| Bracket : |
| Original Eight AFL League Uniforms |
|---|
| Team |
Year |
Uniform feature |
| Buffalo Bills |
1965 |
AFL Championship season (Dark jerseys current third uniform). |
| Denver Broncos |
1960 |
Featured infamous brown and yellow (or brown and white) vertically striped socks |
Kansas City Chiefs (Dallas Texans) |
1962 |
AFL Championship season; same as current but with State of Texas outline. |
New England Patriots (Boston Patriots) |
1963 |
First divisional championship. |
New York Jets (The Titans of New York) |
1961 |
Dark jerseys are current third uniform. |
| Oakland Raiders |
1963 |
White jerseys with silver numbers trimmed in black. |
| San Diego Chargers |
1963 |
AFL Championship Season. |
Tennessee Titans (Houston Oilers) |
1960 |
First season of existence. |
| Bracket : |
| AFL Legacy Game Schedule |
|---|
| Date |
Site |
Teams |
| August 9 |
Canton, Ohio |
Bills vs. Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans) |
| September 14 |
Foxborough, MA |
Bills at Boston Patriots (New England Patriots) |
| Oakland |
Chargers at Raiders |
| September 27 |
East Rutherford, NJ |
Houston Oilers at The Titans of New York (Tennessee Titans at NY Jets) |
| October 11 |
Kansas City |
Dallas Cowboys at Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs) |
| Denver |
Boston Patriots (New England Patriots) at Broncos |
| October 18 |
Foxborough, MA |
Houston Oilers at Boston Patriots (Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots) |
| October 19 |
San Diego |
Broncos at Chargers |
| October 25 |
Kansas City |
Chargers at Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs) |
| Oakland |
The Titans of New York (NY Jets) at Raiders |
| November 1 |
East Rutherford |
Dolphins at The Titans of New York (NY Jets) |
| November 15 |
Nashville |
Bills at Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans) |
| Oakland |
Dallas Texans (Kansas City Chiefs) at Raiders |
| November 26 |
Arlington, TX |
Raiders at Dallas Cowboys |
| November 29 |
Orchard Park, NY |
Dolphins at Bills |
| December 6 |
Miami Gardens, FL |
Boston Patriots (New England Patriots) at Dolphins |
| Pre-season : |
| Team |
2009 Coach |
2008 Coach(es) |
Reason for leaving |
Story/Accomplishments |
|---|
| Cleveland Browns |
Eric Mangini, former head coach of the New York Jets (see below) |
Romeo Crennel |
Fired |
Crennel compiled a 24 – 40 (.375) record in four seasons as the Browns' head coach. Browns GM Phil Savage was fired at the same time. |
| Denver Broncos |
Josh McDaniels, former offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots |
Mike Shanahan |
Fired |
Shanahan, the second-longest tenured head coach in the league (hired in 1995), was relieved of his duties after a 146 – 91 record (.616), two Super Bowl titles (XXXII and XXXIII), three division titles, and seven playoff appearances in fourteen seasons in Colorado. The Broncos let a three-game division lead slip away over the last month of the 2008 season and missed the playoffs for the third straight year. McDaniels, who has been an offensive and defensive assistant with the Patriots, led the Patriots offense (led by Matt Cassel, who had not started a football game since high school) to an 11-win season in 2008. Cassel became the starter after Tom Brady suffered a season ending knee injury. |
| Detroit Lions |
Jim Schwartz, former defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans |
Rod Marinelli |
Fired |
Marinelli was fired after the Lions suffered the worst season in NFL history, a record 0 – 16 finish, the NFL's first perfectly bad season in 32 years. In three years with the Lions, he compiled a 10 – 38 (.208) record. (Earlier in the season, team president and general manager Matt Millen had also been fired.) Schwartz had been with the Titans since 2001, and in 2008, under Schwartz's leadership, the Titans allowed only 14.6 points per game, second in the NFL. Marinelli would later become the defensive line/assistant head coach for the Chicago Bears. |
| Kansas City Chiefs |
Todd Haley, former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator |
Herm Edwards |
Fired |
Edwards was released on January 23 by new team General Manager Scott Pioli, who was hired a week earlier. Edwards has been the coach in Kansas City the past three seasons, and during his tenure, the Chiefs focused on becoming younger. This lack of experience was reflected in a record of 6 – 26 (.188) under Edwards the last two seasons, after a 9 – 7 record his first season. Before joining the Chiefs, Edwards was head coach of the New York Jets for five seasons. Haley, whose high-powered passing offense was the predominant factor in the Cardinals' run to their first ever Super Bowl appearance, was named head coach February 6. Edwards would become an analyst for ESPN. |
| Indianapolis Colts |
Jim Caldwell, associate head coach and quarterback coach |
Tony Dungy |
Retired |
