AFL

American Football League

The American Football League was a professional football league that operated from 1960 to 1969. It was established as a rival to the National Football League (NFL) and became known for its more dynamic and innovative approach to the game, including the adoption of the two-point conversion and the use of player names on jerseys. The AFL successfully established a strong fan base and competitive teams, leading to significant tensions and competition between the AFL and the NFL.

This rivalry culminated in the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, where the AFL’s teams were integrated into the NFL, leading to the creation of the American Football Conference (AFC) within the NFL. The merger also initiated the tradition of the Super Bowl, originally a championship game between the winners of the AFL and NFL, which has since become the annual championship game of the NFL. The AFL had a significant impact on professional football, contributing to the game’s evolution and the NFL’s modern structure.

• Abbreviation: AFL