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.
Gerald John Philbin is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the American Football League (NFL) and National Football League (NFL). He was a four-year starter playing college football for the Buffalo Bulls, earning several honors including second-team All-American, Little All-American, and All-American Academic team. Drafted by both the Detroit Lions of the NFL and the New York Jets of the AFL in the third round of their respective 1964 drafts, he joined the Jets and became an immediate starter and perennial All-AFL selection at defensive end. He played stellar defense for them for nine seasons.
The AFL–NFL merger was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). It paved the way for the combined league, which retained the "National Football League" name and logo, to become the most popular sports league in the United States. The merger was announced on the evening of June 8, 1966. Under the merger agreement, the leagues maintained separate regular-season schedules for the next four seasons—from 1966 through 1969 with a final championship game which would become known as the Super Bowl—and then officially merged before the 1970 season to form one league with two conferences.
Edward Leon Budde was an American football guard. He played his entire career for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
James Edwin Otto was an American professional football player who was a center for 15 seasons with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
The American Football League draft, the American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:
- Signing free agents.
- Signing players from the previous year's college graduates.
The American Football League All-Star game was the annual game which featured each year's best performers in the American Football League (AFL). The game was first played in 1961 and the final AFL All-Star game occurred in 1969, prior to the league's merger with the National Football League (NFL).
Willie Edward Lanier, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the AFL All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1975.
Ernest Henry Wright was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 13 seasons, from 1960 to 1969 in the American Football League (AFL), and from 1970 to 1972 in the National Football League (NFL).
Richard Paul Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Miami Dolphins of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons during the 1960s and 1970s. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was selected in third round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft, and he played for his entire professional career for the Dolphins.
Allen Edward Atkinson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played high school ball at Monsignor Bonner High School. He played college football for the Villanova Wildcats as a lineman. He played professionally in the AFL for the New York Jets from 1965 through 1969; then for the NFL Jets 1970 through 1974. He was a member of the Jets' 1968 World Championship team, and an AFL All-Star in 1968.
Robert Douglas Johnson is an American former football center who played for 12 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, first in the American Football League (AFL), and then in the National Football League (NFL). He was the Bengals first-ever draft selection when he was chosen with the second overall pick in the 1968 NFL/AFL draft.
David Allen Kocourek was an American professional football player in the American Football League (AFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers. A four-time AFL All-Star with the San Diego Chargers, he was named to the second team of the AFL All-Time Team.
James Marsalis is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for nine seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).
Maurice "Mo" Moorman is an American former professional football player who was a guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played collegiately for the Texas A&M Aggies, and went to the AFL's Chiefs as a first-round pick in the 1968 AFL draft. After winning the AFL championship with the Chiefs in 1969, he started for them in their victory over the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in the fourth and last AFL-NFL World Championship Game. He wore jersey number 76. He threw the key "trap" block on the famous touchdown play in the game, "65 Toss Power Trap."
Gus Otto is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played for the Raiders in the AFL from 1965 through 1969 and in the NFL from 1970 to 1972. Otto played college football for the Missouri Tigers.
The American Football League (AFL) was a professional American football league that operated in 1936 and 1937. The AFL operated in direct competition with the more established National Football League (NFL) throughout its existence. While the American media generally ignored its operation, this second AFL was the first "home" of the Cleveland Rams, which joined the National Football League after one year in the AFL.
This is a list of players named as All-Pros based on their performance in the 1968 AFL and NFL season. These lists provide a perspective into how players were judged against their peers by critics of their time. Players representing both the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) are included.
The 1966 Houston Cougars football team was an American football team that represented the University of Houston as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In its fifth season under head coach Bill Yeoman, the team compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 125, and was ranked No. 17 in the final UPI/Coaches Poll. The team led the NCAA in total offense with an average of 437.2 yards per game.