Dungy retired on January 12, after a 13-year head coaching career that saw him go 148 – 79 (.652) with Tampa Bay (1996 – 2001) and Indianapolis (2002 – 08), including a win in Super Bowl XLI in 2007, beating his friend, Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears coach) and becoming the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl. This followed a 16-year career (1980 – 95) as a defensive assistant coach in both college football and the NFL. Dungy appeared on NBC's coverage of Super Bowl XLIII and is now an analyst on NBC's Football Night in America. |
| New York Jets |
Rex Ryan, former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator |
Eric Mangini |
Fired |
Despite an 8 – 3 start in 2008, the Jets finished the season 1 – 4, with the only win coming against an equally skidding Buffalo Bills team, leading to Mangini's firing. Mangini coached three seasons with the Jets and compiled a 23 – 25 (.479) record; he was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns nine days after being released by the Jets. Ryan, one of the two identical twin sons of former Jets defensive coach and Eagles and Cardinals head coach Buddy Ryan, agreed to a four-year contract hours following the Ravens' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. |
| Oakland Raiders |
Tom Cable, offensive line coach |
Lane Kiffin |
Fired |
Kiffin was fired September 30, 2008 after 5 – 15 mark (.250) in 1¼ seasons as coach and a feud with owner Al Davis. Kiffin would be named the new coach at the University of Tennessee on December 1, replacing Phillip Fulmer. Cable, who previously served as the offensive line coach under Kiffin and previously coached at the University of Idaho, went 4 – 8 as interim coach of the Raiders and was retained as coach February 4, 2009. |
| St. Louis Rams |
Steve Spagnuolo, former New York Giants defensive coordinator |
Scott Linehan; Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett (interim for 12 games) |
Fired |
Linehan was fired September 29, 2008 after going 11 – 25 (.306) over 2¼ seasons as coach; After turning down an offer from the San Francisco 49ers to be their offensive coordinator, he took the position of offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. Haslett went 2 – 10 as interim coach, but was told he would not be retained on January 15; Haslett has jumped to the United Football League, where he is now the coach of the Florida Tuskers. Spagnoulo rose to fame after his defense led the Giants to a win in Super Bowl XLII (ruining the New England Patriots' perfect season), and got a four-year contract on January 17 to take over as Rams coach. |
| San Francisco 49ers |
Mike Singletary, assistant head coach and linebackers coach |
Mike Nolan |
Fired |
Nolan was fired October 20 after an 18 – 37 mark (.327) over nearly 3½ seasons as coach. Singletary, who went 5 – 4 as interim coach in 2008, was rewarded with a four-year contract on December 28 following their 27 – 24 win over the Washington Redskins. Nolan would become defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos. |
| Seattle Seahawks |
Jim L. Mora, assistant head coach and defensive backs coach and former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. |
Mike Holmgren |
Retired |
After 10 years of head coaching with the Seahawks, it was announced that Holmgren would step down as head coach after the 2008 season, with Mora as his automatic successor. In his time with the Seahawks, Holmgren compiled a record of 86 – 74 (.541), with five division titles, six playoff appearances, including the Seahawks' first appearance in the Super Bowl and its first conference title (2005). |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Raheem Morris, defensive backs coach |
Jon Gruden |
Fired |
After his arrival from Oakland for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and $8 million, Gruden – who was fired along with general manager Bruce Allen – became the Buccaneers' most successful coach, winning Super Bowl XXXVII over the Raiders in 2003. The team's late season collapse after starting with a 9 – 3 record and the lead position in the NFC South may have been the main reason for Gruden's firing. In seven seasons with the Buccaneers, Gruden compiled a 57 – 55 (.509) regular season record and was 3 – 2 in the playoffs. Morris, who was previously the defensive backs coach, was promoted to defensive coordinator after Monte Kiffin announced he would leave to join his son Lane at the University of Tennessee. Gruden worked for NFL Network at the 2009 Draft and is an analyst for Monday Night Football on ESPN. |
| Players of the Week : AFC |
| Week |
Offense |
Defense |
Special Teams |
|---|
| 17 |
RB Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens |
LB Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs |
K Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers |
| 16 |
QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots |
LB LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers |
KR-WR Brad Smith, New York Jets |
| 15 |
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers |
CB Domonique Foxworth, Baltimore Ravens |
KR-WR Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland Browns |
| 14 |
WR Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos |
