1920 The American Professional Football Association was formed, and then changed its name to the National Football League (NFL) in 1922.

1922 The line-of-scrimmage on conversion attempts after touchdowns was moved to the five yard line.

1929 The line-of-scrimmage on conversion attempts after touchdowns was moved to the two yard line.

1933 The NFL, which had previously used the same rules as college football, began to adopt their own rules. Subsequent rules noted in this timeline are specific to the NFL.

1933 Goal posts were moved from the end lines to the goal lines in an effort to increase scoring, and inbounds lines or hashmarks where the ball would be put in play were placed 10 yards from the sidelines.

1935 Hashmarks were moved nearer the center of the field, 15 yards from the sidelines.

1937 Following an out-of-bounds kickoff, rather than re-kicking, the opposing team was awarded the ball on the 20-yard line.

1943 Helmets became mandatory for all players.

1944 Chicago Bears scored 258 points, second in the league that year, yet did not attempt a single field goal.

1945 Hashmarks were moved from 15 yards away from the sidelines to nearer the center of the field, 20 yards from the sidelines; three inch dirt tee was permitted on kickoffs.

1948 Pat Harder made nine PATs (3-way tie for most in one game) for Chicago Cardinals against NY Giants.

1948 A flexible artificial tee was permitted on kickoffs.

1950 Bob Waterfield made nine PATs (3-way tie for most in one game) for Los Angeles against Baltimore.

1956 Use of an artificial medium to assist in the execution of a kick is no longer allowed (a.k.a. the Lou Groza Rule).

1958 The CFL (Canadian Football League) was founded. Its roots go back to the rugby version of football played in Canada in the 1860s. Some kicking rules differences from the NFL include: scoring of one point for a Single or Rouge (if the player receiving a live kick fails to return it out of the end zone, or (except on a kickoff) if the ball was kicked through the end zone); following a field goal, opposing teams can opt to receive a kickoff or take the ball at their own 35-yard line; a free kick is allowed from anywhere on the field (not just behind the line of scrimmage); goal posts are on the goal line.

1960-1969 AFL included the option of the two-point conversion after touchdowns.

1964 Buffalo signs Pete Gogolak, the first soccer style kicker.

1966 Goal posts offset from the goal line, painted bright yellow, and with uprights 20 feet above the crossbar were made standard in the NFL.

1966 Charlie Gogolak made nine PATs (3-way tie for most in one game) for Washington against NY Giants.

1966 Bruce Gossett attempted 49 FGs (2-way tie for second most in a season) for Los Angeles.

1967 "sling-shot" goal posts (with one curved support from the ground) were made standard in the NFL.

1967 Jim Bakken attempted nine FGs (most in one game) and made seven (5-way tie for second most) for St. Louis against Pittsburgh.

1968 First NFL game ever played on artificial turf, Kansas City at Houston (on the Astrodome’s Astroturf).

1970 TomDempsey made a 63 yard FG (4-way tie for second longest) for New Orleans against Detroit.

1971 Curt Knight attempted 49 FGs (2-way tie for second most in a season) for Washington.

1972 Hashmarks were moved nearer the center of the field, 23 yards, 1 foot, 9 inches from the sidelines… the hashmarks were now 18 feet, 6 inches apart (the same width as the goalposts), cutting down on severe angles for short field goal attempts.

1974 The goal posts were moved from the goal line to the end lines and the uprights would be extended to 30 feet above the crossbar in an effort to decrease the number of field goals; kickoffs were moved from the 40 back to the 35-yard line; and after missed field goals from beyond the 20, the ball was to be returned to the line of scrimmage.

1974 OL/K Lou Groza elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1976 Gus the Miracle Mule (California Atoms) proves to arguably be the greatest kicker ever.

1979 Prohibited players on the receiving team from blocking below the waist during kickoffs, punts, and field-goal attempts.

1979 Tony Franklin (Philadelphia) was the first kicker to kick barefoot.

1981 QB/K George Blanda elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1983 Mark Mosely attempted 204 kicking points (probably the most in a season). His 161 points at the time was a record, although it is now third.

1983 Ali Haji-Sheikh made 35 FGs (tied for most by a rookie in a season) for NY Giants.

1984 Uwe von Schamann attempted 70 PATs and was successful on 66 (second most in a season) for Miami.

1985 Kevin Butler scored 144 points (most in a season by a rookie) for Chicago.

1986 Mark Moseley, the last full-time straight-ahead place kicker, retired.

1987 Punter Steve Cox kicked the last straight-ahead field goal.

1989 Rich Karlis made seven FGs (5-way tie for second most in one game) for Minnesota against LA Rams (OT).

1991 Jan Stenerud elected to Hall of Fame (only player that was solely a kicker).

1993-2002 Jason Elam was successful on 371 straight PAT attempts (2-way tie for second most consecutive) for Denver.

1994 Added the option of the two-point conversion after touchdowns; the starting point of all kickoffs was moved back from the 35 to the 30-yard line; kickoff tees used can be no more than one inch in height (previously 3 inches); all field goals attempted and missed when the spot of the kick is beyond the 20 yard line, the defensive team taking possession will get the ball at the spot of the kick; on any field goal attempted and missed with the spot of the kick is on or inside the 20, the ball will go to the defensive team taking possession at the 20; and the 11 players on the receiving team are prohibited from blocking below the waste during a play in which there is a kickoff, safety kick, punt, field goal attempt or extra point kick with one exception, immediately at the snap on these plays those defenders on the line of scrimmage lined up on or inside the normal tight end position can block low.

1995 Morten Andersen made eight 50+ yard FGs (2-way tie for second most in a season) for Atlanta.

1996 Chris Boniol made seven FGs (5-way tie for second most in one game) for Dallas against Green Bay.

1996-2009 Matt Stover was successful on 422 straight PAT attempts (most consecutive) for Baltimore (and Indianapolis in the final year

1998 Gary Anderson was perfect on all 35 FGs. He scored 164 points (most in a season).

1998 Jason Elam made a 63 yard FG (4-way tie for second longest) for Denver against Jacksonville.

1999 K-ball implemented for all kicking plays in a game