Logo of a former professional hockey team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1922 until 1926, the Victoria Cougars. In 1925, the Cougars actually won the Stanley Cup, and are the last non-NHL team to win the Cup. Coached by the legendary Lester Patrick, the team defeated the Montreal Canadiens to win that championship. Some of their notable players were Jocko Anderson, Hec Fowler, Frank Foyston, Harry Meeking and Jack Walker.
With the AFC championship game coming up this weekend, the featured logo today is the logo of the last team to win the championship of the old American Football League before it merged with the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were one of the most progressive franchises in the old AFL, behind coach Hank Stram, and were aggressive in pursuing black players from small colleges – players who helped them become a solid club. The Chiefs faced tragedy twice in their AFL years, as players Stone Johnson (in 1963) and Mack Lee Hill (in 1965) died after suffering injuries. The club finished the AFL decade on a high, though, winning the league’s final championship, then stunning the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.
Alternate logo of the Houston Oilers football team, which was a charter member of the old American Football League that started play in 1960, and became an NFL team when the leagues merged prior to the 1970 season. The Oilers played in Houston until 1997, when they relocated to Tennessee, where they played for 2 seasons as the Tennessee Oilers before changing the team name to the Titans. The Oilers won the first 2 AFL championships in 1960 and ’61, but haven’t won a title since. The team boasts seven Pro Football Hall of Famers – George Blanda, Ken Houston, Elvin Bethea, Earl Campbell, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews and Warren Moon.
Logo of a proposed expansion franchise in the National Football League that never came to be, the Memphis HounDogs. The group hoping to be awarded the franchise in the early 1990s included Elvis Presley Enterprises, hence the team nickname, which was a nod to the 1950s rock-n-roll legend’s hit song. Unfortunately, the NFL awarded the franchises to Jacksonville and Carolina, although Memphis housed an NFL team temporarily when the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee and played there for a year before moving into their permanent home in Nashville.
Logo of another team that played in the old United States Football League, the San Antonio Gunslingers. The team was added as an expansion franchise in the USFL’s second season in 1984, and was a competent team despite not having any recognizable players. The most noteworthy player they had was QB Rick Neuheisel, who went on to coach at UCLA. The team’s owner battled financial problems, and in 1985 the team became the only USFL club to have its’ franchise revoked.
Logo of the Arizona Outlaws football team, who played one season, 1985, in the United States Football League after transferring from Oklahoma. Their coach was former Arizona State legend Frank Kush, and their most notable player was quarterback Doug Williams, who would go on to win a Super Bowl with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.
Logo of the Baltimore Colts’ football team that played in the All America Football Conference from 1947 until 1949, then joined the NFL in 1950. This original Colts franchise folded in 1950, however, and another Colts team was born in 1953 from remnants of an NFL team that had been based in Dallas. That franchise is the one that now plays in Indianapolis. Despite being totally different entities, both Colt franchises had logos that were almost identical. The AAFC Colts, in their short existence, boasted 3 future Hall of Famers on their roster – Art Donovan, George Blanda and Y.A. Tittle.
Logo of a team that plays in the National Football League, the San Diego Chargers. This logo was used from the first year the team played in San Diego, 1961, through the team’s American Football League years, until 1973, when they were already part of the newly merged NFL. Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman led the team for most of the years this logo was used, and their players included AFL legends like John Hadl, Paul Lowe, Keith Lincoln, Lance Alworth, Ron Mix, Ernie Ladd and Earl Faison.
Logo of a team from the old World Football League, the Portland Storm. The team played in the league’s inaugural 1973 season but folded halfway through the ’74 season. Their general manager was former San Diego Charger lineman Ron Mix, and the team’s roster included some former AFL and NFL legends, including Pete Beathard, Ben Davidson and Marty Schottenheimer.
Logo of a football team that played in the old United States Football League, the Washington Federals. The club played the first 2 seasons of the league’s existence, 1983 and ’84, in Washington’s RFK Stadium before relocating to Orlando, Florida for the 1985 season. Like most teams in that league, the Federals’ roster included former and future NFL players, including Craig James, Coy Bacon, Reggie Collier, Joe Gilliam and Stan Rome.