Today In Sports History (January 14, 1961)

On this day in 1961, Willard Dewveall became the first NFL player to switch to the AFL. The National Football League (NFL) is the premiere professional football league in America, and has been for a century. There have been attempts for rival leagues in the past, however many have never reached the pedigree or status of the NFL. The American Football League (AFL) was made to compete with the NFL, and was by far the most successful attempt at a rival league. The AFL was founded in 1959, and later merged with the NFL in 1970. The merger created the two conferences we know today: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Willard Dewveall played for the Chicago Bears until the the 1961 NFL season. After the 1960 season ended, Dewveall elected to switch leagues and joined the American Football League (AFL). Dewveall joined the at-the-time AFL champions, the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans). Dewveall played for the Houston Oilers until 1964. He still holds the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise record for longest receiving touchdown at 98 yards.