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Before the NFL-AFL Merger Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge on the NFL-AFL facts up until the 1970 merger. Good luck, it's not easy.

A multiple-choice quiz by stantheman31. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
stantheman31

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
148,684

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
6 / 15

Plays
1173

Last 3 plays: Guest 209 (1/15), Guest 174 (3/15), Guest 104 (3/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In the AFL's first year in 1960, who led the league in kickoff returns? Hint

Ken Hall

Abe Woodson

Abner Haynes

Billy Cannon

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who was the first NFL player to throw for 1000 yards in a season? Hint

Sid Luckman

Benny Friedman

Arnie Herber

Sammy Baugh

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Question 3 of 15

3. How many career receiving yards, did all-time great running back Jim Brown have? Hint

2949

3198

2499

1994

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Question 4 of 15

4. The last player to lead the AFL in rushing (1969) was who? Hint

Hoyle Granger

O.J. Simpson

Jim Nance

Dickie Post

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Question 5 of 15

5. Who was the player that succeeded with a dropkick, in 1941, and was the last to do it in the century? Hint

Jim Thorpe

Jack Manders

Ken Strong

Ray McLean

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Question 6 of 15

6. What Hall of Fame halfback was known as, "The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga"? Hint

Hugh McElhenny

Tony Canadeo

Red Grange

Ernie Nevers

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Question 7 of 15

7. Who threw the most touchdown passes in the NFL in 1950? Hint

George Ratterman

Norm Van Brocklin

Otto Graham

Bobby Layne

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who did the New York Giants take with their first pick, in the 1964 college draft? Hint

Tucker Frederickson

Homer Jones

Spider Lockhart

Joe Don Looney

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Question 9 of 15

9. The 1963 Chicago Bears won the Pro Football Championship. Who was the leading rusher that season? Hint

Joe Marconi

Ronnie Bull

Rick Casares

Willie Galimore

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Question 10 of 15

10. The first regular season AFL game was played on Friday night, September 9, 1960, between what 2 teams? Hint

New York-Buffalo

Los Angeles-Oakland

Houston-Dallas

Denver-Boston

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Question 11 of 15

11. Who was the first NFL player to intercept more than 10 passes in a season? Hint

Sammy Baugh

Don Hutson

Bill Dudley

Night Train Lane

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Question 12 of 15

12. In which season year did the NFL first have two 1000 yard rushers? Hint

1949

1956

1959

1947

13. The 1947 Chicago Cardinals won the NFL Championship with a backfield nicknamed, "The Dream Backfield". 4 members of that backfield were Paul Christman, Charlie Trippi, and Pat Harder. Who was the last backfield person? Hint

Jimmy Conzelman

Harry Gilmer

Tom Harmon

Elmer Angsman

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Question 14 of 15

14. Who caught the most passes in the NFL in 1963? Hint

Bobby Joe Conrad

Raymond Berry

Gary Collins

Bobby Mitchell

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which of these Heisman Trophy winners played in both the AFL and the NFL? Hint

Gary Beban

John Huarte

Joe Bellino

Terry Baker

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 19 2024 : Guest 209: 1/15
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 174: 3/15
Dec 09 2024 : Guest 104: 3/15
Nov 29 2024 : Guest 50: 2/15
Nov 08 2024 : Guest 24: 5/15
Nov 07 2024 : Guest 73: 2/15
Oct 29 2024 : klotzplate: 15/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the AFL's first year in 1960, who led the league in kickoff returns?

Answer: Ken Hall

Houston Oiler halfback Ken Hall's 31.3 average topped all others, Ken still holds many High School rushing records.

2. Who was the first NFL player to throw for 1000 yards in a season?

Answer: Arnie Herber

In 1936, Green Bay Packer's Herber threw for 1239 yards, as a tailback.

3. How many career receiving yards, did all-time great running back Jim Brown have?

Answer: 2499

Brown, of the Cleveland Browns, caught 262 passes for 2499 yards, and 20 TDs in his 9 year NFL career.

4. The last player to lead the AFL in rushing (1969) was who?

Answer: Dickie Post

San Diego Charger Post, had 873 yards to lead the AFL's final season before the merger.

5. Who was the player that succeeded with a dropkick, in 1941, and was the last to do it in the century?

Answer: Ray McLean

McLean did this with a PAT for the Chicago Bears on December 21, 1941. The Bears went on to win the Championship.

Dutch Clark of the Detroit Lions made the last successful dropkick field goal in the NFL, in a 16-7 win over the Chicago Cardinals on September 19, 1937.

6. What Hall of Fame halfback was known as, "The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga"?

Answer: Tony Canadeo

Tony Canadeo from Gonzaga College, who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1941-52, rushed for 4197 yards, threw for 1642 yards, and caught passes for 579 yards in his Hall of Fame career.

7. Who threw the most touchdown passes in the NFL in 1950?

Answer: George Ratterman

New York Yanks Ratterman, threw 22 touchdowns and also topped the league with 24 interceptions.

8. Who did the New York Giants take with their first pick, in the 1964 college draft?

Answer: Joe Don Looney

Looney never played for the Giants, getting traded to Baltimore during summer camp. Looney, a fullback, also played for Detroit, Washington, and New Orleans, in an underachiving career that saw him rush for 724 yards in 5 years.

9. The 1963 Chicago Bears won the Pro Football Championship. Who was the leading rusher that season?

Answer: Joe Marconi

Marconi rushed for 446 yards, Bull 404 yards, Galimore 321 yards, and Casares 277 for the Bears that year. The Bears beat the NY Giants 14-10 for the championship.

10. The first regular season AFL game was played on Friday night, September 9, 1960, between what 2 teams?

Answer: Denver-Boston

Boston Patriots lost to the Denver Broncos 13-10 at Boston University field.

11. Who was the first NFL player to intercept more than 10 passes in a season?

Answer: Sammy Baugh

Washington Redskins Sammy Baugh, a great QB, was also a talented DB and a great punter.

12. In which season year did the NFL first have two 1000 yard rushers?

Answer: 1949

In 1949, Steve Van Buren of the Eagles rushed for 1146 yds, and Tony Canadeo of the Green Bay Packers ran for 1052 yards. This marked the first time in NFL history, that more than 1 man rushed for 1000 yards in a season.

Answer: Elmer Angsman

Elmer was the leading rusher of the bunch with 412 yards. Conzelman was the Cards' coach. Harmon and Gilmer played on other teams.

14. Who caught the most passes in the NFL in 1963?

Answer: Bobby Joe Conrad

Conrad lead the league with 73 receptions, playing with St.Louis. Mitchell had 69, Collins had 43, and Berry had 44. Conrad's quarterback that year was Charlie Johnson.

15. Which of these Heisman Trophy winners played in both the AFL and the NFL?

Answer: John Huarte

Huarte, the 1964 winner from Notre Dame, played for the Patriots in the AFL (1966-67), and the Eagles in the NFL 1968. Bellino (1960 winner), only played in AFL. Beban (1967 winner) only in the NFL, and Baker (1962 winner) only NFL.

Source: Author stantheman31

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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