1960s Team Rankings
Okay, I will start going through the teams and rank them based on how they performed during the 1960s. Since they have only played 1 season in the NAAF, I am going to leave Minnesota as unranked as it is too difficult to rank them based on a single season. So I will use that team as an example of what to expect over the next several posts.
NR - Minnesota Serpents
We start with the main graphic which will show basic information about how a team performed over the last decade, from win-loss records to championships. Followed by a little summary of their decade.
The Serpents came out of the gates swinging in the NAAF. They rolled onto an 8-4 season in their first year, beating the record for most wins in a team’s first season in the NAAF, previously held by Boston in 1949 and Toronto in 1964. The team is very set for the future with 1969 COTY, Soni Dionne, leading the way along with plenty of talent like WR Sebastian Dassler, RB Hugo Hughes, DL Albert Sullivan, OL Elias McCarren, and rookie LB Garrett Roberts. They were unable to top the Royals in the East Division Semi-Final, but they look to be a team on the rise early in the 1970s.
Decade Timeline
The next graphic will show the ups and downs of the decade for teams.
Legend:
P under year = Playoff Appearance
“WD” or “ED” under year = Division Title
“-DF” and “-DSF” above dot = Which round they made it to in the playoffs
The Trophy above dot = Championship.
All-Decade Team
Finally, I will do a 10-player all-decade team for each team except for Minnesota since again there just isn’t enough of a sample of players.
12 - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
The Blacksmiths entered the NAAF in 1965. Since then, they obviously had to go through some growing pains over their first 4 seasons, but they did manage to still be quite a competitive team, much better than some previous expansion teams. Coach Ted McMahon has helped to build the team into a contender led by their star QB Louis Vaughn. Pittsburgh just showed that they are ready to start contending for a cup heading into the 1970s with their best season to date in 1969. Overall, their place at 12 is partly due to their record of 24-36, but also since they only had 1 playoff appearance this decade, so overall Pittsburgh was not spectacular this decade
Timeline
Pittsburgh has been on a steady rise from a rough 2-10 season in 1965 to a strong 8-4 year this past season.
All-Decade Team
Having only 5 years of history, there isn’t a boatload of talent for the Blacksmiths, but they have some rising stars that certainly warrant some recognition. Making the team is the team’s first-ever draft pick in OL Erik Nelson, who has developed into an elite offensive lineman. OL Wally McRose joins Nelson on the line after he was one of 2 players to be Pittsburgh’s first All-Stars. Of course, the biggest star is probably QB Louis Vaughn who took home MVP this season and will certainly continue to be the face of the franchise. A couple of Vaughn’s weapons over the years join him on the team in WR Taylor Austin and WR Nathan Murray-Lawrence, who the other player to be Pittsburgh’s first All-Stars. To round out the offensive players is the team’s first captain RB Stavros Black. As for defence, there are a lot of up-and-coming athletes in DL Arthur Bradshaw and DB Zed McLaughlin, but also a couple of under-the-radar stars in DB Aiden Sargent and LB Patrick Hamilton.
The Blacksmiths entered the NAAF in 1965. Since then, they obviously had to go through some growing pains over their first 4 seasons, but they did manage to still be quite a competitive team, much better than some previous expansion teams. Coach Ted McMahon has helped to build the team into a contender led by their star QB Louis Vaughn. Pittsburgh just showed that they are ready to start contending for a cup heading into the 1970s with their best season to date in 1969. Overall, their place at 12 is partly due to their record of 24-36, but also since they only had 1 playoff appearance this decade, so overall Pittsburgh was not spectacular this decade
Timeline
All-Decade Team
Having only 5 years of history, there isn’t a boatload of talent for the Blacksmiths, but they have some rising stars that certainly warrant some recognition. Making the team is the team’s first-ever draft pick in OL Erik Nelson, who has developed into an elite offensive lineman. OL Wally McRose joins Nelson on the line after he was one of 2 players to be Pittsburgh’s first All-Stars. Of course, the biggest star is probably QB Louis Vaughn who took home MVP this season and will certainly continue to be the face of the franchise. A couple of Vaughn’s weapons over the years join him on the team in WR Taylor Austin and WR Nathan Murray-Lawrence, who the other player to be Pittsburgh’s first All-Stars. To round out the offensive players is the team’s first captain RB Stavros Black. As for defence, there are a lot of up-and-coming athletes in DL Arthur Bradshaw and DB Zed McLaughlin, but also a couple of under-the-radar stars in DB Aiden Sargent and LB Patrick Hamilton.
The Steelheads joined the NAAF in 1964 and immediately showed that they could compete with the best of the NAAF. They made the playoffs in their first 3 seasons, including a West Division title in 1965. However, their talent took a significant drop in 1967 as the team plummeted to a 2-10 record, but they once again rebound to win a second West Division title in ‘68, before another poor performance this season. Toronto managed a perfect .500 record in the decade, which is a solid record, but their 0-4 record in the playoffs certainly tanks their position in the rankings. Overall, Toronto was solid but frankly overperformed to some extent, as they have never been a team that looked like a top-half team on paper, but nonetheless, they were a playoff team more times than not.
