The sideline scene between Harry Jacobs and Marty Schottenheimer is such a “football” moment. The affection for one another, and the veteran playing teach the younger player is so cool to watch and listen too.
@@williamdiemert9866 He's in the latter Hall of Fame, inducted by Cowboy Bill Watts who helped teach him the business of pro wrestling by making him the first African American Booker.
Best football documentary EVER!! The tie in between the turbulent Sixties and the Advent of the American Football League is so compelling. The National Football League was a stagnant, asinine joke of a League. Deliberately ignoring the Fantastic Black Athletes, the likes of which now dominate the game. The AFL changed the game in every way for the better.
This and America's Game are my go to football documentaries. The narrators they were able to get for America's Game were incredible. And of course the footage from NFL Films and the interviews for both of these documentaries are top notch. If you are a football fan these are definitely can't miss.
Really enjoyed watching this series. I was only 2 when Chargers won an Football Championship. I remember meeting Gary Garrison at a bank with my dad in 1970, very cool.
I'm a Chargers fan who lives in LA. Used to drive to mission valley for games. The fans in San Diego were loyal and loud. They should have stayed..but couldn't get a Stadium there.
I was born in 1965 and it's amazing that the last time Buffalo won a championship was the year of my birth. Quite a feat if you think about how many great teams and players the Bills and also the Buffalo Sabres have had in their long history. But what the hell, being a fan is about loyalty and as the Irish saying goes, "the lord hates a coward."
Just an observation. The 1966 Green Bay Packers had 9 black players contradicting the statement made by Michael McCambridge in this piece (even number for rooming purposes). Lombardi wanted winners! Those players were Wood, Jeter, Adderley, Aldridge, Davis, Pitts, Fleming, Robinson, and Brown. The following year, Lombardi’s Packers had 13 black men on their roster. Six of those players started on Vince’s defense. Vince was ahead of his time and another reason to respect this great coach.
It's so true that the incomparable Vince Lombardi was ahead of the curve in anything pertaining to football. Perhaps most of all, in regards to race. Or sexual orientation. Could you perform on the football field? That's where it began and ended for the greatest coach the world will ever know. Lombardis brother was gay. He himself was denied opportunity after opportunity due to his Italian/Catholic background. Ultimately, he became the most "overqualified" coach in history with the Packers. The AFL had numerous individuals who mirrored these same attributes. That is why they became the great American success story in professional sports.
@@JeanmarieRod F***k you. Your statement is uncalled for and basically you are saying that you support segregation and all of the bullshit that black people had to put up with in the 60s
@@djnitetrain6171 seriously guy got black bailed???? No dude sued the nfl got his money and he sucked before he decided to get attention cause he lost his job cause he SUCKED
I was so grateful for this whole documentary being on RUclips 5 years ago when I was bed-ridden recovering from a very painful knee replacement surgery. Really helped me get through that tough and frustrating time when I couldnt even sleep some nights because of the pain. Thanks!
I'm pretty proud Mr. Abner Haynes was a Denver Bronco. His role in the player boycott in New Orleans can only be applauded. I never thought Hunt or Stram had prejudice, so I wonder who was behind the trade.
Yep, and you know what? Those were the days when most everything that the blacks railed against was legit-it was THAT time in history. Now? It's extortion, plain and simple by most everything blacks are railing about.
I'm 62 (born in 62) and became a NFL fan in 72, so after the merger and Superbowl I (66)... I really didn't know very much about the AFL, so these have been WONDERFUL to watch..!! I enjoyed Parts 1 & 2 and I'm moving on to Part 3..!!
The 1964-65 AFL Champion Buffalo Bills were really an excellent football team. They had a great power running game featuring Cookie Gilchrist and an outstanding defense. Many of the AFL teams were just as good as the NFL teams and even better in some cases. The 1963 AFL Champion San Diego Chargers actually challenged the NFL Champion Chicago Bears to a World Championship Game but the Bears declined. That tells me the Bears were really worried that they would lose to the Chargers and ruin everyone's perception that the NFL was superior to the AFL. The 64 Bills vs the 64 NFL Champion Cleveland Browns would've been a good game I bet. The Bills defense was definitely good enough to hold Jim Brown in check and their offense was pretty good too with QB Jack Kemp, RB Cookie Gilchrist, and WR Elbert Dubenion. The Browns QB and WR's really weren't any better than Buffalo's. If the Bills defense was good enough to completely shut down Sid Gillman's Chargers offense in back to back AFL Championships then they were definitely capable of shutting down the Browns offense. But I guess we'll never know
Nice little add in (at the .44 mark) of the Bears halfback no. 28 Willie "The Wisp" Galimore. He was not as swivel hip elusive as later Gale Sayers will be, but more of speedy slasher type Saquon Barkley.
Marty Schottenheimer at 41:00....arguably the longest name in football history without a hyphen. Check the letters on his jersey...they started and ended at each armpit... We called him Schottzy...😊
This is an incredible documentary series The footage is so great. I've read Michael Macambridge's amazing book America's Game and the 1960s and the battle between the NFL & AFL is the most fascinating part of American sports history
I love this documentary...holds great memories for me....my son was born around the time this doc came on...so I was using the dvr feature alot...watching this documentary with my newborn son while he was having a 2am.bottle...miss those days alot
During the AFL's decade, the "Boston" Patriots had four different home fields: Nickerson Field (1960-62); Fenway Park (1963-68); Alumni Stadium at Boston College (1969) and Harvard Stadium (1970).
I watched this often. One of the all time football docs. A great ode to the great AFL. My pops was always an AFL advocate and always rooted for them (except the Raiders 😂- you can guess who his team was). RIP Mr. Abner Haynes
I saw my first Patriots game at Fenway Park on December 4th 1966. They played the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots won 14 to 3. We sat right behind the 3rd base dugout, which were end zone seats. The gridiron barely fit between the 3rd base dugout and the bullpen in right field. College football is still played occasionally at Fenway and the gridiron is laid out the same way.
The only thing the AFL didn’t jump on was a regular “Thanksgiving Game” I always thought a AFC team with a night game would’ve balanced out the NFC holiday games.
Actually, there WERE Thanksgiving Day games in the old AFL ... but just not every season. I know for a fact that the Bills and Chargers played against each other one year on T-Day.
Harry Jacobs as of 4/11/2021 the only living member of this linebacker core.Harry Jacobs would have made a great DC with of his understanding of the game.
This is so great! I loved the AFL...always better than the boring NFL back then...and the 63 Chargers would have killed the slow white Bears if they had played....
Sorry, there would be no Super Bowl until January 1967 The Bears said they were not going to play the Chargers anyway George Halas called such a game ridiculous
I started watching the NFL in 1971. I don’t remember Sid Gillman but being a fan of NFL history I know his great contributions. I know Bill Walsh said he learned a lot from Sid. I’m happy to see is in the Hall of Fame. I figured he should be, but you never know.
