Pro Football History.com Blog

By Stephen Juza,

April 5th, 2025

This last week, the NFL announced that statistics from the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) would now be incorporated into their official record books. While this short-lived league only lasted for four years in the aftermath of World War 2, it produced some revolutionary football that impacted the NFL history books. Now, the statistics from those four years will be incorporated into the NFL books for good. In the upcoming blog series, we look at several ways the integrated history books now are influenced by the addition of the AAFC records.

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But first, what was the AAFC?

The Founding of the All American Football Conference

In 1944, in the midst of WWII, the idea for a new rival league to the NFL was created. This was not the first time people had tried to start a competing league to the NFL - but it was arguably the first successful league. In fact, there were two other rival leagues that were beginning the very same year. However, both the United States Football League and the Trans-America Football League would fold the next year.

Not the AAFC, however. Waiting until after the war ended, the new league and their eight teams began play in the fall of 1946. There were many reasons why the AAFC was better positioned than the failed competitor leagues.

With the war ending, many young men were returning to the USA after serving overseas. Some of these men played in military teams, and despite having college eligibility, could have opted for professional teams instead. The rapid influx of potential players allowed for the increase in competitive teams, almost overnight.

Additionally, commercial air travel was now an option, allowing the league to spread out. Earlier leagues, such as the Ohio Valley League (1925-1929) or the American Football League (1934) basically had to have teams that were accessible in a day by road or by train. Even the NFL from just a decade before only had teams as far west as Green Bay, and as far south as Philadelphia. From the very beginning, the AAFC put a team in Miami and San Francisco.

1946: League Play Begins

While there were many successes for the league right out of the gate, it was not smooth sailing for everyone. While the first season was played with the Miami Seahawks, it was a disastrous initial, and only, season for the franchise. Hurricanes, poor performance, and dismal ticket sales led to the team’s bankruptcy after only one season. However, outside of Miami, there was a lot to celebrate for the new league.

The Cleveland Browns were the definition of excellence for the brief run of the AAFC. They played the first ever game in AAFC history, a 44-0 dismantling of the Miami Seahawks that set the standard for the Browns success. Cleveland went on to win the AAFC championship that season, defeating the New York Yankees 14-9.

But beyond the Browns, many of the teams had stronger attendance than comparable NFL teams, which initially bid the upstart league well. Unfortunately, there was a major competition gap between the best teams (e.g. Cleveland) and the worst teams (e.g. Miami). This would eventually help to lead to the demise of the league.

1947: Financial Struggles Emerge

As with the early NFL days, financial success was not a given. The Miami Seahawks folded after a single season, and several teams played in front of an increasing number of empty seats during the league’s second season. But the top of the league remained strong and stable, with the Cleveland Browns winning the championship again over the New York Yankees. No team in either league drew more fans than the Cleveland Browns as residents turned out to support their championship-winning team.

1948: Cleveland Continues to Dominate

One of the issues with the AAFC was that the top of the league may have been too good relative to the competition. By the time the third season rolled around, the Browns had won both championships over the Yankees, and nothing would change in 1948. Their main rival in the Western division was the San Francisco 49ers, finishing second to the Browns each year (and thus out of the postseason). However, they hoped 1948 would be different.

Both the Browns and the 49ers entered their Week 10 showdown undefeated. A record 82,769 fans as the 49ers kick returner fumbled the opening kickoff, leading to a Browns touchdown a mere three plays later on an Otto Graham QB keeper. The 49ers would rebound, scoring a touchdown on their next drive, but the Browns would deliver the decisive points to win on their first drive of the second half, a 14-7 defensive struggle.

By the end of the 14-game schedule, the Browns would emerge victorious each game, logging only the third perfect season in pro football history.

1949: League Dissolution and the NFL Merger

Financial struggles were plaguing both leagues, and serious talks of merging with the NFL ramped up. One of the sticking points was how many teams were going to join the league. While the top of the AAFC was very strong, the bottom of the league left a lot to be desired. Not only that, but there were several teams in the AAFC that were in direct geographical competition with the NFL.

Chicago already had two NFL teams (Cardinals and the Bears), they didn’t want a third (Hornets) from the AAFC. Same with New York (Giants and the Bulldogs) sharing the same space with the Yankees (AAFC). In Los Angeles, the NFL had the Rams. They didn’t also need the Dons. However, the league would have happily taken the Browns and the 49ers.

The final deal also included bringing the Baltimore Colts over in the merger, while the Dons merged with the Rams. The remaining teams folded, a footnote in the history of professional football. Meanwhile, with the merger deal behind them, the final AAFC championship game took place, with the Browns beating their new NFL companion, the 49ers, 21-7.

