How The AFL Made The NFL What It Is Today
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By Steve Rivera | September 19, 2022 9:14 am ET
It’s impossible to watch the NFL in 2022 without knowing the history of the league. Before ESPN, the NFL Network, or Super Bowl Sunday, the league was popular, if not a bit stuffy.
In 1960, the eight charter members of the American Football League were established with two divisions of four teams. The Western Division would feature the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Dallas Texans. The Eastern Division was represented by the Boston Patriots, New York Titans, Buffalo Bills, and the Houston Oilers.
The Foolish Club
Texas oil magnates Lamar Hunt and Bud Adams, Jr. were refused entry into the NFL in 1959. In response, they contacted other businessmen in hopes of forming a rival to the established NFL. They conceived an idea for an eight-team professional football league. The American Football League became their vehicle.