There are still people in Buffalo to this day who remain bitter about the trade that sent Daryle Lamonica to Oakland in 1967. Lamonica subsequently led the Raiders to Super Bowl II and the Bills began their long steady decline
I'm an old AFL diehard, and I MUCH prefer most of the old AFL uniforms ... The Bills' standing red buffalo logo and extra sleeve stripes, the Patriots' red uniforms (which were the inverse of the Bills uniforms) and Pat the Patriot logo, the KELLY green and white Jets uniforms with the sleeve blocks and white helmet with a more pointed football NY Jet logo (instead of the oval rugby ball or the ugly dark green, or the stylized jets logo), the old Oilers uniforms with the silver helmets and silver pants, the Chargers' white helmets with yellow lightning bolt and numbers, the yellow pants with lightning bolt, the powder or royal blue jersey (but NOT the navy blue jersey with the ugly navy blue helmet), and either Denver's blue and orange with sleeve block jerseys and orange helmet with the funky bucking bronco logo OR the dark blue helmet with the "D" and stallion logo (not the "milky blue" helmet). The Raiders, Chiefs, and Dolphins are not appreciably different. The Bengals' current orange helmet with the tiger stripes has grown on me over the years -- it's better than is the original AFL flat orange plain helmet with only the stenciled block letters spelling "bengals" on it. In addition, I really wish that at least the 8 ORIGINAL AFL teams would wear the AFL patch as a permanent part of their uniform the way the Chiefs do. I would probably allow the Dolphins and Bengals the option to add it to their uniforms (because they were "in" the AFL for a small PART of the AFL's history, but NOT as founding teams because they were expansion teams after the merger was agreed to. Miami joined for the 1966 season (the AFL's 7th of 10 seasons) and Cincinnati joined in 1968 (the AFL's 9th of only 10 seasons) ONLY as a means for Pail Brown to get back into the NFL -- he said so. With all due respect to Lamar Hunt and his legacy, as the founding impetus for the old AFL, he absolutely deserves all the honor and credit bestowed upon him. BUT SO DO (at least some) OTHERS. Al Davis is one obvious example. The Raiders should put an AFL patch on their uniforms permanently. Another "under the radar" yet CRITICAL example would be the Buffalo Bills. Not only were they the first "NFL like" team that had a great defense to compliment its offense, but Bills owner Ralph Wilson was PIVOTAL and CRITICAL to its survival and success. Here are just a few of Wilson's AFL contributions: 1. He secretly loaned the Raiders $400k "under the table" to keep their organization solvent and to preserve the league maintaining at least 8 teams in its early days; 2. He secretly loaned the Sullivan brothers lots of $$$ "under the table" too to keep the Patriots solvent ... can you imagine profootball without the raiders and Patriots dynasties ??? 3. He employed pro football's FIRST-EVER soccer-style kicker (Pete Gogolak) -- which revolutionized place kicking 4. He played a vital role in negotiatng the AFL's first TV deal with ABC, AND the massive second AFL TV deal (along with the NY Jets' Sonny Werblin) with NBC that guaranteed the AFL would have enough $$$ to compete for top players and survive. 5. He played a vital role indirectly prompting the AFL-NFL merger by virtue of the massive NBC TV contract he helped negotoiate AND by virtue of the fact he remained silent (although furious) and didn't sue the NY Giants for poaching the Bills' kicker Pete Gogolak ... which gave new AFL Commissioner Al Davis the 'green light" to start poaching NFL teams' star players. The NFL owners, horrified at the massive bidding war THEY HAD UNLEASHED by stealing the Bills' kicker, quickly sued for peace and a merger. The Houston Oilers' Bud Adams was a larger-than-life AFL founder too, but unfortunately the Tennessee Titans didn't even retain the "Oilers" name or exact colors ... so I'm not sure an AFL patch would be appropriate for their uniform. The NY Jets ought to have an AFL patch too -- even though their team name was originally the "NY Titans" and their colors were blue and gold; although the team mane switched to the Jets abnd the colors switched to kelly green and white, the team remained in NY. Second owner Sonny Werblin was an entertainment impressario, and (in addition to doing yeoman work to secure the massive second TV deal for the AFL with NBC-TV) he had the vision to bring "Broadway Joe" Namath to NY and sign him to a staggering, then-unheard-of $427k contract. And let's not ever forget that it was the AFL NY Jets who first defeated the proud supposedly "superior" NFL in Super Bowl III.
This episode is one of my favorites. This is why I loved what the AFL did for the game of football 🏈 and shows how they cared more about how a player could help them win vs the color of their skin. Our game and world has came a long way but it’s sad our brothers were treated like this in the 60’s because of the color of their skin. I watch this 6 part series every year prior to the NFL season and I’m amazed at what the AFL had to overcome. Super Bowls III and IV are the most important football games ever played.
Obviously this is an AFL documentary, but I'm glad to know that Lombardi had the same policies on black players when he was a coach. Lombardi experienced prejudice growing up as an Italian-American, so he understood what black players went through. By 1960, he put in a policy that the team would only stay in hotels that would house all of the players, and he also roomed black and white players together based on positions. By the end of his last season coaching the Packers in 1967, there were 13 black players on the team, and 8 of them were starters.
@@joeblaumer2085 And immediately after Vince Lombardi's staggering death to cancer in September 1970, it was the GREATNESS of the AFL's founder (Lamar Hunt) who made the magnanimous suggestion to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle to name the championship trophy after Vince Lombardi to honor him. In a way, I'll bet Chicago Bears and NFL founder-patriarch George "Papa Bear" Halas was a bit jealous and pi$$ed deep-down inside :) The Bears and Packers hated (hate) each other as much as any great rivalry you can think of. Maybe to assuage Halas' irritation is why they decided to name the NFC Championship Trophy the "George Halas Trophy" ... and the AFC Championship Trophy the "Lamar Hunt Trophy" ...
I love this documentary, but when they’re talking about Buffalo’s great defense under Lou Saban they are showing highlights of the Bill’s tackling players that were still in college and playing teams like the Dolphins that were not even a team yet.
My mum was 18 when Kennedy was assassinated and she was crying in the kitchen. Her dad hadn't heard the news yet and when he got home he asked her what wrong and she told him. Not lying his response was "Oh shit, they're going to cancel football".
People say the Patriots were never a good team until TB12 and Bill came along. However, people forget that New England is fifth all-time in winning percentage. They have a way to go to catch the Packers, but, hey, being in the top five of all time isn't too shabby.
@@phillywawadrinker Not the way I remember it. I looked up the stats. The patriots were always in contention at one point or another, with some bad seasons interspersed throughout their time like any other team. Despite bad seasons, they had several playoff runs in every decade. I'm an old Patriots fan back from the days of Munioz, Sam "Bam" Cunningham, Grogan, Tippett, Fryer, Coates, and Bledisoe.
Great presentation with ONE BIG OMISSION: In 1963, the Oakland Raiders hired Al Davis as head coach. Davis, formerly assistant coach to Sid Gilman in San Diego, led the biggest one-season turnaround (up to then) in pro football history, guiding a 1-13 team in ‘62 to a 10-4 record in 1963, beating the AFL Champion Chargers TWICE in the regular season (unfortunately for the Raiders , no Wild Card playoff teams in ‘63). Davis’ key moves: the off-season acquisitions of first team all pros WR Art Powell and MLB Archie Matsos, the promotion of QB Tom Flores (did not play at all in ‘62), and FB Clem Daniels (1,099 yds. in ‘63) to the first team offense. Davis, who passed away in 2011, got plenty of disrespect from the owners, fans, etc. while he was alive. However, leaving his 1963 coaching accomplishment out of this presentation tops it all. R.I.P. AL DAVIS!
After 49 seasons as a Viking, & after the '19 Season, I filed for Divorce from the Minnesota Vikings, & followed it up with stern written letters to the Owner, Coach Zimmer, & the GM. The NFL only granted a franchise to Minnesota, because they already knew what a great league the AFL truly was or becoming. If I could go back in time, & start my Football career all over again, I'd so be an AFL'er, & routing for the RAIDERS! The Raiders because of Al Davis giving Hispanics & Blacks a chance, & for many, a second Chance... Don't get me started on my Man Joe Willie Namath!
@@SantiagoTM1 I hear you, Santiago. I have a love-hate relationship with my Vikings. The AFL was so great in so many ways. Namath, Lanier, Allworth, Briscoe, etc. Trend-setters.