All-Decade Team
The Steelheads have many stars that came over from the OFU and maintained their strong position as some of the best players of the decade for the team. Their star QB Todd Baker had some strong games in those first 3 seasons. He was helped by fellow offensive stars like WR Edmund Landry and OL Gregory Farrell. DL Lawrence Armstrong, LB Daniel Carpenter, and DB Orville Blake also continued to be key pieces for the Steelheads when they first made the transition to the NAAF. On top of the other talent moving over, the Steelheads have also had success with bringing in young talent like star RB Max Tracy, who is sometimes the only reason the team still wins games, S Charles Clerk and DL Johnathan Ellison have developed into strong stars, and young LB Judge Barrett has already shown a lot in his first two seasons in the league.
10 - Halifax Mariners/Worcester Athletics
The 60s started off well for the Athletics, as young QB Gene Bishop led them to a playoff appearance in 1960, however, the next season would be one to remember with QB Gene Bishop leaving the team, along with other stars. Then, Worcester Stadium went up in flames and so did the team, who would win 1 game over 2 seasons. They would lose more star players, including the best player in franchise history, LB Scotty Williams. However, once the team landed in Halifax, they were able to properly rebuild and they would slowly improve with each season. They finally broke through after bringing in QB Lyle Painter to lead the way in 1966 and since then have made a pair of playoff appearances. In 1968, the team would win their first title since joining the NAAF.
Halifax does walk away with the worst record over the decade, with an impressive 0.371 win percentage. As well as the worst point differential with a -454 which was not helped by the -215 differential in the 1962 season alone. But their playoff success is really what lifts them up above the teams below, going 3-2 and winning a title.
All-Decade Team
The All-decade team is mostly made up of players that have been a part of the Mariners. But a couple of stars, captain OL Ward Briscoe and DB Joe Robinson, have been with the team since they were in Worcester. DL Pat Butler and DL Wayne Baxton have been the cornerstone duo on the D-line for most of the decade. OL Flint Boyer also joins the team after an All-Star season in 1966. WRs Jav Kerrigan and Shane Steadman have been fan-favourite weapons for the offence over the last decade. The younger star in DB Aquillio Ruiz has made a mark in the first 5 years of his career, while star QB Lyle Painter has made an impact since joining the team in 1966. Finally, LB Scotty Williams still gets on the list as being one of the only bright spots on the team over the decade.
The 60s started off well for the Athletics, as young QB Gene Bishop led them to a playoff appearance in 1960, however, the next season would be one to remember with QB Gene Bishop leaving the team, along with other stars. Then, Worcester Stadium went up in flames and so did the team, who would win 1 game over 2 seasons. They would lose more star players, including the best player in franchise history, LB Scotty Williams. However, once the team landed in Halifax, they were able to properly rebuild and they would slowly improve with each season. They finally broke through after bringing in QB Lyle Painter to lead the way in 1966 and since then have made a pair of playoff appearances. In 1968, the team would win their first title since joining the NAAF.
Halifax does walk away with the worst record over the decade, with an impressive 0.371 win percentage. As well as the worst point differential with a -454 which was not helped by the -215 differential in the 1962 season alone. But their playoff success is really what lifts them up above the teams below, going 3-2 and winning a title.
All-Decade Team
The All-decade team is mostly made up of players that have been a part of the Mariners. But a couple of stars, captain OL Ward Briscoe and DB Joe Robinson, have been with the team since they were in Worcester. DL Pat Butler and DL Wayne Baxton have been the cornerstone duo on the D-line for most of the decade. OL Flint Boyer also joins the team after an All-Star season in 1966. WRs Jav Kerrigan and Shane Steadman have been fan-favourite weapons for the offence over the last decade. The younger star in DB Aquillio Ruiz has made a mark in the first 5 years of his career, while star QB Lyle Painter has made an impact since joining the team in 1966. Finally, LB Scotty Williams still gets on the list as being one of the only bright spots on the team over the decade.
9 - Indiana Victors
The first half of the decade was miserable for the Victors who continuously stumbled in an attempt to build a winning team. They would get very close to a .500 season in 1962 but were a point short of the mark. Eventually, they would break through as a contender in 1965 on the back of an MVP season from QB Lyle Painter. While Painter left the team the next season, young QB Tom Applewhite stepped up and continued to deliver for the team that has not fallen below .500 since the 1964 season. The team has made the playoffs in 4 of the last 5 seasons, which includes an appearance in the 1968 McCallister Cup. The Victors ended the decade by getting DB Neville Falkner on the roster and look to be hunting down a McCallister Cup heading into the 1970s. Overall, Indiana’s decade was very comparable to that of the Gold Stars, but they were not able to capture a division title and had a slightly worse record.
All-Decade Team
DB Kelly Kirkland, the current captain of the team and the only player from the team’s first season in 1957 that is still on the team, is the first member of the team. He is joined by many other defensive All-Stars like LB Terrence Patton, LB Marshall Langenbrunner, and DB Cameron Taylor. Of course, the team’s first-ever draft pick, DL William Sanderson, remains on the team despite being traded in 1965, as he was easily the best DL in the league during the early 60s. Offensively, superstar WR Ed Edwards easily locked in a spot with the team next to a pair of consistent All-Star OL in Victor Stahl and 1962 Rookie of the Year runner-up Jean-Baptiste Desjardins. RB Raymond Green has been the best weapon out of the backfield for the Victors for many seasons. Finally, QB Tom Applewhite rounds out the list with several very strong seasons over the last few years. There is an argument that QB Lyle Painter could have been included with his MVP season in 1965, but since he is on the Mariners’ team and only had that one year of high-level play, he was kept off the team.
