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{{Short description|Defunct American professional football league (1961–1964)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
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|founded=1961
|founded=1961
|folded=1964
|folded=1964
| Commissioner = [[George T. Gareff]]
|teams=8
|teams=8
| champion = Canton Bulldogs
| most_champs = Wheeling Ironmen (2)
| fame = The first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada
|country=United States<br>Canada
|country=United States<br>Canada
| related_comps = [[American Football Conference (1959–1961)|American Football Conference]], [[Continental Football League]], [[Professional Football League of America]]
}}
}}
The '''United Football League''' was a professional [[minor league]] [[American football]] league that operated between 1961 and 1964. It had eight teams primarily based in the [[Midwestern United States]]. After the league folded following the 1964 season, the more ambitious owners formed the new [[Continental Football League]]. The more conservative owners, who wanted to continue as a regional Midwestern bus league, broke away to form the Professional Football League in February 1965.<ref>{{cite news|title=New League Is Formed Of Leftovers|work=The Progress-Index|agency=Associated Press|date=February 7, 1965}}</ref>
The '''United Football League''' was a professional [[American football]] [[Minor league football (gridiron)|minor league]] that operated between 1961 and 1964. It had eight teams, primarily based in the [[Midwestern United States]].<ref name=angrmn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GP1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aOMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4857%2C6588127 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=UFL for football's angry men |date=September 30, 1964 |page=13C}}</ref>


The league was founded in 1961 as a minor league alternative to the [[National Football League]] and [[American Football League]]. Based in the Midwest, it drew many of its players from the [[Big Ten]] college conference. Among its more notable feats, it became the first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada when it launched the [[Quebec Rifles]] in 1964, and it revived the names of the [[Cleveland Bulldogs|Cleveland]]/[[Canton Bulldogs]] and [[Akron Pros]], two early-era NFL teams.
The league was founded in 1961 as a minor league alternative to the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and [[American Football League]] (AFL). Based in the Midwest, it drew many of its players from the [[Big Ten]] college conference.


Among its more notable feats, it became the first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada when it launched the [[Quebec Rifles]] in 1964, and it revived the names of the [[Cleveland Bulldogs|Cleveland]]/[[Canton Bulldogs]] and [[Akron Pros]], two early-era NFL teams.
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==1961 season==
⚫
* [[Columbus Colts]] 6-2-2
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* [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 6-3-1
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* [[Montreal Beavers|Indianapolis Warriors]] 6-3-1
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* [[Cleveland Bulldogs (UFL)|Cleveland Bulldogs]] 6-4-0
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* [[Louisville Raiders]] 4-6-0
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* [[Akron Pros (UFL)|Akron Pros]] 0–10-0


After the league folded following the 1964 season, the more ambitious owners formed the new [[Continental Football League]] (COFL). The more conservative owners, who wanted to continue as a regional Midwestern bus league, broke away to form the [[Professional Football League of America]] (PFLA) in February 1965.<ref>{{cite news|title=New League Is Formed Of Leftovers|work=The Progress-Index|agency=Associated Press|date=February 7, 1965}}</ref>
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'''WESTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF'''
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[[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 24 [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 14


==History==
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'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''
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===1961 season===
[[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 20 [[Columbus Colts]] 7
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* [[Columbus Colts]] 6–2–2
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* [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 6–3–1
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* [[Montreal Beavers|Indianapolis Warriors]] 6–3–1
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* [[Cleveland Bulldogs (UFL)|Cleveland Bulldogs]] 6–4–0
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* [[Louisville Raiders]] 4–6–0
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* [[Akron Pros (UFL)|Akron Pros]] 0–10–0


⚫
'''WESTERN DIVISION<!-- CHAMPIONSHIP--> PLAY-OFF'''<br>
⚫
==1962 season==
* [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 9-3-0
[[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 24 [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 14
<br>
* Indianapolis Warriors 9-3-0
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'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''<br>
⚫
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]] 8-4-0
[[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 20, [[Columbus Colts]] 7<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uflfootball.com/news/ufl-history-1961-ufl-championship-game|title=UFL History: 1961 UFL Championship Game|website=United Football League}}</ref>
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* [[Toledo Tornadoes]] 6-5-1
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* [[Columbus Capitols]] 6-6-0
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* [[Louisville Raiders]] 4-7-1
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* [[Cleveland Bulldogs (UFL)|Cleveland Bulldogs]] 4-8-0
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* [[Chicago Bulls (football)|Chicago Bulls]] 1-11-0


⚫
===1962 season===
'''WESTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF'''
[[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 24 [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 20
* [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 9–3–0
* [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 9–3–0
⚫
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]] 8–4–0
⚫
* [[Toledo Tornadoes]] 6–5–1
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* [[Columbus Capitols]] 6–6–0
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* [[Louisville Raiders]] 4–7–1
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* [[Cleveland Bulldogs (UFL)|Cleveland Bulldogs]] 4–8–0
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* [[Chicago Bulls (football)|Chicago Bulls]] 1–11–0


'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''
'''WESTERN DIVISION<!-- CHAMPIONSHIP --> PLAY-OFF'''<br>
⚫
[[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 24, [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 20
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[[Wheeling Ironmen]] 30 [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 21
<br>
'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''<br>
⚫
[[Wheeling Ironmen]] 30, [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 21


==1963 season==
===1963 season===
* Wheeling Ironmen 12-1-0
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]] 12–1–0
* Toledo Tornadoes 10-3-0
* [[Toledo Tornadoes]] 10–3–0
* Cleveland Bulldogs 7-5-0
* [[Cleveland Bulldogs]] 7–5–0
* Indianapolis Warriors 5-8-0
* [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 5–8–0
* Grand Rapids Blazers 4-9-0
* [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 4–9–0
* Syracuse Stormers 0-12-0
* [[Syracuse Stormers]] 0–12–0


On November 28, 1963, the Syracuse Stormers played the Cleveland Bulldogs at MacArthur Stadium in a regular season game.
On November 28, 1963, the Syracuse Stormers played the Cleveland Bulldogs at MacArthur Stadium in a regular season game.