LB Keith Bulluck, Tennessee Titans |
KR-WR Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland Browns |
| 13 |
QB Bruce Gradkowski, Oakland Raiders |
LB Justin Durant, Jacksonville Jaguars |
K Dan Carpenter, Miami Dolphins |
| 12 |
QB Vince Young, Tennessee Titans |
CB Darrelle Revis, New York Jets |
K Matt Prater, Denver Broncos |
| 11 |
RB Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins |
CB Leigh Bodden, New England Patriots |
KR-RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs |
| 10 |
QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts |
S Mike Brown, Kansas City Chiefs |
KR-RB Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals |
| 9 |
TE Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts |
S Tyrone Carter, Pittsburgh Steelers |
K Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots |
| 8 |
RB Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans |
LB Brian Cushing, Houston Texans |
WR-KR Ted Ginn, Jr., Miami Dolphins |
| 7 |
QB Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals |
S Brandon Meriweather, New England Patriots |
P Brian Moorman, Buffalo Bills |
| 6 |
QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots |
LB Brian Cushing, Houston Texans |
KR-PR-WR Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos |
| 5 |
QB Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos |
LB James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers |
P Dave Zastudil, Cleveland Browns |
| 4 |
RB Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers |
CB Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos |
KR-WR Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans |
| 3 |
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars |
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore Ravens |
LB Jason Trusnik, New York Jets |
| 2 |
QB Matt Schaub, Houston Texans |
DE Antwan Odom, Cincinnati Bengals |
K Rian Lindell, Buffalo Bills |
| 1 |
QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots |
LB David Harris, New York Jets |
K Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh Steelers |
| : NFC |
| Week |
Offense |
Defense |
Special Teams |
|---|
| 17 |
QB Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings |
LB Anthony Spencer, Dallas Cowboys |
P Thomas Morstead, New Orleans Saints |
| 16 |
QB Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears |
LB Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers |
PR-WR Micheal Spurlock, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 15 |
RB Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers |
LB DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys |
P Ben Graham, Arizona Cardinals |
| 14 |
RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers |
LB Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins |
PR-WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles |
| 13 |
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals |
LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers |
PR Domenik Hixon, New York Giants |
| 12 |
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints |
CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers |
KR LaRod Stephens-Howling, Arizona Cardinals |
| 11 |
QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions |
LB Michael Boley, New York Giants |
P Thomas Morstead, New Orleans Saints |
| 10 |
WR Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings |
CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers |
P Hunter Smith, Washington Redskins |
| 9 |
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals |
DT Anthony Hargrove, New Orleans Saints |
KR-PR Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 8 |
QB Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings |
DE Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers |
K Josh Brown, St. Louis Rams |
| 7 |
WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles |
S Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals |
PR-WR Patrick Crayton, Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 |
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints |
S Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta Falcons |
KR-WR Sammie Stroughter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 5 |
WR Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys |
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals |
P Jason Baker, Carolina Panthers |
| 4 |
QB Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings |
S Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints |
KR-WR Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears |
| 3 |
QB Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia Eagles |
LB Lance Briggs, Chicago Bears |
KR-WR Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings |
| 2 |
RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers |
LB Chad Greenway, Minnesota Vikings |
DE Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals |
| 1 |
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints |
DE Justin Tuck, New York Giants |
PR-WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles |