1970 AFL-NFL Merger Game
The merger that reshaped professional football.
The AFL–NFL merger was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). It paved the way for the combined league, which retained the 'National Football League' name and logo, to become the most popular sports league in the United States. The merger was announced on the evening of June 8, 1966. Under the merger agreement, the leagues maintained separate regular-season schedules for the next four seasons—from 1966 through 1969 with a final championship game which would become known as the Super Bowl—and then officially merged before the 1970 season to form one league with two conferences.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Shea Stadium, New York, New York
Lore & Background
The AFL emerged in 1959 after Lamar Hunt was rebuffed in his attempts to gain ownership of an NFL team. The new league had six franchises by August 1959 and eight by its first opening day in 1960, including the Titans of New York (later renamed the Jets). The AFL signed stars from small colleges and predominantly black colleges, as well as major college talents like Joe Namath. The Jets' signing of Namath to an unprecedented $427,000 contract helped the AFL begin to prosper in the mid-1960s. The merger was announced in 1966, with the leagues maintaining separate schedules through 1969 and officially merging before the 1970 season.
Reader's Guide
The 1970 season opener for the New York Jets was against the Cleveland Browns, not the Buffalo Bills.
Did You Know?
- The AFL introduced a 14-game regular season schedule, which the NFL adopted in 1961.
- The AFL introduced players' last names on the back of jerseys.
- The AFL had one network television broadcast package for league games, first with ABC from 1960 through 1964, then with NBC.
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