All-Decade Team
DB Kelly Kirkland, the current captain of the team and the only player from the team’s first season in 1957 that is still on the team, is the first member of the team. He is joined by many other defensive All-Stars like LB Terrence Patton, LB Marshall Langenbrunner, and DB Cameron Taylor. Of course, the team’s first-ever draft pick, DL William Sanderson, remains on the team despite being traded in 1965, as he was easily the best DL in the league during the early 60s. Offensively, superstar WR Ed Edwards easily locked in a spot with the team next to a pair of consistent All-Star OL in Victor Stahl and 1962 Rookie of the Year runner-up Jean-Baptiste Desjardins. RB Raymond Green has been the best weapon out of the backfield for the Victors for many seasons. Finally, QB Tom Applewhite rounds out the list with several very strong seasons over the last few years. There is an argument that QB Lyle Painter could have been included with his MVP season in 1965, but since he is on the Mariners’ team and only had that one year of high-level play, he was kept off the team.
8 - Providence Gold Stars
The Gold Stars’ decade got off to a rocky start with their worst season ever going 1-11, but it would land them a superstar in DB Neville Falkner. The addition of LB Rusty McVee along with Falkner would get the Gold Stars back into a competitive spot and they would make the playoffs in each of the next 3 seasons. In 1963, they would make their lone McCallister Cup appearance of the decade, coming just 4 points shy of a championship. Unfortunately, the team started to regress after the ‘63 run and failed to make the playoff until 1968. That ‘68 run would be the last for many players as they would end up losing several longtime stars in QB Connor O’Rourke, WR Cedric Peterson, and DB Neville Falkner in the following offseason. Providence began their new era this season, slumping to a 4-8 finish.
While the Gold Stars only saw the playoffs 4 times this decade, they were competitive in those seasons making the final four 3 times and 1 McCallister Cup.
All-Decade Team
Providence had many stars over the decade, especially on defence. DL Craig White was the only player on the list to play with the team through the entire decade, and was quite dominant throughout, although DL Calias McDonough was probably the bigger star. DB Neville Falkner and his 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards certainly locked in his place on the team, along with a pair of strong LBs in the younger Victor Falkensteig and the impactful Rusty McVee. Offensively, the Gold Stars still had some star power with their star QB of Connor O’Rourke who held onto the longest streak of consecutive seasons as a team's starter on opening night, set at 14 seasons. WRs Cedric Peterson and Sammy Moss were the stars of the offence for many years, both earning multiple All-Stars. OL Joseph Samberg has also been a consistent All-Star while RB Marcus Devonshire was easily the strongest piece the team has had in the backfield over the league’s first 20+ years.
The Gold Stars’ decade got off to a rocky start with their worst season ever going 1-11, but it would land them a superstar in DB Neville Falkner. The addition of LB Rusty McVee along with Falkner would get the Gold Stars back into a competitive spot and they would make the playoffs in each of the next 3 seasons. In 1963, they would make their lone McCallister Cup appearance of the decade, coming just 4 points shy of a championship. Unfortunately, the team started to regress after the ‘63 run and failed to make the playoff until 1968. That ‘68 run would be the last for many players as they would end up losing several longtime stars in QB Connor O’Rourke, WR Cedric Peterson, and DB Neville Falkner in the following offseason. Providence began their new era this season, slumping to a 4-8 finish.
While the Gold Stars only saw the playoffs 4 times this decade, they were competitive in those seasons making the final four 3 times and 1 McCallister Cup.
All-Decade Team
Providence had many stars over the decade, especially on defence. DL Craig White was the only player on the list to play with the team through the entire decade, and was quite dominant throughout, although DL Calias McDonough was probably the bigger star. DB Neville Falkner and his 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards certainly locked in his place on the team, along with a pair of strong LBs in the younger Victor Falkensteig and the impactful Rusty McVee. Offensively, the Gold Stars still had some star power with their star QB of Connor O’Rourke who held onto the longest streak of consecutive seasons as a team's starter on opening night, set at 14 seasons. WRs Cedric Peterson and Sammy Moss were the stars of the offence for many years, both earning multiple All-Stars. OL Joseph Samberg has also been a consistent All-Star while RB Marcus Devonshire was easily the strongest piece the team has had in the backfield over the league’s first 20+ years.
7 - Ottawa Royals
After dominating the 1950s, the Royals took the dive into a rebuild over the 1960s. However, they still had the tail end of their reign to start the decade getting to their 7th consecutive McCallister Cup in 1960, which they lost to the Tigers. QB Jean Matieau kept the team competitive throughout the early 60s, but they were never able to return to the big game before Matieau called it a career and transitioned to coaching. After Matieau’s retirement, the Royals would go on a stretch over 5 seasons where they had a different day 1 starter every season. The list of QBs started with Lee Rogers in 1965, then Landon Ross in ‘66, Michael Benedict in ‘67, Tyrion Gainsborough in ‘68, and finally rookie Drake Young in ‘69. While the team didn’t make the playoffs until 1968, they remained a relatively competitive group, levelling out at a 5-7 team for most of those seasons. In the last two seasons, the combination of young defensive superstars and Jean Matieau taking over the Head Coaching role has thrown the Royals back into contender status, returning to the McCallister Cup in 1969.
