NFL EXPANSION 1937-1970

[Giant Jim]

Over the last few years I've been reading and studying Giants history, especially from 1960-1980.  Through my Giants readings, I often got side tracked with other interesting information. NFL expansion was a topic I found interesting.  8 teams that were in the league by 1933,The Bears, Cardinals, Packers, Giants, Redskins, Lions and the 2 Pennsylvania teams survived the depression, WWII and other hurdles and are still in the league today. By 1970, the league had grown to 26 teams, more than triple and all related to eliminating completion from rival leagues.

[Giant Jim]

Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams-The Cleveland Rams started out playing in what is known as the second American Football League in 1936. The first American Football League was organized by C. C. Pyle featuring Red Grange in 1926 and folded after one season. The Rams were scheduled to play for their league's championship that first season against the Boston Shamrocks. Boston's owner never paid the Rams for their regular season game earlier in Boston and also hadn't paid his players for several games. The Shamrock players refused to travel to Cleveland without being paid the money owed to them. Boston's owner announced to the press the game was canceled because of the weather without consulting with the league or the Rams. The Shamrocks were awarded the league championship due to their higher winning percentage. The game would've made the season profitable for the Rams. The Rams, feeling betrayed by Boston and the league, announced they were leaving the league and started negotiations to join the NFL. The NFL had been playing with an odd number(9) of teams for a few years, and Joe Carr, the commissioner, wanted a tenth team to have an even schedule. The Rams had the 2nd best winning percentage and were in better financial condition than most of the AFL. The Cleveland Rams were chosen and joined the NFL in 1937. After losing the Rams, the 2nd AFL folded before the end of its 2nd season.

Side note- The league wouldn't allow the Rams to move to Los Angles or Dallas until they threatened to leave the NFL. In 1945, as league champions, the NFL was afraid they'd join the AAFC which was starting its first season in 1946, giving the new league instant creditability so they allowed the Rams to move to prevent them from joining the new league.

[Giant Jim]

Other Leagues-The third American Football League was created in 1940, but ceased operations in 1942 due to WWII and never restarted.  In and around 1944, 3 new leagues were formed. The Trans-America Football League (TAFL) and the United States Football League (USFL) organized, but never signed any players or played any games. The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was also formed around 1944 with plans to start playing in 1945. The AAFC later decided to wait until 1946 to start play as potential players were still not back from the war.

From the beginning, the AAFC tried to force a merger with the NFL or have a championship game against their top team. They even tried to negotiate a common draft, but the NFL first wouldn't talk to them, then refused when negotiates started. In the end, 3 teams joined the NFL and the rest folded. Owners of the Buffalo and Los Angeles team's were allowed to buy into existing NFL teams and the players were divided among the NFL teams.

[Giant Jim]

Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49er's- The Browns were by far the best team in the AAFC, winning their championship all 4 seasons of its existence. The 49er's were consistent winners, coming in 2nd place in the AAFC west division every year. The Browns entered the NFL as a powerhouse, playing in the championship game each of their first 6 seasons, winning 3 and continued to be a top team right through the 1960's. The 49er's struggled a bit but held their own upon joining the league.

[Giant Jim]

Baltimore Colts- In 1950, the AAFC's Baltimore Colts joined the NFL with the 49er's and Cleveland Browns. After 1 season (1950), the Colts were dissolved due to financial loses. The Colts struggled with financial problems while in the AAFC but its owners wouldn't approve the merger if their team wasn't included. The Buffalo team would've been a better choice.  The league played the 1950 season with 13 teams.  They played the '51 season with 12 teams, but by the end of that season, the NFL bought the NY Yanks due to heavy loses to the owners. (The Boston Yanks, then NY Bulldogs/NY Yanks NFL team started in 1945).  A Texas group bought an expansion team and the Yanks roster, equipment, etc. and named them the Dallas Texans. The new owners bailed before the end of the 1952 season. Future Dallas Cowboy owner, Clint Murchison Jr tried to buy the Texans, but with a lawsuit against the NFL by the City of Baltimore, the NFL told them they could have the Texans if they could sell 15,000 season tickets. After they did, they were awarded the team, the first time a city was awarded a team without an owner. Carroll Rosenbloom was recruited and bought the team.

[Giant Jim]

The forth American Football league-(The most well known AFL)  Several prospective owners were looking to buy an existing or expansion NFL franchise in the late 1950's. The league, led by the head of the expansion committee, George Halas, made it known there would be no expansion. As his failed negotiations to buy the Chicago Cardinals were wrapping up, Lamar Hunt learned that Bud Adams, Bob Howsam and Max Winter also tried to buy into the NFL and suffered the same fate. He contacted those 3  about starting a new league. Hunt found enough others willing to buy into his new league to put teams in 8 cities, including Los Angles and New York. Organized in 1959, Boston, NY, Buffalo, Houston, Denver, Minneapolis, Dallas and LA would start playing in 1960.

As the first AFL player draft was going down, Max Winter, owner of the Minneapolis team accepted the NFL's offer to join their league. Lamar Hunt and Bud Adams turned down similar offers as the other 5 had already invested heavily in the new league and it would've fell apart on them. Oakland replaced Minneapolis.

This American Football League is responsible for the league expanding from 12 teams in 1959 to 26 teams in 1970, more than double.