@@jonirving5606, 1st & foremost, I sincerely hope this finds you/family well & healthy. Afer 49 seasons of heartache & complete disappointments, I've filed for Divorce from the Minnesota Vikings. NO MORE! Now, on Saturday's, I watch religiously SEC College Football. It truly does remind me of AFL Football of the 60's.
The Vikings were SUPPOSED to be in the AFL from its inceptionin 1960; the AFL had announced them as one of its teams. But their SKUNK owners accepted the dirty NFL owners' underhanded, conspiratorial offer to "string the AFL along, pretend that they were going to join the AFL, and then right at the last minute before the first draft, annoince that they were accepting the NFL's offer to be an NFL expansion team" a year or so later. AS INTENDED BY THE MALICIOUS NFL OWNERS, this unexpected, unannounced last-minute defection by Minnesota threw the AFL owners into disarray. But the AFL did just fine -- Barron Hilton (the original owner of the Chargers) wanted and insisted upon the AFL placing a natural rival on the West Coast to compliment his LA (later San Diego) Chargers team ... and thus was born the Oakland Raiders, starting in the 1960 season without the AFL missing a beat !!! It's karma and poetic justice that AFL founder Lamar Hunt's KC Chiefs embarrassed the Vikings in SB IV, an even later AFL expansion team (Miami Dolphins) dashed their hopes in SB VIII, and Al Davis' Oakland Raiders CRUSHED them in SB XI. Payback for doing the AFL dirty, and ironic that the Raiders were born of the Vikings' TREACHERY against the AFL.
Great doc, but how do you not mention Chuck Noll was defensive coordinator for the featured ‘63 champion Chargers? You did mention that defense was No. 1 ranked
A "Flying Nun" name for a logo in 1960 when the "Flying Nun" hadn''t yet even been invented? It's a logo meant to resemble a Revolutionary War tricornered hat of the American Patriots. The ridiculous "flying Elvis" logo, on the other hand, was apytly named given the fact that Elvis lived and became famous WELL BEFORE the logo was invented. IMO, the BEST Patriots logo was Pat the Patriot on a white helmet ... along with the red jersies and white pants.
30:45-30:52 The AFL played with tapered-end Footballs with sharper points because those balls would travel farther. Yet another example of the AFL's desire to emphasize the passing game.
Learning a lot of football history I didn't know. Tobin Rote as Chargers QB on maybe their best team. Jack Kemp had an arm. So many good black players. AFL team speed had to be superior. The overall speed is notable on film. Only 8 teams and they all had good stretches over the decade. Some great players.
49:05 I find it a bit hard to believe that the Chargers were favored in the '64 Championship Game. Buffalo was 12-2 in 1964, while San Diego went 8-5-1. Additionally, in Week #3 in Buffalo, the Bills defeated the Chargers, 30-3. Then in Week #12 in San Diego, the Bills won again, 27-24. Seems like they would've been solid favorites, IMO.
Yeah definitely. Maybe the Chargers were favored just because they won the AFL title the year before and this was Buffalo's first AFL title game appearance. But the Bills stomped them and then beat the Chargers again in the 65 AFL Championship but this time in San Diego...23-0. The Bills almost ended up in Super Bowl 1 against Lombardi's Packers but lost the 1966 AFL Championship game to Kansas City. Many people say Buffalo vs Green Bay would've been a better matchup because the Bills playing style was more like a traditional NFL team
Yet, regardless of "paper record," and for whatever reason(s) of which we may not be aware 60 years after-the-fact, the Chargers WERE WITHOUT DISPUTE the CLEAR favorite. That was true for BOTH the 1964 and 1965 AFL Title Games (the first in Buffalo, the second in San Diego), and there's NO debate about it regardless whether we find it easy or hard to accept. Maybe it was because the Chargers were the defending AFL Champions from 1963 with a 51 point dominant mastry of the Patriots in the title game (and the Patriots beat the Bills at least once in 1964); maybe it was because Sid Gillman was viewed as a far superior coach to Lou Saban; maybe it was because the Chargers had many more "star" and perceived "better" players than the no-name Bills had (except for FB Cookie Gilchrist [who Saban got rid of before the 1965 season] and QB Jack Kemp [who the Chargers had waived off their team, presumably because Gillman viewed a young John Hadl as a better QB than the injured Kemp]); maybe it was an injury issue ??? [I know Lance Alworth was hurt and ubable to play prior to the 1964 AFL Championship game, but I don't know if there were any particular Bills players also injured ... and I know that Alworth was 100% healthy for the 1965 AFL Championship game, but that the Bills had so many injuries to their WRs that were placed on season-ending IR that prior to the 1965 title game, they had to cobble together an emergency 2 TE formation for their passing game]. Bottom line: I don't know "why" the pointspread and the odds made the Chargers the favorites; al I know is that the "professionals" who decide these thingsdid exactly that ... and presumably they knew what they were talking about (at least prior to the games) because a LOT of money was involved, and those people weren't in the habit of deliberately losing it ... if you catch my drift ;) .
@@wingedbuffalo4670 So because the narrator said SD was favored, you think that makes it so? Really? The Bills were 12-2; the Chargers were 8-5-1. The Bills were the highest scoring team (400 pts); the Chargers were 4th (341) The Bills had the #1 scoring defense (242 pts); the Chargers were 3rd (300) The Bills smoked the Chargers 30-3 at home and then beat them again, 27-24, in San Diego. The Chargers finshed the season losing 3 of their last 4, including a 49-6 thrashing by the Chiefs. The Championship Game was being played in Buffalo. There is no way on earth that the Chargers were favored in this game. The narrator was wrong. The Vegas line for the 1964 AFL Championship had the Bills favored by 5 points. Tell me again how the Chargers "WERE WITHOUT DISPUTE the CLEAR favorite."
@@dantheman5745 NO, @dantheman smart guy, I do NOT say the Bills were favored simply because ONE "narrator" (who just so happens to be representing AFL History for NFL films) happened to say said so. I say it because that's what MULTIPLE SOURCES I have checked reported at the time -- including old REBROADCASTS of the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship games wherein the unbiased LEAGUE BROADCASTERS THEMSELVES ALLUDED TO the fact that the Chargers were favored in both games. It's NOT "only" this "narrator" who has reported that information, and I invite you to check out the various game rebroadcasts and highlight packages about those games that are readily available on You Tube if you don;t believe me. Either way, I won't lose any sleep over your factually erroneous "beliefs" if you choose not to avail yourself of the sources I'm providing you. I also don't care if the FACTUAL "favored team" determination didn't at the time (if you were alive) and/or doesn't now square with seeming logic based upon your cherry-picked "facts" or YOUR personal expectations. And I can't help it that you "find it a bit hard to believe" (which is what you originally wrote that triggered my comment in the first place, and wherein I offered a few possible explanations that you nonetheless stubbornly and close-mindedly want not to consider -- but it appears, given how defensive and intractible you are presenting yourself, that you mischaracterized your TRUE sentiment when you originally posted on this topic: rather than merely "find[ing] it hard to believe," apparently you were in truth REALLY instead actually wanting to call [and calling] the "narrator" an outright liar because you claim to "know" different -- except that you didn't have the guts OR THE FACTUAL "PROOF" to just say it). The problem for you, is that your "knowledge" and "belief" simply isn't FACT (no matter how much you obviously wish it were). As the saying goes, "it is what it is" ... and what "is' (was) is that the Chargers were favored in both the 1964 and 1965 AFL title games. Too bad if you don't like it, and so sorry that you can't change it or wish it away ... but "it is what it is." The real question -- given that you sport a Bengals avitar -- is WHY do you care so much about something so minor and inconsequential, from so long ago, that doesn't even involve "your" team ??? The Bengals didn't even come into existence until 1968 -- the AFL's penultimate season -- and at that, the ONLY reason sourpuss Paul Brown deigned to "lower himself" to buy an AFL franchise was because he wanted back into the NFL after Cleveland had booted him and he knew after 1966 that the merger would occur and that was the fastest and easiest avenue back into the NFL. Hmmmmmmm... Please also state the name of the actual Vegas casino(s)/sportsbook*s), and/or other source(s) you're attempting to claim supposedly made the Bills "5 point favorites" so I can check the assertion(s) out for myself. Thanks.
