| Sport | American Football | ||
| League | American Football Association | ||
| Founded | December 15, 1946 | ||
| Trophy | Victory Cup | ||
| 1985 Season | 39th Victory Bowl (February 3, 1985) | ||
The Victory Bowl is the championship game of the American Football Association. Previously known variously as the AFA Championship Game and the Granger Bowl, the Victory Bowl name debuted with the 19th edition of the game following the 1969 season, however it has retroactively been applied to previous championship games. The first six Victory Bowls were played at the home field of the higher seed; beginning with the 7th Victory Bowl, the game was to be played at a neutral site. However, the Los Angeles Comets qualified for the Victory Bowl that year, which was scheduled to be held in Pasadena. Since then, only the New Orleans Krewe have played a Victory Bowl in their home market, a 14-13 loss to the Detroit Gladiators in the 17th Victory Bowl. Interestingly, Los Angeles and New Orleans both had a lower seed than their opponent, meaning that they were officially the visiting team for those games.
The current Victory Bowl champion is the Cleveland Ghosts, who won their second Victory Bowl championship at the 39th Victory Bowl.
| Game | Date | Winning Team | Losing Team | Stadium | City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | December 15, 1946 | New York Imperials | 24 | Guardians of Cincinnati | 13 | Taft Field | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 2nd | December 14, 1947 | New York Imperials | 20 | Guardians of Cincinnati | 17 | Taft Field | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 3rd | December 12, 1948 | New York Imperials | 34 | Guardians of Cincinnati | 31 | Taft Field | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| 4th | December 11, 1949 | Pittsburgh Miners | 13 | Richmond Royals | 3 | Byrd Stadium | Richmond, Virginia |
| 5th | December 17, 1950 | New York Imperials | 20 | Chicago Butchers | 17 | Metropolitan Stadium | Manhattan, New York |
| 6th | December 23, 1951 | Chicago Butchers | 27 | Boston Captains | 10 | Dever Stadium | Chicago, Illinois |
| 7th | January 11, 1953 | Los Angeles Comets | 20 | Cleveland Ghosts | 0 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| 8th | January 10, 1954 | St. Louis Aces | 19 | Boston Captains | 13 | Tiger Stadium | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| 9th | January 9, 1955 | Boston Captains | 19 | Guardians of Cincinnati | 13 | Imperial Coliseum | The Bronx, New York |
| 10th | January 8, 1956 | Minnesota Angels | 13 | New York Imperials | 10 | Dever Stadium | Chicago, Illinois |
| 11th | January 13, 1957 | Chicago Butchers | 33 | New York Imperials | 14 | Clarendon Park | San Francisco, California |
| 12th | January 12, 1958 | Minnesota Angels | 21 | Cleveland Ghosts | 15 | Capital Stadium | Washington, District of Columbia |
| 13th | January 11, 1959 | Pittsburgh Miners | 27 | Minnesota Angels | 20 | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 14th | January 10, 1960 | Cleveland Ghosts | 21 | Philadelphia Railers | 13 | Dever Stadium | Chicago, Illinois |
| 15th | January 8, 1961 | Pittsburgh Miners | 31 | Detroit Gladiators | 24 | Orange Bowl | Miami, Florida |
| 16th | January 21, 1962 | Detroit Gladiators | 16 | Pittsburgh Miners | 3 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| 17th | January 27, 1963 | Detroit Gladiators | 14 | New Orleans Krewe | 13 | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 18th | February 2, 1964 | Pittsburgh Miners | 30 | Detroit Gladiators | 27 | Orange Bowl | Miami, Florida |
| 19th | January 24, 1965 | Detroit Gladiators | 34 | Buffalo Stampeders | 3 | Cotton Bowl | Dallas, Texas |
| 20th | January 23, 1966 | Colorado Centennials | 27 | Detroit Gladiators | 17 | Imperial Coliseum | The Bronx, New York |
| 21st | January 21, 1967 | Pittsburgh Miners | 27 | Detroit Gladiators | 17 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| 22nd | January 21, 1968 | Washington Wasps | 23 | St. Louis Aces | 14 | Autodome | Sterling Heights, Michigan |
| 23rd | January 26, 1969 | St. Louis Aces | 27 | New York Imperials | 17 | Orange Bowl | Miami, Florida |