While the Royals were out of the playoff picture for a while, they remained a strong team still posting a positive record over the decade. When they did make the playoffs, they made the most of it making 2 McCallister Cups and 4 final fours. They also are the only team to have won as the crossover team in 1963, beating the Louisville Thunder with backup QB Lee Rogers under centre. Also, the Royals had the most ties in the decade with 4 (3 of which came in 1 season).
All-Decade Team
The All-Decade Team is split between some of the old regime and some of the new. Stars like the legendary QB Jean Matieau, the stoic DL Olaf Viktorsson, the intelligent DB Mingan Oliver, and All-Star WR Mackenzie Jones, were all important players to the 50s success. In recent years, the Royals have brought up a lot of great defensive talent like the 1968 Defensive Player of the Year, DL Bernhard Hartmann, the stellar DB Sergio Alvarez, and the ultimate defensive quarterback in S Marc Bellecourt. The two eras have a distinct separation, but 3 names do bridge the gap in current captain, WR Marshall Leonard, and longtime RB Corbyn Knight. However, the most important in the mix is the captain of the shop throughout the rebuild in S Randall Green, a quiet star for the Royals.
After dominating the 1950s, the Royals took the dive into a rebuild over the 1960s. However, they still had the tail end of their reign to start the decade getting to their 7th consecutive McCallister Cup in 1960, which they lost to the Tigers. QB Jean Matieau kept the team competitive throughout the early 60s, but they were never able to return to the big game before Matieau called it a career and transitioned to coaching. After Matieau’s retirement, the Royals would go on a stretch over 5 seasons where they had a different day 1 starter every season. The list of QBs started with Lee Rogers in 1965, then Landon Ross in ‘66, Michael Benedict in ‘67, Tyrion Gainsborough in ‘68, and finally rookie Drake Young in ‘69. While the team didn’t make the playoffs until 1968, they remained a relatively competitive group, levelling out at a 5-7 team for most of those seasons. In the last two seasons, the combination of young defensive superstars and Jean Matieau taking over the Head Coaching role has thrown the Royals back into contender status, returning to the McCallister Cup in 1969.
While the Royals were out of the playoff picture for a while, they remained a strong team still posting a positive record over the decade. When they did make the playoffs, they made the most of it making 2 McCallister Cups and 4 final fours. They also are the only team to have won as the crossover team in 1963, beating the Louisville Thunder with backup QB Lee Rogers under centre. Also, the Royals had the most ties in the decade with 4 (3 of which came in 1 season).
All-Decade Team
The All-Decade Team is split between some of the old regime and some of the new. Stars like the legendary QB Jean Matieau, the stoic DL Olaf Viktorsson, the intelligent DB Mingan Oliver, and All-Star WR Mackenzie Jones, were all important players to the 50s success. In recent years, the Royals have brought up a lot of great defensive talent like the 1968 Defensive Player of the Year, DL Bernhard Hartmann, the stellar DB Sergio Alvarez, and the ultimate defensive quarterback in S Marc Bellecourt. The two eras have a distinct separation, but 3 names do bridge the gap in current captain, WR Marshall Leonard, and longtime RB Corbyn Knight. However, the most important in the mix is the captain of the shop throughout the rebuild in S Randall Green, a quiet star for the Royals.
6 - Montreal Rouge
The Rouge were in the wilderness up until the 1960 season where a coaching change helped them get back to the playoffs with an 8-4 season. The next year, they would bring in their star QB in Gene Bishop, who fled Worcester before the chaos. Bishop made Montreal an even stronger team taking them to the top of the East in 1961, but they would fall short in the East Division Final. They made their 3rd straight playoff appearance in 1962, which would become a McCallister Cup appearance after a shocking win over the Gold Stars in the East Division Final. Montreal would make the playoffs the next 2 seasons, but could not get a win. They would miss the postseason in ‘65, but they would return to the playoffs and the McCallister Cup in 1966. After making another trip to the playoffs in 1967, Montreal saw a lot of their roster move on with many core players retiring or going to different teams. The team has yet to fully recover from the losses missing the playoffs over the last two seasons.
The Rouge were about as good as you could get without taking home a championship this decade. They posted a strong 66-win record with the 2nd most playoff games played in the decade. Unfortunately, they only had 4 wins in their 11 playoff games. Their 7 playoff appearances would tie for most of the decade, and their 66 wins would be 3rd most in the 60s. Despite their strong performance, the lack of a title is what holds this team back from being closer to the top.
The Rouge were in the wilderness up until the 1960 season where a coaching change helped them get back to the playoffs with an 8-4 season. The next year, they would bring in their star QB in Gene Bishop, who fled Worcester before the chaos. Bishop made Montreal an even stronger team taking them to the top of the East in 1961, but they would fall short in the East Division Final. They made their 3rd straight playoff appearance in 1962, which would become a McCallister Cup appearance after a shocking win over the Gold Stars in the East Division Final. Montreal would make the playoffs the next 2 seasons, but could not get a win. They would miss the postseason in ‘65, but they would return to the playoffs and the McCallister Cup in 1966. After making another trip to the playoffs in 1967, Montreal saw a lot of their roster move on with many core players retiring or going to different teams. The team has yet to fully recover from the losses missing the playoffs over the last two seasons.