Growing up in the 1960s in the segregated south as a kid. The AFL was where I saw a lot of black players on teams. Plus the AFL PLAYED we played the game on neighborhood lots. The AFL was exciting with its offense lighting up the scoreboard. It was different from the .Iam not knocking the NFL. But the AFL was more exciting than the NFL. Thank you AFL for those exciting Sunday afternoons
Hank Stram was one of the true heroes of breaking segregation. He made it a top priority for KC Chief scouts to visit as many black colleges as possible as he knew full well that they were a "treasure trove" of talent. Stram built one of the greatest defenses of all time with players like Buchanan, Lanier, and Culp and as he said many times "I could care less about a person's color but only if he can play football.
This is why the modern NFL focuses more on the AFL/AFC, than the old NFL. Remember the NFL dates back to 1920, however, the modern league only goes back to the merger period, they don't cover anything before the first Super Bowl in January 1967. They cover the AFL back to it's beginning in 1960, but not the old NFL. It's because of the old racialism and white's only policy of the NFL from 1933 until 1946. That started with Washington's original owner and founder George Preston Marshall, however, other owners at the time supported him, they used the great depression and lack of opportunities as an excuse. Interestingly, the modern league now segregates whites to certain positions that the leagues thinks they are "equipped" to play. Times never change.
55:54 The more involved Jack Steadman became, the worse the Chiefs performed. He was the driving force behind getting rid of Hank Stram, and he personally presided over the dark ages debacle of the 1970s and '80s, bringing in the likes of Paul Wiggen and Jim Schaaf. When Steadman and company were finally pushed aside in 1989, the Chiefs began the long steady process of righting the ship, and returning to some measure of respectability.
Best I can tell, it's an "original" knock-off tune made exclusively for the show to save paying for royalties. It's kind of a mix-up of Beach Boys (409) and Jan & Dean (Drag City) lyrics with guitar licks imitating Dick Dale and instrumental groups like the Surfaris and the Ventures.
SO much lifted from guess where? The CFL. That's right ladies n gentlemen. EVERYTHING must come from someplace. The AFL was a first cousin to the CFL. Take a little time and examine the type of game the CFL plays. Tell me what you see?
The Washington Redskins hold the distinction of being the last franchise to sign a black player in the 1960s. Ron Hatcher is the first black to sign, but Bobby Mitchell is the first to play. He was acquired from the Cleveland Browns for #1 draftee, Ernie Davis in 1962. Davis was too ill to play a down and died the following season. Mitchell excelled as a receiver. P.S. Late Redskins owner George Preston Marshall opened his new palatial home in 1961 in D.C. Stadium, but he was forced to integrate the locker room or he'd face serious consequences on maintaining the 30-year lease he set, simply because his new home was on Federal Government property.
The sideline scene between Harry Jacobs and Marty Schottenheimer is such a “football” moment. The affection for one another, and the veteran playing teach the younger player is so cool to watch and listen too.
Especially how sensually he was touching his bum
There's something for everyone.
I watch this series quite often and all the time Thank you much to whomever put it on RUclips. Reminds me of my childhood.
Nervino Karas It's one of the best documentary series done in history
Well said
Oh Yeah Best Football Documentary Series Ever!!!!
I watch it every few years, didn't grow up during this time, but still feel it's the best football documentary.
Agreed....great subject matter...great footage...and Coyote's voice is dead on perfect
The AFL revolutionized football!
Yes they did the AFL was that underdog the manged to stand toe to toe with the big dog NFL
You’re right about that!!!!
"The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd...a legend in Pro Football & Pro Wrestling!
Especially in New Orleans, oddly enough.
Ladd was the man...he did the best promos in wrestling
Loved it when he rubbed Coach Stram’s head, almost knocking his hairpiece off...😆😆😆
Should be in the Pro football Hall of Fame and WWE Hall of Fame
@@williamdiemert9866 He's in the latter Hall of Fame, inducted by Cowboy Bill Watts who helped teach him the business of pro wrestling by making him the first African American Booker.
Best football documentary EVER!! The tie in between the turbulent Sixties and the Advent of the American Football League is so compelling. The National Football League was a stagnant, asinine joke of a League. Deliberately ignoring the Fantastic Black Athletes, the likes of which now dominate the game. The AFL changed the game in every way for the better.
This and America's Game are my go to football documentaries. The narrators they were able to get for America's Game were incredible. And of course the footage from NFL Films and the interviews for both of these documentaries are top notch. If you are a football fan these are definitely can't miss.
I remember a preseason game between Jack Kemp's Bills and the Cleveland Browns that was still one of the best football games I've ever seen.
Really enjoyed watching this series. I was only 2 when Chargers won an Football Championship. I remember meeting Gary Garrison at a bank with my dad in 1970, very cool.
I'm a Patriots fan, and I was pissed when the Chargers left San Diego
@@roshango125ab they have no business being in Los Angeles.
I'm a Chargers fan who lives in LA. Used to drive to mission valley for games. The fans in San Diego were loyal and loud. They should have stayed..but couldn't get a Stadium there.
Unfortunately the Chargers can't move back to San Diego because they just started demolition work on Jack Murphy stadium.
 I'm dreaming of a possibility right there in oceanside someday.
I was born in 1965 and it's amazing that the last time Buffalo won a championship was the year of my birth. Quite a feat if you think about how many great teams and players the Bills and also the Buffalo Sabres have had in their long history. But what the hell, being a fan is about loyalty and as the Irish saying goes, "the lord hates a coward."
I've seen it about 50 or 60 times still my favorite childhood memories.
The league looked after black players in their boycott of the AFL all-star game. But their own teams did NOT. That was so wrong all over.
Just an observation. The 1966 Green Bay Packers had 9 black players contradicting the statement made by Michael McCambridge in this piece (even number for rooming purposes). Lombardi wanted winners! Those players were Wood, Jeter, Adderley, Aldridge, Davis, Pitts, Fleming, Robinson, and Brown. The following year, Lombardi’s Packers had 13 black men on their roster. Six of those players started on Vince’s defense. Vince was ahead of his time and another reason to respect this great coach.
It's so true that the incomparable Vince Lombardi was ahead of the curve in anything pertaining to football. Perhaps most of all, in regards to race. Or sexual orientation. Could you perform on the football field? That's where it began and ended for the greatest coach the world will ever know. Lombardis brother was gay. He himself was denied opportunity after opportunity due to his Italian/Catholic background. Ultimately, he became the most "overqualified" coach in history with the Packers. The AFL had numerous individuals who mirrored these same attributes. That is why they became the great American success story in professional sports.
This show is so good I can’t believe I haven’t seen it. Feels like Christmas. 🎄
I respect those men who decided to boycott the All Star game in New Orleans because of segregation. They stood up for what they believe in!!!!!!!!!!!
