The original Arena Football League was formed in 1986 by Jim Foster, who was inspired to create the format after attending a North American Soccer League indoor match at Madison Square Garden in 1981. The Arena Football League' began play in 1987 with a barnstorming schedule that featured four teams. The following year all teams had a permanent home including two new teams. The original league ceased operations in 2019. A new league, using the same name and logo, formed in 2024 before reorganizing and relaunching as Arena Football One. 

Teams from the original league included the Alabama Vipers, Albany Empire, Albany Firebirds, Anaheim Piranhas, Arizona Rattlers, Atlantic City Blackjacks, Austin Wranglers, Baltimore Brigade, Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings, Buffalo Destroyers, Carolina Cobras, Charlotte Rage, Chicago Bruisers, Chicago Rush, Cincinnati Rockers, Cleveland Gladiators, Cleveland Thunderbolts, Connecticut Coyotes, Dallas Desperados, Dallas Texans, Dallas Vigilantes, Denver Dynamite, Detroit Drive, Detroit Fury, Florida Bobcats, Ft. Worth Cavalry, Georgia Force, Grand Rapids Rampage, Houston ThunderBears, Indiana Firebirds, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Kansas City Brigade, Kansas City Command, Las Vegas Gladiators, Las Vegas Outlaws, Las Vegas Sting, Los Angeles Avengers, Los Angeles Sting, Los Angeles KISS, Maryland Commandos, Massachusetts Marauders, Memphis Pharaohs, Miami Hooters, Milwaukee Iron, Milwaukee Mustangs, Minnesota Fighting Pike, Nashville Kats, New England Sea Wolves, New England Steamrollers, New Jersey Gladiators, New Jersey Red Dogs, New Orleans Night, New Orleans Voodoo, New York Cityhawks, New York Dragons, New York Knights, Oklahoma Wranglers, Oklahoma Yard Dawgz, Orlando Predators, Philadelphia Soul, Pittsburgh Gladiators, Pittsburgh Power, Portland Forest Dragons, Portland Steel, Portland Thunder, Sacramento Attack, San Antonio Force, San Antonio Talons, Sam Jose SaberCats, St. Louis Stampede, Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Texas Terror, Toronto Phantoms, Tulsa Talons, Utah Blaze, Washington Commandos, and Washington Valor.