Columbus’ connection to the growth and popularity of the NFL

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The highest-earning and most popular sports league in America has become a multibillion dollar industry and the growth of the business began in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1927, the highlights of American sports included a Rose Bowl tie between Stanford and Alabama, the “Murderers’ Row” New York Yankees led by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig cruising to the World Series, and Gene Tunney winning a historic 10-round title boxing fight over Jack Dempsey in Chicago.

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That same year, the upstart National Football League had its eighth season that included 12 teams, two of which were in Ohio, and ended with the New York Giants’ first NFL championship. During that season, the NFL conducted its business from a small office in downtown Columbus.

Sitting on the 11th floor of a building on 16 E. Broad St. was the NFL headquarters from 1927 to 1939. At the time, the NFL was just getting started at the “New Hayden Building,” with the location now on the National Register for Historic Places.

While in Columbus, the NFL planted the seeds of what it would become decades later and a lot of credit can be attributed to president and commissioner Joseph F. Carr, a Columbus native.

Carr grew up on the city’s east side and eventually became the owner and general manager of the Columbus Panhandles, the team that is credited as playing the first game in NFL history. After his time with the Panhandles, Carr became the president and commissioner of the NFL and conducted his business from Columbus.

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During Carr’s tenure from 1921 to 1939, the NFL grew past the Midwest and into major locations across the country. Notable teams that were established under Carr included the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders.

Carr’s contributions earned him charter membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton in 1963, alongside other legends such as Sammy Baugh, George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, and many more.

Fast forward more than 80 years since the NFL’s HQ was in Columbus and the league has offices and headquarters from coast to coast and operates on a scale unimaginable a century ago.

The now 32-team league is the largest and highest-earning sports league on the planet with a revenue of nearly $12 billion in 2022. Last year, 30 of the NFL’s teams were among the 50 most valuable sports teams in the world, more than quadruple the amount of soccer teams that cracked the list.

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Baseball is no longer the most popular sport in America with the NFL’s presence and growth turning football into the nation’s most watched sport. Every week during the fall, NFL games are the most watched television broadcasts in America and by a hefty margin. NFL viewership records have been set and reset over the years, including for its biggest game, the Super Bowl.

The NFL’s championship game is the single biggest one-day sporting event each year with Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas expected to be the most watched Super Bowl ever.

Whether you tune in for Super Bowl LVIII to watch the game, the commercials, the halftime show, or to just catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift, remember that the foundation of the NFL got its start in Columbus.

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