{"id":26489,"date":"2025-05-01T18:59:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T18:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=26489"},"modified":"2025-05-01T18:59:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T18:59:27","slug":"12-times-an-nfl-team-almost-relocated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=26489","title":{"rendered":"12 Times An NFL Team Almost Relocated"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Relocation of a professional sports franchise is a lot more rare now than it was in the \u201880s, \u201890s and early 2000s.<\/p>\n

In the 21st century alone, only three franchises have relocated: The St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles in 2016, the San Diego Chargers to LA in 2017 and the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020.<\/p>\n

Die-hard football fans know all about the many\u00a0NFL<\/a>\u00a0relocations over the league\u2019s history. But did you know that there have been many instances where a relocation of a specific franchise to a certain city was close to happening\u2026only to fall through?<\/p>\n

In fact, occasions of failed NFL relocations have happened far more than you might think. Here are 12 such occasions that you probably didn\u2019t know about!<\/p>\n

Houston Oilers To Jacksonville<\/h2>\n
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SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 NOVEMBER 8: Wide receiver Ernest Givens #81 of the Houston Oilers high fives teammates Alonzo Highsmith #32 and Keith Bostic #25 during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 8, 1987 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 27-20. (Photo by George Rose\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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All\u2019s well that ends well, right? Jacksonville got its Jaguars as an expansion franchise in 1995. The Oilers relocated to Nashville to become the Tennessee Titans. Houston got its team back when the expansion Texans\u2019 franchise was born in 2002.<\/p>\n

And all three just so happen to play in the AFC South division alongside the Indianapolis Colts. Everyone\u2019s happy!<\/p>\n

But way-back-when, the late Oilers\/Titans owner in Bud Adams actually had his eye on Duval County as a relocation for the Houston franchise.<\/p>\n

In 1987, Adams sought $115.2 million over a 10-year period from Jacksonville officials if he were to move the franchise. Adams was displeased with the Oilers\u2019 home venue, the Astrodome, and he sought renovations as well as more seating.<\/p>\n

But Texas officials gave in and offered to give the necessary funds to modernize the Astrodome, allowing the Oilers to stay in the big H. The Oilers would play there until 1996 before relocating to Tennessee in 1997.<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills To Seattle<\/h2>\n
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6 Sep 1998: General view of a Buffalo Bills helmet lying on the grass during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Bills 16-14.<\/p>\n

In 1971, Buffalo BIlls\u2019 owner Ralph Wilson Jr. \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 sought an up-to-date stadium for his football team.<\/p>\n

War Memorial Stadium, the Bills\u2019 first home, was outdated and needed serious upgrades. Wilson spoke with Seattle officials and expressed keenness to move the football club there,<\/p>\n

noting that Emerald City was his desired preference. Memphis and Tampa Bay also had interest in landing the Bills\u2019 franchise.<\/p>\n

But luckily for Bills Mafia, city officials gave in and agreed to build a new stadium. Rich Stadium opened \u2014 now known as Highmark Stadium \u2014 opened its door in 1973. It will remain the Bills\u2019 home until their new stadium is completed. The new one is expected to be ready for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

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Oh, and Seattle wound up being granted the expansion Seahawks franchise in 1976. So again, everyone ended up quite content. Thank you very much!<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings To Los Angeles<\/h2>\n
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ST. LOUIS, MO \u2013 DECEMBER 16: Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings scores a touchdown after incepting a pass against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on December 16, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speculation about the Vikings potentially moving ramped up in 2010 as team and state officials worked tirelessly to secure a new stadium. The roof for the outdated Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome collapsed late in the 2010 season, and that was the final straw.<\/p>\n

Two groups approached the Vikings about relocating the team to Los Angeles. In April 2012, Minnesota senator Julie Rosen admitted that they spoke to folks in LA, admitting it was an \u201copen market\u201d, too.<\/p>\n

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The Vikings wound up securing a deal on a new stadium that would open in the 2016 season. They would play three more seasons in the Metrodome before spending the 2014 and \u201815 campaigns at TCF Bank Stadium.<\/p>\n

Finally, US Bank Stadium opened its doors in 2016 \u2014 and Minnesotans could breathe a sigh of relief forever. They may have lost the Lakers to Los Angeles, but not the Vikings, who wound up staying in the Gopher State.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Buccaneers To Cleveland<\/h2>\n
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Trent Dilfer #12, Quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers calls the play on the line of scrimmage during the National Football Conference West Division game against the San Diego Chargers on 17th November 1996 at the Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, United States. The Buccaneers won the game 25 \u2013 17. (Photo by Jamie Squire\/Allsport\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Art Modell broke the hearts of Cleveland when he relocated the once-proud Browns franchise to Baltimore in 1996 \u2013 and the franchise was rebranded as the Ravens.<\/p>\n

With Cleveland lacking a football team, several franchises threatened relocation there. Among them: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<\/p>\n

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In 1996, it was reported that talks about moving the Bucs to Cleveland were \u201cheating up\u201d. Once again, the central issue was the Bucs\u2019 desire for a new stadium. The Associated Press also reported that then-Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer and city officials in Cleveland had \u201cintensified.\u201d<\/p>\n

