red NFL letters had even rounder edges. The red was also removed from the laces of the football. Instead, the football was white and outlined with the same blue that matched the rest of the logo. This same logo stuck until 1984 and the logo used today does not look much different.
The 1984 Logo
The changes to the official NFL logo in 1984 were not very drastic.
The colors were made bright and calmer, and the blue out was made thicker.
The points at the top of the logo were also trimmed down slightly. Other than that, the logo remained primarily the same as its predecessor.
The Current NFL Logo
The NFL logo we see today has remained the same as it was since 2008. The biggest difference was the switch from 25 stars to just eight larger ones at the top of logo. These stars were meant to symbolize the eight divisions—four on each side. The typeface used for the “NFL” letters was also redone to be less curled and have sharper, thicker edges. The new typeface was a wide serif style. The football at the top was also redrawn to have a more 3D effect.
The NFL Logo Main Design Elements
The NFL logo has changed a lot over time. Each of its features has helped it stand out and have the impact it does today.
The Shield
The shield shape has been present in all NFL logos since the first design emerged in the 1920s. This shape shows strength, protection, and tradition. Even though the exact shape of the shield has been through some changes, that meaning always remained present.
The Color Palette
Another feature the logo has had since the very beginning is a red, white, and blue color palette. This has helped its American identity stand out.
They also took inspiration from the American flag for other logo design elements, such as the split blue section with stars at the top and the red and white stripes.
This color palette has seen some slight changes over the years—such as burgundy text in the 1953 logo and other brighter or darker color variations—but the general color choices have always remained the same.
The Stars
While the stars did fit in the theme of mimicking elements from the American flag, they also were used for a deeper representation. These stars have been a staple since they were added to the logo in 1940. At first, the 25 stars were used to represent the number of teams in the league.
It remained this way until the most recent logo change in 2008, when the stars were reduced down to just eight—one for each of the eight divisions in the NFL. Aside from the new representation, the newest star design also helped give the logo a cleaner and more professional appeal.
The Football Icon
The football icon is also a tradition for the NFL logo that has remained intact for almost 100 years. The design of the ball has become more modern as time went on. Over time, the color choices for this icon have changed, and eventually, this shape became three-dimensional.
No matter what changes happened to the physical appearance of the icon, the ball always remained in the same place—in the top center of the logo. This helped clearly display the sport that was always at the heart of the league.
The Typography
The “NFL” lettering in their iconic logo has always had some similar features. The letters have been displayed in long red lettering since 1930. Since 1930, they have always been placed complementary to the lower half of the logo, helping fill in the base of the shield shape. The typeface itself, however, has gone through some changes over the years.
The first depiction of these letters in the logo was much simpler and written in gold. This quickly transitioned into a red, larger, and more artistic Old English-inspired font. Today, the lettering has started to revert back to a more modern, thick, serif style. No matter what shape and color these letters have turned, they have always been a core part of the logo.
Lessons to Learn from the NFL Logo
The evolution of the NFL logo offers several lessons for how to make an effective and timeless logo.
- Staying Consistent
Despite multiple redesigns, the NFL has kept its core elements intact—the shield shape, football icon, and red, white, and blue color scheme. This consistency has played a big role in creating immediate brand recognition and strengthening the league’s identity. A logo can change over time, but it could also be beneficial to keep familiar aspects that make it easy to recognize.
- Incorporating Other Recognizable Features
While the NFL logo is very distinctly its own, it was heavily inspired by other famous icons, such as the American flag. This helped visually connect them to their American identity and resonate better with fans. Incorporating references to other recognizable symbols that are a part of the brand can be a great way to better communicate the brand’s overall message in its logo.
- Simplifying the Design
Sometimes, less is more. In the earlier days of the NFL logo design, the logos consisted of more intricate details, ornate fonts, and even a more crowded space of stars. The newer logos—especially the most recent variation—simplified a lot of the elements, giving a much more clean, easy-to-read, and modern appeal. Simplifying logo designs can help them stand out better and more clearly get the brand’s messaging across.
- Adapting to Changing Styles
There are many features of the NFL logo that have remained mostly the same for the past 100 years, such as the colors and the general shape and design. However, many elements—such as the typography, color shades, and exact layout—have been changed to adapt to modern times. The NFL did a good job of balancing their newer logo designs to both adapt to these changes and maintain enough similarities that they could still be easily identified by their previous logos. This helped them stay both relevant and recognizable.
The NFL logo has undergone many transformations over the past century, evolving alongside the league itself. While the design has been refined and modernized, its core elements have remained consistent. This is what gives it the strong brand identity it is known for today.
There are several lessons that can be taken away from this evolution, such as the importance of balancing tradition with adaptability, simplifying designs for clarity, and incorporating meaningful symbolism. As the NFL continues to grow, so does the importance of maintaining an impactful and easily recognizable logo.
