The American Football Conference (AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL), the highest professional level of American football in the United States. The AFC and its counterpart, the National Football Conference (NFC), each contain 16 teams with 4 divisions. Both conferences were created as part of the 1970 merger between the National Football League, and the American Football League (AFL). All ten of the AFL teams, and three NFL teams, became members of the new AFC, with the remaining thirteen NFL teams forming the NFC. A series of league expansions and division realignments have occurred since the merger, thus making the current total of 16 teams in each conference. The current AFC champions are the Kansas City Chiefs, who defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 season's AFC Championship Game for their fourth conference championship and went on to win Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence. It was more successful than earlier rivals to the NFL with the same name, the 1926, 1936 and 1940 leagues, and the later All-America Football Conference.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its home games at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team plays its home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.
Jason S. Campbell is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. Campbell also played for the Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals. After his playing career, he became an analyst for Auburn Sports Network.
Michael Nugent is an American former football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he won the Lou Groza Award in 2004, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. He was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft, and also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Arizona Cardinals, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears, the Oakland Raiders, and the New England Patriots during his 16-year career.
Rodney Jarvis Sherman was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans.
Frostee Lynn Rucker is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft. Rucker has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and Oakland Raiders.
Kevin Mark Boothe is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Cornell University. He was selected in the sixth round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2006 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls with the team, both against the New England Patriots.
George Robert Allen was an American football defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) for the Houston Oilers. He played college football at West Texas State University.
Darryl Tyger Blackstock is an American college football coach and former linebacker. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders and Florida Tuskers. He is currently the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at William & Mary.
Thomas Arthur Keating was an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1961 to 1963 and played 12 seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1964 to 1975. He was an AFL All-Star in 1966 and 1967, a key to the 1967 Oakland Raiders' defensive line that led the team to a 13–1 record and the 1967 AFL Championship, and was considered "the premier tackle in the old American Football League". He was known for his use of a distinctive four-point stance in which he lined up with both hands on the ground.
Donald Wayne Hollas is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1990s. He played college football for Rice University and thereafter was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL draft. Hollas also played for the Oakland Raiders.
Patrick Sims is an American former professional football defensive tackle. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft and also played for the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Auburn University.
Bruce Edward Davis II is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning All-American honors. Davis was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. In his rookie season, he helped the Steelers defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Richard Ellis Sligh was an American football defensive tackle who played for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL).
Coye Glenn Francies is a former American football cornerback. Francies grew up in Rancho Cordova, California and played college football at American River, Oregon State, and San Jose State. In the 2009 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Francies in the sixth round.
Sidney Sammual Montgomery is an American professional football defensive end for the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he earned All-American recognition.
Trenton Jacoby Brown is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Military College and Florida and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. Brown has also played for the Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots.
David Sharpe is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens, the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Football Team.
