The Complete NFL Expansion History Part III

Welcome back, football fans! In the previous parts of our series on The Complete NFL Expansion History, we’ve explored the early days of league growth and the rise of challenger leagues. Now, hold on tight for a turning point that shook the gridiron landscape: the epic AFL-NFL merger of 1970.

This wasn’t just about adding a few new teams. It was the culmination of a decade-long war between the established old guard of the NFL and a brash, innovative upstart (the AFL). We’ll delve into the fierce competition that redefined the game for the merger and the dramatic birth of the format we know and love today – the NFL with its two conferences, the AFC and NFC.

Get ready for a story filled with iconic rivalries, legendary quarterbacks like Joe Namath, Jack Kemp, and Len Dawson, and the birth of the Super Bowl, the biggest sporting event of the year.  So, grab your favorite jersey and settle in because Part 3 of The Complete NFL Expansion History is about to show how the AFL’s arrival transformed American football forever.

First, Some Football Back Story

In the last edition of the series, we dipped our toes into the 1960s expansion era of football. The National Football League in 1959 had a dozen franchises made up of an East and a West Division. The East was comprised of the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Cardinals, and Washington Redskins. Their Western counterparts were the Baltimore Colts, Chicago Bears, LA Rams, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers.

By the end of the 1960s, the NFL had added four additional cities to the fray, in direct competition with the fourth variation of the American Football League so that the upstart would not gain a foothold in the key markets of Dallas, Minnesota, Atlanta, and New Orleans. The constant dodge and parry by both of the rival leagues was exhausting, and finally by the end of the decade it was realized by both parties that for the good of the professional game, that a merger was in order.

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The upstart AFL, with its innovative rules and focus on passing, challenged the established NFL. A bidding war for players and lucrative television deals intensified competition. Finally, realizing the financial benefits of unification, team owners from both leagues secretly negotiated a merger. This agreement, announced in 1966, created a 24-team league with two conferences that would officially start in 1970, the AFL’s legacy preserved in the American Football Conference (AFC).

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The merger not only ended a fierce competition but also ushered in a new era of football dominance, culminating in the iconic Super Bowl, which started as a World Championship game between the heated rival leagues in 1966.

Here is how the expansion by merger went down.

The 1970 AFL-NFL Merger

SInce the total number of teams would be 26, the newly merged NFL would be reorganized into two conferences (NFC and AFC) and each having three divisions. Thirteen of the NFL teams would make up the NFC, but Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore would migrate and blend with the ten AFL squads to comprise the AFC.

The American Football Conference would build the following divisions with the AFL merged squads.

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The 1970 AFC East Division

Some other teams on or near the Atlantic Coast would be joining the established Baltimore Colts in the East bracket of the Conference.

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After a losing record in 1969, legendary Coach Don Shula was hired in Miami, where he instilled a culture of discipline and excellence. Quarterback Bob Griese led a potent offense with running backs Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick, while the “No Name Defense” dominated opponents.  Their 10-4 record earned them a Wild Card berth, and they battled and lost to Oakland in the divisional round 21-14. The 1970 Dolphins were an up-and-coming team, and they ignited a fanbase.

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The 1970 Boston Patriots, though short-lived, marked a turning point for the franchise. In their first NFL season, they struggled, finishing with a dismal 2-12 record. Despite boasting a veteran quarterback in Joe Kapp, the team lacked overall firepower, scoring the fewest points in the league. However, this challenging season wasn’t without significance. It was their last as the “Boston” Patriots, paving the way for their 1971 relocation and rebranding as the “New England” Patriots, a name that would become synonymous with future gridiron glory.

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The 1970 New York Jets were a team of contrasts. Entering the season after a stunning Super Bowl III victory, high expectations loomed. However, injuries, particularly the loss of quarterback Joe Namath, who started only five games in the season, derailed their championship dreams. Despite boasting an innovative offense under head coach Weeb Ewbank, the Jets finished with a disappointing 4-10 record. This season marked a turning point. The team’s struggles following their Super Bowl win highlighted the harsh realities of a league with increasing parity.  However, the 1970 Jets remain significant for their role in the first-ever Monday Night Football game, a broadcast innovation that forever changed how fans experienced the sport.

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Entering the newly merged NFL after a decade in the AFL, hope bloomed for Buffalo.  While they fell short of their playoff dreams, finishing 3-10-1, the season wasn’t without significance. It was their AFL swan song, and the arrival of future Hall of Famers like O.J. Simpson signaled a brighter future.  Led by Coach John Rauch, the Bills displayed flashes of brilliance, including a tie with the Colts, a first for the franchise in two years. While the season itself wasn’t a success, it laid the groundwork for the Bills’ rise to prominence in the coming decade.

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1970 AFC Central Division

The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers would welcome the following American Football League franchises comprised of regionally central/midwest clubs.

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The 1970 Houston Oilers weren’t AFL champions, but they entered the NFL merger with confidence as they made the playoffs but were drubbed by the Raiders. This expansion, along with other AFL teams, formed a new, more powerful NFL. The Oilers, with their talent and fan base, were poised to compete in this tougher league. Wall Lemm remained the head coach while veteran Charley Johnson replaced Pete Beathard at QB for 1970.

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The 1970 Cincinnati Bengals, though a young team in their third year, entered the merged NFL with a bang. Despite joining a division with established NFL franchises like the Browns and Steelers, they defied expectations. After a rough start, they won their final seven games, clinching the AFC Central title and a playoff berth – a franchise first. This success, under legendary coach Paul Brown, solidified Cincinnati’s place in the NFL and set the stage for future Bengal glory. It probably didn’t hurt his feelings that he beat out his old club, the Browns, for the divisional race to do so, either.

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1970 Western AFC Division

The new AFC West was the only sub-group that was constructed of teams that previously had not played in the NFL.

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The 1970 Oakland Raiders, coached by the innovative Al Davis, entered a new era following the AFL-NFL merger. Their aggressive style, dubbed the “Raider Way,” stood out from the NFL’s more conservative approach. This unconventional style challenged the league but gained recognition. While they didn’t reach the Super Bowl in 1970, the Raiders’ impact was undeniable. Their influence helped shape a more exciting and fast-paced NFL in the years to come.

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The 1970 Denver Broncos navigated a year of change. Led by coach Lou Saban, the team joined the NFL after the AFL-NFL merger. This placed them in the competitive AFC West alongside powerhouses like Kansas City and Oakland. Despite a strong start (4-1), the Broncos finished with a middling 5-8-1 record, last in their new division. Running back Floyd Little emerged as a bright spot, leading the conference in rushing yards. Pete Liske started as the signal caller for most of the games. The 1970 season marked a new chapter for the Broncos as they adjusted to a tougher league.

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The Chiefs, AFL champions the prior year, entered the NFL as a dominant team with an innovative offense led by quarterback Len Dawson. Hank Stram pushed his veteran squad to a 7-5-2 campaign, which was good enough for second place in the competitive West. This success continued as they won Super Bowl IV two years later, solidifying their place in NFL history.

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This historic shift from the AFL to the NFL placed the Bolts in the American Football Conference alongside former AFL rivals. Despite the excitement, the Chargers finished 5-6-3, the first of seven losing seasons. While the on-field results were underwhelming, 1970 forever changed the Chargers’ landscape, integrating them into the broader professional football scene.

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Conclusion

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The NFL was now set at 26 teams, a number it would be at for about half a dozen years before the next phase of League expansion would commence after battling off another rival league, the WFL. We will look at these additions and more in the fourth and final edition of this series soon.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 9th, 2024 at 3:30 pm and is filed under NFL History. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.