In another case of \u201call\u2019s well that ends well\u201d, the Bucs eventually got a new stadium \u2014 Raymond James Stadium \u2014 which opened its doors in 1997. The Cleveland Browns\u2019 franchise was officially reactivated and returned to the league in 1999.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Rams To Hartford<\/h2>\n
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12 Sep 1993: Running back Jerome Bettis of the Los Angeles Rams moves the ball during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Rams won the game, 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn \/Allsport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first half of the \u201890s saw the Los Angeles Rams\u2019 franchise engaged in never-ending discussions about relocation. Of course, the franchise wound up moving to St. Louis in 1995 \u2014 where they\u2019d play for 21 years before relocating to LA.<\/p>\n

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Hartford, Connecticut was on the list of contenders to get the Rams. Hartford made a proposal to the organization, but the state of Connecticut simply couldn\u2019t compete with the appeal that St. Louis had to offer.<\/p>\n

St. Louis was a bigger market, and it kept divisional alignment simple for the NFL. So Hartford, home to the NHL\u2019s Hartford Whalers at the time, struck out on landing the Rams. It was extra hard to swallow when the Whalers relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes.<\/p>\n

Indianapolis Colts To Los Angeles<\/h2>\n
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DENVER \u2013 NOVEMBER 24: Kicker Mike Vanderjagt #13 of the Indianapolis Colts drives a field goal through the uprights with a hold from Hunter Smith #13 against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter on November 24, 2002, at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Colts won 23-20 in overtime. (Photo by Brian Bahr\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then-Colts owner Robert Irsay became public enemy No. 1 in Baltimore when he relocated the historic football franchise to Indianapolis in 1984. Imagine if the Colts had to move less than two decades later\u2026again?!<\/p>\n

In 2002, ESPN\u2019s Chris Mortensen reported that the Colts could\u2019ve been moving to Los Angeles as early as 2003. Discussions on a new stadium with Indianapolis officials grew tense, and owner Jim Irsay was spotted in San Fernando Valley as the rumors began to escalate.<\/p>\n

And as later noted by veteran Colts reporter Bob Kravitz, Irsay became more keen on staying in Indianapolis once he saw outlines for a new stadium. Finally, after tense talks, the Colts were given the green light for a new venue \u2014 and Lucas Oil Stadium opened its doors in 2008.<\/p>\n

New England Patriots To St. Louis<\/h2>\n
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8 Nov 1992: General view of a game between the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Saints won the game, 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart \/Allsport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1992, St. Louis native and businessman James Orthwein purchased the struggling New England Patriots franchise from Victor Kiam. Orthwein had one simple goal: Relocate the Patriots to St. Louis and change the name to \u201cStallions.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Louis had just lost its NFL\u2019s Cardinals to Arizona a few years later. Most of it was in motion, but there was one last hiccup:\u00a0Robert Kraft<\/a>\u00a0owned the Patriots\u2019 home venue of Foxboro Stadium, and the team\u2019s lease there wouldn\u2019t run up until 2001.<\/p>\n

Orthwein tried buying out the lease on Foxboro Stadium, but Kraft refused. Orthwein simply had no option but to sell the team to Kraft. And the rest, as they say, is history.<\/p>\n

Kraft\u2019s loyalty to New England turned out to be one of the ultimate turning points in American sports history. You folks in the region owe this man a LOT.<\/p>\n

St. Louis Cardinals To Atlanta<\/h2>\n
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SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 NOVEMBER 9: Kicker John Lee #10 of the St. Louis Cardinals watches the action from the sidelines during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 9, 1986 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 43-17. (Photo by George Rose\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before the Cardinals relocated to Phoenix, and before they were rebranded as the \u201cArizona Cardinals\u201d, they played in St. Louis. And before that, the franchise was based in Chicago.<\/p>\n

The Cardinals played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, but they were actually close to leaving Missouri two decades earlier.<\/p>\n

Owner Bill Bidwill was frustrated with the delays on the construction of Busch Memorial Stadium. On top of that, attendance was an ongoing problem within the first few years of the team\u2019s move here.<\/p>\n

Bidwill\u2019s brother, Charles, later admitted that Atlanta proposed an enticing offer about relocating the franchise. The Milwaukee Braves of Major League Baseball were about to relocate to Atlanta, so it made sense to put an MLB team there.<\/p>\n

But the Bidwills eventually played nice and agreed to a) stay in St. Louis and b) play at Busch Memorial Stadium. As for Atlanta, there was no reason to shed tears. Its current NFL team, the Falcons, joined the NFL in 1966.<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks To Los Angeles<\/h2>\n
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1 Sep 1996: Quarterback Rick Mirer of the Seattle Seahawks looks down field for an open receiver as he rolls out of the pocket during the Seahawks 29-7 loss to the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California. Mandatory Credit: Al<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Among all the threats NFL owners have made about moving a team to Los Angeles, the Seahawks were actually this-close to moving.<\/p>\n

