History of AFC West in Timeline

The AFC West is a division in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). It consists of four teams: the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers. These teams compete against each other twice per season, as well as against teams from other divisions in the AFC and NFC, for a chance to win the division title and qualify for the NFL playoffs.

1960: AFL Championships

AFL Championships won prior to Super Bowl I (1960–1965)

1960: AFC West creation date

Along with the AFC (formerly AFL) East, the AFC West is the oldest NFL division in terms of creation date (1960).

1960: Formation of the American Football League's Western Division

In 1960, the division was formed as the American Football League's Western Division.

1960: Original AFL West teams established

In 1960, the original AFL West was formed, including the Dallas Texans (later Chiefs), Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Oakland Raiders.

1961: Los Angeles Chargers move to San Diego

In 1961, the Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego.

1963: Dallas Texans move to Kansas City

In 1963, the Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs.

1965: AFL Championships

AFL Championships won prior to Super Bowl I (1960–1965)

1966: AFC Championships

Combines AFC Championships and AFL Championships won between 1966 and 1969

1967: Super Bowl championships

Combined Super Bowl championships and AFL Championships won prior to Super Bowl I in 1967

1969: AFC Championships

Combines AFC Championships and AFL Championships won between 1966 and 1969

1969: Interdivisional game

In 1969, The Western Division 2nd place team played the Eastern Division 1st place team in an Interdivisional game.

1970: AFL West enters NFL as AFC West

In 1970, as part of the new NFL's two-conference, six-division alignment, the AFL West entered the merged league more or less intact as the AFC West.

1970: Bengals move to AFC Central

In 1970, the Cincinnati Bengals moved to the AFC Central (formerly the NFL Century Division, now the AFC North), forming rivalries with the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1976: Buccaneers play in AFC West

In 1976, the first-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers played as a member of the AFC West.

1977: Seahawks join and leave AFC West

In 1977, the Seattle Seahawks were added to the AFC West after spending their expansion season in the NFC West; they would move back to the NFC West later.

1982: Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles

In 1982, the Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles.

1995: Los Angeles Raiders move back to Oakland

In 1995, the Los Angeles Raiders moved back to Oakland.

2002: Oakland wins division title

In 2002, Oakland won the AFC West division title.

2002: Seahawks move back to NFC West

In 2002, the Seattle Seahawks moved back to the NFC West.

2003: Kansas City wins division title

In 2003, Kansas City won the AFC West division title.

2004: San Diego wins division title

In 2004, San Diego won the AFC West division title.

2005: Denver wins division title

In 2005, Denver won the AFC West division title.

2008: Chargers win division with 8-8 record

In 2008, the San Diego Chargers won the AFC West division with an 8–8 record, while the New England Patriots missed the playoffs at 11–5.

2010: Raiders sweep division but miss playoffs

In 2010, the Raiders swept the entire AFC West, going 6–0, but failed to qualify for the playoffs.

2010: Seahawks win NFC West with 7-9 record

In 2010, the Seahawks won the NFC West division with a 7–9 record.

2011: Broncos win division with 8-8 record

In 2011, a loss by the Raiders in the last game of the season gave the Broncos the AFC West division title with an 8–8 record.

2014: Panthers win NFC South with 7-8-1 record

In 2014, the Panthers won the NFC South division with a 7–8–1 record.

2017: San Diego Chargers move back to Los Angeles

In 2017, the San Diego Chargers moved back to Los Angeles.

2020: Oakland Raiders move to Las Vegas

In 2020, the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas.

2020: Washington Football Team wins NFC East with 7-9 record

In 2020, the Washington Football Team won the NFC East division with a 7–9 record.

2022: AFC West division titles tied

In 2022, Kansas City's win resulted in the AFC West becoming the only division in the NFL where all four teams had the same amount of division titles, with 15 each.

2022: Buccaneers win NFC South with 8-9 record.

In 2022, the Buccaneers won the NFC South with an 8-9 record.

2023: Chiefs win Super Bowl

In 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year. As of the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Chiefs have the most Super Bowl wins of any AFC West team with four Super Bowl victories.