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
Yes and the same thing goes on today. Some things have improved and some things have stayed the same. Kaepernick has all but been blackballed
@@JeanmarieRod F***k you. Your statement is uncalled for and basically you are saying that you support segregation and all of the bullshit that black people had to put up with in the 60s
@@djnitetrain6171 seriously guy got black bailed???? No dude sued the nfl got his money and he sucked before he decided to get attention cause he lost his job cause he SUCKED
Jack Kemp supported the boycott. I really disagreed with his politics as Senator but he was a principled man who I have respect for.
I was so grateful for this whole documentary being on RUclips 5 years ago when I was bed-ridden recovering from a very painful knee replacement surgery. Really helped me get through that tough and frustrating time when I couldnt even sleep some nights because of the pain. Thanks!
It is one of the best documentaries ever made, regardless of subject. Hope you're feeling better now.
Definitely is! I am, thanks!
I'm pretty proud Mr. Abner Haynes was a Denver Bronco. His role in the player boycott in New Orleans can only be applauded. I never thought Hunt or Stram had prejudice, so I wonder who was behind the trade.
Yes, indeed. What Abher said at the end was spot on.
Women inn their underwear
His former team did not support the boycott. Sad & so wrong.
Yep, and you know what? Those were the days when most everything that the blacks railed against was legit-it was THAT time in history. Now? It's extortion, plain and simple by most everything blacks are railing about.
As a diehard, lifelong Chiefs fan, I'm disappointed with the Chiefs' reaction to the NOLA all star game.
RIP Gino Cappelletti (1934-2022)
I'm 62 (born in 62) and became a NFL fan in 72, so after the merger and Superbowl I (66)... I really didn't know very much about the AFL, so these have been WONDERFUL to watch..!! I enjoyed Parts 1 & 2 and I'm moving on to Part 3..!!
The 1964-65 AFL Champion Buffalo Bills were really an excellent football team. They had a great power running game featuring Cookie Gilchrist and an outstanding defense. Many of the AFL teams were just as good as the NFL teams and even better in some cases. The 1963 AFL Champion San Diego Chargers actually challenged the NFL Champion Chicago Bears to a World Championship Game but the Bears declined. That tells me the Bears were really worried that they would lose to the Chargers and ruin everyone's perception that the NFL was superior to the AFL. The 64 Bills vs the 64 NFL Champion Cleveland Browns would've been a good game I bet. The Bills defense was definitely good enough to hold Jim Brown in check and their offense was pretty good too with QB Jack Kemp, RB Cookie Gilchrist, and WR Elbert Dubenion. The Browns QB and WR's really weren't any better than Buffalo's. If the Bills defense was good enough to completely shut down Sid Gillman's Chargers offense in back to back AFL Championships then they were definitely capable of shutting down the Browns offense. But I guess we'll never know
Spot-on !!!
Nice little add in (at the .44 mark) of the Bears halfback no. 28 Willie "The Wisp" Galimore. He was not as swivel hip elusive as later Gale Sayers will be, but more of speedy slasher type Saquon Barkley.
This is a great series. Thanks for posting.
I know Right!!!!
Marty Schottenheimer at 41:00....arguably the longest name in football history without a hyphen.
Check the letters on his jersey...they started and ended at each armpit...
We called him Schottzy...😊
▪ Best sports documentary ever ▪
Cookie Gilchrist : `I don't care what color the taxi is, I just want a taxi!"
Everybody needs to watch their video, especially African Americans and their young kids. They need to know more about Black History.
This is an incredible documentary series The footage is so great. I've read Michael Macambridge's amazing book America's Game and the 1960s and the battle between the NFL & AFL is the most fascinating part of American sports history
The AFL was a lot of fun. Great memories.
I love this documentary...holds great memories for me....my son was born around the time this doc came on...so I was using the dvr feature alot...watching this documentary with my newborn son while he was having a 2am.bottle...miss those days alot
During the AFL's decade, the "Boston" Patriots had four different home fields: Nickerson Field (1960-62); Fenway Park (1963-68); Alumni
Stadium at Boston College (1969) and Harvard Stadium (1970).
I watched this often. One of the all time football docs. A great ode to the great AFL. My pops was always an AFL advocate and always rooted for them (except the Raiders 😂- you can guess who his team was).
RIP Mr. Abner Haynes
To paraphrase the late Paul Harvey: "And now you know, the rest of the AFL stories."
So crazy seeing Pats at Fenway. It’s layout is actually not too bad for football.
I saw my first Patriots game at Fenway Park on December 4th 1966. They played the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots won 14 to 3. We sat right behind the 3rd base dugout, which were end zone seats. The gridiron barely fit between the 3rd base dugout and the bullpen in right field. College football is still played occasionally at Fenway and the gridiron is laid out the same way.
They talk about Buoniconti and Eisenauer, how about Houston Antwine and Jim “Earthquake” Hunt ? Those two were Bad Ass.
The only thing the AFL didn’t jump on was a regular “Thanksgiving Game” I always thought a AFC team with a night game would’ve balanced out the NFC holiday games.
Actually, there WERE Thanksgiving Day games in the old AFL ... but just not every season. I know for a fact that the Bills and Chargers played against each other one year on T-Day.
Harry Jacobs as of 4/11/2021 the only living member of this linebacker core.Harry Jacobs would have made a great DC with of his understanding of the game.
one of the best docus i have ever seen. i would like to watch some full games if they are out there
The narrator on number one and number two shows is a famous actor, I recognize his voice, his voice even hosted the Oscars one year, just The voice,
Peter Coyote.
i think its steve saban... yes he sounds like the lawyer on law and order (sam waterston)
That is actor Peter Coyote as the narrator.
This is so great! I loved the AFL...always better than the boring NFL back then...and the 63 Chargers would have killed the slow white Bears if they had played....
I think the 1963 Chargers were the best team in AFL history and could have beaten the Bears if they'd played for the "overall" title.
The 63 chargers were the 1st great offense of the modern era.
The 63 chargers were the best non-NFL team in the history of football.
Sorry, there would be no Super Bowl until January 1967 The Bears said they were not going to play the Chargers anyway George Halas called such a game ridiculous
The more things change, the more they stay the same
It's sad that many people don't know who Sid Gillman was I'm not a chargers fan but I would love Gillman to be the coach of my team any day
I started watching the NFL in 1971. I don’t remember Sid Gillman but being a fan of NFL history I know his great contributions. I know Bill Walsh said he learned a lot from Sid. I’m happy to see is in the Hall of Fame. I figured he should be, but you never know.
This is required viewing for every American man
Absolutely!
Buffalo fans were tough, but willing to give you a full can of beer: 37:16
RIP Marty.
RIP Gino Cappelletti
There are still people in Buffalo to this day who remain bitter about the trade that sent Daryle Lamonica to Oakland in 1967. Lamonica subsequently led the Raiders to Super Bowl II and the Bills began their long steady decline
I still consider it the worst trade in Bills history.
Too bad the Patriots screwed up and moved away from those cool red uniforms.
And replaced Pat the Patriot with Flying Elvis.
I love the red. They should bring them back with the 1970s Northwestern stripes on the arms.
@@edwardgarea7650 agreed Pat should be the only logo
I'm an old AFL diehard, and I MUCH prefer most of the old AFL uniforms ... The Bills' standing red buffalo logo and extra sleeve stripes, the Patriots' red uniforms (which were the inverse of the Bills uniforms) and Pat the Patriot logo, the KELLY green and white Jets uniforms with the sleeve blocks and white helmet with a more pointed football NY Jet logo (instead of the oval rugby ball or the ugly dark green, or the stylized jets logo), the old Oilers uniforms with the silver helmets and silver pants, the Chargers' white helmets with yellow lightning bolt and numbers, the yellow pants with lightning bolt, the powder or royal blue jersey (but NOT the navy blue jersey with the ugly navy blue helmet), and either Denver's blue and orange with sleeve block jerseys and orange helmet with the funky bucking bronco logo OR the dark blue helmet with the "D" and stallion logo (not the "milky blue" helmet). The Raiders, Chiefs, and Dolphins are not appreciably different. The Bengals' current orange helmet with the tiger stripes has grown on me over the years -- it's better than is the original AFL flat orange plain helmet with only the stenciled block letters spelling "bengals" on it.
