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{{Short description|American Football League season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox AFL2
{{Infobox AFL2
Line 5: Line 6:
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| caption =
| Eastchampion = [[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
| Eastchampion = [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]
| Westchampion = [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]
| Westchampion = [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]
| AFLchampion = '''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''
| AFLchampion = [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]
| regular_season = September 7, 1969 – December 14, 1969
| regular_season = September 14 –<br>December 14, 1969
| playoffs_start = December 20, 1969
| playoffs_start = December 20, 1969
| sb_site = [[Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum]],<br>[[Oakland]], [[California]]
| sb_site = [[Oakland Coliseum|Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]], [[Oakland, California]]
}}
}}
{{AFL Team Map 1969}}
The '''1969 [[American Football League]] season''' was the tenth and last[[season (sports)|regular season]] of the American Football League, and the last one before the [[AFL-NFL Merger]]. To honor the AFL's tenth season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] player wore a patch on his jersey with the logo during [[Super Bowl IV]], the final [[Professional American football championship games|AFL-NFL World Championship Game]] prior to the merger of the two leagues.


[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 49 - Robert Holmes.jpg|right|thumb|The Chiefs topped the Raiders in the [[1969 American Football League Championship Game|1969 AFL championship game]].]]The '''1969 AFL season''' was the tenth and final [[season (sports)|regular season]] of the [[American Football League]]. To honor the AFL's tenth season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] player wore a patch on his jersey with the logo during [[Super Bowl IV]], the final [[Professional American football championship games|AFL-NFL World Championship Game]] prior to the [[AFL–NFL merger]].
The Chiefs defeated the [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] in the final AFL Championship Game, then soundly defeated the [[National Football League]]'s [[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in Super Bowl IV.

The Chiefs defeated the [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] in the [[1969 American Football League Championship Game|final AFL Championship Game]], then soundly defeated the [[National Football League]]'s [[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in Super Bowl IV.


==Division races==
==Division races==
In its final two years of existence the AFL had ten teams, grouped into two divisions. Each team played a home-and-away game against the other four teams in its division, a home-and-away series against one of the five teams in opposite division, and one game each against the remaining four teams from the opposite division. Interestingly, using that format, the [[1968 New York Jets season|defending World Champion]] [[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] went 10–0 against the five teams they played twice (i.e., their four weak divisional rivals plus last-place second-year [[1969 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati]]) while going 0–4 against the top four teams in the West.
In its final two years of existence, the AFL had ten teams, grouped into two divisions. Each team played a home-and-away game against the other four teams in its division, a home-and-away series against one of the five teams in opposite division, and one game each against the remaining four teams from the opposite division. Using that format, the [[1968 New York Jets season|defending World Champion]] [[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] went 10–0 against the five teams they played twice, but were 0–4 against the top four teams in the West.


For the 1969 season, a provision was made for a four team playoff to determine the AFL Champion, the league's representative in the Super Bowl, with the #1 team in the division to play against the #2 team in the opposite division. The NFL also had a four team playoff, introduced in {{nfly|1967}}, matching the winners of the Capitol and Century divisions, and the Coastal and Central divisions.
For the 1969 season, a provision was made for a [[1969–70 American Football League playoffs|four-team playoff]] to determine the AFL champion, the league's representative in the Super Bowl, with the #1 team in the division hosting the #2 team in the opposite division. The NFL also had a [[1969–70 NFL playoffs|four-team playoff]], introduced in {{nfly|1967}}, matching the winners of the Capitol and Century divisions, and the Coastal and Central divisions.


The 1970 merger placed the 10 AFL teams (along with 3 teams from the pre-1970 NFL) into the 13-team AFC. (The other NFL teams went into the 13-team NFC.)
The 1970 merger placed the ten AFL teams (along with three teams from the pre-1970 NFL) into the 13-team [[American Football Conference|AFC]]. The other NFL teams went into the 13-team [[National Football Conference|NFC]].


