The American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) represent two distinct entities in professional American football history. One was a challenger league that successfully merged with its established counterpart. The other represents the dominant force in the sport, attracting massive viewership and revenue. Examining the organizations and their respective club structures reveals differences in their origins, philosophies, and impacts on the game’s evolution.
The significance of the AFL lies in its challenge to the NFL’s established dominance during the 1960s. The AFL’s innovation in offensive strategies, coupled with its willingness to sign players overlooked by the NFL, ultimately forced a merger that reshaped the landscape of professional football. The mergers benefits included an expanded fanbase, increased competition, and the creation of the Super Bowl, the championship game that pitted the best clubs from each league against each other.