The Rouge were about as good as you could get without taking home a championship this decade. They posted a strong 66-win record with the 2nd most playoff games played in the decade. Unfortunately, they only had 4 wins in their 11 playoff games. Their 7 playoff appearances would tie for most of the decade, and their 66 wins would be 3rd most in the 60s. Despite their strong performance, the lack of a title is what holds this team back from being closer to the top.
All-Decade Team
9 out of 10 players on the Montreal All-Decade Team spent at least 8 seasons with the Rouge this decade. The biggest star of the group is the 1967 MVP S Garet deVale, who has been easily one of the league’s best defensive players throughout the ‘60s. He’s joined by current offensive superstar WR Taylor Karis, who has been a consistent threat on offence since being drafted by the team in 1961. A couple of past offensive stars in 2-time Offensive Player of the Year RB Scott Mallard-White and another receiving threat in the speedy WR Derek Cross. Of course, the man delivering the ball to the stars, QB Gene Bishop, joins the list having a strong decade under centre. Joining deVale on defence are a pair of leaders for the team in former captain DB Quentin Xavier and former alternate captain LB Sam Fitzroy. However, one of the sometimes overlooked stars is DL Lucas Kipling who was a 4-time All-Star in the 1960s. Finally, 5-time All-Star, OL Maxence Castex and the first tight-end on any All-Decade team, TE Eli Grant round out the group.
5 - Boston Independents
The early years of the 1960s were fond memories for the Independents as their star QB, Nathaniel Braddock, would continue to rise and lead Boston to their first McCallister Cup Championship since 1950 in the ‘61 season. Boston continued to put up strong regular season play, winning the East Division twice in the early 60s, and making the playoffs in the first 6 seasons of the decade. Unfortunately, Boston was unable to find playoff success, as they only won a single playoff game after winning the title in 1961. After firing HC Ben McMillan, the team would go through a rocky stretch, where the team saw 3 different coaches attempt to get Boston back to the postseason, to no avail. Finally, the team hired HC Kenneth Channey and after a 1-4 start, would go 7-0 in the last 7 games and win the East Division for the 3rd time in the decade. Boston was unable to win their only playoff game, but the future is certainly brighter as the team heads into a new decade.
The 60s was still a very strong decade for the Independents who were very comparable to their classic rivals in the Rouge. Their regular season record was almost identical, they also were the other team to have a league-leading 7 playoff appearances. The big differences come with Boston’s 3 Division titles and their McCallister Cup win in 1961.
All-Decade Team
Boston is often the team to feature players that have played for Boston for a long time. Starting with QB Nathaniel Braddock who has been the face of the franchise since the Independents traded up to the #1 pick to take him. He is joined by a pair of his weapons in RB Kendall Morgan and WR Ellis Lindholm who have been major help for Boston’s offensive output. The Independents also shined on the O-line with a pair of offensive linemen making the team in 10-time All-Star, Graham Chambers and 4-time All-Star, Sal Valcano. Defensively Boston had some stellar players starting with the LB duo of Konrad Aust and former captain, Brent Harper. One of the biggest free agency pickups in DL Timmy Kerr also hangs around on the team along with veteran DB Lawrence Ralph, whose 1 All-Star got him on the team over teammate DB Mordecai King. LB Byron Turner is a young bright spot in the defence that looks to be the new defensive leader.
The early years of the 1960s were fond memories for the Independents as their star QB, Nathaniel Braddock, would continue to rise and lead Boston to their first McCallister Cup Championship since 1950 in the ‘61 season. Boston continued to put up strong regular season play, winning the East Division twice in the early 60s, and making the playoffs in the first 6 seasons of the decade. Unfortunately, Boston was unable to find playoff success, as they only won a single playoff game after winning the title in 1961. After firing HC Ben McMillan, the team would go through a rocky stretch, where the team saw 3 different coaches attempt to get Boston back to the postseason, to no avail. Finally, the team hired HC Kenneth Channey and after a 1-4 start, would go 7-0 in the last 7 games and win the East Division for the 3rd time in the decade. Boston was unable to win their only playoff game, but the future is certainly brighter as the team heads into a new decade.
The 60s was still a very strong decade for the Independents who were very comparable to their classic rivals in the Rouge. Their regular season record was almost identical, they also were the other team to have a league-leading 7 playoff appearances. The big differences come with Boston’s 3 Division titles and their McCallister Cup win in 1961.
All-Decade Team
Boston is often the team to feature players that have played for Boston for a long time. Starting with QB Nathaniel Braddock who has been the face of the franchise since the Independents traded up to the #1 pick to take him. He is joined by a pair of his weapons in RB Kendall Morgan and WR Ellis Lindholm who have been major help for Boston’s offensive output. The Independents also shined on the O-line with a pair of offensive linemen making the team in 10-time All-Star, Graham Chambers and 4-time All-Star, Sal Valcano. Defensively Boston had some stellar players starting with the LB duo of Konrad Aust and former captain, Brent Harper. One of the biggest free agency pickups in DL Timmy Kerr also hangs around on the team along with veteran DB Lawrence Ralph, whose 1 All-Star got him on the team over teammate DB Mordecai King. LB Byron Turner is a young bright spot in the defence that looks to be the new defensive leader.
