The American Football Conference (AFC) is one of two conferences within the National Football League, the National Football Conference (NFC) being the other. The AFC has its roots in the American Football League (AFL), which began to play in 1960. In 1970, the AFL merged with the NFL. As part of the merger, the former AFL teams, plus three former NFL teams (Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers), were placed in the AFC. The remaining former NFL teams were placed in the NFC. As of the 2025 season only the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans have not won an AFC or AFL championship.
Background The AFC champion is not necessarily the team with the best record in the regular season. Rather, the champion is decided by the AFC Championship Game (formerly the AFL Championship Game) as part of the post-season playoffs involving the teams with the best regular season records. The Houston Oilers won the first two AFL championships, in 1960 and 1961. The only other team to win two consecutive AFL championships prior to the merger was the Buffalo Bills, who won in 1964 and 1965 with future United States Congressman, HUD Secretary and Vice-Presidential nominee Jack Kemp at quarterback. After the merger, the first team to win three consecutive AFC championships was the Miami Dolphins in 1971 through 1973. The only team to win four consecutive AFC championships was the Buffalo Bills in 1990 through 1993. The New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs are the only other AFC teams to win three consecutive championships, from 2016 through 2018, and 2022 through 2024 respectively.
Through the 2025 season, the most AFL or AFC championships won by any team is twelve, by the Patriots, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, who have each won eight AFL or AFC championships. The Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders have been the AFL or AFC runner up, as a result of losing the AFL or AFC Championship Game, a record nine times. The Steelers have been the runner up eight times, while the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers have been the runner up seven times.
The record for the most regular-season wins by an AFL or AFC champion is 16, by the 2007 New England Patriots, with a perfect 16–0 record, followed by the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs, who won 15 games in a 17-game season. The 1972 Miami Dolphins also had a perfect season, winning 14 games in a 14-game season, with a 14–0 record.
Bill Belichick has been the head coach for nine AFC championship teams. Don Shula and Andy Reid have each been the head coach of five AFC championship teams. Chuck Noll and Marv Levy each coached four AFC champions.
Tom Brady has been the starting quarterback for nine AFC championship teams, more than any other quarterback. In addition, he was the starting quarterback for one NFC championship team, the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for a total of 10 conference championships. John Elway and Patrick Mahomes were the starting quarterback for five AFC champions. Terry Bradshaw, Jim Kelly and Peyton Manning were each the starting quarterback for four AFC champions. Manning started in five championships for two different franchises, the Indianapolis Colts and the Broncos.
Franco Harris and Thurman Thomas were each the leader in rushing yards for an AFC champion four times. Larry Csonka was the leader in rushing yards for an AFC champion three times. Travis Kelce was the leader in receiving yards for an AFC champion five times. Andre Reed was the leader in receiving yards for an AFC champion four times and Paul Warfield and Julian Edelman have been the leader in receiving yards for an AFC champion three times.
The 1973 Miami Dolphins had seven first-team All-Pros, more than any other AFC champion since the AFL–NFL merger. The 1971 Miami Dolphins, 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers and 2007 New England Patriots each had five 1st team All-Pros. The 1970 Baltimore Colts, 1982 Miami Dolphins, 1987 Denver Broncos and 1996 and 2001 New England Patriots did not have any 1st team All-Pros. Jack Ham is the only defensive player to be named as a 1st team All-Pro for four AFC champions. Troy Polamalu and Chris Jones were defensive 1st team All-Pros for three AFC champions. Larry Little is the only offensive lineman to be named as a 1st team All-Pro for three AFC champions. Rob Gronkowski is the only tight end to be named a 1st team All-Pro for three AFC champions. Garo Yepremian is the only kicker to be named as a 1st team All-Pro for two AFC champions.
