The American Football Federation (AFF) (pronounced A*double F) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided between the Atlantic Conference (AC) and the Pacific Conference (PC). The AFF developed out of a merger between the USFL and the NFL. The AFF has become one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world. The AFF's 17-week regular season runs from Labor Day until Christmas, with each team playing sixteen games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, six teams from both conferences (four division winners and two wild card teams) advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament culminating in the All America Bowl, played between the champions of the AC and PC.
The AFF was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season; the merger was completed in 1970. Officially founded on July 7, 1985, the NFL merged with the USFL and renamed itself once again as the AFF prior to the first All America Bowl in February 1986. Today, the AFF has the highest average attendance (67,591) of any professional sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States. The All America Bowl is among the biggest club sporting events in the world and individual All America Bowl games account for many of the most watched television programs in American history, all occupying the Nielsen's Top 5 tally of the all-time most watched U.S. television broadcasts by 2015. The AFF's executive officer is the commissioner, who has broad authority in governing the league.
Organization[]
PACIFIC CONFERENCE[]
WESTERN DIVISION[]
- Seattle Needlers. (Seattle, WA)
- Portland Pioneers. (Portland, OR)
- Reno Knights (Reno, NV)
- Sacramento Capitals (Sacramento, CA)
- San Francisco Condors (San Francisco, CA)
- Las Vegas Rollers (Las Vegas, NV)
- Los Angeles Bobcats (Los Angeles, CA)
- San Diego Wildfire (San Diego, CA)
MOUNTAIN DIVISION[]
- Utah Raptors (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Colorado Cougars (Denver, CO)
- Arizona Scorpions (Phoenix, AZ)
- New Mexico Armadillos (Albuquerque, NM)
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE[]
CENTRAL DIVISION[]
- Minnesota Monarchs (Minneapolis, MN)
- Raccine Shippers (Racine, WI)
- Chicago Wind (Chicago, IL)
- Detroit Autos (Detroit, MI)
- Kansas City Outlaws (Kansas City, MO)
- Indiana Cardinals (Indianapolis, IN)
- Dallas Wranglers (Dallas, TX)
- Houston Drillers (Houston, TX)
EASTERN DIVISION[]
- Ohio Savages (Columbus, OH)
- Pittsburgh Iron Men (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Tennessee Mustangs (Nashville, TN)
- Philadelphia Liberty (Philadelphia, PA)
- Washington Federals (Washington, DC)
- Baltimore Spartans (Baltimore, MD)
- Boston Minutemen (Boston, MA)
- New York Warriors (New York City, NY)
SOUTHERN DIVISION[]
- Carolina Aviators (Charlotte, NC)
- Georgia Rebels (Atlanta, GA)
- Florida Rockets (Miami, FL)
- Louisiana Crescents (New Orleans, LA)