Initial Impact on NFL History

Cleveland felt they could compete with the best of the NFL, and they quickly proved it. After winning all four AAFC championships, they continued their winning ways with three NFL championships in their first six years in the new league. In addition, they won their conference championship seven of their first eight years in the NFL.

The 49ers were clearly the second best team in AAFC history, but they did not have the same immediate success when they joined the NFL like the Browns. It took them more than 20 years before they won their first playoff game in their new league, but that was still a better result than the third team included in the merger - the Baltimore Colts.

The team that the NFL didn’t want to take showed almost right away why they should have folded with the other teams. Having never achieved a winning record in the AAFC, the Colts continued their losing ways in 1950, their first and only NFL season. The team finished 1-11, dead last in the league, and they folded due to financial pressure, becoming the last team to ever be contracted by the NFL.

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By Stephen Juza,

March 20th, 2025

The 2025 NFL draft is just over a month away, and the Titans are on the clock for the first overall pick. Coming off a 3-14 season where it felt like nothing could go right, they have numerous holes to fill on their roster. Head coach Brian Callahan has a tall task on rebuilding a team that has finished last in the division the last two years. Who may be joining former second round pick Will Levis on the Titans roster come April 24th?

While we are waiting for Roger Goodell to take the stage in Green Bay to announce the draft picks, Kiwi NFL fans can go participate in online sports betting Nz all offseason long. For fans traveling to Green Bay to experience the draft in person, who are the top candidates to be announced as the newest Titan? Let’s look at the team’s top options for April.

Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Should the Titans feel comfortable moving forward with Levis as their quarterback, they could look to shore up their defensive pressure by taking one of the top pass rushers of the draft in Abdul Carter. Only two teams in the NFL sacked the quarterback less than the Titans did in 2024, and the lack of pressure resulted in the 30th ranked defense in the league. Carter would be crucial for the Titans to compete in the division that also has former rookie of the year C.J. Stroud at quarterback for the Titans.

Carter had an accolade filled year for the Nittany Lions. He was named a first team All-American, Big Ten defensive player of the year, and defensive lineman of the year. On top of those awards, he was named a finalist for the Bednarik Award (given to the top defender in the country) and the Lombardi Award (top offensive or defensive lineman. Carter shined for Penn State en route to a loss in the playoff semifinals against Notre Dame, and would instantly bolster any line in the NFL, and could be a great pick for the Titans.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

If new Titans general Mike Borgonzi decides that Will Levis is not the right quarterback for the future, they could be looking at Cam Ward out of Miami. Borgonzi has witnessed first-hand the transformative impact the quarterback can have for a franchise. He has spent the last several years in Kansas City, with a front office seat to one of the all time greats in Patrick Mahomes. In the last two years, the Titans offense has ranked 27th in points and will need to see some dramatic improvement to compete for the division.

If the team decides to go with Ward, they would hope he will bring record-setting abilities to Nashville. In 2024, Ward set the single season touchdown record for Miami (39), and across his entire career threw for an NCAA-record 158 touchdowns. Ward won the Davey O’Brien award last year, given to the top quarterback in college football, and was named first team All-American en route to a 10-3 season for the Hurricanes.

Trading down in the draft

It’s rare that a team is one player away from competing when they have the first overall draft pick, and trading the pick to a QB needy team and using the haul could fill several holes across the team. With plenty of opportunities to improve the 27th ranked offense of the 30th ranked defense, the Titans need several impact players to really move the needle in 2025.

But why would they decide to trade the pick? In a weaker quarterback class, they may feel better with Levis than any of the rookies to choose from, and the overwhelming majority of first picks are quarterbacks. As the most important position on the field, teams who feel they are a player away could take the risk to jump up in the draft.

Conclusion

While Borgonzi has a big decision ahead in the next month, fans in New Zealand are able to make lower-stakes decisions for a NRL sports bet all year long.

Regardless of who the team chooses, they have a tough road ahead back to contending for the division. Far ahead of the competition are the Texans. They have won the last two division titles since drafting Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson, Jr. in 2023. The remaining teams in the division are struggling with their quarterback, their coach, or both.

While there are always teams that are capable of going worst to first in a division, I would not be willing to bet on the Titans doing it this year. They have too many holes, and the top end talent may not be there in April to provide the instant spark to right the ship.

