The league was known as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) during the 1920 and 1921 seasons
The 1921 Cincinnati Celts, coached by Mel Doherty, missed the postseason after finishing the NFL regular season in 15th place with a 1-3 record. The team's finances were also troubling. Game attendance for the Celts never reached above 2,500 spectators. As a result of this and other financial issues, the Celts were unable to pay the nominal league fees. The Celts continued as an amateur team until 1923.