Western Division (AFA)

The Western Division is one of six divisions that make up the American Football Association. The Western Division was formed in 1946 with the AFA's inaugural season as one of the AFA's two divisions (along with the Eastern Division), and is the longest division still in existence, with the Eastern Division dissolving in 1968.

1946–1948
Creation of the Western Division. Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Wheeling are admitted as charter members of the AFA.
 * Chicago Butchers
 * Cincinnati Guardians
 * Cleveland Ghosts
 * Detroit Gladiators
 * Pittsburgh Railers
 * Wheeling Miners

1949–1951
Pittsburgh moved to Philadelphia and Wheeling moved to Pittsburgh.
 * Chicago Butchers
 * Cincinnati Guardians
 * Cleveland Ghosts
 * Detroit Gladiators
 * Philadelphia Railers
 * Pittsburgh Miners

1952–1959
Los Angeles Comets and San Francisco Whales enfranchised. Providence and St. Louis moved from Eastern Division (Providence having moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota as Minnesota Angels). Philadelphia and Pittsburgh moved to Eastern Division. Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit formed Northern Division.
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * Minnesota Angels
 * San Francisco Whales
 * St. Louis Aces

1960
Colorado Centennials enfranchised.
 * Colorado Centennials
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * Minnesota Angels
 * San Francisco Whales
 * St. Louis Aces

1961–1966
Seattle Grizzlies enfranchised. St. Louis moved to Southern Division.
 * Colorado Centennials
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * Minnesota Angels
 * San Francisco Whales
 * Seattle Grizzlies

1967
Minnesota moved to Central Division.
 * Colorado Centennials
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * San Francisco Whales
 * Seattle Grizzlies

1968–1973
Portland Dragons enfranchised. Colorado moved to Central Division.
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * Portland Dragons
 * San Francisco Whales
 * Seattle Grizzlies

1974–1975
Arizona Firebirds enfranchised. San Francisco suspended pending new ownership.
 * Arizona Firebirds
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * Portland Dragons
 * Seattle Grizzlies

1976–
San Diego Destroyers enfranchised. San Francisco resumed operations as California Whales. Arizona moved to Southern Division.
 * California Whales
 * Los Angeles Comets
 * Portland Dragons
 * San Diego Destroyers
 * Seattle Grizzlies

Division champions

 * † – Despite winning the division in 1956, the San Francisco Whales failed to qualify for the playoffs.
 * ^ – Regular season reduced to nine games because of players' strike.