March 11th, 2025

The NFL is packed to the rafters with excitement, skill, and jaw-dropping moments. Over the years, fans have seen unforgettable games where underdogs shocked everyone by upending the hopes of favorites. These upsets are part and parcel of what makes football so exciting to watch.

From proving "unbeatable" teams wrong, to showing the strength of smaller teams, these games teach us about unexpected wins and never giving up. Let’s look back at four of the biggest NFL upsets and what made them so noteworthy.

Super Bowl III (1969): Jets Sink the Colts

Few upsets are as iconic as Super Bowl III, when Joe Namath and the New York Jets stunned the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. The Jets were the underdogs by a whopping 18 points and came from the upstart AFL, which many doubted could compete with the NFL’s top-tier teams.

Namath’s infamous “guarantee” that his Jets would win was initially dismissed as bravado. But backed by a strong defensive performance, he led New York to a 16-7 victory, shocking the football world and earning the AFL much-needed respect.

This wasn’t just a win for the Jets—it was a victory for the league itself and played no small part in the eventual full AFL-NFL merger. It’s also a reminder to bettors that successful betting on NFL games can come down to much more than the numbers - sometimes even the most outlandish bet can provide returns (but research is still key).

And the takeaway? Never underestimate a confident quarterback and a fired-up defense.

Patriots vs. Rams (Super Bowl XXXVI, 2002): The Birth of a Dynasty

The St. Louis Rams—nicknamed “The Greatest Show on Turf” boasted one of the most effective offenses in NFL history. Led by MVP Kurt Warner, the Rams entered the 2002 Super Bowl as 14-point favorites, and with good reason. They had dominated the season with speed, creativity, and power.

Enter a young Tom Brady and his New England Patriots—a team most football fans saw as nothing more than placeholders - far from serious contenders.. But the Patriots’ defense stifled the Rams' explosive plays, and Brady delivered in the clutch, setting up Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal as time expired.

This shocking 20-17 victory not only crowned the Patriots as champions but also marked the beginning of what would become the Brady-Belichick dynasty. It’s a case study in perseverance and strategy—two factors that allow teams to defy even the most stacked rosters and prove NFL news headlines wrong.

Giants Ruin Perfection (Super Bowl XLII, 2008): 18-1 Belongs to NY

The 2007 New England Patriots were trying to make history. They entered Super Bowl XLII with an unblemished 18-0 record and had shattered offensive records all season. They were poised to be crowned the greatest team in NFL history.

But the New York Giants, led by Eli Manning, had other plans. Clinging to a strategy of relentless defense and just enough offense, the Giants pulled off one of the most exhilarating finishes in football history. Manning’s miraculous escape-and-heave to David Tyree (the now-famous “Helmet Catch”) will forever epitomize this upset. Final score? 17-14.

Jaguars Shock the Broncos (1996 Divisional Round)

Back in ’96, the Jacksonville Jaguars were just a second-year franchise, and nobody expected a deep playoff run. Facing the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional game, sportsbooks had the Broncos favored by a hefty 12 points, supported by Hall-of-Fame quarterback John Elway.

But the Jaguars stunned the Mile High crowd with an impressive 30-27 win, led by quarterback Mark Brunell’s escapability and a calm rushing attack. Up until that game, the Jaguars weren’t even considered contenders.

This game solidified their place in franchise history as giant slayers and proved that anything is possible, even for an inexperienced squad. For NFL fans, it was an awe-inspiring moment that had the league buzzing for weeks.

The Magic of the Underdog

What makes these upsets so compelling is the unpredictability of the NFL. On any given Sunday—or Super Bowl day—the unthinkable can happen. Underdogs might lack elite rosters, but football is a game where grit, strategy, and inspired play often triumph over sheer talent.

For sports enthusiasts, NFL insights help us learn from these historic moments. For bettors, such games highlight that calculated risks can result in incredible stories and even better returns.

Which game stands out in your memory as the ultimate underdog moment? Share your favorite upsets in the comments below, and if you’re considering your next wager, remember—the most exciting bets are often on the unexpected.

March 11th, 2025

The final whistle blows, confetti falls, and a newly crowned champion holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy somewhere in the depths of a stadium still thick with the smell of fireworks and spilled beer. It’s the culmination of months of brutal competition, split-second decisions, and tactics revised and re-revised. And yet, before the last interview is given before the players have even peeled off the celebratory t-shirts from their backs, somewhere—perhaps in a dimly lit office lined with monitors or a home study littered with stat sheets—sports betting analysts have already moved on.

