ABOUT THE IPRA

Our Mission

The mission of the International Power Rankings Alliance (IPRA) is to promote transparency and accountability in the ranking of National Football League teams by journalists across the globe. The Alliance works to uphold clear standards, ethical practices, and methodological consistency in power rankings, ensuring that analyses are credible, responsible, and worthy of public trust. By fostering openness and professional integrity, IPRA strengthens the global discourse surrounding NFL team evaluations.

History

The origins of the International Power Rankings Alliance (IPRA) trace back to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the turbulent years following the First World War. Its founder, Daniel Keithson, was a decorated American veteran who had served during the Somme Offensive and returned home in 1918 seeking stability, order, and renewed purpose in civilian life.

In the spring of 1919, Keithson found himself at a local Cincinnati pub known as The Mail Room. While there, he read a football rankings article published in the Cincinnati Enquirer that placed the local Mudville Mustangs at the top of the national standings, while his longtime favorite club, the Poughkeepsie Pips, languished near the bottom. To Keithson, the rankings appeared arbitrary, poorly justified, and emblematic of a broader lack of accountability in sports journalism.

Already struggling to adjust to postwar life, Keithson reacted poorly to what he viewed as an injustice. A heated argument with fellow patrons escalated, resulting in police intervention and his temporary detention for public intoxication. During the quiet hours that followed, Keithson reflected on his experiences—both in war and in peace—and resolved to channel his frustrations into constructive reform rather than disorder.

While sobering up in custody, Keithson articulated a simple but ambitious idea: professional football rankings should be governed by clear standards, transparency, and ethical responsibility, much like the institutions he had relied upon during his military service. Rankings, he believed, shaped public opinion and deserved the same rigor and discipline expected in other professional fields.

In July of 1919, Keithson gathered a small group of journalists, statisticians, and football enthusiasts who shared his concerns. Together, they formally incorporated the International Power Rankings Alliance, adopting its first charter and establishing its mission to promote consistency, accountability, and methodological clarity in football rankings.

From its modest beginnings in Cincinnati, the IPRA would grow into an international trade association, dedicated to upholding professional standards in sports ranking journalism and fostering public trust in the evaluation of the world’s most popular game.

Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity

The International Power Rankings Alliance (IPRA) is committed to fostering a professional environment that values diversity of thought, perspective, and experience. As a global trade association, the IPRA believes that a broad range of viewpoints strengthens the integrity, credibility, and rigor of football rankings and sports journalism worldwide.

The Alliance supports the inclusion of a wide spectrum of analytical approaches, cultural backgrounds, and professional voices—what we describe as a rainbow of ideas—to ensure that rankings are informed, balanced, and reflective of the global nature of the sport. IPRA recognizes that thoughtful disagreement, open discourse, and methodological diversity are essential to advancing standards and public trust.

In keeping with its international mission, the IPRA proudly welcomes members from across borders and traditions, including journalists and analysts who are Canadian, Sweedish, and even Irish. The Alliance remains committed to equitable access to membership, participation, and leadership opportunities, guided by principles of fairness, mutual respect, and professional excellence.

By embracing inclusion while upholding shared standards and accountability, the International Power Rankings Alliance strengthens its role as a global forum for responsible and transparent football rankings.