| 24th | January 25, 1970 | Pittsburgh Miners | 17 | St. Louis Aces | 16 | Rice Stadium | Houston, Texas |
| 25th | January 30, 1971 | Seattle Grizzlies | 23 | Pittsburgh Miners | 17 | Orange Bowl | Miami, Florida |
| 26th† | January 30, 1972 | Pittsburgh Miners | 15 | New Orleans Krewe | 13 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| 27th | January 21, 1973 | New Orleans Krewe | 23 | Pittsburgh Miners | 21 | Cotton Bowl | Dallas, Texas |
| 28th | January 27, 1974 | Philadelphia Railers | 17 | Minnesota Angels | 3 | Orange Bowl | Miami, Florida |
| 29th | January 26, 1975 | New Orleans Krewe | 26 | Milwaukee Wolves | 17 | Imperial Coliseum | The Bronx, New York |
| 30th | February 1, 1976 | Washington Wasps | 24 | Chicago Butchers | 20 | Knight Stadium | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 31st | January 23, 1977 | Pittsburgh Miners | 50 | Houston Hurricanes | 0 | Emerald Dome | Seattle, Washington |
| 32nd | January 22, 1978 | Washington Wasps | 21 | Arizona Firebirds | 13 | Stanford Stadium | Palo Alto, California |
| 33rd | January 21, 1979 | Washington Wasps | 40 | Milwaukee Wolves | 24 | Sundome | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 34th | January 27, 1980 | Minnesota Angels | 23 | Texas Stallions | 16 | Huey P. Long Dome | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 35th | January 25, 1981 | San Diego Destroyers | 9 | Colorado Centennials | 7 | Orange Bowl | Miami, Florida |
| 36th | January 31, 1982 | Colorado Centennials | 20 | Texas Stallions | 6 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California |
| 37th | January 30, 1983 | Minnesota Angels | 27 | Cleveland Ghosts | 14 | Lone Star Stadium | Arlington, Texas |
| 38th | January 29, 1984 | Colorado Centennials | 27 | New York Imperials | 14 | Veterans Stadium | San Diego, California |
| 39th | February 3, 1985 | Cleveland Ghosts | 35 | California Whales | 23 | Tampa Bay Stadium | Tampa, Florida |
| 40th | Guardians of Cincinnati | 34 | Atlanta Rebels | 13 | Huey P. Long Dome | New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| 42nd | Guardians of Cincinnati | 47 | Houston Hurricanes | 7 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, California | |
| 45th | Guardians of Cincinnati | 27 | Houston Hurricanes | 24 | Hollywood, Florida | ||
- † – Game went into overtime
Most championships won[]
As of 39th Victory Bowl
| Team | Championships | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Miners | 8 | 1949, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1976 |
| New York Imperials | 4 | 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950 |
| Washington Wasps | 4 | 1967, 1975, 1977, 1978 |
| Minnesota Angels | 4 | 1955, 1957, 1979, 1982 |
| Detroit Gladiators | 3 | 1961, 1962, 1964 |
| Colorado Centennials | 3 | 1965, 1981, 1983 |
| Chicago Butchers | 2 | 1951, 1956 |
| New Orleans Krewe | 2 | 1972, 1974 |
| St. Louis Aces | 2 | 1953, 1968 |
| Cleveland Ghosts | 2 | 1959, 1985 |
| Boston Captains | 1 | 1954 |
| Los Angeles Comets | 1 | 1952 |
| Philadelphia Railers | 1 | 1973 |
| Seattle Grizzlies | 1 | 1970 |
| San Diego Destroyers | 1 | 1980 |
Standings[]
As of 38th Victory Bowl
| Team | W | L | PCT. | PF | PA | Last Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Wasps | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 108 | 71 | 1978 |
| Los Angeles Comets | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 20 | 0 | 1952 |
| Seattle Grizzlies | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 23 | 17 | 1970 |
| San Diego Destroyers | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 9 | 7 | 1980 |
| Pittsburgh Miners | 8 | 3 | .727 | 251 | 182 | 1976 |
| Minnesota Angels | 4 | 2 | .666 | 80 | 85 | 1982 |
| New York Imperials | 4 | 4 | .500 | 139 | 151 | 1983 |
| Chicago Butchers | 2 | 2 | .500 | 97 | 68 | 1975 |
| New Orleans Krewe | 2 | 2 | .500 | 75 | 67 | 1974 |
| St. Louis Aces | 2 | 2 | .500 | 76 | 70 | 1969 |
| Colorado Centennials | 3 | 1 | .750 | 34 | 26 | 1983 |
| Philadelphia Railers | 1 | 1 | .500 | 30 | 24 | 1973 |
| Detroit Gladiators | 3 | 4 | .429 | 149 | 134 | 1966 |
| Boston Captains | 1 | 2 | .333 | 42 | 59 | 1954 |
