April 30, 1921– The Akron Pros were declared the champions of the 1920 season the NFL’s predecessor, the American Professional Football Association meeting in Akron, Ohio, months before their second season commenced.
The APFA was reorganized, with Joe Carr of the Columbus Panhandles named as president. Remember that Jim Thorpe had been the president in year one and the group was years away from having a commissioner according to the ProFootballHOF.com.
With Carr being named as the head the Association, the headquarters was moved to Columbus, Ohio, and a league constitution and by-laws were drafted, giving teams territorial rights, restricting player movements, and developing membership criteria for the franchises.
The league would play under the rules of the NCAA Foot Ball Rules of 1921, and official standings were issued for the first time so that there would be a clear champion. Probably the most significant revisions to the by-laws were that only games played against fellow league teams would count toward the standings.
This single change inspired two forms of growth and unity because it both encouraged outside independent teams (such as those from the Ohio League and the NYPFL) to join, but also caused those that did not join to fold within a few years, because NFL teams, particularly those competing for a championship, would be much less willing to play what were effectively exhibition games against teams that would not help them in the standings.
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