Northern Division (AFA)

The Northern Division is one of six divisions that make up the American Football Association. The Northern Division was formed in 1952 when the Chicago Butchers, Guardians of Cincinnati, Cleveland Ghosts and Detroit Gladiators were moved from the Western Division.

The Butchers, Guardians, Ghosts and Gladiators have been part of the division for the entirety of its existence. From 1960 until 1966, the Milwaukee Wolves were part of that division as well before leaving to help form the Central Division.

Until 1975, the Northern Division had never had a wild-card playoff qualifier, making it the only division in the AFA without one. The second-place Detroit Gladiators ended that streak that season, finishing at 8–5–1 and qualifying for the #7 seed in the playoffs, losing their quarterfinal game to eventual Victory Bowl champions the Washington Wasps.

Division champions

 * ^ – Regular season reduced to nine games because of players' strike.