^The Hurricanes did not play in Raleigh until 1999, when the venue now known as Lenovo Center opened. The team, as planned, played its first two North Carolina seasons in Greensboro.
^The Panthers played their inaugural 1995 season on the campus of Clemson University in South Carolina while the venue now known as Bank of America Stadium was being completed in Charlotte.
^The team did not play in Nashville until 1998. When relocating the franchise from Houston to Nashville, owner Bud Adams originally planned for the team to play both the 1997 and 1998 seasons in Memphis as the Tennessee Oilers during the construction of what is now known as Nissan Stadium. Low attendance led Adams to move the team to Nashville a year earlier than planned, playing in Vanderbilt Stadium until the new venue was completed for the 1999 season.
Franchise notes
^Previously the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–2006)
^Established in Chicago as the Morgan Athletic Club, and joined the NFL as a charter member on September 17, 1920. Previously the Chicago Cardinals (1920–1959) and St. Louis Cardinals (1960–1987)
^The Baltimore Ravens were created from the corporate structure of the previous season's Cleveland Browns. The NFL considers the Ravens to have been an expansion franchise. See alsoCleveland Browns relocation controversy.
^Previously the New Jersey Americans (1967–1968), New York Nets (1968–1977) and New Jersey Nets (1977–2012)
^As part of a collaboration between this franchise, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NBA, the history of the original Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002) and the history of the Charlotte Bobcats are considered part of the history of the current Hornets franchise.
^In 1996, the Browns corporate structure was transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, to become the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL considers the Browns to have been inactive from 1996 until the re-establishment of football in Cleveland in the 1999 NFL season. See alsoCleveland Browns relocation controversy.
^Previously the Cleveland Indians (1915–2021). Club announced on December 14, 2020 that it would change the name "Indians" amidst the controversy surrounding it. The new team name "Guardians" was officially announced on July 23, 2021.
^Previously the Edmonton Eskimos (1949–2019). Club announced on July 21, 2020 it had retired its "Eskimos" name amid the controversy over it. In 2021, the club officially changed its name to the Elks.
^Previously the Philadelphia Warriors (1946–1962) and San Francisco Warriors (1962–1971)
^Previously the Seattle Pilots (1969). Competed in the American League from 1970 to 1997 and currently in the National League from 1998 to the present.
^The CFL considers all incarnations of the Alouettes as one franchise. Current incarnation is a result of a move by the Baltimore Stallions (1994–1995) ownership, but the Stallions are not considered part of the Alouettes franchise.
^Since 2017, the CFL has treated all Ottawa-based teams in the CFL and its predecessor leagues as a single entity for record-keeping purposes. The previous teams were the Ottawa Rough Riders (1876–1996) and Ottawa Renegades (2002–2005).
^Previously the Boston Braves (1932–1933), Boston Redskins (1933–1936), Washington Redskins (1937–2019), and Washington Football Team (2020–2021). The team retired its "Redskins" name and logo in July 2020 amidst corporate financial pressure resulting from the controversy over it. They were rebranded as the Commanders in 2022.
^Previously the Montreal Expos (1969–2004). During the franchise's last two seasons as the Expos, it split its home schedule between Montreal and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
^Previously the Chicago Packers (1961–1962), Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963), Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973), Capital Bullets (1973–1974) and Washington Bullets (1974–1997)
^Rosen, Dan (June 22, 2016). "Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, LP. Retrieved June 24, 2016. The NHL becomes the first of the four major North American professional sports leagues to put a team in Las Vegas.
