Eastern and Western Conferences (NFL) 1933–1969

The Eastern and Western Divisions of the National Football League, renamed the American and National Conferences in 1950 and then back to the Eastern and Western Conferences in 1953, were organized as a result of the NFL championship of 1932. NFL owners agreed that henceforth there would be an annual championship game, to be played between the teams with the best records from two divisions, Eastern and Western. The two-division/conference structure remained essentially stable for over 35 years, including the absorption of former All-America Football Conference teams in 1950, and the early expansion teams added in the 1960s in response to the American Football League. With the 1970 AFL–NFL merger the new, larger league was reorganized.

Teams

1933–1949 Eastern DivisionWestern Division Boston Redskins (Washington from 1937) Chicago Bears Brooklyn Dodgers (Tigers 1944, defunct) Chicago Cardinals New York GiantsCincinnati Reds (1933–34, defunct)Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay PackersPittsburgh Pirates (Steelers from 1940, merged with Philadelphia (Steagles) in 1943, and Chicago Cardinals (Card-Pitt) in 1944, resuming in 1945)Portsmouth Spartans (Detroit Lions from 1934)Boston Yanks (1944–1948, New York Bulldogs 1949)St. Louis Gunners (1934, defunct)Cleveland Rams (1937, suspended operations for one year in 1943, Los Angeles from 1946)

1950–1966 American Conference 1950–1952Eastern Conference 1953–1966National Conference 1950–1952Western Conference 1953–1966 Chicago Cardinals (St. Louis from 1960) Baltimore Colts (I) (ex-AAFC, 1950, defunct) Cleveland Browns (ex-AAFC, from 1950) Chicago BearsNew York GiantsDetroit LionsPhiladelphia Eagles Green Bay PackersPittsburgh SteelersLos Angeles RamsWashington RedskinsNew York Yanks (1950–51, ex-Bulldogs, Dallas Texans (I) 1952, defunct)San Francisco 49ers (ex-AAFC, from 1950)Baltimore Colts (II) (from 1953)Dallas Cowboys (from 1961)Dallas Cowboys (1960 only)Atlanta Falcons (1966 only)Minnesota Vikings (from 1961)

1967–1969 Eastern ConferenceWestern ConferenceCapitol DivisionCentury DivisionCentral DivisionCoastal DivisionDallas CowboysCleveland BrownsChicago BearsAtlanta FalconsNew Orleans Saints (1967 & 1969)New York Giants (1967 & 1969)Detroit LionsBaltimore Colts (II)Philadelphia EaglesPittsburgh SteelersGreen Bay PackersLos Angeles RamsWashington RedskinsSt. Louis CardinalsMinnesota VikingsSan Francisco 49ersNew York Giants (1968 only)New Orleans Saints (1968 only)

Champions

1933–1966 SeasonEastern DivisionRecordWestern DivisionRecord1933New York Giants11–3Chicago Bears10–2–11934New York Giants 8–5Chicago Bears13–01935New York Giants9–3Detroit Lions7–3–21936Boston Redskins7–5Green Bay Packers10–1–11937Washington Redskins8–3Chicago Bears9–1–11938New York Giants8–2–1Green Bay Packers8–31939New York Giants9–1–1Green Bay Packers9–21940Washington Redskins 9–2Chicago Bears8–31941New York Giants8–3Chicago Bears10–11942Washington Redskins 10–1Chicago Bears11–01943Washington Redskins 6–3–1Chicago Bears8–1–11944New York Giants 8–1–1Green Bay Packers8–21945Washington Redskins8–2Cleveland Rams9–11946New York Giants 7–3–1Chicago Bears8–2–11947Philadelphia Eagles 8–4Chicago Cardinals9–31948Philadelphia Eagles9–2–1Chicago Cardinals11–11949Philadelphia Eagles11–1Los Angeles Rams8–2–2SeasonAmerican Conference RecordNational Conference Record1950Cleveland Browns10–2Los Angeles Rams9–31951Cleveland Browns11–1Los Angeles Rams8–41952Cleveland Browns8–4Detroit Lions9–3SeasonEastern Conference RecordWestern Conference Record1953Cleveland Browns11–1Detroit Lions10–21954Cleveland Browns 9–3Detroit Lions9–2–11955Cleveland Browns 9–2–1Los Angeles Rams8–3–11956New York Giants 8–3–1Chicago Bears9–2–11957Cleveland Browns 9–2–1Detroit Lions8–41958New York Giants9–3Baltimore Colts9–31959New York Giants10–2Baltimore Colts9–31960Philadelphia Eagles10–2Green Bay Packers8–41961New York Giants 10–3–1Green Bay Packers11–31962New York Giants 12–2Green Bay Packers13–11963New York Giants 11–3Chicago Bears11–1–21964Cleveland Browns 10–3–1Baltimore Colts12–21965Cleveland Browns 11–3Green Bay Packers10–3–11966Dallas Cowboys 10–3–1Green Bay Packers12–2

1967–1969 Eastern Conference Western ConferenceSeasonCapitol DivisionRecordCentury DivisionRecordCoastal DivisionRecordCentral DivisionRecord1967Dallas Cowboys9–5Cleveland Browns9–5Los Angeles Rams11–1–2Green Bay Packers9–4–11968Dallas Cowboys12–2Cleveland Browns10–4Baltimore Colts13–1Minnesota Vikings8–61969Dallas Cowboys11–2–1Cleveland Browns10–3–1Los Angeles Rams11–3Minnesota Vikings12–2

References