In addition, I really wish that at least the 8 ORIGINAL AFL teams would wear the AFL patch as a permanent part of their uniform the way the Chiefs do. I would probably allow the Dolphins and Bengals the option to add it to their uniforms (because they were "in" the AFL for a small PART of the AFL's history, but NOT as founding teams because they were expansion teams after the merger was agreed to. Miami joined for the 1966 season (the AFL's 7th of 10 seasons) and Cincinnati joined in 1968 (the AFL's 9th of only 10 seasons) ONLY as a means for Pail Brown to get back into the NFL -- he said so.
With all due respect to Lamar Hunt and his legacy, as the founding impetus for the old AFL, he absolutely deserves all the honor and credit bestowed upon him. BUT SO DO (at least some) OTHERS. Al Davis is one obvious example. The Raiders should put an AFL patch on their uniforms permanently. Another "under the radar" yet CRITICAL example would be the Buffalo Bills. Not only were they the first "NFL like" team that had a great defense to compliment its offense, but Bills owner Ralph Wilson was PIVOTAL and CRITICAL to its survival and success. Here are just a few of Wilson's AFL contributions:
1. He secretly loaned the Raiders $400k "under the table" to keep their organization solvent and to preserve the league maintaining at least 8 teams in its early days;
2. He secretly loaned the Sullivan brothers lots of $$$ "under the table" too to keep the Patriots solvent ... can you imagine profootball without the raiders and Patriots dynasties ???
3. He employed pro football's FIRST-EVER soccer-style kicker (Pete Gogolak) -- which revolutionized place kicking
4. He played a vital role in negotiatng the AFL's first TV deal with ABC, AND the massive second AFL TV deal (along with the NY Jets' Sonny Werblin) with NBC that guaranteed the AFL would have enough $$$ to compete for top players and survive.
5. He played a vital role indirectly prompting the AFL-NFL merger by virtue of the massive NBC TV contract he helped negotoiate AND by virtue of the fact he remained silent (although furious) and didn't sue the NY Giants for poaching the Bills' kicker Pete Gogolak ... which gave new AFL Commissioner Al Davis the 'green light" to start poaching NFL teams' star players. The NFL owners, horrified at the massive bidding war THEY HAD UNLEASHED by stealing the Bills' kicker, quickly sued for peace and a merger.
The Houston Oilers' Bud Adams was a larger-than-life AFL founder too, but unfortunately the Tennessee Titans didn't even retain the "Oilers" name or exact colors ... so I'm not sure an AFL patch would be appropriate for their uniform.
The NY Jets ought to have an AFL patch too -- even though their team name was originally the "NY Titans" and their colors were blue and gold; although the team mane switched to the Jets abnd the colors switched to kelly green and white, the team remained in NY. Second owner Sonny Werblin was an entertainment impressario, and (in addition to doing yeoman work to secure the massive second TV deal for the AFL with NBC-TV) he had the vision to bring "Broadway Joe" Namath to NY and sign him to a staggering, then-unheard-of $427k contract. And let's not ever forget that it was the AFL NY Jets who first defeated the proud supposedly "superior" NFL in Super Bowl III.
This episode is one of my favorites. This is why I loved what the AFL did for the game of football 🏈 and shows how they cared more about how a player could help them win vs the color of their skin. Our game and world has came a long way but it’s sad our brothers were treated like this in the 60’s because of the color of their skin.
I watch this 6 part series every year prior to the NFL season and I’m amazed at what the AFL had to overcome.
Super Bowls III and IV are the most important football games ever played.
Obviously this is an AFL documentary, but I'm glad to know that Lombardi had the same policies on black players when he was a coach. Lombardi experienced prejudice growing up as an Italian-American, so he understood what black players went through. By 1960, he put in a policy that the team would only stay in hotels that would house all of the players, and he also roomed black and white players together based on positions. By the end of his last season coaching the Packers in 1967, there were 13 black players on the team, and 8 of them were starters.
@@Tyrunner0097
Yep. That’s one reason I’m glad it called THE LOMBARDI trophy. I’m a long time 49er fan but I admire all greatness.
@@joeblaumer2085 And immediately after Vince Lombardi's staggering death to cancer in September 1970, it was the GREATNESS of the AFL's founder (Lamar Hunt) who made the magnanimous suggestion to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle to name the championship trophy after Vince Lombardi to honor him. In a way, I'll bet Chicago Bears and NFL founder-patriarch George "Papa Bear" Halas was a bit jealous and pi$$ed deep-down inside :) The Bears and Packers hated (hate) each other as much as any great rivalry you can think of. Maybe to assuage Halas' irritation is why they decided to name the NFC Championship Trophy the "George Halas Trophy" ... and the AFC Championship Trophy the "Lamar Hunt Trophy" ...
@@wingedbuffalo4670
That certainly makes sense.
@@joeblaumer2085 :)
charlie jones, jim simpson, curt gowdy, al de rogatis, great sunday childhood memories
19:54-28:20 was the best part of PART 2!
QB Tobin Rote wins championships with '57 Lions and "63 Chargers. Neither team has won a championship since.
Love this series
I love this documentary, but when they’re talking about Buffalo’s great defense under Lou Saban they are showing highlights of the Bill’s tackling players that were still in college and playing teams like the Dolphins that were not even a team yet.
My mum was 18 when Kennedy was assassinated and she was crying in the kitchen. Her dad hadn't heard the news yet and when he got home he asked her what wrong and she told him. Not lying his response was "Oh shit, they're going to cancel football".
Passing a law doesn't change a persons HEART,only Jesus can change your heart
People say the Patriots were never a good team until TB12 and Bill came along. However, people forget that New England is fifth all-time in winning percentage. They have a way to go to catch the Packers, but, hey, being in the top five of all time isn't too shabby.
before them new england was barely .500 including 13 double digit loss season in that time
@@phillywawadrinker Not the way I remember it. I looked up the stats. The patriots were always in contention at one point or another, with some bad seasons interspersed throughout their time like any other team. Despite bad seasons, they had several playoff runs in every decade. I'm an old Patriots fan back from the days of Munioz, Sam "Bam" Cunningham, Grogan, Tippett, Fryer, Coates, and Bledisoe.
@@paladin313 if. You looked up stats you would know that from 1964 to 1994 they made the playoffs 5x lol
@@phillywawadrinker - there weren't as many playoff slots available in those days as there are now.
@@normanlinden5786in 62 seasons they have been to the playoffs 28 times and 18 of them belong to belichek
Great presentation with ONE BIG OMISSION: In 1963, the Oakland Raiders hired Al Davis as head coach.
Davis, formerly assistant coach to Sid Gilman in San Diego, led the biggest one-season turnaround (up to then) in pro football history, guiding a 1-13 team in ‘62 to a 10-4 record in 1963, beating the AFL Champion Chargers TWICE in the regular season (unfortunately for the Raiders , no Wild Card playoff teams in ‘63).
Davis’ key moves: the off-season acquisitions of first team all pros WR Art Powell and MLB Archie Matsos, the promotion of QB Tom Flores (did not play at all in ‘62), and FB Clem Daniels (1,099 yds. in ‘63) to the first team offense.
Davis, who passed away in 2011, got plenty of disrespect from the owners, fans, etc. while he was alive.
However, leaving his 1963 coaching accomplishment out of this presentation tops it all.
