AFL–NFL merger

The AFL–NFL merger was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL).[1] It paved the way for the combined league, which retained the "National Football League" name and logo, to become the most popular sports league in the United States. The merger was announced on the evening of June 8, 1966.[2][3][4][5] Under the merger agreement, the leagues maintained separate regular-season schedules for the next four seasons—from 1966 through 1969 with a final championship game which would become known as the Super Bowl—and then officially merged before the 1970 season to form one league with two conferences.[6][7]

  1. ^ "NFL and AFL announce merger". The History Channel.
  2. ^ Maiorana, Sal (December 16, 2020). "1966: Big TV Money Arrives, and Merger Talks go the Distance". SportsRaid. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "How NFL, AFL will run from single wing". Miami News. Associated Press. June 9, 1966. p. 16A.
  4. ^ Schramm, Tex (June 20, 1966). "Here's how it happened". Sports Illustrated. p. 14. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "NFL and AFL announce merger | June 8, 1966". HISTORY. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Anderson, Dave (January 21, 2001). "Sports of The Times; A New York-Baltimore History Lesson for the N.F.L." New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Wallace, William N. (June 1, 1969). "Pro Football Is Slated to Finish Realignment at N.F.L. Meetings This Week; ROZELLE EXPECTS MUCH BARGAINING". New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
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