July 28, 1933 – The NFL took a huge step in growth on this day as it divided itself into two 5 team divisions. It was by no means the complexity of today’s two conferences and 6 divisions of 32 teams but it was a baby step in that direction.
The new Eastern Division consisted of the Boston Redskins, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Western Division consisted of the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Green Bay Packers, and Portsmouth Spartans. It certainly set the state for future growth of professional football as winning one’s division became paramount to capturing a title.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

Century For Stripes: From Billy Jeffrey to Fraser Kershaw
In the chronicles of American soccer history, one name stands out as a symbol

1970s Baltimore Colts (An Up and Down Decade)
The 1970s was an up-and-down decade for the Baltimore Colts. After a disappointing 8–5–1

Harlon Hill: From Florence State to the NFL
Stories about unknown or undrafted collegiate players making it big in the NFL, are

A Decade of Dominance and Drama: The West From 2010 – 2020
If you are looking for a division that is a microcosm of football’s high-intensity

Early Rule Changes In Basketball (The First 50 Years)
Let us take a trip to the past to look at some of the

The Most Lopsided Blowout In College Football History
Every year in college football there is a game where one team finds out

Relive My First Super Bowl Experience With Me (Super Bowl IV)
The first Super Bowl I can remember watching was Super Bowl IV. I was

Remembering Chester Marcol’s Incredible Rookie Season
By the time of the 1972 NFL Player Draft, the Green Bay Packers, in