From what many sources said, yes. Most Americans back in the 1800's was introduced to association football the same decade as American football. Association football was introduced first as a sport players can use both hands and feet (there was no international rule to soccer back then pre-FIFA). That in return inspired the creation of American football.

The league that was challenging the American football league was the ASL (American Soccer League). That league was mainly in the East coast (Northeastern) part of the USA while other areas of the country had local independent professional leagues (some states and cities did not have any soccer leagues). American soccer back then is a sad tale of great potential that went nowhere because how poorly the USSF managed the sport. After the ASL folded in 1933, this country did not have another first division until 1969 (NASL). That's 36 years without a first division league. In-between those years, there was a revival of the ASL a year after the original folded that was more of a semi-pro league. That same league would go on to compete against the NASL for the D1 league sanctioning. Both leagues folded in the same decade with similar issues (financial issues and over expansion of clubs) in the 1980's. That left this country without having a D1 league until 1997. MLS was in horrible shape it's first five years where it's fan support nearly died after the second season and the league folding for a few months in 2002. MLS did not get increasing national attention until around 2009.