4 - Louisville Thunder
Louisville entered the decade by having their first above-500 season going 7-5 in 1960. Unfortunately, they would not make the playoffs despite making them in 1959 with a 4-8 record. The next season the Thunder would improve once again to go 9-3 and make the playoffs before falling short in the West Division Final. As the team was continuing to get better, they would make the biggest move of the decade and trade for the league’s best LB in Scotty Williams. Williams made an immediate impact making Louisville’s defence one of the best in the league, helping to lead them to a McCallister Cup on home field in 1962. The Thunder remained a contender for the next couple of years, making the playoffs in the next 3 seasons. The ‘65 season would see the Thunder bounce back from a tough start and make it into the big game for a second time, but they came up short this time. Following Williams’ retirement after the ‘65 season, the Thunder slipped to a rough 1-11, barely escaping the grasp of a winless season. However, it would spark the end of QB Leonidas Dumont’s reign as the starting QB as QB Buck Murphy would take over the next season along with a new coach to get the Thunder back to the postseason and the West Division Final. However, the Thunder could not maintain the strong play and would slip to 4-8 and then inevitably still have that winless season to close out the decade.
The Thunder remained a very strong team throughout the decade. Obviously, the 3 tough seasons would certainly hurt the record making them a sub-500 team, but they made the playoffs 6 times and did some damage with the 2 McCallister Cup appearances and 8 total wins which is tied for most playoff wins of the decade. The Thunder also played 13 playoff games which was the most in the decade by any team.
Louisville entered the decade by having their first above-500 season going 7-5 in 1960. Unfortunately, they would not make the playoffs despite making them in 1959 with a 4-8 record. The next season the Thunder would improve once again to go 9-3 and make the playoffs before falling short in the West Division Final. As the team was continuing to get better, they would make the biggest move of the decade and trade for the league’s best LB in Scotty Williams. Williams made an immediate impact making Louisville’s defence one of the best in the league, helping to lead them to a McCallister Cup on home field in 1962. The Thunder remained a contender for the next couple of years, making the playoffs in the next 3 seasons. The ‘65 season would see the Thunder bounce back from a tough start and make it into the big game for a second time, but they came up short this time. Following Williams’ retirement after the ‘65 season, the Thunder slipped to a rough 1-11, barely escaping the grasp of a winless season. However, it would spark the end of QB Leonidas Dumont’s reign as the starting QB as QB Buck Murphy would take over the next season along with a new coach to get the Thunder back to the postseason and the West Division Final. However, the Thunder could not maintain the strong play and would slip to 4-8 and then inevitably still have that winless season to close out the decade.
The Thunder remained a very strong team throughout the decade. Obviously, the 3 tough seasons would certainly hurt the record making them a sub-500 team, but they made the playoffs 6 times and did some damage with the 2 McCallister Cup appearances and 8 total wins which is tied for most playoff wins of the decade. The Thunder also played 13 playoff games which was the most in the decade by any team.
All-Decade Team
The Thunder had one of the toughest teams to pick as so many players made an impact over the decade, but the team we get are those who shined both in their play and their leadership. The secondary was especially strong for the Thunder this decade with superstar talents like DB Alexander Bradley and DB Oliver Langstrom passing through, while a pair of leaders helped anchor the group in S Johnny Berger and DB Jayden Mills. DL Bjorn Sigmarsson has always been a pain for O-lines since entering the league in 1961, and of course, the future Hall of Famer, Scotty Williams, rounds out the defensive picks. Offensively, the Thunder had some strong talents like RB Rodney Clark and WR Casey Coleman, but when it came down to the best of the best, the difference became leadership and who the fans saw as the biggest stars. Those players were the hometown hero, QB Leonidas Dumont, who quarterbacked the team to both McCallister Cup appearances, and the resilient WR Piers Key. Recently, WR Lloyd Lane has made a huge impact for the offence being a true deep threat, earning a spot on the team next to the final addition in 5-time All-Star, OL Taylor Forbes.
3 - Long Island Raiders
The Raiders continued to be one of the top teams in the NAAF to start the decade with their 3rd straight West Division title. Unfortunately, they would fall short in overtime to the Tigers in the West Division Final. After the strong stretch, the Raiders fell into a rough patch that saw the team go 6-18 over the next two seasons. Fans called on a change, and Owner/GM Wayne Tillman complied by trading away their former 1st overall pick, QB Lyle Painter, and bringing in QB Stanley Troyer. The Raiders showed improvement with a 5-7 season before they made the move over to the East Division. In their new division, the Raiders quickly rose back to dominance. They would go on a 4-year run, which saw the team win the East Division 3 times and make the McCallister Cup 3 times as well. They would earn their second title in the NAAF with a win over the Louisville Thunder in 1965. In the last couple of seasons, the Raiders have slowly fallen back down to Earth with the defence aging and QB Stanley Troyer moving on.
The Raiders were one of the most consistent teams throughout the bulk of the decade. Unfortunately, their strongest years also coincided with Buffalo’s strongest years where they won 3 of 4, the Raiders being the only other team to win in those 4 seasons. The defence was easily the team’s biggest strength as they had the lowest point allowed per game of the decade with 19.98.