R.I.P. AL DAVIS!
They cover Al Davis in either episode 3 or 4…
Paul Lowe "There was a donkey messing up the place"
fine accomodations Sid lol
Ron McDole for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Ron McDole also enjoyed a later career with the Washington Redskins (1971-78) and his terrific defensive play earned the moniker, "The Dancing Bear".
I love the AFL. I wish my Vikes would have gone that route.
After 49 seasons as a Viking, & after the '19 Season, I filed for Divorce from the Minnesota Vikings, & followed it up with stern written letters to the Owner, Coach Zimmer, & the GM. The NFL only granted a franchise to Minnesota, because they already knew what a great league the AFL truly was or becoming. If I could go back in time, & start my Football career all over again, I'd so be an AFL'er, & routing for the RAIDERS! The Raiders because of Al Davis giving Hispanics & Blacks a chance, & for many, a second Chance... Don't get me started on my Man Joe Willie Namath!
@@SantiagoTM1 I hear you, Santiago. I have a love-hate relationship with my Vikings. The AFL was so great in so many ways. Namath, Lanier, Allworth, Briscoe, etc. Trend-setters.
@@jonirving5606, 1st & foremost, I sincerely hope this finds you/family well & healthy. Afer 49 seasons of heartache & complete disappointments, I've filed for Divorce from the Minnesota Vikings. NO MORE! Now, on Saturday's, I watch religiously SEC College Football. It truly does remind me of AFL Football of the 60's.
@@SantiagoTM1 I feel your pain, and understand.
The Vikings were SUPPOSED to be in the AFL from its inceptionin 1960; the AFL had announced them as one of its teams. But their SKUNK owners accepted the dirty NFL owners' underhanded, conspiratorial offer to "string the AFL along, pretend that they were going to join the AFL, and then right at the last minute before the first draft, annoince that they were accepting the NFL's offer to be an NFL expansion team" a year or so later. AS INTENDED BY THE MALICIOUS NFL OWNERS, this unexpected, unannounced last-minute defection by Minnesota threw the AFL owners into disarray. But the AFL did just fine -- Barron Hilton (the original owner of the Chargers) wanted and insisted upon the AFL placing a natural rival on the West Coast to compliment his LA (later San Diego) Chargers team ... and thus was born the Oakland Raiders, starting in the 1960 season without the AFL missing a beat !!! It's karma and poetic justice that AFL founder Lamar Hunt's KC Chiefs embarrassed the Vikings in SB IV, an even later AFL expansion team (Miami Dolphins) dashed their hopes in SB VIII, and Al Davis' Oakland Raiders CRUSHED them in SB XI. Payback for doing the AFL dirty, and ironic that the Raiders were born of the Vikings' TREACHERY against the AFL.
Great doc, but how do you not mention Chuck Noll was defensive coordinator for the featured ‘63 champion Chargers? You did mention that defense was No. 1 ranked
5:56 .....Wow, a color clip from 1960 of The Patriots in their "Flying Nun" helmet (They only used that decal for the 1960 season.)
Flockengruven I thought that helmet was tremendous! Loved the numbers on the helmets under the hat logo
That is a tricornered hat.
Sally Field was a co-owner.
A "Flying Nun" name for a logo in 1960 when the "Flying Nun" hadn''t yet even been invented? It's a logo meant to resemble a Revolutionary War tricornered hat of the American Patriots. The ridiculous "flying Elvis" logo, on the other hand, was apytly named given the fact that Elvis lived and became famous WELL BEFORE the logo was invented. IMO, the BEST Patriots logo was Pat the Patriot on a white helmet ... along with the red jersies and white pants.
Jack Kemp was a 1996 Vice President candidate for Bob Dole Presidental campaign
Bob Dole R.I.P
And he was George H.W. Bush's Secretary of Housing & Urban Development.
Ron Mix "God wouldn't kill Lance Alworth".😆
30:45-30:52 The AFL played with tapered-end Footballs with sharper points because those balls would travel farther. Yet another example of the AFL's desire to emphasize the passing game.
15:30 what is the name of the song?
Learning a lot of football history I didn't know. Tobin Rote as Chargers QB on maybe their best team. Jack Kemp had an arm. So many good black players. AFL team speed had to be superior. The overall speed is notable on film. Only 8 teams and they all had good stretches over the decade. Some great players.
36:34 "Kill the lights Breezy" My new catch phrase.!!!!!
10:05 , LMFAO!!! There was even a DONKEY@!!!! LOL
49:05 I find it a bit hard to believe that the Chargers were favored in the '64 Championship Game. Buffalo was 12-2 in 1964, while San Diego went 8-5-1. Additionally, in Week #3 in Buffalo, the Bills defeated the Chargers, 30-3. Then in Week #12 in San Diego, the Bills won again, 27-24. Seems like they would've been solid favorites, IMO.
Yeah definitely. Maybe the Chargers were favored just because they won the AFL title the year before and this was Buffalo's first AFL title game appearance. But the Bills stomped them and then beat the Chargers again in the 65 AFL Championship but this time in San Diego...23-0. The Bills almost ended up in Super Bowl 1 against Lombardi's Packers but lost the 1966 AFL Championship game to Kansas City. Many people say Buffalo vs Green Bay would've been a better matchup because the Bills playing style was more like a traditional NFL team
San Diego is driving distance to Vegas.. Southern California teams are always overpriced simply to even out the betting.
Yet, regardless of "paper record," and for whatever reason(s) of which we may not be aware 60 years after-the-fact, the Chargers WERE WITHOUT DISPUTE the CLEAR favorite. That was true for BOTH the 1964 and 1965 AFL Title Games (the first in Buffalo, the second in San Diego), and there's NO debate about it regardless whether we find it easy or hard to accept. Maybe it was because the Chargers were the defending AFL Champions from 1963 with a 51 point dominant mastry of the Patriots in the title game (and the Patriots beat the Bills at least once in 1964); maybe it was because Sid Gillman was viewed as a far superior coach to Lou Saban; maybe it was because the Chargers had many more "star" and perceived "better" players than the no-name Bills had (except for FB Cookie Gilchrist [who Saban got rid of before the 1965 season] and QB Jack Kemp [who the Chargers had waived off their team, presumably because Gillman viewed a young John Hadl as a better QB than the injured Kemp]); maybe it was an injury issue ??? [I know Lance Alworth was hurt and ubable to play prior to the 1964 AFL Championship game, but I don't know if there were any particular Bills players also injured ... and I know that Alworth was 100% healthy for the 1965 AFL Championship game, but that the Bills had so many injuries to their WRs that were placed on season-ending IR that prior to the 1965 title game, they had to cobble together an emergency 2 TE formation for their passing game]. Bottom line: I don't know "why" the pointspread and the odds made the Chargers the favorites; al I know is that the "professionals" who decide these thingsdid exactly that ... and presumably they knew what they were talking about (at least prior to the games) because a LOT of money was involved, and those people weren't in the habit of deliberately losing it ... if you catch my drift ;) .
@@wingedbuffalo4670 So because the narrator said SD was favored, you think that makes it so? Really?
The Bills were 12-2; the Chargers were 8-5-1.
The Bills were the highest scoring team (400 pts); the Chargers were 4th (341)
The Bills had the #1 scoring defense (242 pts); the Chargers were 3rd (300)
The Bills smoked the Chargers 30-3 at home and then beat them again, 27-24, in San Diego.
The Chargers finshed the season losing 3 of their last 4, including a 49-6 thrashing by the Chiefs.
The Championship Game was being played in Buffalo.
There is no way on earth that the Chargers were favored in this game. The narrator was wrong.
