The National Football Conference (NFL) has now over a fifty-year history since the merger between the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). Prior to the merger, the two leagues were rivals and competed for players, fans, and broadcasting rights.
On June 8th, 1966, recognizing that a merger would be mutually beneficial, the NFL and AFL announced plans for a merger, with play to begin in 1970. The new league was called the NFL, but incorporated AFL teams into one conference, and NFL teams into the other conference.
13 teams – 10 from the old AFL and three from the old NFL became the new American Football Conference.
East Division: Baltimore Colts, Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
Central Division: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Oilers, Pittsburgh Steelers.
West Division: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and San Diego Chargers.
New Realignment
This alignment lasted for over thirty years until additional teams and divisions were added in the early 2000s. In 2002, the league realigned the conferences and divisions to better incorporate geographic rivalry. The newly configured 16-team look is as follows:
East Division: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets.
North Division: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
South Division: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
West Division: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers
The AFC East retained the same teams, as the Patriots rebranded themselves as the New England Patriots, and the franchise in Baltimore is now in the AFC North Division. In the AFC North, the Houston franchise relocate to Nashville and the AFC South Division. In the West, the same teams exist, although the Raiders have moved to Las Vegas, and the Chargers to Los Angeles.
The AFC currently continues to maintain its 16 teams among 4 divisions. The National Football Conference (NFC) is similarly configured.
Barry Schustermann
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