Because for them, the Super Bowl is not an event. It’s part of a giant machine that never stops. The end of one season is just the beginning of another, the first chapter in a book they are already writing. Before the bookmakers release the odds, before even the draft has set the stage for the next generation of talent, the real work has begun. Algorithms are adjusting, historical data is being cross-referenced, and the search for patterns—those tiny nearly imperceptible clues that will unlock the future—is in full swing.

The Long View: Betting On The Future Before The Present Has Settled

For those on the outside, it may seem premature. The 2026 Super Bowl is a year away—who can know with any certainty which teams will be in the mix? The answer is nobody. But certainty is not the currency of sports betting; probability is. And probability, when looked at through the right tools, is a valuable commodity.

The analysts are not predicting the future as much as they are shaping it into something digestible, something that can be eaten, weighed and eventually wagered upon. They are tracking quarterback performances, injury histories, coaching tendencies and even the finer points of player contracts—who will be up for renewal, who might be tempted away by a bigger deal, whose form will peak or falter. The best sports betting apps already have their early odds up, not because the bookmakers know what will happen, but because they know what will be bet on.

Why Analysts Start So Early

To the naked eye, a Super Bowl-winning team looks like it emerges naturally, its path formed by the events of a given season. But analysts see something else. They see trends developing long before they become visible to the rest of us. A team’s salary cap situation may not mean much to a casual fan in February but to those who make their living from forecasting, it means everything. It determines who stays, who goes and—by extension—who wins.

And coaching hires and fires are not just backroom politics but the first domino in a chain reaction that could lead to a Super Bowl in one year. Hiring an innovative OC today might mean a record-breaking QB season in 12 months. A mediocre draft this year could mean trouble in 2025. The pieces are always moving and the smartest people in the room are watching them in real time.

The Rise of Data-Driven Betting

It wasn’t always this way. There was a time when sports betting was driven by gut feeling not insight, when intuition carried more weight than spreadsheets and predictive modelling. But those days are behind us. The rise of analytics in sports has changed everything and the betting world has followed. Now machine learning and complex statistical models are combing through decades of data looking for those 1-2% advantages that over time make all the difference.

This isn’t to say there’s no room for intuition. There will always be human judgment involved—nuances that numbers can’t capture. A team’s chemistry, the effect of a great leader, the chaos of a high-pressure moment—these are things that elude even the smartest models. But they are factored in nonetheless, woven into the probabilities in ways that attempt to quantify the unquantifiable.

What the Data Might Already Be Saying

While no one can say for certain which teams will be in the 2026 Super Bowl, the early signs are already showing. Powerhouse teams with young QBs and strong defense are the obvious contenders, teams with aging rosters and cap issues are already in the ‘outsider’ category. Analysts will be watching how teams draft, how they navigate free agency and how their 2025 schedule shapes up. They will note the teams that won close games and the ones that dominated, the teams that excel in key playoff-style metrics like 3rd down efficiency and red zone conversion rates.

Some teams will already be trending up and others will be slipping away, imperceptibly. That’s where the smart sports bettors make their move. The odds are best before the general public gets wise. Those who wait until next year to bet will do so at a disadvantage, their bets influenced by the narratives that have already been built rather than the raw probabilities that exist today.

Who are the Favourites to Win the Super Bowl 2026?

Predicting a Super Bowl winner this far in advance is always a mix of informed guesswork and gut instinct. Injuries, coaching changes, and unexpected breakouts will shape the season, but a few teams already stand out as early contenders.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles boast one of the most balanced rosters in the league, thanks to Howie Roseman’s smart roster-building. Their strengths include:

Offensive Firepower:

• Saquon Barkley (RB)
• A.J. Brown (WR)
• DeVonta Smith (WR)

Defensive Stars:

• Jalen Carter (DT)
• Nolan Smith Jr. (EDGE)

Key Question: Can they maintain offensive dominance now that coordinator Kellen Moore has moved on?

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens continue to ride the brilliance of Lamar Jackson, supported by a strong supporting cast:

Playmakers on Offense:

• Lamar Jackson (QB)
• Derrick Henry (RB)
• Zay Flowers (WR)

Defensive Anchors:

• Roquan Smith (LB)
• Kyle Hamilton (S)

Key Strength: A well-structured offense under Todd Monken, paired with a dominant defense.

Kansas City Chiefs

As long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are in Kansas City, they’ll remain in the mix. Their key assets include:

Offensive Core:

• Patrick Mahomes (QB)

• Xavier Worthy (WR)

• Rashee Rice (WR)

Defensive Strength: A strong core that has helped them stay competitive year after year.