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 166: Line 169:
|-
|-
| align=center|14
| align=center|14
| bgcolor="#004851"|'''[[1969 New York Jets season|<span style="color:white;">N.Y. Jets</span>]]'''
| N.Y. Jets
| 10–4–0
| 10–4–0
| bgcolor="#4495D2"|'''[[1969 Houston Oilers season|<span style="color:white;">Houston</span>]]'''
| Houston
| 6–6–2
| 6–6–2
| bgcolor="#999999"|'''[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|<span style="color:black;">Oakland</span>]]'''
| Oakland
| 12–1–1
| 12–1–1
| bgcolor="#CC0000"|'''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|<span style="color:gold;">Kansas City</span>]]'''
| Kansas City
| 11–3–0
| 11–3–0
|}
|}


==Standings==
==Regular season==
===Results===
For its tenth and final season before merging with the NFL, the AFL instituted a four team playoff tournament with the second place teams in each division also participating.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"

|-
<div style="float:left; width:48%;">
!colspan="2" rowspan=2| Home/Road
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" border="1"
!colspan="5"| Eastern Division
|- bgcolor="#ffcbcb"
| colspan="7" align="center" | '''Eastern Division'''
!colspan="5"| Western Division
|-
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! [[1969 Boston Patriots season|BOS]]
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
! [[1969 Buffalo Bills season|BUF]]
|- align="center"
|align="left"| *''[[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]''
! [[1969 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
! [[1969 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
|10||4||0||.714||353||269
! [[1969 New York Jets season|NY]]
|- align="center"
|align="left"| ''[[1969 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]''
! [[1969 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
! [[1969 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
|6||6||2||.500||278||279
! [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1969 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]]
! [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
! [[1969 San Diego Chargers season|SD]]
|4||10||0||.286||266||316
|-
|- align="center"
|rowspan="5"|Eastern
|align="left"| [[1969 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
|align="left"|[[1969 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]]
|4||10||0||.286||230||359
|style="background:#000"|
|- align="center"
|style="background:#cfc"|35–21
|align="left"| [[1969 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]
|style="background:#cfc"|24–0
|3||10||1||.231||233||332
|style="background:#fcc|16–17
|style="background:#fcc|14–23
|
|
|style="background:#fcc|0–31
|style="background:#fcc|23–38
|style="background:#fcc|10–13
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
|style="background:#cfc"|23–16
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#fcc|3–17
|style="background:#cfc"|28–3
|style="background:#fcc|19–33
|style="background:#cfc"|16–13
|style="background:#cfc"|41–28
|style="background:#fcc|7–29
|
|
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]
|style="background:#cfc"|27–23
|style="background:#cfc"|28–14
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#cfc"|22–10
|style="background:#fcc|26–34
|style="background:#ffc"|31–31
|style="background:#cfc"|24–21
|
|
|style="background:#fcc|17–21
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]
|style="background:#fcc|23–38
|style="background:#cfc"|24–6
|style="background:#fcc|7–32
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#fcc|9–27
|
|style="background:#cfc"|27–24
|
|style="background:#ffc"|20–20
|style="background:#fcc|14–21
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
|style="background:#cfc"|23–17
|style="background:#cfc"|16–6
|style="background:#cfc"|26–17
|style="background:#cfc"|34–31
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#cfc"|40–7
|
|style="background:#fcc|16–34
|style="background:#fcc|14–27
|
|-
|rowspan="5"|Western
|align="left"|[[1969 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]
|style="background:#fcc|14–25
|
|
|style="background:#cfc"|27–21
|style="background:#fcc|7–21
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#fcc|23–30
|style="background:#cfc"|24–19
|style="background:#cfc"|31–17
|style="background:#cfc"|34–20
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]
|style="background:#cfc"|35–7
|
|style="background:#ffc"|20–20
|
|style="background:#cfc"|21–19
|style="background:#cfc"|27–16
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#fcc|13–26
|style="background:#fcc|14–24
|style="background:#cfc"|13–0
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]
|
|style="background:#cfc"|22–19
|style="background:#cfc"|24–0
|style="background:#cfc"|17–10
|
|style="background:#cfc"|42–22
|style="background:#cfc"|31–17
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#fcc|24–27
|style="background:#cfc"|27–3
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]
|
|style="background:#cfc"|50–21
|style="background:#cfc"|21–17
|style="background:#cfc"|20–17
|
|style="background:#cfc"|37–17
|style="background:#cfc"|41–10
|style="background:#cfc"|10–6
|style="background:#000"|
|style="background:#cfc"|21–16
|-
|align="left"|[[1969 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]
|style="background:#cfc"|28–18
|style="background:#cfc"|45–6
|
|
|style="background:#cfc"|34–27
|style="background:#cfc"|21–14
|style="background:#cfc"|45–24
|style="background:#fcc|9–27
|style="background:#fcc|12–24
|style="background:#000"|
|}
|}
</div><div style="float:right; width:48%;">
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" border="1"
|- bgcolor="#ccffff"
| colspan="7" align="center" | '''Western Division'''
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- align="center"
|align="left"| *''[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]''
|12||1||1||.923||377||242
|- align="center"
|align="left"| ''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs|Kansas City Chiefs]]''
|11||3||0||.786||359||177
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1969 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]
|8||6||0||.571||288||276
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1969 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]
|5||8||1||.385||297||344
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[1969 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]
|4||9||1||.308||280||367
|}
</div>{{clear}}