All-Decade Team
While the defence was the key to a lot of the Raiders’ success, you cannot deny that one of the biggest stars was their running back in Dareion Fields, who has been one of the league’s best RBs throughout the last decade. He’s joined by another player that was one of the best at his position in K Henderson Schumacher. Shifting over to that sturdy defence, DB Rutherford Winters joins the group as a stellar lockdown corner. Next to him is the 1965 and 1967 Defensive Player of the Year, LB William Washington II. On the D-line, a pair of players make it with the former Captain DL Vernon Spears and the powerful DL Pionk Bjorkkstand. DB Alexander Bradley rounds out the defensive group, being the only player to make 2 different All-Decade teams after he was an All-Star in 3 of the 4 seasons he spent with the Raiders. The rest of the offensive talent is headlined by 7-time All-Stars OL Elliot Winterbottom, who is then accompanied by QB Stanley Troyer who maned the ship through the best years of the decade and a star WR in Casey Coleman, who managed to make an impact despite the run-heavy offence.
The Raiders continued to be one of the top teams in the NAAF to start the decade with their 3rd straight West Division title. Unfortunately, they would fall short in overtime to the Tigers in the West Division Final. After the strong stretch, the Raiders fell into a rough patch that saw the team go 6-18 over the next two seasons. Fans called on a change, and Owner/GM Wayne Tillman complied by trading away their former 1st overall pick, QB Lyle Painter, and bringing in QB Stanley Troyer. The Raiders showed improvement with a 5-7 season before they made the move over to the East Division. In their new division, the Raiders quickly rose back to dominance. They would go on a 4-year run, which saw the team win the East Division 3 times and make the McCallister Cup 3 times as well. They would earn their second title in the NAAF with a win over the Louisville Thunder in 1965. In the last couple of seasons, the Raiders have slowly fallen back down to Earth with the defence aging and QB Stanley Troyer moving on.
The Raiders were one of the most consistent teams throughout the bulk of the decade. Unfortunately, their strongest years also coincided with Buffalo’s strongest years where they won 3 of 4, the Raiders being the only other team to win in those 4 seasons. The defence was easily the team’s biggest strength as they had the lowest point allowed per game of the decade with 19.98.
All-Decade Team
While the defence was the key to a lot of the Raiders’ success, you cannot deny that one of the biggest stars was their running back in Dareion Fields, who has been one of the league’s best RBs throughout the last decade. He’s joined by another player that was one of the best at his position in K Henderson Schumacher. Shifting over to that sturdy defence, DB Rutherford Winters joins the group as a stellar lockdown corner. Next to him is the 1965 and 1967 Defensive Player of the Year, LB William Washington II. On the D-line, a pair of players make it with the former Captain DL Vernon Spears and the powerful DL Pionk Bjorkkstand. DB Alexander Bradley rounds out the defensive group, being the only player to make 2 different All-Decade teams after he was an All-Star in 3 of the 4 seasons he spent with the Raiders. The rest of the offensive talent is headlined by 7-time All-Stars OL Elliot Winterbottom, who is then accompanied by QB Stanley Troyer who maned the ship through the best years of the decade and a star WR in Casey Coleman, who managed to make an impact despite the run-heavy offence.
2 - London Tigers
The 1960s started with the Tigers at the top of the league as they would get back to their second straight McCallister Cup in 1960, and get their first title with a revenge win over the Royals, who had beaten them in the previous McCallister Cup. The next season, they made their 3rd appearance in a row but fell to the Independents. While they missed out on the McCallister Cup in 1962, they would make a return to the game in 1963, which resulted in a 34-31 win over the Gold Stars and their second championship. Between 1961 and 1963, the Tigers would top the West Division, joining the Raiders as the only teams to win a division in 3 straight seasons. They also had 3 MVPs between 1960 and 1963 with WR Max Sutton winning in 1960, and QB Riley Kiernan winning in 61 and 63. After the height of their success, the Tigers slowly slipped into being a mid-tier team hovering around .500 for most of the decade. They would make the playoff a couple of more times but were unable to get wins. This past season, they fell to 4-8 as they are clearly heading towards a rebuild as star QB Riley Kiernan is expected to call it quits soon.
Overall in the decade, the Tigers were dominant winning the most games in the regular season out of anyone with 71. They were one of 2 teams to take home multiple McCallister Cups, and their 3 appearances were tied for second most with Long Island. London was one of the best teams from the decade and certainly earned this #2 spot despite their success being a little while ago.
All-Decade Team
The 1960s started with the Tigers at the top of the league as they would get back to their second straight McCallister Cup in 1960, and get their first title with a revenge win over the Royals, who had beaten them in the previous McCallister Cup. The next season, they made their 3rd appearance in a row but fell to the Independents. While they missed out on the McCallister Cup in 1962, they would make a return to the game in 1963, which resulted in a 34-31 win over the Gold Stars and their second championship. Between 1961 and 1963, the Tigers would top the West Division, joining the Raiders as the only teams to win a division in 3 straight seasons. They also had 3 MVPs between 1960 and 1963 with WR Max Sutton winning in 1960, and QB Riley Kiernan winning in 61 and 63. After the height of their success, the Tigers slowly slipped into being a mid-tier team hovering around .500 for most of the decade. They would make the playoff a couple of more times but were unable to get wins. This past season, they fell to 4-8 as they are clearly heading towards a rebuild as star QB Riley Kiernan is expected to call it quits soon.
