Throughout its history, the National Football League (NFL) has undergone significant changes, with teams rising to prominence and others fading into obscurity. While today’s NFL consists of well-established franchises, several teams have ceased to exist due to financial struggles, relocations, or league restructures.
These forgotten franchises played a role in shaping the league’s evolution but ultimately did not withstand the test of time.
NFL Teams That No Longer Exist
New York Yankees (1927-1928)
When fans hear “1927 New York Yankees,” they usually think of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, but that year also saw an NFL team by the same name, led by star running back Red Grange, known as “The Galloping Ghost.” The Yankees joined the league in 1927 after Grange’s contractual dispute with the Chicago Bears.
His dominance at the University of Illinois was so remarkable that columnist Damon Runyon described him as “three or four men rolled into one for football purposes.” Despite Grange’s talent, the Yankees struggled, finishing 7-8-1. A knee injury sidelined him in 1928, and by 1929, he returned to the Bears. Without their star player, the Yankees soon folded, becoming a forgotten chapter in NFL history.
Canton Bulldogs (1920-1926)
The Canton Bulldogs, one of the NFL’s original franchises, established themselves as a dominant force by securing consecutive championships in 1922 and 1923. However, financial difficulties forced the team to relocate to Cleveland for the 1924 season, where they continued their success by claiming another championship as the Cleveland Bulldogs.
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Following this brief move, the franchise returned to Canton but struggled significantly, concluding the 1926 season with a 1-9-3 record before ultimately folding. Despite their eventual dissolution, the Bulldogs’ early achievements played a crucial role in the NFL’s decision to establish the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, cementing the city’s lasting significance in professional football history.
Tonawanda (N.Y.) Kardex Lumbermen (1921)
Among the most obscure franchises in NFL history, the Lumbermen played only a single game—a 45-0 defeat against the Rochester (N.Y.) Jeffersons—before disappearing from the league entirely. Whether due to financial constraints or a lack of commitment, the team failed to schedule any additional games and promptly ceased operations.
Reflecting on the transient nature of early NFL teams, Chris Willis, head of the NFL Films research library, noted in 2017 that franchises often emerged and dissolved quickly, primarily because the financial burden of establishing a team and compensating players proved unsustainable for many organizations.
Frankford (Pa.) Yellow Jackets (1924-1931)
In 1926, the Yellow Jackets secured the NFL title with a dominant 14-1-2 record, shutting out 10 opponents. That same year, the Philadelphia Quakers won the short-lived American Football League’s championship. Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Gordon MacKay urged a showdown between the two teams, calling it an unprecedented “family quarrel” in the city’s football history.
Though the Quakers’ owner issued a public challenge, the NFL refused to grant Frankford permission to compete. Struggling with declining attendance, the Yellow Jackets ultimately folded after the 1931 season.
Pottsville (Pa.) Maroons (1925-1929)
In their inaugural NFL season, the Maroons finished with a 10-2 record, initially securing the 1925 championship after defeating the Chicago Cardinals. However, six days later, the title was revoked when Pottsville played an unauthorized game against Notre Dame.
Seizing the opportunity, the Cardinals arranged and won two games against weaker opponents, improving to 11-2-1 and claiming the championship. Despite the controversy, the NFL upheld the decision and still recognizes the Cardinals as the 1925 champions. The Maroons later relocated to Boston after the 1928 season.
Providence (R.I.) Steam Roller (1925-1931)
With a dominant defense, the Steam Roller secured the 1928 NFL title with an 8-1-2 record. The following year, Providence made history by playing four games in six days, competing in a cycling venue, and hosting the first professional football night game. Held at Kinsley Park Stadium, the game featured a white-painted ball, humorously described by a local newspaper as resembling “a large egg.”
Chicago won 16-0 before 6,000 fans. However, declining attendance led to the team’s dissolution in 1931.
Los Angeles Buccaneers (1926)
Despite carrying the Los Angeles name, the Buccaneers never played a home game, spending their only NFL season as a traveling team. Led by star players and co-coaches Talma “Tut” Imlay and Harold “Brick” Muller, the largely California-based roster achieved a respectable 6-3-1 record in 1926. That season, they also participated in the first NFL game featuring three All-Americans, defeating the Canton Bulldogs 16-13.
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