===Standings===
<nowiki>*</nowiki> — Team won division.<br/>
For its tenth and final season before merging with the NFL, the AFL instituted a [[1969–70 American Football League playoffs|four team playoff tournament]] with the second place teams in each division also participating.
''Italics'' mean team qualified for the playoffs.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{1969 AFL Eastern standings}}
{{col-2}}
{{1969 AFL Western standings|hidenote=y}}
{{col-end}}


==Playoffs==
==Playoffs==
{{main|AFL playoffs, 1969}}
{{main|1969–70 American Football League playoffs}}
{{Round4
{{Round4
<!--Date-Place|Team 1|Score 1|Team 2|Score 2 -->
<!--Date-Place|Team 1|Score 1|Team 2|Score 2 -->
<!--semi-finals -->
<!--semi-finals -->
|RD1 = Divisional Playoff Games
|RD1 = Divisional Playoff Games
|RD2 = AFL Championship Game
|RD2 = [[1969 American Football League Championship Game|AFL Championship Game]]
|December 20, 1969 – [[Shea Stadium]]|'''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''|13|[[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]|6
|December 20, 1969 – [[Shea Stadium]]|'''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''|13|[[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]|6
|December 21, 1969 – [[McAfee Coliseum|Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum]]|[[1969 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]|7|'''[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]'''|56
|December 21, 1969 –<br>[[Oakland Coliseum|Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]]|[[1969 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]|7|'''[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]'''|56
<!--final -->
<!--final -->
|January 4, 1970 – [[McAfee Coliseum|Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum]]|'''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''|17|[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]|7}}
|January 4, 1970 –<br>[[Oakland Coliseum|Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]]|'''[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''|17|[[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]|7}}

===Super Bowl===
{{main|Super Bowl IV}}<!--Super Bowl before the AFL-NFL merger-->
The [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] defeated the [[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] 23–7 at [[Tulane Stadium]] in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], on January 11, 1970. The [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award]] was given to Chiefs quarterback [[Len Dawson]]<ref>[https://pro-football-history.com/game/10866/1969-minnesota-vikings-vs-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl-score-7-to-23 Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs 7 to 23], [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]. Accessed January 31, 2024. "The Chiefs played the Vikings in Super Bowl IV on Sunday, January 11, 1970. The Chiefs entered the game with a record of 11-3-0, while the Vikings entered the game with a record of 12-2-0. The Chiefs won 23-7 to win Super Bowl IV, finishing their championship season with a record of 11-3-0 in the regular season, 3-0 in the playoffs."</ref>

