When did the AFL-NFL merger take place?
The merger was announced on the evening of the 8th of June, 1966. The two leagues fully combined into one league with two conferences before the 1970 season.
Questions about AFL–NFL merger
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did the NFL and AFL merge?
Years of bidding wars over players, a broken gentlemen's agreement over player contracts, and shared fears that the reserve clause would fail a legal challenge pushed both leagues toward a merger. The agreement also secured an antitrust exemption from the 89th United States Congress.
Who negotiated the AFL-NFL merger?
Dallas Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm secretly contacted AFL owners led by Lamar Hunt of Kansas City, without informing AFL Commissioner Al Davis. Pete Rozelle, the NFL Commissioner, was later named chief executive of the AFL as well.
What happened to the Super Bowl because of the AFL-NFL merger?
The merger agreement created an annual AFL-NFL World Championship Game beginning in January 1967, played at a predetermined site rather than a home stadium. That game grew into the Super Bowl.
Which NFL teams joined the AFC after the AFL-NFL merger?
The Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers left the old NFL to join the ten AFL teams, forming the American Football Conference. The other thirteen NFL teams formed the National Football Conference.
How did old-line NFL teams perform against former AFL teams after the merger?
In the 1970 season, former AFL teams went 19-39 against old-line NFL teams across 60 regular season games, with two games ending in ties. Only the Oakland Raiders posted a winning record against old-line NFL opposition, going 3-2, before losing to the Colts in the AFC championship game.