[Giant Jim]

Chicago Cardinals-Just for historical perspective. Although the Cardinals are one of the very oldest NFL teams, they were at the center of the founding of the AFL. The Bidwell's wanted to move to St Louis as Chicago wasn't supporting them and they were having financial problems. They couldn't afford the relocation fee the NFL wanted, so they tried to sell 49% of the team. This was unacceptable to Hunt, Adams, Howsam and Winter and the main reason their deals fell through. Upon learning about the new league being formed, the NFL made it easier for the Cardinals to move to St Louis to take away a potential market for the AFL.

[Giant Jim]

Dallas Cowboys-1960- The NFL decided to expand and put a team in Dallas to stop the AFL. They made offers to Lamar Hunt to join their league as part owner of the Dallas Rangers (Cowboys).  Hunt refused, he organized the others to invest money to start the league and their teams and felt allegiance to them. To hurt Hunt and the AFL, the NFL placed an expansion team in Dallas. Feeling the NFL would do whatever it had could to keep the Cowboys in Dallas to hurt his team and league, Hunt eventually moved his team to Kansas City and renamed them the Chiefs. Bud Adams was also approached and refused.

[Giant Jim]

Minnesota Vikings- 1961-Was to be an original AFL team. The first AFL draft was held in Minneapolis at the time Vikings owner Max Winter was close to finalizing the NFL's offer to join. After losing the Vikings, the AFL awarded a team to play in Oakland. The Raiders were given the Vikings draft picks, but by the time they could organize, most picks had already signed with NFL teams.

[Giant Jim]

Atlanta Falcons- Atlanta had a brand new stadium and tried to lure the Chargers to move there. The Texans and Broncos also considered moving  to Atlanta. After the AFL signed its contract with NBC, it announced it  would expand by 2 teams. Atlanta was the first choice. The NFL immediately followed and announced it would also expand by 2 teams. Perspective owners had an agreement with Atlanta Stadium to field an AFL team for the 1966 season. When the NFL found out about the meeting, Pete Rozelle raced down to Atlanta and met with officials the next day. Atlanta chose the NFL and the Falcons began playing in 1967.

[Giant Jim]

Miami Dolphins-After losing out to the NFL for an expansion team in Atlanta, the AFL quickly sold the expansion rights to a group headed by Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas to play in Miami. The Dolphins started playing in the 1966 season.

[Giant Jim]

New Orleans Saints & Cincinnati Bengals- New Orleans and Cincinnati were the favorites to land the 16th NFL team. NFL owners weren't happy Paul Brown was fired by the Brown's Art Model and wanted him back in the league. He wanted full control of the team that hired him and the Falcons & Dolphins were unwilling to give it to him. He had a deal to buy the Philadelphia Eagles but that fell through. He looked into buying the Denver Broncos, but didn't want the AFL. He was in the AAFC when it failed. He felt  Cincinnati would be a good place for a team and put together a group and secured a promise for a stadium. Cincinnati, with Paul Brown, was a big favorite to be that 16th NFL team.

During this time, on again, off again secret merger talks between the NFL & AFL started heating up and an agreement to merge, have a common draft, play a championship game at the end of the season and play as one league starting 1970 was made. The leagues needed an antitrust exemption to finalize the deal and needed help from Congress to get it approved. Pete Rozelle had to promise a team to New Orleans to get the votes needed by a Louisiana senator and congressman. The New Orleans Saints started playing in the NFL in 1967.

There was very little talk between the Saints and Paul Brown to coach. By this time, Brown didn't want to leave Ohio. Brown decided to pursue  the opening for the 10th team in the AFL since it would now be part of the NFL anyway. In May, 1967, Paul Brown was awarded that 10th team and the Bengals started playing in the 1968 season.

[Giant Jim]

1970- Merger was complete. 4 Super Bowls were played, the NFL's Packers won the first 2 and the AFL's Jets and Chiefs winning the 3rd & 4th. One league, the NFL, two 13 team conferences, the NFC and the AFC. All former AFL teams would make up the AFC with the Colts, Browns & Steelers joining them.

[jimv]

GREAT WORK, Giant Jim!!!!!!  You've been reading a lot of the books that I've read.

One interesting point about the Browns coming into the NFL in 1950 was their face-to-face matchups with the Giants.  The Browns were supposed tyo overpower the NFL.  But, when they first faced the Giants, our Giants not only beat them, but shut them out, 6 - 0!!!  The Giants also won the second game of the season but the Browns prevailed in the Playoffs.  That started one of GREAT rivalries in NFL history.  I can still remember when it ended with the Browns moving into the AFC.

[Giant Jim]

GREAT WORK, Giant Jim!!!!!!  You've been reading a lot of the books that I've read.

One interesting point about the Browns coming into the NFL in 1950 was their face-to-face matchups with the Giants.  The Browns were supposed tyo overpower the NFL.  But, when they first faced the Giants, our Giants not only beat them, but shut them out, 6 - 0!!!  The Giants also won the second game of the season but the Browns prevailed in the Playoffs.  That started one of GREAT rivalries in NFL history.  I can still remember when it ended with the Browns moving into the AFC.

Yes, that first season, the Giants were the only team to beat the Browns and did it twice, but the Browns beat the Giants in the playoff game. It became a big rivalry through the '63 season when the Giants crashed. The Browns remained a top team into the 70's and were winning again by 1980. I don't think they ever had extended droughts like the Giants have had. Even after they moved to Baltimore, they were consistent winners.