American Football Conference
SportAmerican football
Founded1959
Ceased1961
Claim to fameThe first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada
No. of teams8
CountryUnited States
Canada
Last
champion(s)		Sarnia Golden Bears
Related
competitions		Ontario Rugby Football Union, United Football League & Atlantic Coast Football League

The American Football Conference was a low-level American football minor league that operated between 1959 and 1961. The AFC was the first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada.

In 1961 the league held the longest title game in pro football history, when Sarnia Golden Bears beat Toledo Tornadoes 39-33 in three overtimes.

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 Columbus Colts 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 Toledo Tornadoes[5] and Duquesne Ironmen[6] that would join the United Football League and the Atlantic Coast Football League (respectively) and the Sarnia Golden Bears 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

TeamWLTPFPA
Duquesne Ironmen 80019529
Melvindale Redskins 62013374
Dayton Triangles 35084105
Toledo Tornadoes 26065132
Newark Rams 17026145

1960

TeamWLTPFPA
Columbus Colts 91040480
Massillon Tigertown Stars 820269139
Melvindale Redskins 550299242
Duquesne Ironmen 460158211
Dayton Triangles 46085255
Toledo Tornadoes 010069357

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

1961

Eastern Division
TeamWLTPFPA
Sarnia Golden Bears 100032366
Port Hurton Raiders 640178107
Ohio Colts 450103138
Dayton Triangles 37086235
Western Division
TeamWLTPFPA
Toledo Tornadoes 91028466
Detroit Redskins 450117195
Cincinnati Mohawk Indians 37067201
Massillon Tigertown Stars 01006147

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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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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