X-Factor: Mahomes. His ability to elevate the team makes them a perennial contender, regardless of roster changes.

Who Will Come Out on Top? The Eagles have the most complete roster. The Ravens have a hungry superstar in Lamar Jackson. The Chiefs have Mahomes—which might be all they need.

But in the NFL, nothing is certain until the final whistle blows.

February 26th, 2025

By Stephen Juza

As we enter the 2025 NFL offseason, all the head coaching positions are finally filled. Kellen Moore was the last head coach to be hired, as the New Orleans Saints had to wait until Moore’s season with the Eagles was over before offering him the job. With the Eagles victory of the Chiefs, Moore was announced just a few short days later. With all seven spots now filled, how did each team do in finding the next leader for their team?

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#1 - Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

After turning down opportunities to take a head coaching role last season, Ben Johnson was the top coaching prospect this offseason, and for good reason. After leading the explosive Lions offense to the top seed in the NFC, the Lions were fantastic from start to finish this regular season. Johnson has been instrumental in helping to turn around the Lions the last several years, and the Bears will hope that he can work his magic for another NFC North team. His big test will be working with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams in hopes that he can unleash his potential as a former top draft pick.

#2 - Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

After sitting out the 2024 season, Vrabel returned to the NFL as the head coach of the New England Patriots. This offseason, it seemed like the most obvious landing spot for Vrabel, who spent many years playing for the Patriots during his career. Vrabel was a very good coach for the Titans for many years, leading the team to back-to-back division titles for the first time since the 1960s. One of the best coaching hires Vrabel made this offseason was bringing back Josh McDaniels to the team as their offensive coordinator. McDaniels has had great success as an offensive coordinator in the league, and working with Drake Maye will set up the franchise for the future.

#3 - Pete Carroll - Las Vegas Raiders

Another coach who sat out the 2024 season, Pete Carroll returns to the sidelines for his fourth NFL head coaching job. Carroll was fired after 2023’s season as the Seattle Seahawks head coach as the team had grown quite stagnant. Despite his early success with the team, he led the team to only three more playoff games in his last nine seasons in Seattle.

One thing that stands out with the AFC West now that Carroll is leading the Raiders - it may be the most impressive collection of head coaches in league history. All four in the division have won either a Super Bowl or a College Championship, and three have appeared in at least one more. All four coaches are accustomed to winning, so it will be an interesting division to watch as the teams try and navigate a murderer’s row of talent.

#4 - Kellen Moore - New Orleans Saints

Moore was the last one to be hired this offseason, with his fantastic offensive game plan for the Eagles taking them to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Moore has been a good coach in the league for the last few years, but leaving the Cowboys after the 2022 season may have significantly boosted his career. After struggling in 2023 as the offensive coordinator for the Rams, he found his way to the Eagles. Now, the Saints hope he can instill his winning ways on the team. His first major task may be to find a new quarterback to lead the offense after he was non-committal in a recent interview about Carr’s role with the team.

#5 - Aaron Glenn - New York Jets

While Glenn was a top coaching prospect the last two cycles, we are a little hesitant on his success with the Jets. The biggest task facing Glenn on the Jets will be establishing some sort of offensive identity, and he will always have to outsource that responsibility to another coach. He’s tasked Tanner Engstrand, an up-and-coming coach he was previously with the Lions, but with the complete overhaul of the offense coming in the offseason, it could be a tall task for the coaching staff. The Jets consistently have hired defensive-minded head coaches, and it has led the offense to consistently be the weak link on the team.

#6 - Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Coen is certainly one of the hardest to gauge his success this offseason. Not only is he one of the least experienced coaches in the group, he’s not even held the same position for longer than a year since 2018-2019. It’s impossible to measure how he has been able to impact a team’s performance year-after-year because he has constantly jumped between the NFL and college the last several years. While that is a source of concern, his last season as offensive coordinator was a major success. The Buccaneers offense was one of the best in the league, so if he can bring that a little further north to Jacksonville, the team will be happy.

#7 - Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

Rounding out the list is Brian Schottenheimer. The long-time coach in the league felt like a desperate hire to try and maintain some level of consistency after Jerry Jones fumbled the negotiations with former head coach Mike McCarthy. It’s not just us who thinks it’s a risky hire - Jones said as much during the introductory press conference. Schottenheimer has been an exceedingly average coordinator much of his career, and the Cowboys should have had better success this offseason in finding their next coach. The Cowboys have several key playmakers locked down for several years, but their preferred choice as a head coach was Schottenheimer. We don’t expect him to coach out his four-year contract with the Cowboys.