On This Day
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Cleveland Browns (formerly AAFC) play their first NFL game, defeating Philadelphia 35-10

Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) and other rival American football leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champions, including a period of...

Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) and other rival American football leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champions, including a period of inter-league matchups to determine a true national champion.

Following its founding in Philadelphia, Ohio (1920), the NFL first determined champions through end-of-season standings, switching to a playoff system in 1933 (a one-game playoff was required in 1932).

The rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and American Football League (AFL) have since merged with the NFL (the only two AAFC teams that currently exist, the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers, joined the NFL in 1950), but AAFC Championship Games and records were not included in the NFL's record books until 2025.

Historical Significance

Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) and other rival American football leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champions, including a period of inter-league matchups to determine a true national champion.

Events Before

  1. US President Harry Truman labels his administration the "Fair Deal"

    Harry S. Truman's tenure as the 33rd president of the United States began on April 12, 1945, upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and ended on January 20, 1953.

  2. First Israeli election won by David Ben-Gurion's Mapai party

    Constituent Assembly elections were held in newly independent Israel on 25 January 1949. Voter turnout was 86.9%.

  3. 1st US daytime soap on TV "These Are My Children" (NBC in Chicago)

    1st US daytime soap on TV "These Are My Children" (NBC in Chicago)

  4. American diplomat Henry Kissinger (25) weds Ann Fleisher (23) in Washington Heights, Manhattan, NYC

    American diplomat Henry Kissinger (25) weds Ann Fleisher (23) in Washington Heights, Manhattan, NYC

  5. "Lovesick Blues" single is released by Hank Williams (Cashbox "Best Hillbilly Record of the Year," Billboard Song of the

    "Lovesick Blues" single is released by Hank Williams (Cashbox "Best Hillbilly Record of the Year," Billboard Song of the Year 1949)

Events After

  1. American actor Burgess Meredith (43) weds (his 4th and final time) Swedish-American ballerina Kaja Sundsten (21), until

    American actor Burgess Meredith (43) weds (his 4th and final time) Swedish-American ballerina Kaja Sundsten (21), until his death in 1997

  2. "La Vie Commence Demain," the first X-rated movie depicting artificial insemination, opens in London

    "La Vie Commence Demain," the first X-rated movie depicting artificial insemination, opens in London

  3. English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor's 1st divorce from American hotel heir Conrad Hilton Jr. after nearly 9 months

    English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor's 1st divorce from American hotel heir Conrad Hilton Jr. after nearly 9 months of marriage

  4. American civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois (83) weds award-winning author Shirley Graham (54) in Queens, New York

    American civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois (83) weds award-winning author Shirley Graham (54) in Queens, New York

  5. American actress and singer Doris Day (29) weds American film and television producer Martin Melcher (35) in Burbank, Ca

    American actress and singer Doris Day (29) weds American film and television producer Martin Melcher (35) in Burbank, California, until his death in 1968

More from the 1950s

Sputnik 1 Launch

The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, igniting the Space Age and the US-Soviet Space Race.

space explorationscience technology

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

death

Emil Jannings dies

Emil Jannings, Swiss-born German actor, known for german actor, died on 1950-01-02. Emil Jannings was a Swiss-born German actor who was popular in Hollywood films in the 1920s.

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on September 16, 1950?
Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) and other rival American football leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champions, including a period of inter-league matchups to determine a true national champion. Following its founding in Philadelphia, Ohio (1920), the NFL first determined champions through end-of-season standings, switching to a playoff system in 1933 (a one-game playoff was required in 1932). The rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and American Football League (AFL) have since merged with the NFL (the only two AAFC teams that currently exist, the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers, joined the NFL in 1950), but AAFC Championship Games and records were not included in the NFL's record books until 2025.
Why is Cleveland Browns (formerly AAFC) play their first NFL game, defeating Philade... significant?
Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) and other rival American football leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champions, including a period of inter-league matchups to determine a true national champion.

Explore More

September 16 in HistoryYear 1950