At the end of the 1966 season, the Super Bowl began to be played between the AFL champion and the NFL champion. After the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the Super Bowl continued to be played between the AFC champion and the NFC champion. The AFL champion lost the first two Super Bowls. The 1968 AFL champion New York Jets with Joe Namath at quarterback became the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl. Starting with that Super Bowl, the AFL or AFC champion won 11 out of 13 Super Bowls. However, the AFC champion lost 13 consecutive Super Bowls, from the 1984 AFC champion Miami Dolphins through the 1996 AFC champion New England Patriots. Overall, the AFL or AFC champion has won 29 of the 58 Super Bowls played through the end of the 2023 season.
Key
SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular AFL or NFL season.TeamName of AFL or AFC Championship team, linked to the team's championship seasonRecordChampionship team's regular season record wins–losses; if the team played any tie games the record is shown as wins–losses–tiesHead coachChampionship team's head coach; if the team had multiple head coaches for the season they are shown in decreasing order of number of regular season winsQuarterbackName of quarterback with most passing attempts for the AFL/AFC champion during the regular seasonLeading RusherName of player with most rushing yards for the AFL/AFC champion during the regular seasonLeading ReceiverName of player with most receiving yards for the AFL/AFC champion during the regular seasonAll-ProsList of 1st team AP All-Pros on that season's AFL/AFC championRunner UpName of team that lost the AFL or AFC Championship Game†Super Bowl Champion*Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
AFL and AFC championship teams AFL champions
SeasonTeamRecordHead coachQuarterbackLeading rusherLeading receiverAll-ProsRunner-upReference1960Houston Oilers*Jamison, Johnston, SmithLos Angeles Chargers1961Houston Oilers,Lou Rymkus*Banfield, Blanda*, Cannon, Groman, Hennigan, JamisonSan Diego Chargers1962Dallas Texans** Burford, Dawson*, Hayes, Headrick, Holub, HuntHouston Oilers1963San Diego Chargers**Alworth*, Faison, Lincoln, Mix*, RoteBoston Patriots1964Buffalo BillsBarber, Gilchrist, Saimes, Sestak, Shaw*, StrattonSan Diego Chargers1965Buffalo BillsByrd, Kemp, Saimes, Sestak, Shaw*, StrattonSan Diego Chargers1966Kansas City Chiefs**Arbanas, Bell*, Buchanan*, Budde, Dawson*, Mays, Robinson*, Taylor, TyrerBuffalo Bills1967Oakland Raiders*Davidson, Keating, Lamonica, McCloughan, Otto*Houston Oilers1968New York Jets†***Namath*, Philbin, SauerOakland Raiders1969Kansas City Chiefs†**Bell*, Buchanan*, Budde, Robinson*, TyrerOakland Raiders AFC champions
SeasonTeamRecordHead coachQuarterbackLeading rusherLeading receiverAll-ProsRunner-upReference1970Baltimore Colts†*Oakland Raiders1971Miami Dolphins****Csonka*, Griese*, Little*, Warfield*, YepremianBaltimore Colts1972Miami Dolphins†***Anderson, Little*, Morrall, StanfillPittsburgh Steelers1973Miami Dolphins†****Anderson, Csonka*, Langer*, Little*, Scott, Warfield*, YepremianOakland Raiders1974Pittsburgh Steelers†***Greene*, Greenwood, Ham*Oakland Raiders1975Pittsburgh Steelers†****Blount*, Greenwood, Ham*Oakland Raiders1976Oakland Raiders†**Branch, Casper*, Guy*Pittsburgh Steelers1977Denver BroncosAlzado, Gradishar*, Jackson, ThompsonOakland Raiders1978Pittsburgh Steelers†****Bradshaw*, Ham*, Swann*, Webster*Houston Oilers1979Pittsburgh Steelers†****Ham*, Lambert*, Shell, Stallworth*, Webster*Houston Oilers1980Oakland Raiders†*Hayes, Hendricks*San Diego Chargers1981Cincinnati Bengals*Anderson, McInally, Munoz*San Diego Chargers1982Miami Dolphins*New