'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''
'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''<br>
Wheeling Ironmen 31 Toledo Tornadoes 21
Wheeling Ironmen 31, Toledo Tornadoes 21


==1964 season==
===1964 season===
* Canton Bulldogs 12-2-0
* [[Canton Bulldogs]] 12–2–0
* [[Charleston Rockets]] (West Virginia) 11-3-0
* [[Charleston Rockets|Charleston (WV) Rockets]] 11–3–0
* Indianapolis Warriors 10-4-0
* [[Indianapolis Warriors]] 10–4–0
* Wheeling Ironmen 7-7-0
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]] 7–7–0
* Toledo Tornadoes 6-8-0 <ref>AC 2013, Fun While It Lasted, United Football League</ref>
* [[Toledo Tornadoes]] 6–8–0 <ref>AC 2013, Fun While It Lasted, United Football League</ref>
* [[Quebec Rifles]] (Montreal) 5-9-0
* [[Quebec Rifles]] 5–9–0
* Grand Rapids Blazers 5-9-0
* [[Grand Rapids Blazers]] 5–9–0
* Joliet Explorers 0-14-0
* [[Joliet Explorers]] 0–14–0


'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''
'''UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP'''<br>
Canton Bulldogs 19 Indianapolis Warriors 14
Canton Bulldogs 19, Indianapolis Warriors 14


==Teams==
==Teams==
⚫
===Toledo Tornadoes===
⚫
A former Michigan semi-pro team moved to Toledo as the all pro Toledo Tornadoes in 1956, played in the America Football Conference then transferred to the United Football League. The Tornadoes primarily played at Waite Stadium. The league forced the team to close due to debt in 1965.


==See also==
{{Empty section|date=November 2019}}
* [[American Football Conference (1959–1961)]]

* [[Continental Football League]]
⚫
==Toledo Tornadoes==
⚫
A former Michigan semi-pro team moved to Toledo as the all pro Toledo Tornadoes of the America Football Conference in 1956 then transferred to the United Football League. The Tornadoes primarily played at Waite Stadium. The league forced the team to close due to debt in 1965.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Autullo|first1=Ryan|title=New league not coming to Toledo|url=http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/372539|accessdate=June 25, 2015|work=The Blade|date=April 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231107/http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/372539|archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


{{Professional Gridiron football leagues}}
{{Professional Gridiron football leagues}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:United Football League (1961-1964)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:United Football League (1961-1964)}}
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[[Category:1961 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1964 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1964 disestablishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Professional Football League of America teams]]

Latest revision as of 14:12, 3 January 2024

United Football League
SportAmerican football
Founded1961
Ceased1964
CommissionerGeorge T. Gareff
Claim to fameThe first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada
No. of teams8
CountryUnited States
Canada
Last
champion(s)		Canton Bulldogs
Most titlesWheeling Ironmen (2)
Related
competitions		American Football Conference, Continental Football League, Professional Football League of America

The United Football League was a professional American football minor league that operated between 1961 and 1964. It had eight teams, primarily based in the Midwestern United States.[1]

The league was founded in 1961 as a minor league alternative to the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL). Based in the Midwest, it drew many of its players from the Big Ten college conference.

Among its more notable feats, it became the first football league to operate teams in both the United States and Canada when it launched the Quebec Rifles in 1964, and it revived the names of the Cleveland/Canton Bulldogs and Akron Pros, two early-era NFL teams.

After the league folded following the 1964 season, the more ambitious owners formed the new Continental Football League (COFL). The more conservative owners, who wanted to continue as a regional Midwestern bus league, broke away to form the Professional Football League of America (PFLA) in February 1965.[2]

History[edit]

1961 season[edit]

WESTERN DIVISION PLAY-OFF
Grand Rapids Blazers 24 Indianapolis Warriors 14
UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Rapids Blazers 20, Columbus Colts 7[3]

1962 season[edit]

WESTERN DIVISION PLAY-OFF
Grand Rapids Blazers 24, Indianapolis Warriors 20
UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Wheeling Ironmen 30, Grand Rapids Blazers 21

1963 season[edit]

On November 28, 1963, the Syracuse Stormers played the Cleveland Bulldogs at MacArthur Stadium in a regular season game.

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Wheeling Ironmen 31, Toledo Tornadoes 21

1964 season[edit]

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Canton Bulldogs 19, Indianapolis Warriors 14

Teams[edit]

Toledo Tornadoes[edit]

A former Michigan semi-pro team moved to Toledo as the all pro Toledo Tornadoes in 1956, played in the America Football Conference then transferred to the United Football League. The Tornadoes primarily played at Waite Stadium. The league forced the team to close due to debt in 1965.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UFL for football's angry men". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 30, 1964. p. 13C.
  2. ^ "New League Is Formed Of Leftovers". The Progress-Index. Associated Press. February 7, 1965.
  3. ^ "UFL History: 1961 UFL Championship Game". United Football League.
  4. ^ AC 2013, Fun While It Lasted, United Football League
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