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NFL
The NFL began 1920, when a meeting was held in Akron, Ohio where the American Professional Football Conference was created. The league was eventually renamed to the American Professional Football Association. The League elected Jim Thorpe as their president and the league consisted of 14 teams ranging from the Buffalo All-Americans to the Chicago Tigers. The first game occurred on September 26th when the Rock Island Independents beat the St. Paul Ideals 48-0. APFA changed to the NFL in 1922. -
Formation of the NFLPA 1968
Before 1968, NFL team owners did not recognize any players union and they controlled all means of the league. Later that year, the NFLPA was formed and demanded for better compensation from owners. The owners reacted by forming the first lockout in NFL history. Less than two weeks later, the owners recognized the union and the lockout came to an end. -
1974 Strike
In the summer of 1974, NFL players went on strike over guaranteed player salaries and the "Rozelle Rule", which gave commissioners the power to compensate a team who lost a player to another team in free agency by taking assets from the signing team. Owners did little to end the strike and waited 41-days when players finally reported to training camp without a deal reached. However, the "Rozelle Rule" was taken to court by the NFLPA for claims that it violated federal antitrust laws. -
1977 CBA Settlement
The NFLPA and the owners agreed on a new CBA settlement in 1977 which implemented a new first refusal and compensation system to replace the "Rozelle Rule". The new CBA stated that when an impending free agent left his team, the former team was to be awarded a compensatory draft pick based on the salary of the impending free agent -
1982 Season Reduced to 9 Games
In late September of 1982, the NFLPA declared a lockout over the league's revenue-sharing and wanted 55 percent of the league's gross revenue. Owners didn't budge and a 57-day lockout, which reduced the regular season to nine games, occurred. During this time, CFL and Division III football games were aired on national television and resulted in poor ratings. The lockout ended in November with owners and the union agreeing to increases in pay, retirement packages and bonuses for veteran players. -
Free Agency and the 1987 Lockout
The league and the NFL Players Association were unable to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement by the end of August. Players had authorized a strike that began Sept. 22, just after the end of Week 2, the strike wiped out Week 3. The players wanted the right to free agency, in addition to better pension benefits and severance. The NFL’s free agency system at that time required compensation to go to a player’s former team, this changed. -
2001 NFL Lockout Labor Disputes
This lockout was the first in regards to labor disputes between the NFL and NFL Referees Association. This was the first time Replacement Referees would take the field due to incomplete contract negotiations. The 119 locked out referees were given 24 hours under new terms to make a choice or the replacements would be brought into question. The NFL Referees Association agreed they would work this season under their old contract, promise not to strike if new bargain agreements were initiated. -
2011 NFL Player Lockout
Beginning in March 2011, the NFL owners and the NFL players, represented by the NFLPA, could not agree to terms on a new CBA. The main issues preventing the CBA from being renewed include salary cap, player safety, and free agency. The lockout lasted just over 18 weeks, and players were restricted from seeing team doctors and communicating with coaches. In July, a new CBA was agreed on and the lockout promptly ended. -
Labor Dispute Between NFL and Refs in 2012
In 2012, the NFL disputed with the refs association which resulted in replacement officials being used until week 3 of the season. The officials and NFL failed to agree on new contracts. This concerned the issues of the NFL lowering salary and changing the pension rules for NFL officials. During the Seahawks vs Packers game, the replacement refs struggled, making the incorrect call on a last second Hail Mary, which resulted in Roger Goddell renegotiating contracts with the NFL refs.
