When Leagues Collided: The NFL–AFL Merger and the Conference Shuffle
In the late 1960s, the NFL and its rival league, the AFL, decided it was time to become one. What started as costly bidding wars for star players ended in impactful unity — and the birth of the modern Super Bowl. Implemented fully in 1970, the merger reshaped professional football into two conferences: the AFC and NFC.
But aligning 26 teams into two fair conferences wasn’t as simple as snap — it required strategy. All 10 AFL teams moved into the new American Football Conference (AFC), leaving an imbalance: 10 in the AFC, and 16 in the NFC — if all NFL teams remained in the latter. To even things out, three NFL franchises agreed to switch over.
Pre-Merger League Structure: The NFL and AFL in 1969
Before the merger was finalized in 1970, the NFL and AFL operated as separate leagues, each with their own teams, rules, and divisional structures. Here's how things looked in the final season before unification:
National Football League (NFL)
16 teams, split into two conferences (Capitol and Century in the Eastern Conference, Coastal and Central in the Western Conference):
NFL Eastern Conference
Capitol Division:
- Dallas Cowboys
- Washington Redskins
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New Orleans Saints
Century Division:
- Cleveland Browns
- St. Louis Cardinals
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Western Conference
Coastal Division:
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Baltimore Colts
- Atlanta Falcons
Central Division:
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
American Football League (AFL)
10 teams, split into two divisions:
AFL Eastern Division
- New York Jets
- Buffalo Bills
- Boston Patriots
- Miami Dolphins
- Houston Oilers
AFL Western Division
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Cincinnati Bengals
This alignment resulted in 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, which posed a challenge when the leagues merged: 26 teams had to be split into two balanced conferences. That’s where the key move happened — and why three legacy NFL franchises agreed to switch over to the new AFC.
The Three NFL Teams That Switched to the AFC
To create balance — 13 teams in each conference — the following NFL teams defected to the AFC:
- Baltimore Colts
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
All ten AFL franchises, plus these three NFL teams, formed the AFC, while the remaining 13 pre-merger NFL teams comprised the NFC. This realignment was essential for conference symmetry and paved the way for fair competition post-merger.
Why These Teams? A Little of This, a Little of That
Various reasons motivated these moves:
- Creating regional rivalries in the new AFC: the Browns and Steelers, for instance, now reignited their Ohio-based feud on a new stage.
- Financial incentives and NFL consensus played a role, with team owners seeing advantages in accepting the switch.
The Colts owner, Carroll Rosenbloom, along with Art Modell (Browns) and Art Rooney (Steelers), agreed to the switch as part of broader league restructuring — ensuring fairness and continuity.
Setting the Stage: Pre-Merger Structure
Before merging, the NFL and AFL operated separately:
- NFL: Established league dating back to the 1920s, known for historic franchises like the Packers, Bears, and Giants.
- AFL: A newer league formed in 1960, attracting talent with aggressive expansion and innovation (two‑point conversions, wide-open offenses).
Winning the final NFL championship or AFL title earned prestige — but the merger introduced something bigger: the Super Bowl, originally a championship matchup between the two leagues.
After the Realignment: How the Conferences Looked
- AFC: All 10 original AFL teams + Colts, Browns, Steelers = 13 teams
- NFC: The remaining NFL teams = 13 teams
This setup created symmetry and competitive parity and shaped the postseason we know today.
Conclusion: What If...
The realignment was essential in creating a balanced professional football landscape. Without shifting these three NFL stalwarts into the AFC, the merger would have been far messier — both structurally and competitively.