The first American Football League (AFL), sometimes called AFL I, AFLG, or the Grange League, was a professional American football league that operated in 1926. It was the first major competitor to the National Football League. Founded by C. C. Pyle and starring Hall of Fame halfback Red Grange, the short-lived league with nine teams competed against the more established NFL both for players and for fans. While Pyle’s and Grange’s New York Yankees team became a reliable draw, the lack of star power and the uncertain financial conditions of the other eight teams led to the league’s dissolution after one season.