Continental Football League
 |
|
| Sport | American football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1965 |
| Ceased | 1969 |
| No. of teams | 22 |
| Countries |
United States Canada Mexico |
| Last champion(s) |
Indianapolis Capitols |
| Most titles | Orlando Panthers (2) |
The Continental Football League (CFL) was a professional American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). It owed its name, at least in part, to the Continental League, a proposed third Major League Baseball organization that influenced MLB significantly.
Bill Walsh, Ken Stabler, Sam Wyche and Otis Sistrunk were among a few players and coaches who would later gain fame in the NFL.
The formation of the Continental Football League (CFL) was announced on February 6, 1965. The league was primarily formed by minor-league teams that had played in the United Football League and Atlantic Coast Football League.
A.B. "Happy" Chandler, former Kentucky governor and retired Major League Baseball commissioner, was named CFL commissioner on March 17, 1965.
The league originally adopted a "professional" appearance. Teams were sorted into two divisions and each team had a 36-man roster with a five-man "taxi" squad. The rules were primarily those of the NFL except that a "sudden death" overtime period was employed to break ties.
To reinforce an image of league autonomy, teams were restricted from loaning players to, or receiving optioned players from, the NFL or AFL.
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