| Sport | American Football | ||
| League | American Football Association | ||
| Founded | 1946 (with the AFA's inaugural season) | ||
| Teams | California Whales Los Angeles Comets Portland Dragons San Diego Destroyers Seattle Grizzlies | ||
| Most Recent Champion | Los Angeles Comets (5th title) | ||
| Most titles won by team | California Whales, Colorado Centennials and Los Angeles Comets (5 each) | ||
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.
Division lineups[]
1946–1948[]
- Chicago Butchers
- Cincinnati Guardians
- Cleveland Ghosts
- Detroit Gladiators
- Pittsburgh Railers
- Wheeling Miners
Creation of the Western Division. Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Wheeling are admitted as charter members of the AFA.
1949–1951[]
- Chicago Butchers
- Cincinnati Guardians
- Cleveland Ghosts
- Detroit Gladiators
- Philadelphia Railers
- Pittsburgh Miners
Pittsburgh moved to Philadelphia and Wheeling moved to Pittsburgh.
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.
1960[]
Colorado Centennials enfranchised.
1961–1966[]
Seattle Grizzlies enfranchised. St. Louis moved to Southern Division.
1967[]
Minnesota moved to Central Division.
1968–1973[]
Portland Dragons enfranchised. Colorado moved to Central Division.
1974–1975[]
Arizona Firebirds enfranchised. San Francisco suspended pending new ownership.
1976–[]
San Diego Destroyers enfranchised. San Francisco resumed operations as California Whales. Arizona moved to Southern Division.
Division champions[]
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
| 1946 | Cincinnati Guardians | 10–2 | Lost First Victory Bowl |
| 1947 | Cincinnati Guardians | 9–2–1 | Lost Second Victory Bowl |
| 1948 | Cincinnati Guardians | 10–2 | Lost Third Victory Bowl |
| 1949 | Pittsburgh Miners | 9–3 | Won Fourth Victory Bowl |
| 1950 | Chicago Butchers | 9–2–1 | Lost Fifth Victory Bowl |
| 1951 | Chicago Butchers | 10–1–1 | Won Sixth Victory Bowl |
| 1952 | Los Angeles Comets | 6–5–1 | Won Semifinals, Won Seventh Victory Bowl |
| 1953 | St. Louis Aces | 10–2 | Won Semifinals, Won Eighth Victory Bowl |
| 1954 | San Francisco Whales | 6–6 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1955 | Minnesota Angels | 7–3–2 | Won Semifinals, Won Tenth Victory Bowl |
| 1956 | San Francisco Whales† | 5–5–2 | |
| 1957 | Minnesota Angels | 8–2–2 | Won Semifinals, Won 12th Victory Bowl |
| 1958 | Minnesota Angels | 10–1–1 | Won Semifinals, Lost 13th Victory Bowl |
| 1959 | Los Angeles Comets | 8–3–1 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1960 | Minnesota Angels | 10–2 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1961 | Colorado Centennials | 9–4–1 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1962 | Colorado Centennials | 9–4–1 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1963 | Colorado Centennials | 11–3 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1964 | Los Angeles Comets | 10–2–2 | Lost Semifinals |
| 1965 | Colorado Centennials | 9–5 | Won Semifinals, Won 20th Victory Bowl |
| 1966 | Colorado Centennials | 10–2–2 | Won Quarterfinals, Lost Semifinals |
| 1967 | San Francisco Whales | 8–4–2 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1968 | San Francisco Whales | 8–5–1 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1969 | Portland Dragons | 11–2–1 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1970 | Seattle Grizzlies | 10–3–1 | Won Quarterfinals, Won Semifinals, Won 25th Victory Bowl |
| 1971 | Portland Dragons | 8–1^ | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1972 | Portland Dragons | 11–2–1 | Won Quarterfinals, Lost Semifinals |
| 1973 | San Francisco Whales | 8–4–2 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1974 | Los Angeles Comets | 11–2–1 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1975 | Portland Dragons | 9–5 | Won Quarterfinals, Lost Semifinals |
| 1976 | Los Angeles Comets | 9–5 | TBD Quarterfinals |
- † – 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.
Wild Card qualifiers[]
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
| 1966 | San Francisco Whales | 9–4–1 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1969 | Seattle Grizzlies | 8–6 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 1975 | Los Angeles Comets | 9–5 | Lost Quarterfinals |