National Football League Coastal Division
Encyclopedia
The NFL Coastal Division was one of the four divisions of the National Football League
that was created prior to the 1967 season
when the league realigned its existing Eastern and Western Conferences. The division existed for three seasons until 1970
when the National Football League and American Football League
merged.
The NFL, during this period, named all of its divisions with the first letter "C"; each division's name also contained seven letters. The name "Coastal" came from the fact that all of its teams were fairly close to the coasts of the United States, although they were on opposite coasts, making for long travel between division rivals. Los Angeles and San Francisco occupied the West Coast, while Baltimore and Atlanta occupied the East Coast (in the case of Atlanta, it was also fairly close to the Gulf Coast).
The NFL Coastal Division had four members: Atlanta Falcons
, Baltimore Colts
, Los Angeles Rams
, and San Francisco 49ers
. After the AFL-NFL Merger
in 1970, the division disbanded. Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco joined the NFC West
, while Baltimore joined the AFC East
. The Colts moved to Indianapolis
in 1984 and were realigned into the AFC South
in 2002. Atlanta joined the NFC South
during realignment in 2002. The 49ers and Rams, who moved to St. Louis in 1995, remain in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals
and Seattle Seahawks
, who moved in from the NFC East
and AFC West
, respectively.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
that was created prior to the 1967 season
1967 NFL season
The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and...
when the league realigned its existing Eastern and Western Conferences. The division existed for three seasons until 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
when the National Football League and American Football League
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...
merged.
The NFL, during this period, named all of its divisions with the first letter "C"; each division's name also contained seven letters. The name "Coastal" came from the fact that all of its teams were fairly close to the coasts of the United States, although they were on opposite coasts, making for long travel between division rivals. Los Angeles and San Francisco occupied the West Coast, while Baltimore and Atlanta occupied the East Coast (in the case of Atlanta, it was also fairly close to the Gulf Coast).
The NFL Coastal Division had four members: Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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 ....
, Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. After the AFL-NFL Merger
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
in 1970, the division disbanded. Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco joined the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
, while Baltimore joined the AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
. The Colts moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1984 and were realigned into the AFC South
AFC South
The AFC South is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created before the 2002 season when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams...
in 2002. Atlanta joined the NFC South
NFC South
The NFC South is a division in the National Football Conference of the National Football League. It was created prior to the 2002 NFL season, when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. The NFC South currently has four members: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New...
during realignment in 2002. The 49ers and Rams, who moved to St. Louis in 1995, remain in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, who moved in from the NFC East
NFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
and AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...
, respectively.
Division champions
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Coastal | |||
| 1967 | Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
11-1-2 | Lost NFL Divisional Playoffs NFL playoffs, 1967 The NFL playoffs following the 1967 NFL season culminated in the 1967 title game on New Year's Eve, and determined who would represent the league against the American Football League champions in Super Bowl II.... |
| 1968 | 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 .... |
13-1-0 | Won NFL Championship NFL Championship Game, 1968 The 1968 National Football League championship game was the 36th annual championship game. The winner of the game would represent the NFL in the 3rd AFL-NFL World Championship Game also called the Super Bowl... Lost Super Bowl III 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... |
| 1969 | Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
11-3-0 | Lost NFL Divisional Playoffs NFL playoffs, 1969 The NFL playoffs following the 1969 NFL season determined who would represent the league in Super Bowl IV.This was the last NFL playoff tournament before the AFL-NFL Merger.-Tournament bracket:-Conference championships:... |
See also
- NFL Capitol Division, now the NFC EastNFC EastThe NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
- NFL Central Division, now the NFC NorthNFC NorthThe NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...
- NFL Century Division, now the AFC NorthAFC NorthThe American Football Conference North Division, or AFC North, is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created prior to the 1967 season as the NFL Century Division when the NFL split into four divisions...