1970 AFL-NFL Merger

Lore & Background

For nearly a decade, the Jets competed under the banner of the American Football League, often viewed as the challenger to the NFL's dominance. The 1970 merger ended that narrative, folding the AFL teams into the existing NFL framework. For New York fans, this meant the end of the separate AFL championship season and the beginning of a unified schedule where every game carried equal weight toward a single league title. The structural changes were profound. The Jets found themselves in the AFC East alongside former rivals like the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, as well as the Baltimore Colts—an NFL transplant that made the division a mix of three original AFL teams (Jets, Bills, Dolphins) and one NFL team (Colts), with the Patriots also placed in the AFC East alongside the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, and Colts. While the Super Bowl III victory had proven the AFL could win, this merger ensured that future victories would be measured against the entire NFL world. It was a time of administrative consolidation, where rosters were evaluated under new draft rules and league-wide regulations—though salary caps would not arrive until decades later.

In Their Own Story

The locker room at Shea Stadium felt different in August 1970. The green and white helmets sat on benches alongside schedules that no longer listed AFL opponents as separate entities. A veteran player traced the new divisional map with a calloused finger, noting how the landscape had shifted overnight. Outside, the autumn wind blew across the gridiron, carrying the scent of cut grass and popcorn. Inside, the realization settled in: they were no longer outsiders knocking on the door. They were part of the house now.

Reader's Guide

The path to 1970 began with years of negotiation between league owners seeking stability and growth. When the dust settled, the Jets found themselves no longer fighting for legitimacy but competing within a unified structure. The first season under the new banner brought immediate challenges as old AFL rivals became permanent divisional foes in the AFC East. At Shea Stadium, fans witnessed the final days of the separate AFL identity before embracing the NFL standard. Schedules expanded, and the draft pools merged, altering how teams built rosters for decades to come. This era defined the modern Jets franchise, anchoring them firmly within the national landscape rather than as a regional challenger. Though the glory of Super Bowl III was past, the merger promised stability. The organization adapted its operations to meet NFL standards, setting the groundwork for future eras despite initial struggles on the field.

Did You Know?

• The Jets were one of three original AFL teams placed in the AFC East division upon the official merger, alongside the Bills and Dolphins; the Patriots were also placed in the AFC East alongside the Jets, Bills, Dolphins,
• A unified draft system began in 1967, three years before the merger took effect in 1970.
• Joe Namath remained with the franchise during this transition period before his eventual departure years later.
• This merger ended the separate AFL championship season that had existed independently since 1960.