chicago bears was the nfl team responsible for the 1985 shuffle.
chicago bears was the nfl team responsible for the 1985 shuffle.
which nfl team is responsible for the 1985 shuffle?
chicago bears
while toronto has been home to american football teams, including the continental football league's toronto rifles from 1965–67, no nfl team has ever been based in the city. however, there have been numerous efforts to bring an nfl club to toronto over the past 40 years. in 1952 it was reported that the dallas texans of the nfl might be moved to toronto. in 1955, eric cradock, who would later become part owner of the argos, stated that he had held discussions with the nfl about establishing a toronto nfl team. later that year it was reported that the argos would join the nfl by 1957, contingent upon a larger stadium being constructed, and that there were several other bidders for a toronto nfl team. a toronto group announced in 1960 that they were in negotiations with the league for a toronto franchise to begin play by 1962. the same year, a separate group brought the new york giants and chicago bears to toronto to play an exhibition game at varsity stadium with the goal of eventually acquiring an expansion franchise for the city. however, prior to the game george halas, owner of the bears and chairman of the nfl's expansion committee, said on nfl expansion into canada "we should not do anything detrimental to [canada's] game". in 1964 a toronto group submitted a bid for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1967, with plans to construct a new stadium. the following year, nfl commissioner pete rozelle listed the city as one of 12 potential expansion markets, but stated that "we would not want to do anything detrimental to the cfl." in 1969, a toronto group approached the nfl about bringing a team to the city. later that year, rozelle said that the league could expand "outside the continental united states", including possibly to canadian cities.
national football league in toronto
godfrey was named president and ceo of the toronto blue jays when the team was purchased by rogers communications in 2000. at the time, godfrey stated that "part of my responsibilities are to chase an nfl team and other sports options". ted rogers, who had held discussion with godfrey with regards to owning an nfl team as far back as 1994, said that "we think the city deserves an nfl team. we want to be part of that." corporate ownership is forbidden under the nfl's ownership policy, so rogers communications would not be able to buy a team like they did with the blue jays. rather ted rogers would have had to have purchased it as an individual. when rogers acquired the new england sea wolves of the arena football league and relocated them to toronto a month later, it was suggested that the move would help the drive for an nfl team as the nfl had a close relationship with the afl. numerous afl clubs owned by nfl teams, and the nfl held an option to purchase 49.9% of the afl, though it never executed it.
national football league in toronto