American Football Conference (1959–1961)

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The American Football Conference was a low-level American football league that operated between 1959 and 1961.

History[]

The American Football Conference was formed in July 1959 with the assistance of National Football League commissioner Bert Bell.[1] It was an association of American football clubs that operated from 1959 to 1961 that were mostly based in Ohio, but had some teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Canada. During its existence the AFC operated between semi-professional and minor league level (varied per team).[2] After playing as a semi-professional league for the 1959 and 1960 seasons, the AFC became a minor professional league for the 1961 season.[3]

The played in the AFC in 1960, then left to help form the United Football League in 1961.[4] A new franchise called the Ohio Colts replaced Columbus in the AFC for 1961.[4]

The three biggest teams in the circuit were [5] and [6] that would join the United Football League and the Atlantic Coast Football League (respectively) and the that had survived the collapse of the Ontario Rugby Football Union.[7] Sarnia won the AFC's last championship after beating Toledo in three overtimes, the longest title game in pro football history.[2]

The formation of the UFL and ACFL diminished the level of play, and although the circuit did not immediately die out, after 1961 it was now a purely semi-professional circuit, and the league dissolved entirely before the 1962 season.[8]

1959[]

Team W L T PF PA
8 0 0 195 29
6 2 0 133 74
Dayton Triangles 3 5 0 84 105
2 6 0 65 132
1 7 0 26 145

1960[]

Team W L T PF PA
9 1 0 404 80
8 2 0 269 139
5 5 0 299 242
4 6 0 158 211
Dayton Triangles 4 6 0 85 255
0 10 0 69 357

Larry Buckles (HB, Columbus) was the offensive MVP, Stan Jones (LB, Columbus) was the defensive MVP.

1961[]

Eastern Division
Team W L T PF PA
10 0 0 323 66
6 4 0 178 107
4 5 0 103 138
Dayton Triangles 3 7 0 86 235
Western Division
Team W L T PF PA
9 1 0 284 66
4 5 0 117 195
3 7 0 67 201
0 10 0 6 147

Championship Game: Sarnia 39, Toledo 33 (3OT)

References[]

  1. ^ "Triangles Join New Grid Conference, Open Aug. 29". Dayton Daily News. July 28, 1959. Retrieved April 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Bob Gill, with Tod Maher. Outsiders II: Minor League And Independent Football, 1951-1985, p. vii. St. Johann Press, 2010. ISBN 1878282654
  3. ^ "American Football Conference Is Accepted as Pro Circuit". The Newark Advocate. February 16, 1961. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Cincy Gets Tentative AFC Grant". Dayton Daily News. March 20, 1961. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Autullo, Ryan (April 3, 2014). "New league not coming to Toledo". The Blade. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  6. ^ "Ironmen Join Grid Conference". The Pittsburgh Press. September 9, 1959. p. 50. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  7. ^ "Sarnia Stays of Top with 8 Straight Wins". Hamilton Daily News Journal. Hamilton, Ohio. AP. October 30, 1961. p. 18. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "Triangles Try All Over Again". Dayton Daily News. August 15, 1962. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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