The Professional Football League of America (PFLA) was an American football minor league that operated in the Midwest region of the United States from 1965 through 1967. With franchises based in the Midwest, the league played three seasons before merging some teams into the Continental Football League. History The Professional Football League of America began play in 1965. The Des Moines Warriors, Grand Rapids Blazers, Joliet Explorers, Lincoln Comets, Omaha Mustangs and Rock Island Raiders were charter members of the league. The Professional Football League of America evolved from the disbanded United Football League, and began play in the fall of 1965. The Joliet Explorers swept the Grand Rapids Blazers in a two–game championship series.
In 1966, the Rock Island Raiders franchise moved to neighboring Davenport, Iowa and changed names to become the "Quad City Raiders." The Lincoln Comets franchise did not return to league play. The Omaha Mustangs won the 1966 PFLA championship game, defeating the Des Moines Warriors 27–7 at home with 4,530 in attendance.
In their final season of play, the Pro Football League of America expanded, adding the Alabama Hawks, Chicago Owls and Oklahoma City Plainsmen franchises. The 1967 league played in two divisions. In May 1967, the Joliet franchise became an affiliate of the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League and changed their moniker to become the "Joliet Chargers" for the 1967 season. The 1967 Des Moines Warriors were an affiliate of the Minnesota Vikings. In 1967, the Alabama Hawks won the Western Division with a 9–3 record and hosted the PFLA's championship game at Milton Frank Stadium, losing 31–20 to the Joliet Chargers, who had won the Eastern Division with a 10–2 record.
The PFLA permanently folded following the 1967 season. In February 1968, the Continental Football League expanded to include some of the Pro Football League of America teams and continued play. The merger allowed the Continental Football League to expand into the midwestern United States. The Des Moines and Joliet Franchises did not join the league.
Season by season 1965 Professional Football League of America W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
= League Champion
1965 Pro Football League of AmericaTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Joliet Explorers811.88936570Joliet Memorial StadiumJesse Vail Grand Rapids Blazers811.889293119Kimble StadiumSteve Sucic Omaha Mustangs730.700318162Johnny Rosenblatt StadiumBernie Berigan Des Moines Warriors370.300152298Sec Taylor StadiumGale Gibson Lincoln Comets280.200156310Seacrest FieldDon Erway Rock Island Raiders190.10093396Douglas ParkPaul Suverkrup
1966 Professional Football League of America W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
= League Champion
1966 Pro Football League of AmericaTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Omaha Mustangs820800312151Johnny Rosenblatt StadiumBernie Berigan Des Moines Warriors820.800224138Sec Taylor StadiumDon Branby Joliet Explorers640.600271126Joliet Memorial StadiumBob Webb Grand Rapids Shamrocks170.35754162Kimble StadiumJack Morton Quad Cities Raiders190.10092376Memorial StadiumFrank Abbott
1967 Professional Football League of America W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
= Division Champion
1967 Pro Football League of America Eastern DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Joliet Chargers1020.833324140West Jefferson StadiumJesse Vail Omaha Mustangs840.333288289Johnny Rosenblatt StadiumBernie Berigan / Walt Corey Des Moines Warriors741.636369163Sec Taylor StadiumDon Branby Chicago Owls390.250216335Notre Dame High School StadiumBob Webb Western DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Alabama Hawks930.750381185Milton Frank StadiumMarv Matuszak Oklahoma City Plainsmen471.833277282Taft StadiumCliff Speegle Quad City Raiders0120.417159610Memorial StadiumJack Morton
See also List of leagues of American football
References