American Football Conference (AFC)

Structure and members

Teams in the AFC are grouped into four geographic divisions, each containing four franchises. Those divisions are:

• AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
• AFC North: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
• AFC South: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
• AFC West: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers

History and development

The AFC originated from the merger of the older NFL and the American Football League (AFL) completed in 1970. Most AFL franchises became the new AFC, and a small number of pre-merger NFL teams moved into the conference to balance membership. The conference and its championship trophy recognize influential figures from pro football history; the Lamar Hunt Trophy is named for Lamar Hunt, an AFL founder and longtime supporter of the game.

Competition format

Since recent seasons, the AFC playoff field includes multiple division winners plus wild-card teams; the specific number and seeding have evolved over time. Teams play a regular-season schedule primarily against conference opponents, with additional interconference and rotating divisional matchups. The postseason culminates in the AFC Championship Game, whose victor advances to compete against the NFC champion in the Super Bowl.

Notable facts and importance

The AFC has produced a large share of NFL champions and is home to many of the league's most storied franchises. Historically successful clubs include the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, among others. Rivalries within the conference—division showdowns, playoff rematches and long-standing team histories—are central to its identity and to broader NFL culture.

Where to learn more

For further details about schedules, standings and historical records, consult official league resources or team pages. Many fans follow conference developments season by season as rosters, coaches and formats change, keeping the AFC a dynamic component of professional American football.