The 1970 season marked the first with the merged AFL and NFL clubs. Here is how it came about

Commissioner PETE ROZELLE) exchanged correspondence with Dallas Cowboys general manager TEX SCHRAMM, who was acting on behalf of Commissioner Rozelle on a possible merger between the AFL and NFL.

On June 8, 1966, the two leagues announced an agreement in which:

1. The nine AFL clubs (expansion Miami was added in 1966) would pay a total of $18 million over 20 years to join the NFL.

2. Pete Rozelle would serve as commissioner.

3. The leagues would play a championship game following the 1966 season.

4. Existing franchises would remain at present sites.

5. A common draft would be held, beginning in 1967.

6. Two new franchises, one in each league, would be added by 1968 (Cincinnati and New Orleans).

7. Interleague preseason games would be played in 1967, and a common schedule would begin in 1970.

The NFL-AFL merger was approved by Congress on October 21, 1966, when an anti-trust exemption was added as a rider to an anti-inflation tax bill. President LYNDON B. JOHNSON signed the bill into law on November 8, 1966.

In August 1969, after spending 36 hours behind closed doors, NFL and AFL owners announced the creation of two 13-team conferences -- the AFC and the NFC. Three NFL clubs -- the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers -- joined the AFL clubs in the American Conference and the remaining NFL clubs composed the National Conference.

Following is a statistical comparison on how the AFC and NFC have fared since 1970:

COMPARING THE CONFERENCES

 

AFC CATEGORY NFC
* 11 ties in Interconference Games
** Eight series were tied
*** Since 1966
Source: National Football League
1,095Interconference Games Won*978
24Annual Interconference Series Won**8
43,636Points in Interconference Games42,203
21Super Bowl Wins***23
20Individual Passing Titles20
23Individual Rushing Titles17

 

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NFL History - Anniversary of the NFL-AFL Merger