Overall in the decade, the Tigers were dominant winning the most games in the regular season out of anyone with 71. They were one of 2 teams to take home multiple McCallister Cups, and their 3 appearances were tied for second most with Long Island. London was one of the best teams from the decade and certainly earned this #2 spot despite their success being a little while ago.
All-Decade Team
The Tigers had plenty of strong players throughout the decade, but none more important than their star QB, Riley Kiernan, who won 2 MVPs in the Decade. His top weapon and 1960 MVP, WR Max Sutton, joins the list along with a pair of consistent All-Stars in OL Magnus Gunnersson and OL Emil Jennings. Of course, the big name many will be excited to see on the list is star K Nimrod Handsworth, who won 5 Special Teams Player of the Year awards in the decade. Defensively, there were many important pieces throughout the decade, starting with the local kids in DB Jackson Miles and DL Richard Blunt who easily became fan favourites. 5-time All-Star, DL Olympus Heights, joins his D-line partner on the team. Finally, the team’s old captain and Hall of Fame LB, Aengus Lynch, makes the team along with his successor at his position in LB Dallas Dillard who was a 6-time All-Star.
1 - Buffalo Blue Wings
The 1960s was the decade of the Blue Wings which dominated the decade, especially in the second half. In the early years of the decade, the Blue Wings slowly built their team behind star QB Charles Lemieux and RB Jimmy Golden. They did make a playoff appearance in 1961, but the team was far from ready. By the 1964 season, the Blue Wings were ready to make their mark on the league with RB Jimmy Golden winning the MVP and leading the Blue Wings to a West Division title and eventually the McCallister Cup. While they would miss out the next season, the Blue Wings bounced back with back-to-back McCallister Cup wins in 1966 and 1967, the first since the Royals in the mid-50s. They would miss out on the McCallister Cup in 1968 but bounced right back to win their 4th title in 6 years to close out the decade.
Buffalo’s 4 titles were the most for any team in the decade and equalled the number Ottawa won in the 1950s. Those 4 wins also give Buffalo the most appearances in the McCallister Cups in the whole decade. They had the second most regular season wins with 67, and second most ties with 3. They also tied the Raiders for the most division titles in the decade. Buffalo also had the most points scored in the decade out of any team and was the only team to break 3000 points. Their playoff record was also the league’s best with an 8-2 record. Overall, the Blue Wings were easily the best team in the decade being very dominant and still look to be poised to continue their winning ways as we head into the 1970s.
All-Decade Team
Stars galore for the Blue Wings’ All-Decade team, highlighted, of course, by the team’s captain and 1966 MVP winner, QB Charles Lemieux. Next to him is a fellow 1960 draftee and 1964 MVP winner, RB Jimmy Golden. Rounding out the offence are a pair of All-Star wideouts in WR Julius Drake and WR Zachariah Pembroke, and 3-time All-Stars OL Georgio Stephan and TE Paul Arturberry. Defensively the team has some excellent talent as well. The DL duo of Lonnie Vincent and William Sanderson are there. Sanderson also joins Alexander Bradley as the only 2 players to appear on multiple All-Decade teams. Then, there is 1962 Rookie of the Year LB Orion Carter and 4-time All-Star DB Ezra Power to round out the team.
The 1960s was the decade of the Blue Wings which dominated the decade, especially in the second half. In the early years of the decade, the Blue Wings slowly built their team behind star QB Charles Lemieux and RB Jimmy Golden. They did make a playoff appearance in 1961, but the team was far from ready. By the 1964 season, the Blue Wings were ready to make their mark on the league with RB Jimmy Golden winning the MVP and leading the Blue Wings to a West Division title and eventually the McCallister Cup. While they would miss out the next season, the Blue Wings bounced back with back-to-back McCallister Cup wins in 1966 and 1967, the first since the Royals in the mid-50s. They would miss out on the McCallister Cup in 1968 but bounced right back to win their 4th title in 6 years to close out the decade.
Buffalo’s 4 titles were the most for any team in the decade and equalled the number Ottawa won in the 1950s. Those 4 wins also give Buffalo the most appearances in the McCallister Cups in the whole decade. They had the second most regular season wins with 67, and second most ties with 3. They also tied the Raiders for the most division titles in the decade. Buffalo also had the most points scored in the decade out of any team and was the only team to break 3000 points. Their playoff record was also the league’s best with an 8-2 record. Overall, the Blue Wings were easily the best team in the decade being very dominant and still look to be poised to continue their winning ways as we head into the 1970s.
All-Decade Team
Stars galore for the Blue Wings’ All-Decade team, highlighted, of course, by the team’s captain and 1966 MVP winner, QB Charles Lemieux. Next to him is a fellow 1960 draftee and 1964 MVP winner, RB Jimmy Golden. Rounding out the offence are a pair of All-Star wideouts in WR Julius Drake and WR Zachariah Pembroke, and 3-time All-Stars OL Georgio Stephan and TE Paul Arturberry. Defensively the team has some excellent talent as well. The DL duo of Lonnie Vincent and William Sanderson are there. Sanderson also joins Alexander Bradley as the only 2 players to appear on multiple All-Decade teams. Then, there is 1962 Rookie of the Year LB Orion Carter and 4-time All-Star DB Ezra Power to round out the team.
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