NFL Franchise Shuffle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Boston

After the dissolution of the Newark Tornadoes in 1930, the NFL sold the remnants of that franchise to a group headed by laundry tycoon George Preston Marshall. Marshall and his partners established their new franchise in Boston and nicknamed the team the Braves.

A year later the team changed its name to the Redskins, and after the 1936 season the franchise relocated to Washington D.C. Because of the two-year gap in ownership, the NFL does not recognize the Newark Tornadoes as part of the Redskins lineage.

Answer: Decatur

Founded in 1919 as a charter member of the National Football League, the Chicago Bears played two seasons as the Decatur Staleys before moving to Chicago in 1921.

Answer: Cleveland

Led by rookie quarterback Bob Waterfield, The Cleveland Rams won the 1945 NFL Championship in their final season before moving to Los Angeles.

Answer: 0

Prior to the Super Bowl era, the Detroit Lions were one of the NFL's most decorated franchises, having won four league titles. All four championships were won after the team left Porstmouth, Ohio in 1934, where the team was known as the Spartans.

Answer: The Racine Cardinals

The Cardinals began as an independent football club in 1898. The team was known as the Morgan Athletic Club, and later changed its name to the Racine Normals after moving into Normal Park on Racine Avenue in Chicago. In 1901, the team adopted the Cardinals nickname after owner Chris O'Brien purchased maroon uniforms from the nearby University of Chicago.

The used uniforms had supposedly faded, causing O'Brien to quip, "These uniforms aren't maroon, they're cardinal red!" The Racine Cardinals twice suspended operations before joining the American Professional Football Association in 1920.

In 1921 the APFA became the APFL, then again changed its name in 1922 to the National Football League.

Answer: The Frankford Yellow Jackets

In the early years of the NFL, the league made an effort to insure its growth by 'replacing' dead franchises. In 1931 the Frankford (PA) Yellow Jackets failed to finish the season due to financial woes attributed mostly to the Great Depression. In 1933, a syndicate headed by future NFL commisioner and draft innovator Bert Bell paid money for the rights to the franchise, putting the NFL back in the Philadelphia market. Bell and his partner Lud Wray chose the 'Eagles' nickname as a public relations move following the implementation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'New Deal' and its promise to help guide the United States out of the Depression.

Answer: All New Britain

During the NFL's infancy, it was a common practice among many franchises to schedule games outside the league. In 1925 The New York Football Giants (the franshise's legal name) debuted against the All New Britain (Conn) football club, winning the contest 26-0 in a game attended by 10,000 fans.

The Giants' first season was almost its last. The nation's sports climate at the time was dominated by boxing, baseball, college football and horse racing. Professional football teams often suffered grave financial losses, and the Giants were no exception.

The franchise was 'rescued' by Chicago Bears legend Harold 'Red' Grange when the Giants hosted the Bears in their eleventh game. Attended by over 73,000 people who came out to see the Galloping Ghost in person, revenue from that game helped reverse the team's fortunes.

Answer: One

Originally a member of the All America Football Conference from 1946-1949, the Cleveland Browns won all four AAFC titles, an accomplishment many believe helped destroy the league. The Browns, along with the San Francisco 49ers and the original Baltimore Colts (not the franchise that moved to Indianapolis), joined the NFL for the 1950 season.

The Browns continued their championship streak that year by defeating the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL title.

Answer: George Whitney Calhoun

The Green Bay Packers joined the NFL in 1921, two years after the club was founded by Curly Lambeau and Green Bay newspaper editor George Whitney Calhoun. The team took its name from the Indian Packing Company, Lambeau's employer at the time. Lambeau solicited uniform money from IPC in exchange for the naming and sponsorship rights, one of the earliest known instances of corporate naming rights in professional football.

Answer: Alexis Thompson

After winning big at the horse track betting on longshots, Art Rooney brought the NFL to the city of Pittsburgh. Originally nicknamed the Pirates, the Steelers experienced various financal setbacks and wartime player shortages during the club's early years, and on two occasions had to merge wih another franchise in order to field a team. Prior to the 1941 NFL season, Rooney sold the Steelers to businessman Alexis Thompson. Rooney then purchased fifty percent of the Philadelphia Eagles from Bert Bell. Shortly after, Rooney and Bell swapped franchises with Thompson. Rooney again became Steelers owner, although he now shared the franchise with Bell.

In 1946 Rooney assumed controlling interest of the team after Bell became NFL commisioner.