How Many NFL Teams Are There? Full 2025 Breakdown

By Sarah Miller · January 17, 2026

There are currently 32 NFL football teams, evenly divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), each with 16 teams.

The Structure of the NFL: Conferences and Divisions

The National Football League (NFL) is organized into a hierarchical structure that ensures balanced competition and a clear playoff path. The 32 teams are split into two main conferences, which are further subdivided into four divisions each.

Conferences in the NFL

American Football Conference (AFC)
National Football Conference (NFC)

Each conference consists of 16 teams grouped into four geographic divisions: North, South, East, and West. This alignment helps reduce travel costs and fosters regional rivalries, enhancing fan engagement.

Division Breakdown

Each division contains four teams. At the end of the regular season, the winner of each division automatically qualifies for the playoffs, along with three wild card teams from each conference based on win-loss records.

AFC North
AFC South
AFC East
AFC West
NFC North
NFC South
NFC East
NFC West

Historical Expansion of the NFL

The NFL has evolved significantly since its founding in 1920. Originally consisting of just 14 teams, the league has undergone multiple expansions and reorganizations to reach its current size of 32 teams.

The most recent expansion occurred in 2002 when the Houston Texans joined as the 32nd franchise, balancing the league after the Cleveland Browns' return in 1999 brought the total to 31. Since then, the structure has remained stable.

Current NFL Team List by Conference

Conference	Division	Team	City/State	Founded	Joined NFL
AFC	North	Baltimore Ravens	Baltimore, MD	1996	1996
AFC	North	Cincinnati Bengals	Cincinnati, OH	1968	1970
AFC	North	Cleveland Browns	Cleveland, OH	1946	1950
AFC	North	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pittsburgh, PA	1933	1933
AFC	South	Houston Texans	Houston, TX	2002	2002
AFC	South	Indianapolis Colts	Indianapolis, IN	1953	1953
AFC	South	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jacksonville, FL	1995	1995
AFC	South	Tennessee Titans	Nashville, TN	1960	1970
AFC	East	Buffalo Bills	Orchard Park, NY	1960	1960
AFC	East	Miami Dolphins	Miami Gardens, FL	1966	1966
AFC	East	New England Patriots	Foxborough, MA	1960	1960
AFC	East	New York Jets	East Rutherford, NJ	1960	1960
AFC	West	Denver Broncos	Denver, CO	1960	1960
AFC	West	Kansas City Chiefs	Kansas City, MO	1960	1970
AFC	West	Las Vegas Raiders	Paradise, NV	1960	1960
AFC	West	Los Angeles Chargers	Inglewood, CA	1960	1970
NFC	North	Chicago Bears	Chicago, IL	1920	1920
NFC	North	Detroit Lions	Detroit, MI	1930	1930
NFC	North	Green Bay Packers	Green Bay, WI	1919	1921
NFC	North	Minnesota Vikings	Minneapolis, MN	1961	1961
NFC	South	Atlanta Falcons	Atlanta, GA	1966	1966
NFC	South	Carolina Panthers	Charlotte, NC	1995	1995
NFC	South	New Orleans Saints	New Orleans, LA	1967	1967
NFC	South	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa, FL	1976	1976
NFC	East	Dallas Cowboys	Frisco, TX	1960	1960
NFC	East	New York Giants	East Rutherford, NJ	1925	1925
NFC	East	Philadelphia Eagles	Philadelphia, PA	1933	1933
NFC	East	Washington Commanders	Landover, MD	1932	1932
NFC	West	Arizona Cardinals	Glendale, AZ	1898	1920
NFC	West	Los Angeles Rams	Inglewood, CA	1936	1937
NFC	West	San Francisco 49ers	Santa Clara, CA	1946	1950
NFC	West	Seattle Seahawks	Seattle, WA	1976	1976

Table data source:1, 2

The table above lists all 32 NFL teams with their respective conferences, divisions, locations, and founding years. Notably, the Arizona Cardinals, founded in 1898, are the oldest continuously operating team in the league. The Houston Texans are the newest franchise, established in 2002. Most teams joined the NFL before 1970, with many originating from the former American Football League (AFL), which merged with the NFL in 1970.

Future of NFL Expansion

As of 2025, there are no official plans for expanding beyond 32 teams. However, discussions about potential future expansion have included cities like London, Toronto, Mexico City, and Los Angeles (before the Rams and Chargers returned). Any new team would likely require a new stadium and approval from at least 24 of the 32 current owners.

Expansion could lead to a realignment of divisions and possibly a third conference to maintain competitive balance, though such changes remain speculative.

Common Questions About NFL Teams

How many NFL teams are there in 2025?

As of 2025, there are 32 NFL teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

Why are there 32 NFL teams?

The NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002 with the addition of the Houston Texans. This number provides balanced conferences and divisions, simplifying scheduling and playoff structures.

Which NFL team is the oldest?

The Green Bay Packers, founded in 1919 and joining the NFL in 1921, are the oldest continuously operating team. However, the Arizona Cardinals, founded in 1898, are the oldest franchise overall.

Which city has two NFL teams?

Currently, three U.S. metropolitan areas have two NFL teams: New York/New Jersey (Giants and Jets), Los Angeles (Rams and Chargers), and the San Francisco Bay Area (49ers). Miami and Dallas are often mistakenly thought to have two, but only one team each.

Has any city lost multiple NFL teams?

Yes, Los Angeles lost both the Rams and Raiders after the 1994 season but regained the Rams in 2016 and the Raiders in 2020 (before they moved to Las Vegas). Cleveland lost the original Browns in 1995 (replaced in 1999) and has seen the relocation debate continue over decades.