==Stadium changes==
* After six seasons at [[Fenway Park]], the [[1969 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]] moved to [[Alumni Stadium]] at [[Boston College]] in 1969.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/sports/football/early-patriots-were-a-comical-traveling-sideshow.html "A Team’s Ragtag Roots"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 28, 2012. Accessed January 31, 2024. "In 1963, the Patriots moved to Fenway Park. They walked into the Red Sox locker room and gaped at what had been Ted Williams’s locker.... By 1969, the Patriots had moved to Boston College’s Alumni Stadium, and a year later, at the end of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins, a fire erupted in the grandstand."</ref>

==Coaching changes==
===Offseason===
*[[Boston Patriots]]: [[Mike Holovak]] was fired and replaced by [[Clive Rush]].<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2008/01/28/former-patriots-coach-dead-at/52653612007/ "Former Patriots coach dead at 88"], ''[[Worcester Telegram]]'', January 27, 2008. Accessed January 31, 2024. "The Patriots didn’t return to the playoffs before Holovak was replaced after the 1968 season by Clive Rush."</ref>
*[[Buffalo Bills]]: [[John Rauch]] became the new Bills head coach after resigning from the Oakland Raiders. [[Joe Collier]] was fired after two games into the 1968 season, and defensive coordinator [[Harvey Johnson (coach)|Harvey Johnson]] then served as interim head coach.
*[[Oakland Raiders]]: [[John Madden]] replaced [[John Rauch]], who resigned to join the Bills. At age 33, Madden become the youngest head coach in pro football.<ref>via [[Associated Press]]. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-2-5-1969-ap-raiders/7393650/ "Raiders Raid Own Ranks; Madden Youngest Pro Boss"], ''[[The Orlando Sentinel]]'', February 5, 1969. Accessed January 31, 2024, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "The Oakland Raiders once 'again dipped into their own ranks for a head coach Tuesday, naming assistant John Madden to do the job. Madden, who at 33 becomes professional football's youngest coach, replaces John Rauch at the helm of the American Football League club which won the championship in 1967 and the Western Division title in '68."</ref>

===In-season===
*[[San Diego Chargers]]: [[Sid Gillman]] sat out five games due to health issues. [[Charlie Waller (American football)|Charlie Waller]], the team's offensive backfield coach, served as interim.

==Officials==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Referee
! Umpire
! Head Linesman
! Line Judge
! Back Judge
! Field Judge
|-
| (#12) [[Ben Dreith]]
| (#27) [[Al Conway]]
| (#74) Ray Dodez
| (#24) [[Bruce Alford Sr.|Bruce Alford]]
| (#44) Dick Eichhorst
| (#58) Bob Baur
|-
| (#14) Bob Finley
| (#78) [[Art Demmas]]
| (#34) Harry Kessel
| (#62) Gerry Hart
| (#45) John Fouch
| (#52) Pat Mallette
|-
| (#18) Walt Fitzgerald
| (#53) Frank Kirtland
| (#32) [[Cal Lepore]]
| (#67) Tommy Miller
| (#70) [[Sonny Gamber|Hugh Gamber]]
| (#55) Charley Musser
|-
| (#11) [[John McDonough (American football referee)|John McDonough]]
| (#25) Walt Parker
| (#35) Leo Miles
| (#61) John Staffen
| (#49) Hunter Jackson
| (#50) Tony Skover
|-
| (#42) [[Jack Reader]]
| (#20) [[Frank Sinkovitz]]
| (#50) Al Saboto
| (#65) Aaron Wade
| (#43) Bill Kestermeier
| (#57) Bill Summers
|-
| (#15) [[Jack Vest]]
| (#22) Paul Trepinski
| (#36) Tony Veteri
| (#68) Bill Wright
| (#48) Bob Rice
| (#54) [[Bob Wortman]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/scheduleyear.htm?yr=1969&lg=afl Football Database]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070410082440/http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/scheduleyear.htm?lg=afl&yr=1969 Football Database]


{{American Football League seasons}}
{{American Football League seasons}}

Latest revision as of 01:57, 13 June 2024

1969 AFL season
Regular season
DurationSeptember 14 –
December 14, 1969
Playoffs
DateDecember 20, 1969
Eastern championKansas City Chiefs
Western championOakland Raiders
WebsiteOakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
ChampionKansas City Chiefs
1969 American Football League season is located in the United States
Oilers
Oilers
Jets
Jets
Bills
Bills
Patriots
Patriots
Dolphins
Dolphins
Chargers
Chargers
Chiefs
Chiefs
Raiders
Raiders
Broncos
Broncos
Bengals
Bengals
class=notpageimage|
AFL teams: West, East
The Chiefs topped the Raiders in the 1969 AFL championship game.

