When was the AFC North division officially created?
The 2002 NFL season marked the first year of a new four-team division called the AFC North. Before this change, the league had restructured its divisions to expand from 30 teams to 32 teams.
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The 2002 NFL season marked the first year of a new four-team division called the AFC North. Before this change, the league had restructured its divisions to expand from 30 teams to 32 teams.
The AFC North consists of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. These franchises were established after realignment in 2002 when the Houston Oilers became the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars joined the AFC South.
The combined total of eight championships makes the division the most decorated in NFL history. The Pittsburgh Steelers won six Super Bowls while the Baltimore Ravens claimed two victories in 2001 and 2013.
In 1996, the Cleveland Browns franchise relocated to become the Baltimore Ravens after a controversial decision by owner Art Modell. By 1999, the league reactivated the Cleveland Browns as an expansion team allowing them to inherit the history and records of the original 1946 club.
The 2023 season marked the first time since 1935 that all four teams in an entire division finished with winning records. Each franchise achieved success simultaneously including the Steelers posting their twentieth consecutive non-losing record.