| Cleveland Ghosts | 1 | 3 | .333 | 36 | 54 | 1982 |
| Arizona Firebirds | 0 | 1 | .000 | 13 | 21 | 1977 |
| Baltimore Royals* | 0 | 1 | .000 | 3 | 13 | 1949 |
| Buffalo Stampeders | 0 | 1 | .000 | 3 | 34 | 1964 |
| Houston Hurricanes | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 50 | 1976 |
| Texas Stallions | 0 | 2 | .000 | 16 | 23 | 1979 |
| Milwaukee Wolves | 0 | 2 | .000 | 41 | 66 | 1978 |
| Cincinnati Guardians | 0 | 4 | .000 | 74 | 97 | 1954 |
- - as the Richmond Royals
Coaching Records[]
As of 34th Victory Bowl
| Coach | G | W | L | PCT. | Team(s) | Appearance(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgar Bachman | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Milwaukee Wolves | 1975, 1978 |
| John Beaulieu | 7 | 3 | 4 | .429 | Detroit Gladiators | 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 |
| Bob Berg | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Philadelphia Railers | 1973 |
| Bobby Blankenship | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | St. Louis Aces | 1953 |
| Jimmy Bull | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 | Minnesota Angels, Seattle Grizzlies | 1957, 1958, 1970 |
| Warren Bull | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Minnesota Angels | 1955 |
| Jim Capron | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | San Diego Destroyers | 1980 |
| Joseph Cobb | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Los Angeles Comets | 1952 |
| Tom Crewe | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Boston Captains | 1951 |
| Sidney Cryer | 6 | 4 | 2 | .667 | New York Imperials | 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956 |
| Charlie Dow | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | New Orleans Krewe | 1962 |
| Neal Fabbro | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Texas Stallions | 1979 |
| Lonnie Gabriel | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | New York Imperials | 1968 |
| Hal Granger | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Chicago Butchers | 1950, 1951 |
| Cecil Harris | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Cleveland Ghosts | 1952 |
| James Hendricks | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 | New Orleans Krewe | 1971, 1972, 1974 |
| Jim Hidra | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Chicago Butchers | 1975 |
| William Huizenga | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Cleveland Ghosts | 1957 |
| John Immison III | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Guardians of Cincinnati | 1946, 1947, 1948 |
| Donald Karm | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Houston Hurricanes | 1976 |
| Gus Koch | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Minnesota Angels | 1973, 1979 |
| Willie Krause | 11 | 7 | 4 | .636 | Richmond Royals, Pittsburgh Miners | 1949, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976 |
| Chuck Lee | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | St. Louis Aces | 1967, 1968, 1969 |
| John Logan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Washington Wasps | 1975, 1977, 1978 |
| Ed MacLaren | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Colorado Centennials | 1965 |
| Nelson Mathis | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Arizona Firebirds | 1977 |
| Clyde Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Colorado Centennials | 1980 |
| Doc Payne | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Philadelphia Railers | 1959 |
| Will Redmond | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Washington Wasps | 1967 |
| Wendell Ridley | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Guardians of Cincinnati | 1954 |
| Charles Smith | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Chicago Butchers | 1956 |
| Wayne Smith | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Boston Captains | 1953, 1954 |
| Chester Southern | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Buffalo Stampeders | 1964 |
| Victor Szczepanski | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Pittsburgh Miners | 1949 |
| Leo Wright | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Cleveland Ghosts | 1959 |