the nfl and the afl merged in the mid - 1960s.
the nfl and the afl merged in the mid - 1960s.
when did the nfl and the afl merge?
the mid - 1960s
bullet::::- nfl western conference divided into coastal and central divisions









































bullet::::- new orleans saints enfranchised by nfl









































bullet::::- atlanta falcons move to western conference









































section::::the 1960s: nfl and afl.:1968.









































bullet::::- cincinnati bengals are enfranchised









































bullet::::- new york giants move to capitol division









































bullet::::- new orleans saints move to century division









































section::::the 1960s: nfl and afl.:1969.









































bullet::::- new york giants move back to century division









































bullet::::- new orleans moves back to capitol division









































section::::the 1970s: afl–nfl merger.









































section::::the 1970s: afl–nfl merger.:1970.









































bullet::::- afl and nfl merge









































bullet::::- afl eastern and western divisions become afc east and afc west, respectively
timeline of the national football league
by contrast, many nfl owners had comparatively little wealth outside the value of their respective franchises. the nfl consistently outdrew the afl at the gate, especially in the afl's first few seasons, thus ensuring that the older league's franchises remained considerably more lucrative enterprises compared to their afl rivals. nevertheless, nfl owners knew they did not have unlimited resources to wage a protracted bidding war with the afl. under this environment, the two leagues quickly came to a gentlemen's agreement—once a player signed with a team, be it from the afl or nfl, teams in both leagues were expected to honor each other's player contracts and not sign players who were under contract with a team in the rival league. the unwritten agreement was broken in may 1966 when the nfl's new york giants signed pete gogolak, the first professional soccer-style placekicker, who had played out his option in 1965 with the afl's buffalo bills. the nfl's breach of trust resulted in retaliation by the afl: oakland raiders co-owner al davis took over as afl commissioner in april 1966, and he stepped up the bidding war after the gogolak transfer, signing notable nfl players, including john brodie mike ditka, and roman gabriel to contracts with afl teams, but after the merger agreement in june, they wound up staying in the older league. both leagues spent a combined $7 million signing their 1966 draft picks.
afl–nfl merger