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Originally Posted by nightfighter
FWIW, the Jets' victory (that is singular) in the Super Bowl was probably the most influential game for what the sport has become today. I remember it well. The build up with Namath was classic. Poolside shots sipping drinks, guaranteeing a win when nobody gave them, or anyone connected with the AFL, a chance...Biggest upset ever with the greatest long term affect. But the organization was more of a class act then, starting with Weeb vs Rex.
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That game may have shaped the NFL post-merger. Because of the imbalance between the numbers of NFL/AFL teams, Rozelle had to try to convince 3 established NFL franchises to join the "minor league". The Jets' win, followed by the Chiefs the following year (and Bud Grant's Vikings were almost as highly regarded as Shula's Colts), made it a lot easier to convince the Colts, Steelers and Browns to join the AFL teams as the new AFC.