York Jets1983Los Angeles Raiders†**ChristensenSeattle Seahawks1984Miami Dolphins**Marino*, Newman, Roby, Stephenson*Pittsburgh Steelers1985New England Patriots*Hannah*, Tippett*Miami Dolphins1986Denver Broncos*Jones, MecklenburgCleveland Browns1987Denver Broncos*Cleveland Browns1988Cincinnati BengalsEsiason, Krumrie, Munoz*Buffalo Bills1989Denver Broncos*MecklenburgCleveland Browns1990Buffalo Bills****Hull, Smith*, Thomas*Los Angeles Raiders1991Buffalo Bills****Hull, Kelly*, Thomas*Denver Broncos1992Buffalo Bills****JonesMiami Dolphins1993Buffalo Bills****Smith*Kansas City Chiefs1994San Diego ChargersCarney, Seau*Pittsburgh Steelers1995Pittsburgh Steelers*Dawson*, LloydIndianapolis Colts1996New England Patriots**Jacksonville Jaguars1997Denver Broncos†**Davis*, Mobley, Sharpe*Pittsburgh Steelers1998Denver Broncos†**Davis*, Sharpe*New York Jets1999Tennessee TitansKearse, Matthews*Jacksonville Jaguars2000Baltimore Ravens†*Lewis*, Ogden*Oakland Raiders2001New England Patriots†Pittsburgh Steelers2002Oakland Raiders*Gannon, Kennedy, Robbins, Woodson*Tennessee Titans2003New England Patriots†Harrison, Law*, Seymour*Indianapolis Colts2004New England Patriots†Seymour*, VinatieriPittsburgh Steelers2005Pittsburgh Steelers†*Faneca*, Polamalu* Denver Broncos2006Indianapolis Colts†***Harrison*New England Patriots2007New England Patriots*Brady, Light, Moss*, Samuel, VrabelSan Diego Chargers2008Pittsburgh Steelers†Harrison, Polamalu*Baltimore Ravens2009Indianapolis Colts*Manning, Clark, Freeney*New York Jets2010Pittsburgh SteelersHarrison, Polamalu*, PounceyNew York Jets2011New England PatriotsGronkowski, Mankins, Welker, WilforkBaltimore Ravens2012Baltimore Ravens†Jones, LeachNew England Patriots2013Denver Broncos *Manning, Thomas, Vasquez, PraterNew England Patriots2014New England Patriots†Gronkowski, RevisIndianapolis Colts2015Denver Broncos† *MillerNew England Patriots2016New England Patriots†SlaterPittsburgh Steelers2017New England PatriotsBrady, GronkowskiJacksonville Jaguars2018New England Patriots†GilmoreKansas City Chiefs2019 Kansas City Chiefs†MathieuTennessee Titans2020Kansas City ChiefsKelce, Hill, MathieuBuffalo Bills2021Cincinnati BengalsChase, Mixon, HendricksonKansas City Chiefs2022Kansas City Chiefs†Andy ReidPatrick MahomesIsiah PachecoTravis KelceMahomes, Kelce, Jones, TownsendCincinnati Bengals2023Kansas City Chiefs†Andy ReidPatrick MahomesIsiah PachecoTravis Kelce Thuney, Jones, McDuffieBaltimore Ravens2024Kansas City ChiefsAndy ReidPatrick MahomesKareem HuntTravis Kelce Thuney, JonesBuffalo Bills2025New England PatriotsMike VrabelDrake MayeTreVeyon HendersonStefon Diggs Denver Broncos
Footnotes Lou Rymkus began the 1961 season as the Houston Oilers' head coach. After the Oilers started the season with a 1–3–1 record, Wally Lemm took over as head coach. The Oilers won all nine games with Lemm as their head coach and went on to win the 1961 AFL Championship Game. Bob Griese began the 1972 season as the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback. After Griese suffered an ankle injury in the 5th game of the season, Morrall became the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season and ended the season with more passing attempts than Griese. Morrall started the AFC Championship game, but Griese replaced him with the Dolphins behind in the second half and led the Dolphins to the victory. Griese then started Super Bowl VII.* In 1972 both Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris rushed for 1,000 or more yards for the Miami Dolphins. Csonka led the team in rushing yardage, making Morris the only player on an AFC (or NFC) championship team to have at least 1000 rushing yards but not lead the team.