1967 NFL season

• 1. League Expansion And Realignment

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  The National Football League added its 16th team in 1967 when the New Orleans Saints joined the ranks of existing franchises. This expansion forced a complete restructuring of how conferences and divisions operated across the league. The NFL split its eight-team divisions into two eight-team conferences, each containing two new divisions named Capitol and Century for the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference received Central and Coastal divisions to match this new structure. Teams like Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, and New Orleans formed the Capitol Division while Cleveland, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and New York comprised the Century Division. The Central division included Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota whereas Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and San Francisco made up the Coastal division. Initially the Capitol Division carried the name Federal Division before officials changed it on the 30th of November 1966. The Saints and New York Giants agreed to switch divisions temporarily to allow all Eastern Conference teams to visit New York at least once over three years. This realignment meant each division winner advanced to an expanded four-team playoff system.

• 2. The Ice Bowl Championship

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  Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Championship Game played under freezing conditions on December 31. The game became known as the Ice Bowl due to temperatures that dropped well below zero during play. Jerry Kramer famously blocked for quarterback Bart Starr on a crucial quarterback sneak that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. The cold weather turned the field into a frozen landscape where players struggled with visibility and footing. Snow covered the turf and ice formed on the grass creating hazardous conditions for athletes. The stadium atmosphere reflected the harsh reality of winter football in Wisconsin. Fans bundled against the chill while watching one of the most memorable championship games in history. The final score favored the Packers who managed to overcome the extreme elements. This victory secured their place in league history as champions of the 1967 season.

• 3. Super Bowl II Victory

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  Two weeks after the Ice Bowl the Green Bay Packers faced the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II held at Miami's Orange Bowl on the 14th of January 1968. Vince Lombardi coached his final game as head coach before retiring from professional football. The Packers won the match 33, 14 defeating the American Football League champion team. At the time officials called it the AFL-NFL World Championship Game though fans commonly used the term Super Bowl. The three-peat achievement by the 1965-67 Packers marked them as the second team in NFL history to win three consecutive championships. The first team to accomplish this feat was the same Packers squad from 1929 through 1931. No other franchise has matched this streak since that era ended. The victory solidified Lombardi's legacy as a legendary figure in American sports history.

• 4. Tiebreaker Controversy

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  The Baltimore Colts finished with an elite record of 11 wins and one loss plus two ties yet were excluded from the postseason due to new tiebreaking rules. These regulations prioritized net points in head-to-head competition over overall win-loss records when teams tied for division leads. The Los Angeles Rams secured the Coastal Division title despite having fewer total victories than Baltimore. A 34, 10 win by the Rams over the Colts in their last regular season game proved decisive. Earlier in October both teams had played to a 24, 24 tie in Baltimore. The Rams held a 24-point edge over Baltimore in head-to-head meetings which gave them the tiebreaker advantage. Other division winners each recorded only nine victories during the season. This controversy highlighted flaws in how ties were handled under the new system implemented starting in 1967.

• 5. Equipment And Rule Changes

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  Standardization efforts introduced gold-painted goalposts shaped like tuning forks or slingshots across all NFL fields. These posts replaced previous offset designs featuring non-curved supports extending directly from the ground behind the crossbar. Before this change supports sat directly on the goal line itself. Posts also required bright gold paint to improve visibility for players and spectators alike. The new goalposts debuted during the previous season's Playoff Bowl before becoming mandatory league-wide. Officials also mandated a border around the field with its outer edge marking the closest point non-participants could approach. This boundary enabled referees to maintain a running lane while working near the action. Equipment updates aimed to enhance safety and clarity throughout games played that year.

• 6. Drafts And Coaching Shifts

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  The common draft between the NFL and AFL took place March 14 through 15 at New York City's Gotham Hotel. The Baltimore Colts selected defensive tackle Bubba Smith from Michigan State as their first pick overall. An expansion draft held the 9th of February 1967 allowed the New Orleans Saints to choose 42 players from existing teams. Year-old Atlanta Falcons remained exempt from losing any roster members during this process. Several coaching changes occurred including Harry Gilmer being replaced by Joe Schmidt in Detroit. Norm Van Brocklin stepped down as Minnesota Vikings head coach and Bud Grant took over his duties. Tom Fears became the inaugural head coach of the expansion team New Orleans Saints. These personnel moves reflected shifting strategies across franchises preparing for the upcoming season. Stadium changes included the Saints beginning play at Tulane Stadium instead of other venues.