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Champions of the Other Leagues Playoffs and Championships of the AAFC, AFL, WFL, USFL and XFL |
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Battling For Respectability |
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There have been four significant efforts to challenge the supremacy of the NFL since its inception in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association. These were: The All-America Football Conference (1946-1949), The American Football League (1960-1969), the World Football League (1974-1975) and the United States Football League (1983-1985). Two of these efforts resulted in mergers. The All-American Football Conference merged with the NFL in 1950 and the American Football League merged with the NFL in 1970. The World Football League and United States Football Leagued failed to force mergers or survive and folded after brief existences.
All of these leagues had lives of their own and completed at least one season resulting in playoffs and championship games. These games are reviewed here. For fans of these leagues, these games were significant and provide pleasant memories. Also included here is a look at a modern new concept leagues that existed for one year and fold, the XFL.
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) existed from 1946 to 1949. Although struggling since its inception, the league successfully drew talented athletes and provided a degree of competition for the NFL, forcing a merger in 1949. Three of its teams were admitted into the NFL. Two of these teams, the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns still exist. The Baltimore Colts folded after the first season in the NFL. The enlarged league was renamed the National-American Football League (National Football League was restored in 1950).
American Football League
The American Football League (AFL) operated from 1960 until 1969, when it merged with the NFL. The AFL competed successfully with the NFL and forced a merger in 1966 that occurred in 1970. The Super Bowl was created to showcase the two leagues and the first four games pitted AFL and NFL teams against one another. The merger included all ten AFL franchises became part of the NFL.
World Football League
The World Football League operated in 1974 and part of 1975. The WFL struggle from its inception and did not appear able to survive, they completed the first year and returned in 1975. Six weeks into the 1975 season, the leagued ceased operation.
United States Football League
The United States Football League played three seasons from 1983 through 1985. The league officially folded in 1988 after an antitrust lawsuit. The league was originally organized as a spring and summer sport. The league was by far the most successful competitor to the NFL apart from the American Football League.
XFL
The XFL existed one season, 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment as a joint venture between NBC and the World Wrestling Federation. The league was intended to play during the NFL offseason and was supposed to be football without penalties for roughness and with fewer rules. Despite a strong television contracts, the league never reached a high level of popularity with audiences and folded after its first season.
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