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Draft:List of AFL Champions (1960–69)

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For the list of AFC Championship Games, see AFC Championship Game. For the list of NFC Champions, see List of NFC champions.

The American Football League (AFL) began play in 1960. In 1970, the AFL merged with the NFL. As part of the merger, the former AFL teams, plus three former NFL teams (the Baltimore Colts, the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers), were placed into the AFC. The remaining former NFL teams were placed in the NFC.


Background

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The AFL champion was not necessarily the team with the best record in the regular season. Rather, the champion was decided by the AFC Championship Game (formerly the AFL Championship Game) as part of the post-season playoffs involving the teams with the best regular season records. The Houston Oilers won the first two AFL championships, in 1960 and 1961.[1] The only other team to win two consecutive AFL championships prior to the merger was the Buffalo Bills, who won in 1964 and 1965 with future United States Congressman, HUD Secretary and Vice-Presidential nominee Jack Kemp at quarterback.[1][2]

The Raiders have also been the AFL runner up, as a result of losing the AFL Championship Game, X times.[3]

At the end of the 1966 season, the Super Bowl began to be played between the AFL champion and the NFL champion. After the AFL/NFL merger in 1970, the Super Bowl continued to be played between the AFC champion and the NFC champion. The AFL champion lost the first two Super Bowls. The 1968 AFL champion New York Jets with Joe Namath at quarterback became the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl.

Key

[edit]
Joe Namath was the quarterback for the 1968 AFL champion New York Jets, the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl.
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular AFL or NFL season.
Team Name of AFL or AFC Championship team, linked to the team's championship season
Record Championship team's regular season record wins–losses; if the team played any tie games the record is shown as wins–losses–ties
Head coach Championship team's head coach; if the team had multiple head coaches for the season they are shown in decreasing order of number of regular season wins
Quarterback Name of quarterback with most passing attempts for the AFL/AFC champion during the regular season
Leading Rusher Name of player with most rushing yards for the AFL/AFC champion during the regular season
Leading Receiver Name of player with most receiving yards for the AFL/AFC champion during the regular season
All-Pros List of 1st team AP All-Pros on that season's AFL/AFC champion
Runner Up Name of team that lost the AFL or AFC Championship Game
† Super Bowl Champion
* Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame

AFL championship teams

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Season Team Record Head coach Quarterback Leading rusher Leading receiver All-Pros Runner-up Reference
1960 Houston Oilers 10–4 Lou Rymkus George Blanda* Billy Cannon Bill Groman Jamison, Johnston, Smith Los Angeles Chargers [4]
1961 Houston Oilers 10–3–1 Wally Lemm,
Lou Rymkus[a] 		George Blanda* Billy Cannon Charley Hennigan Banfield, Blanda*, Cannon, Groman, Hennigan, Jamison San Diego Chargers [5]
1962 Dallas Texans 11–3 Hank Stram* Len Dawson* Abner Haynes Chris Burford Burford, Dawson*, Hayes, Headrick, Holub, Hunt Houston Oilers [6]
1963 San Diego Chargers 12–2 Sid Gillman* Tobin Rote Paul Lowe Lance Alworth* Alworth*, Faison, Lincoln, Mix*, Rote Boston Patriots [7]
1964 Buffalo Bills 12–2 Lou Saban Jack Kemp Cookie Gilchrist Elbert Dubenion Barber, Gilchrist, Saimes, Sestak, Shaw*, Stratton San Diego Chargers [8]
1965 Buffalo Bills 10–3–1 Lou Saban Jack Kemp Wray Carlton Bo Roberson Byrd, Kemp, Saimes, Sestak, Shaw*, Stratton San Diego Chargers [9]
1966 Kansas City Chiefs 11–2–1 Hank Stram* Len Dawson* Mike Garrett Otis Taylor Arbanas, Bell*, Buchanan*, Budde, Dawson*, Mays, Robinson*, Taylor, Tyrer Buffalo Bills [10]
1967 Oakland Raiders 13–1 John Rauch Daryle Lamonica Hewritt Dixon Fred Biletnikoff* Davidson, Keating, Lamonica, McCloughan, Otto* Houston Oilers [11]
1968 New York Jets† 11–3 Weeb Ewbank* Joe Namath* Matt Snell Don Maynard* Namath*, Philbin, Sauer Oakland Raiders [12]
1969 Kansas City Chiefs† 11–3 Hank Stram* Len Dawson* Mike Garrett Otis Taylor Bell*, Buchanan*, Budde, Robinson*, Tyrer Oakland Raiders [13]