In 1996, then-Seahawks owner Ken Behring detailed plans to move the team to LA, where they\u2019d play at the Anaheim Angels\u2019 venue of Angel Stadium.<\/p>\n

Behring had a strange reason for wanting to move the franchise: He feared their home venue, the Kingdome, would be destroyed by an earthquake. You don\u2019t have to be a genius to know that Los Angeles is far more prone to earthquakes than Emerald City, though.<\/p>\n

Players were even going down to Los Angeles for training. However, the NFL disagreed with Behring\u2019s stance and threatened to fine him $500,000 per day until he brought his team back up north.<\/p>\n

Behring decided to do the right thing by giving up and selling the team to Seattle native and billionaire Paul Allen, whose leadership and hands-off approach helped turn the Seahawks into a top NFL franchise.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Eagles To Phoenix<\/h2>\n
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16 OCT 1988: THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DEFENSE ATTEMPT TO BLOCK A CLEVELAND BROWNS FIELD GOAL DURING THE EAGELS 19-3 LOSS AT VETERANS STADIUM IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. MANDATORY CREDIT: RICK STEWART\/ALLSPORT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Historically speaking, the Arizona Cardinals might be America\u2019s saddest professional sports franchise. Historically speaking, the Eagles \u2014 a team you either love or hate with a passion \u2014 have been a consistent winner.<\/p>\n

So how funny is it now to think that once upon a time, the Eagles were close to relocating to The Desert?<\/p>\n

Before Phoenix acquired the Cardinals from St. Louis in 1988, there was a push for the city to land the Eagles. Then-owner Leonard Tose accumulated tens of millions of dollars in debt and eyed a move to Phoenix,<\/p>\n

Just as the Eagles seemed close to moving, then-Philadelphia mayor Wilson Goode reached a last-second agreement with Tose: They would restructure the club\u2019s home venue of Veteran\u2019s Stadium and add luxury suites to increase club revenue.<\/p>\n

In 1985, Tose sold the team to Norman Braman and the latter\u2019s brother-in-law, Ed Leibowitz. And the fans of Philly haven\u2019t had to break a sweat about potentially losing their team ever since.<\/p>\n

Washington To Dallas<\/h2>\n
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11 Oct 1981: Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann standing under center before start of play during game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Redskins won the game 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Allsport \/Allsport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Given the intense rivalry and storied history between these two NFC East clubs, it\u2019s crazy to think that Washington\u2019s NFL team once moved to Big D before the Cowboys were born.<\/p>\n

But as WWE icon Kurt Angle said, \u201cOh, it\u2019s true. It\u2019s damn true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clint Murchison Jr., who made a fortune in the oil industry, kept his eyes out for the opportunity to buy and relocate an NFL team to Dallas. Apparently, then-Washington owner George Preston Marshall reached an agreement to sell the team to Murchison Jr. It was even said that Murchison Jr. had a $600,000 check ready for Marshall.<\/p>\n

There was a strange aspect that broke the deal, though: Marshall was to stay on and run the team for five more years following the sale to Murchison Jr. The latter initially agreed, but he backed off when Marshall later stated he wanted control for 10 years.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Murchison Jr.\u2019s persistence finally paid off. The NFL awarded Dallas an expansion franchise, and the Cowboys joined the league in 1960.<\/p>\n

And the rivalry between Washington and Dallas escalated from there.<\/p>\n

New England Patriots To Hartford<\/h2>\n
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3 Jan 1998: Sedrick Shaw #23 of the New England Patriots carries the football during the Patriots 7-6 AFC Playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw \/Allsport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the 1998 season, then-Connecticut Governor John Rowland announced that the New England Patriots were relocating to Hartford. Kraft was optimistic that the new downtown stadium in Hartford would be completed by 2001, but some issues set the date back to 2003.<\/p>\n

Additional concerns and obstacles came up regarding the construction of the stadium. On top of that, Rowland made the mistake of allowing the agreement with Kraft to contain out clauses.<\/p>\n

Kraft wrote a letter to Rowland expressing concern that the timeline for the new stadium went from 2001 to \u201803. The Patriots backed out of their deal with Hartford officials and instead reached an agreement to build a new stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts \u2014 keeping the team in The Old Colony State after all.<\/p>\n

And the Patriots, of course, would go on to become the NFL\u2019s model franchise at the turn of the century. In 2000, Kraft hired\u00a0Bill Belichick<\/a>\u00a0to serve as his new head coach. That same year, the team used a sixth-round pick \u2014 199th overall \u2013 on some nobody named\u00a0Tom Brady<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And the rest, as they say, is history. Over the next 19 years, the Patriots won nine AFC Championships and a whopping six Super Bowl championships. They recorded winning seasons every year from 2001 to 2019, only seeing the streak end after Brady left in 2020.<\/p>\n

In other words, Kraft\u2019s decision to keep the Patriots in Massachusetts worked out just fine.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Relocation of a professional sports franchise is a lot more rare now than it was in the \u201880s, \u201890s and early 2000s. In the 21st century alone, only … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26491,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26489\/revisions\/26491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}