Foolish Club
Encyclopedia
The Foolish Club was the self-imposed name taken by the owners of the eight original franchises of the American Football League
(AFL). When Texas millionaires Lamar Hunt
and Bud Adams, Jr.
were refused entry to the established NFL in 1959, they contacted other businessmen to form an eight-team professional football league, and called it the American Football League. Though Max Winter
of Minnesota had originally committed to the new league, he reneged when lured away by the NFL; Winter instead joined the NFL in 1961 with the Minnesota Vikings
(the Minneapolis AFL franchise only went as far as participating in the 1960 American Football League Draft
and never actually fielded a team). Hunt owned the AFL's Dallas Texans
(now the Kansas City Chiefs
), while the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans
) were Adams' franchise. The other six members of the "Original Eight" were Harry Wismer
(the Titans of New York
, now the New York Jets
), Bob Howsam
(Denver Broncos
), Barron Hilton
(Los Angeles Chargers, now the San Diego Chargers
), Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. (Buffalo Bills
), Billy Sullivan
(Boston Patriots, now the New England Patriots
), and Chet Soda
(in a group of eight) (Oakland Raiders
).
The league quickly became a viable competitor to the established league, in its first year signing half of the NFL's first-round draft choices, and introducing the first professional football gate and TV revenue-sharing plans, which made it financially stable. It went on to develop its own stars, and after forcing a merger with the NFL, became the only league ever to merge with another without losing any franchises. It was the raison d'être for the first Professional Football World Championship Games (later called the Super Bowl
), and after losing the first two games of that series to the Green Bay Packers
of the elder league, closed out its ten-year existence with victories over the NFL's best teams after the 1968
(with the Jets upseting the then-Baltimore Colts
) and 1969
(the Chiefs defeating the Minnesota Vikings
) seasons.
The only surviving members of the group are Adams and Wilson, and their teams (the Bills and the Titans) played in the first exhibition game of the 2009 NFL season
, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
on August 9, with both teams wearing their 1960s throwback
uniforms as the Titans wearing the colors of the Houston Oilers. This contest kicked off what would have been the AFL's 50th season, featuring "AFL Legacy Weekends", in which teams of the "Original Eight" will play one another wearing AFL period uniforms, game officials will wear AFL "Chinese Red" striped uniforms and fields will be designed in the innovative style used during the 1960s. The first regular season games served as the Monday Night Football
season opener on September 14 as the Bills visited the now-New England Patriots and the current San Diego Chargers visited the Oakland Raiders.
Though Hunt died in 2006, his children continue to own the Chiefs franchise that he founded. All five of the other original AFL owners sold off their franchises to other owners in their lifetimes. Hilton is the only one of these five still alive as of 2011.
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(AFL). When Texas millionaires Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
and Bud Adams, Jr.
Bud Adams
Kenneth Stanley "Bud" Adams, Jr. is the owner of the Tennessee Titans' National Football League franchise. He was instrumental in the founding and establishment of the former American Football League. Adams became a charter AFL owner with the establishment of the Titans franchise, which was...
were refused entry to the established NFL in 1959, they contacted other businessmen to form an eight-team professional football league, and called it the American Football League. Though Max Winter
Max Winter
Max Winter was a Minneapolis businessman and sport executive. Winter was born in Austria-Hungary and his family emigrated to the United States in 1913 and settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Winter graduated from high school in 1922...
of Minnesota had originally committed to the new league, he reneged when lured away by the NFL; Winter instead joined the NFL in 1961 with the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
(the Minneapolis AFL franchise only went as far as participating in the 1960 American Football League Draft
1960 American Football League Draft
The 1960 American Football League Draft was held on November 22, 1959, shortly after the organization of the league, and lasted 33 rounds. An additional draft of 20 rounds was held by the AFL on December 2.- Territorial draft :...
and never actually fielded a team). Hunt owned the AFL's Dallas Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
(now the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
), while the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
) were Adams' franchise. The other six members of the "Original Eight" were Harry Wismer
Harry Wismer
Harry Wismer was a sports broadcaster and charter owner of the New York Titans franchise in the American Football League.-Early years:...
(the Titans of New York
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, now the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
), Bob Howsam
Bob Howsam
Robert Lee Howsam was an executive in American professional sport who, in 1959, played a key role in establishing two leagues — the American Football League, which succeeded and merged with the National Football League, and baseball's Continental League, which never played a game but forced...
(Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
), Barron Hilton
Barron Hilton
William Barron Hilton I is an American business magnate, socialite, and hotel heir. He is the former co-chairman of the Hilton Hotels chain, and the original owner of the Los Angeles Chargers...
(Los Angeles Chargers, now the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
), Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. (Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
), Billy Sullivan
Billy Sullivan (American football)
William Hallissey "Billy" Sullivan, Jr. was an American businessman who owned the Boston Patriots franchise from their inception in the American Football League until their sale, as the New England Patriots of the NFL, to Victor Kiam in 1988.-Early life:Sullivan was born in Lowell, Massachusetts...
(Boston Patriots, now the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
), and Chet Soda
Chet Soda
Y. Charles "Chet" Soda was an Oakland, California businessman who was the first general partner of the Oakland Raiders, an original franchise in the American Football League .-See also:...
(in a group of eight) (Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
).
The league quickly became a viable competitor to the established league, in its first year signing half of the NFL's first-round draft choices, and introducing the first professional football gate and TV revenue-sharing plans, which made it financially stable. It went on to develop its own stars, and after forcing a merger with the NFL, became the only league ever to merge with another without losing any franchises. It was the raison d'être for the first Professional Football World Championship Games (later called the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
), and after losing the first two games of that series to the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
of the elder league, closed out its ten-year existence with victories over the NFL's best teams after the 1968
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
(with the Jets upseting the then-Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
) and 1969
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
(the Chiefs defeating the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
) seasons.
The only surviving members of the group are Adams and Wilson, and their teams (the Bills and the Titans) played in the first exhibition game of the 2009 NFL season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
The Pro Football Hall of Game is an annual National Football League exhibition game that is held the weekend of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies. The game is played at Fawcett Stadium, which is located next door to the Hall of Fame building in Canton, Ohio...
on August 9, with both teams wearing their 1960s throwback
Throwback
The Throwback, a 1978 satirical novel written by Tom SharpeChicago Throwbacks, a member of the basketball teamThrowback may also refer to:* Evolutionary throwback, a reversion to ancestral type* Throwback, Vol...
uniforms as the Titans wearing the colors of the Houston Oilers. This contest kicked off what would have been the AFL's 50th season, featuring "AFL Legacy Weekends", in which teams of the "Original Eight" will play one another wearing AFL period uniforms, game officials will wear AFL "Chinese Red" striped uniforms and fields will be designed in the innovative style used during the 1960s. The first regular season games served as the Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
season opener on September 14 as the Bills visited the now-New England Patriots and the current San Diego Chargers visited the Oakland Raiders.
Though Hunt died in 2006, his children continue to own the Chiefs franchise that he founded. All five of the other original AFL owners sold off their franchises to other owners in their lifetimes. Hilton is the only one of these five still alive as of 2011.