[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       100TH BIRTHDAY OF THE NFL

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
birthday of the National Football League. On September 17, 1920, 15 
people who shared a love of football met in an automobile showroom in 
Canton, OH, to form what would become the National Football League. 
From these humble beginnings, the NFL has grown into a preeminent 
American sports league and become a fixture in American life. Today's 
NFL is an American institution that brings together millions of 
individuals of all ages, races, and backgrounds through a shared love 
for the game of football. In fact, last season, the NFL concluded the 
celebration of its 100th season with a stunning Super Bowl championship 
that was viewed by over 100 million Americans.
  At the same time, the NFL has never forgotten its roots in Ohio. 
Every year, millions of football fans travel to Canton, which now hosts 
the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the accompanying Hall of Fame game 
that rings in every new NFL season. Today, in an effort to commemorate 
the League's 100th birthday, Canton and the Cleveland Browns will host 
my hometown Cincinnati Bengals in a classic rivalry game, known as the 
Battle of Ohio. The game will highlight the formation of the league and 
its origins 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.
  I wish the league all the best as it embarks into its second century 
as the foremost steward of ``America's Game.''

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