The 1969 AFL season was the tenth and final regular season of the American Football League. To honor the AFL's tenth season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each Kansas City Chiefs player wore a patch on his jersey with the logo during Super Bowl IV, the final AFL-NFL World Championship Game prior to the AFL–NFL merger.

The Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders in the final AFL Championship Game, then soundly defeated the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

Division races

[edit]

In its final two years of existence, the AFL had ten teams, grouped into two divisions. Each team played a home-and-away game against the other four teams in its division, a home-and-away series against one of the five teams in opposite division, and one game each against the remaining four teams from the opposite division. Using that format, the defending World Champion New York Jets went 10–0 against the five teams they played twice, but were 0–4 against the top four teams in the West.

For the 1969 season, a provision was made for a four-team playoff to determine the AFL champion, the league's representative in the Super Bowl, with the #1 team in the division hosting the #2 team in the opposite division. The NFL also had a four-team playoff, introduced in 1967, matching the winners of the Capitol and Century divisions, and the Coastal and Central divisions.

The 1970 merger placed the ten AFL teams (along with three teams from the pre-1970 NFL) into the 13-team AFC. The other NFL teams went into the 13-team NFC.

Week Eastern #1 Eastern #2 Western #1 Western #2
1 N.Y. Jets 1–0–0 Hou, Bos, Buf, Mia 0–1–0 Oak, KC, Den, Cin 1–0–0 Oak, KC, Den, Cin 1–0–0
2 Hou, NY 1–1–0 Hou, NY 1–1–0 Oak, KC, Den, Cin 2–0–0 Oak, KC, Den, Cin 2–0–0
3 Houston 2–1–0 NY, Buf 1–2–0 Oak, Cin 3–0–0 Oak, Cin 3–0–0
4 Houston 3–1–0 N.Y. Jets 2–2–0 Oakland 3–0–1 Kansas City 3–1–0
5 NY, Hou 3–2–0 NY, Hou 3–2–0 Oakland 4–0–1 Kansas City 4–1–0
6 N.Y. Jets 4–2–0 Houston 3–3–0 Oakland 5–0–1 Kansas City 5–1–0
7 N.Y. Jets 5–2–0 Houston 4–3–0 Oakland 6–0–1 Kansas City 6–1–0
8 N.Y. Jets 6–2–0 Houston 4–4–0 Kansas City 7–1–0 Oakland 6–1–1
9 N.Y. Jets 7–2–0 Houston 4–4–1 Kansas City 8–1–0 Oakland 7–1–1
10 N.Y. Jets 7–3–0 Houston 4–4–2 Kansas City 9–1–0 Oakland 8–1–1
11 N.Y. Jets 8–3–0 Houston 5–4–2 Oakland 9–1–1 Kansas City 9–2–0
12 N.Y. Jets 8–4–0 Houston 5–5–2 Oakland 10–1–1 Kansas City 10–2–0
13 N.Y. Jets 9–4–0 Houston 5–6–2 Oakland 11–1–1 Kansas City 11–2–0
14 N.Y. Jets 10–4–0 Houston 6–6–2 Oakland 12–1–1 Kansas City 11–3–0