The Vegas line for the 1964 AFL Championship had the Bills favored by 5 points.
Tell me again how the Chargers "WERE WITHOUT DISPUTE the CLEAR favorite."
@@dantheman5745 NO, @dantheman smart guy, I do NOT say the Bills were favored simply because ONE "narrator" (who just so happens to be representing AFL History for NFL films) happened to say said so. I say it because that's what MULTIPLE SOURCES I have checked reported at the time -- including old REBROADCASTS of the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship games wherein the unbiased LEAGUE BROADCASTERS THEMSELVES ALLUDED TO the fact that the Chargers were favored in both games. It's NOT "only" this "narrator" who has reported that information, and I invite you to check out the various game rebroadcasts and highlight packages about those games that are readily available on You Tube if you don;t believe me. Either way, I won't lose any sleep over your factually erroneous "beliefs" if you choose not to avail yourself of the sources I'm providing you.
I also don't care if the FACTUAL "favored team" determination didn't at the time (if you were alive) and/or doesn't now square with seeming logic based upon your cherry-picked "facts" or YOUR personal expectations. And I can't help it that you "find it a bit hard to believe" (which is what you originally wrote that triggered my comment in the first place, and wherein I offered a few possible explanations that you nonetheless stubbornly and close-mindedly want not to consider -- but it appears, given how defensive and intractible you are presenting yourself, that you mischaracterized your TRUE sentiment when you originally posted on this topic: rather than merely "find[ing] it hard to believe," apparently you were in truth REALLY instead actually wanting to call [and calling] the "narrator" an outright liar because you claim to "know" different -- except that you didn't have the guts OR THE FACTUAL "PROOF" to just say it). The problem for you, is that your "knowledge" and "belief" simply isn't FACT (no matter how much you obviously wish it were). As the saying goes, "it is what it is" ... and what "is' (was) is that the Chargers were favored in both the 1964 and 1965 AFL title games. Too bad if you don't like it, and so sorry that you can't change it or wish it away ... but "it is what it is."
The real question -- given that you sport a Bengals avitar -- is WHY do you care so much about something so minor and inconsequential, from so long ago, that doesn't even involve "your" team ??? The Bengals didn't even come into existence until 1968 -- the AFL's penultimate season -- and at that, the ONLY reason sourpuss Paul Brown deigned to "lower himself" to buy an AFL franchise was because he wanted back into the NFL after Cleveland had booted him and he knew after 1966 that the merger would occur and that was the fastest and easiest avenue back into the NFL. Hmmmmmmm...
Please also state the name of the actual Vegas casino(s)/sportsbook*s), and/or other source(s) you're attempting to claim supposedly made the Bills "5 point favorites" so I can check the assertion(s) out for myself. Thanks.
AWRIGHT 28:30 the San Diego Chargers win their one & only Title......still waitin since "63
Larry King R.I.P
3:51.... damn, that took some balls to use that analogy!!
The Bob Newhart of AFL coaching: 25:35
Yup
Growing up in the 1960s in the segregated south as a kid. The AFL was where I saw a lot of black players on teams. Plus the AFL PLAYED we played the game on neighborhood lots. The AFL was exciting with its offense lighting up the scoreboard. It was different from the .Iam not knocking the NFL. But the AFL was more exciting than the NFL. Thank you AFL for those exciting Sunday afternoons
Mix mentioned flying from NY to SD and images of jet planes appeared, they were probably on a propeller plane.
Remember, it's the AFL.
NBC was good about color presentations.
That's because they were known as "The full color network", and they had the famed 11-feathered peacock as its motif.
John Madden R.I.P
Old school uniforms were great - Chargers for example.
If they're saying Black's can't play in the defensive secondary? Well Willie brown did even very early on
Dave Grayson, Butch Byrd, Booker Edgerson, Johnny Sample, etc. too
48:20 one of the best tackles in football history
Were all colored people RED YELLOW BLACK AND WHITE
Man that keith lincon had some wheels👀😲👍
Hank Stram was one of the true heroes of breaking segregation. He made it a top priority for KC Chief scouts to visit as many black colleges as possible as he knew full well that they were a "treasure trove" of talent. Stram built one of the greatest defenses of all time with players like Buchanan, Lanier, and Culp and as he said many times "I could care less about a person's color but only if he can play football.
Houston was still in the South, so how did that help?
Too bad there’s not any better film of this '63 AFL championship game.
Now you look at professional football the league is 75 percent black. My how times have changed.
This is why the modern NFL focuses more on the AFL/AFC, than the old NFL. Remember the NFL dates back to 1920, however, the modern league only goes back to the merger period, they don't cover anything before the first Super Bowl in January 1967. They cover the AFL back to it's beginning in 1960, but not the old NFL.
It's because of the old racialism and white's only policy of the NFL from 1933 until 1946. That started with Washington's original owner and founder George Preston Marshall, however, other owners at the time supported him, they used the great depression and lack of opportunities as an excuse.
Interestingly, the modern league now segregates whites to certain positions that the leagues thinks they are "equipped" to play. Times never change.
I remember when the Steelers had a black QB. The big question was he smart enough. The bad old days
If only those early Patriots knew what foundation they set would become the six-time Super Bowl champions.
Wow them bills can hit 👀😁👍
❤❤❤ classic if chargers. We're still like that
55:54 The more involved Jack Steadman became, the worse the Chiefs performed. He was the driving force behind getting rid of Hank Stram, and he personally presided over the dark ages debacle of the 1970s and '80s, bringing in the likes of Paul Wiggen and Jim Schaaf. When Steadman and company were finally pushed aside in 1989, the Chiefs began the long steady process of righting the ship, and returning to some measure of respectability.
Does anybody recognise the song at 15:30? It sounds similar to the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, but I can't find it anywhere?
Daniel Eatwell beach boys little 409
Best I can tell, it's an "original" knock-off tune made exclusively for the show to save paying for royalties. It's kind of a mix-up of Beach Boys (409) and Jan & Dean (Drag City) lyrics with guitar licks imitating Dick Dale and instrumental groups like the Surfaris and the Ventures.
@@lastguyminn2324 OK Thanks! That explains why I couldn't find it anywhere.
SO much lifted from guess where? The CFL. That's right ladies n gentlemen. EVERYTHING must come from someplace. The AFL was a first cousin to the CFL. Take a little time and examine the type of game the CFL plays. Tell me what you see?
Three downs, a bigger field & end zones, plus an extra defender and 1 offensive man in ("illegal") forward motion prior to the snap allowed.
"and don't fuck it up agaiiiin" calm down Sid
The 1960 Dallas Cowboys had 3 black players and Tex Schramm did as much as he could to stopsegregation
The Washington Redskins hold the distinction of being the last franchise to sign a black player in the 1960s. Ron Hatcher is the first black to sign, but Bobby Mitchell is the first to play. He was acquired from the Cleveland Browns for #1 draftee, Ernie Davis in 1962. Davis
was too ill to play a down and died the following season. Mitchell
excelled as a receiver. P.S. Late Redskins owner George Preston Marshall opened his new palatial home in 1961 in D.C. Stadium, but he was forced to integrate the locker room or he'd face serious consequences on maintaining the 30-year lease he set, simply
because his new home was on Federal Government property.
Everything I hear about Schramm is not good.
Davis had also said that he would never play for George Preston Marshall before he was diagnosed....
Now Steph Curry is the Baby-Faced Assassin.
C'mon AFC channel, you have more you could say. But I understand that the NFL doesn't want any of that.
GEE. Plimton yet still stiff yesterday yeah ,. Professional at Football
If we had kept Lenny Dawson, we wouldn't have to deal Paul Warfield and the Browns would've been in the first Super Bowls.....