NFL And AAFC Merge

On Dec. 9, 1949, the NFL merged with the All-American Football Conference. As part of the merger, three AAFC franchises joined the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Colts, and Cleveland Browns joined the NFL. The remaining AAFC franchises folded. Two days later, the Browns beat the 49ers in the final AAFC title game.

The Baltimore Colts ended up disbanding as a team following the 1950 season, but would re-enter into the NFL in 1953. The Colts would win two Super Bowls in their four appearances. With there most notable appearance in Super Bowl III against the New York Jets, when Johnny Unitas quarterback of the Colts lost to “Broadway” Joe Namath.

More recently Peyton Manning led the Colts to a win in Super Bowl XLI (41) as they beat the Chicago Bears, solidifying Manning as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL and his entrance into the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The Cleveland Browns still have never been to a Super Bowl, however a team that was built from them the Baltimore Ravens would win Super Bowl XXXV, their only appearance in history up until last season when the Ravens beat the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers have gone on to become one of the elite franchises in NFL history winning Five Super Bowls (and dropping one) ranking them tied for second all-time. They trail only the Steelers, who have six wins, and are tied with the Dallas Cowboys.

Browns Move To Baltimore

On Nov. 6, 1995, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell officially announced that the Cleveland Browns would be moving to Baltimore after the season. 

The lame duck Browns struggled the rest of that season. Eventually a deal was reached in which the name, logos, and history of the franchise would remain in Cleveland. A new version of the Browns returned to the field in 1999.

Modell's Baltimore franchise became known as the Baltimore Ravens and was essentially an expansion team.

Despite the Browns being a losing franchise, the Ravens didn’t take much time to become an elite franchise. The Ravens would visit the playoffs for the first time in 2000. 

That year would be a magical year for the Ravens as they traveled all the way to the Super Bowl and eventually beat the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV (35).

The Ravens would continue to excel in the AFC North and would make the playoffs in 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

The Ravens would again win the Super Bowl XLVII (47) in 2013 against the San Francisco 49ers as head coaches Jim and Job Harbaugh faced off in the first Super Bowl to be coached by brothers.

Payton Breaks NFL Rushing Touchdown Record

On Sept. 20, 1987, 1987 Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton scored his record breaking career regular season rushing touchdown 107.  Payton broke the record, which was previously held by Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown.

Without a doubt, Walter Payton was one of the greatest football players that ever played the game.  At the time of his retirement he had the most career rushing touchdowns, most career rushing yards and no player carried the ball more times in their career than “Sweetness”. 

Payton was a nine-time Pro Bowler and was named league MVP in the 1977 season.  

Payton’s greatest on-field accomplishment was being one of the leaders of the Super Bowl champion 1985 Chicago Bears, a team considered by many as one of the greatest of all-time.

Payton would retire from football in 1987 with a record 110 rushing touchdowns. However, his record would not last long.  

In 1995 former Oakland Raider and then Kansas City Chiefs running back Marcus Allen would break Payton’s record with his career rushing touchdown 111. Allen would finish his career with 123 rushing touchdowns.

Since then only two players have eclipsed the record broken by Payton and Allen including LaDanian Tomlinson with 145 touchdowns and Emmit Smith, who finished with 164 touchdowns. Smith still stands as the single player with the most rushing touchdowns in a career.