Footnotes

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  • a Lou Rymkus began the 1961 season as the Houston Oilers' head coach. After the Oilers started the season with a 1–3–1 record, Wally Lemm took over as head coach. The Oilers won all nine games with Lemm as their head coach and went on to win the 1961 AFL Championship Game.[5]
  • b Bob Griese began the 1972 season as the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback. After Griese suffered an ankle injury in the 5th game of the season, Morrall became the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season and ended the season with more passing attempts than Griese. Morrall started the AFC Championship game, but Griese replaced him with the Dolphins behind in the second half and led the Dolphins to the victory. Griese then started Super Bowl VII.[14][15][16][17]*
  • c In 1972 both Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris rushed for 1000 or more yards for the Miami Dolphins. Csonka led the team in rushing yardage, making Morris the only player on an AFC (or NFC) championship team to have at least 1000 rushing yards but not lead the team.[14][18]
  • d Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer each started 8 games for the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Banks is listed here because had 274 passing attempts and Dilfer had 226. But Dilfer was the starting quarterback in the AFC Championship game and in Super Bowl XXXV.[19][20][21]

References

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General
  • "Pro Football Hall of Famers". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
Specific
  1. ^ a b "NFL & Pro Football League Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  2. ^ Stengel, Richard (August 19, 1996). "Jack Be Nimble". Time. Time Inc. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  3. ^ "Oakland Raiders Team Encyclopedia". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  4. ^ "1960 Houston Oilers season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "1961 Houston Oilers season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  6. ^ "1962 Dallas Texans season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  7. ^ "1963 San Diego Chargers season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  8. ^ "1964 Buffalo Bills season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  9. ^ "1965 Buffalo Bills season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  10. ^ "1966 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  11. ^ "1967 Oakland Raiders season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  12. ^ "1968 New York Jets season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  13. ^ "1969 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  14. ^ a b "1972 Miami Dolphins season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  15. ^ Neft, D., Cohen, R. & Korch, R. (1995). The Sports Encyclopedia Pro Football (13th ed.). St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 234–243. ISBN 0-312-13186-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "1972 AFC Championship". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 2, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  17. ^ "Super Bowl VII". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  18. ^ "1,000-yard Duo: Csonka and Morris". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "2000 Baltimore Ravens season". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  20. ^ "2000 AFC Championship". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  21. ^ "Super Bowl XXXV". Pro-Football-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2008.


Championship summary

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Eastern Division Western Division Super Bowl Appearance Super Bowl Victory
AFL Championship Games
Season Date Winning team Score Losing team MVP Venue City Attendance
1960 January 1, 1961 Houston Oilers 24–16 Los Angeles Chargers Billy Cannon Jeppesen Stadium Houston, Texas 32,183
1961 December 24, 1961 Houston Oilers (2) 10–3 San Diego Chargers Billy Cannon Balboa Stadium San Diego, California 29,556
1962 December 23, 1962 Dallas Texans 20–17 (2OT) Houston Oilers Jack Spikes Jeppesen Stadium (2) Houston, Texas (2) 37,981
1963 January 5, 1964 San Diego Chargers 51–10 Boston Patriots Keith Lincoln Balboa Stadium (2) San Diego, California (2) 30,127
1964 December 26, 1964 Buffalo Bills 20–7 San Diego Chargers Jack Kemp War Memorial Stadium Buffalo, New York 40,242
1965 December 26, 1965 Buffalo Bills (2) 23–0 San Diego Chargers Jack Kemp Balboa Stadium (3) San Diego, California (3) 30,361
1966 January 1, 1967 Kansas City Chiefs (2) 31–7 Buffalo Bills Len Dawson War Memorial Stadium (2) Buffalo, New York (2) 42,080
1967 December 31, 1967 Oakland Raiders 40–7 Houston Oilers Daryle Lamonica Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Oakland, California 53,330
1968 December 29, 1968 New York Jets 27–23 Oakland Raiders Joe Namath Shea Stadium Flushing, New York 62,627
1969 January 4, 1970 Kansas City Chiefs (3) 17–7 Oakland Raiders Otis Taylor Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (2) Oakland, California (2) 53,564
  • Eastern Division hosted in even-numbered seasons, Western in odd.

References

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