[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E854-E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE NFL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2020

  Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my fellow representative, 
Mr. Bob Gibbs, to wish the National Football League a happy 100th 
birthday. One hundred years ago today, 15 people met in an automobile 
showroom in Canton, Ohio to form what would become the National 
Football League. From these humble beginnings, the NFL has grown into a 
preeminent American sports league, comprised of 32 teams from 22 states 
across the country.
  Over its first 100 years, the NFL has become a fixture in American 
life. The league is an American institution that brings together 
individuals of all ages, races, and backgrounds through a common 
enthusiasm for and appreciation for the game of football. Through good 
times and bad, the NFL has consistently reflected the spirit of the 
American people, displaying resilience, optimism, and resolve through 
periods of war, economic distress, natural disasters, and the current 
pandemic. Last season, the NFL concluded the celebration of its 100th 
season with a thrilling Super Bowl championship that was viewed by over 
100 million Americans.
  Although the league celebrated its 100th season in 2019, the League's 
100th birthday

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is a historic day as well. Today, in an effort to commemorate this 
momentous occasion. my Cleveland Browns will host the Cincinnati 
Bengals in a classic rivalry game, known as the ``Battle of Ohio''. The 
game will highlight the formation of the league and its humble roots in 
Canton, honor the more than 25,000 players who have played in the 
league, and showcase the work the NFL is doing to ensure its second 
century is just as successful as the first.
  We, therefore, recognize the National Football League on its 100th 
birthday, and wish the league all the best as it embarks into its 
second century as the foremost steward of ``America's Game.'' Go 
Browns!

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