Regular season

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Home/Road Eastern Division Western Division
BOS BUF HOU MIA NY CIN DEN KC OAK SD
Eastern Boston Patriots 35–21 24–0 16–17 14–23 0–31 23–38 10–13
Buffalo Bills 23–16 3–17 28–3 19–33 16–13 41–28 7–29
Houston Oilers 27–23 28–14 22–10 26–34 31–31 24–21 17–21
Miami Dolphins 23–38 24–6 7–32 9–27 27–24 20–20 14–21
New York Jets 23–17 16–6 26–17 34–31 40–7 16–34 14–27
Western Cincinnati Bengals 14–25 27–21 7–21 23–30 24–19 31–17 34–20
Denver Broncos 35–7 20–20 21–19 27–16 13–26 14–24 13–0
Kansas City Chiefs 22–19 24–0 17–10 42–22 31–17 24–27 27–3
Oakland Raiders 50–21 21–17 20–17 37–17 41–10 10–6 21–16
San Diego Chargers 28–18 45–6 34–27 21–14 45–24 9–27 12–24

Standings

[edit]

For its tenth and final season before merging with the NFL, the AFL instituted a four team playoff tournament with the second place teams in each division also participating.

Playoffs

[edit]
Main article: 1969–70 American Football League playoffs
 
Divisional Playoff GamesAFL Championship Game
 
      
 
December 20, 1969 – Shea Stadium
 
 
Kansas City Chiefs13
 
January 4, 1970 –
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
 
New York Jets6
 
Kansas City Chiefs17
 
December 21, 1969 –
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
 
Oakland Raiders7
 
Houston Oilers7
 
 
Oakland Raiders56
 

Super Bowl

[edit]
Main article: Super Bowl IV

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23–7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 11, 1970. The Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award was given to Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson[1]

Stadium changes

[edit]

Coaching changes

[edit]

Offseason

[edit]

In-season

[edit]

Officials

[edit]
Referee Umpire Head Linesman Line Judge Back Judge Field Judge
(#12) Ben Dreith (#27) Al Conway (#74) Ray Dodez (#24) Bruce Alford (#44) Dick Eichhorst (#58) Bob Baur
(#14) Bob Finley (#78) Art Demmas (#34) Harry Kessel (#62) Gerry Hart (#45) John Fouch (#52) Pat Mallette
(#18) Walt Fitzgerald (#53) Frank Kirtland (#32) Cal Lepore (#67) Tommy Miller (#70) Hugh Gamber (#55) Charley Musser
(#11) John McDonough (#25) Walt Parker (#35) Leo Miles (#61) John Staffen (#49) Hunter Jackson (#50) Tony Skover
(#42) Jack Reader (#20) Frank Sinkovitz (#50) Al Saboto (#65) Aaron Wade (#43) Bill Kestermeier (#57) Bill Summers
(#15) Jack Vest (#22) Paul Trepinski (#36) Tony Veteri (#68) Bill Wright (#48) Bob Rice (#54) Bob Wortman

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs 7 to 23, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed January 31, 2024. "The Chiefs played the Vikings in Super Bowl IV on Sunday, January 11, 1970. The Chiefs entered the game with a record of 11-3-0, while the Vikings entered the game with a record of 12-2-0. The Chiefs won 23-7 to win Super Bowl IV, finishing their championship season with a record of 11-3-0 in the regular season, 3-0 in the playoffs."
  2. ^ "A Team’s Ragtag Roots", The New York Times, January 28, 2012. Accessed January 31, 2024. "In 1963, the Patriots moved to Fenway Park. They walked into the Red Sox locker room and gaped at what had been Ted Williams’s locker.... By 1969, the Patriots had moved to Boston College’s Alumni Stadium, and a year later, at the end of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins, a fire erupted in the grandstand."
  3. ^ via Associated Press. "Former Patriots coach dead at 88", Worcester Telegram, January 27, 2008. Accessed January 31, 2024. "The Patriots didn’t return to the playoffs before Holovak was replaced after the 1968 season by Clive Rush."
  4. ^ via Associated Press. "Raiders Raid Own Ranks; Madden Youngest Pro Boss", The Orlando Sentinel, February 5, 1969. Accessed January 31, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "The Oakland Raiders once 'again dipped into their own ranks for a head coach Tuesday, naming assistant John Madden to do the job. Madden, who at 33 becomes professional football's youngest coach, replaces John Rauch at the helm of the American Football League club which won the championship in 1967 and the Western Division title in '68."
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