Yes, Virginia, There Was An NFL Team Known As The Pittsburgh Pirates

Here's the front cover of the official program for the Chicago Bears' October 18, 1936 National Football League contest against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates, who joined the NFL in 1933, were renamed the Steelers in 1940.

For the record, the Bears won the game at Wrigley Field 26-7.

Yes, There Was An NFL Team Called The Cincinnati Reds

Here's the front cover of the official 1933 Cincinnati Reds program.

The Reds were an NFL expansion club that 3-6-1 in their inaugural season.

At least those three wins came in their last four games.

In 1934, the Reds' franchise was suspended after going 0-8 and were replaced by the St. Louis Gunners, who had been a successful independent club.

The Gunners went 1-2, then left the NFL to revert to independent status.

Yes, Folks, The Was An NFL Team Named The Brooklyn Dodgers

Here's the front cover of the official program of the Brooklyn Dodgers' September 27, 1936 National Football League contest at home against the Boston Redskins.

Dodgers' end Ray Fuqua is on the cover.

At Ebbets Field, the Dodgers fell to the Redskins (who moved to Washington the following season) 14-3.

The Dodgers finished the season at 3-8-1, good for fourth place n the NFL's Eastern Division (ahead of only the Philadelphia Eagles)

Official Program Of The Winds' First (And Last) Home Game

With a picture of their newly-hired head coach Abe Gibron (ex-head coach of the Chicago Bears) being featured, here is the front cover of what turned out to be the Chicago Winds' one-and-only 1975 World Football League regular-season home game as they hosted the Portland Thunder, contested on August 16 of that year.

In front of 3,501 fans at Soldier Field (which, like the 1974 Fire, the Winds shared with the NFL Bears), the Winds would pick up their only victory of their abbreviated 1975 campaign by knocking off the visiting Portland Thunder 25-18 in overtime, thanks to a touchdown pass from quarterback Pete Beathard (who ironically played the previous season for the Portland Storm) to wide receiver John Gilliam.

The franchise was revoked on September 2, 1975 after two major investors withdrew $175,000 they had deposited with the WFL.

Express 1975 Game Program

Here's the front cover of the official program of the Jacksonville Express' August 23, 1975 World Football League contest against the San Antonio Wings.

In front of 16,133 fans at the Gator Bowl Stadium, the Express clipped the Wings 26-19.

Vulcans' 1975 Game Program

Here's the front cover of the official program of the Birmingham Vulcans' September 13, 1975 World Football League contest against the San Antonio Wings (who were the 1974 Florida Blazers).

THe Vulcans defeated the Wings 33-24 in front of 12, 500 fans at Birmingham's Legion Field.

Hawaiians '75 Game Program

Here's the front cover of the official program of The Hawaiians' August 16, 1975 World Football League contest against the Southern California Sun.

Before 15,862 fans at Honolulu Stadium, The Hawaiians fell to the Sun 37-19.

Program For Steamer's 1974 Home Opener

Here's the front cover of the official game program for the Shreveport Steamer's first World Football League home contest, against the Memphis Southmen.

In front of 21,357 fans at State Fair (now Independence Stadium) on September 25, 1974, the Steamer (the newly-transplanted Houston Texans), fell to the Grizzlies 17-3.

Program For Hornets' Home Opener

Here's the front cover of the official game program for the inaugural home opener of the World Football League's Charlotte Hornets (formerly the New York Stars), which was contested at American Legion Memorial Stadium on October 9, 1974.

In front of the WFL's one and only legitimate sellout crowd (25,133), the Hornets fell to the Memphis Southmen 27-23.

Super Bowl V

Here's the front cover of the official program for Super Bowl V, contested at Miami's Orange Bowl on January 17, 1971.

The Baltimore Colts, in a battle of two pre-merger NFL teams, edged the Dallas Cowboys in a game plagued by 11 turnovers.

It was the first Super Bowl to be contested on artificial turf.

Super Bowl IV

Here's the front cover of the offficial program of the final AFL-NFL World Championship Game, also known as Super Bowl IV, contested at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 11, 1970 as the Kansas City Chiefs gained a 2-2 split of the pre-merger Super Bowls for the AFL by beating the NFL's Minnesota Vikings 23-7.

Super Bowl III

Here's the front cover of the official program from Super Bowl III, or the third annual World Championship Game, contested at Miami's Orange Bowl on Sunday, January 12, 1969.

The New York Jets gained the AFL its' first Super Bowl title by knocking off the Baltimore Colts 16-7.

Super Bowl II

Here's the front cover of the official program of the second AFL-NFL World Championship Game, a.k.a. Super Bowl II.

The game, played on January 14, 1968 at Miami's Orange Bowl Stadium, say Green Bay dominate the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Vince Lombardi's final game as Packers head coach.

Super Bowl I

Here's the front cover of the official game program of the inaugural edition of the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, commonly referred to as Super Bowl I, played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

For the record, the Green Bay Packers of the NFL outdistanced the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.

Yes, THOSE Giants Also Played At The Old Polo Grounds

Here's the front cover of the official program of the New York Football Giants' National Football League home game against the Chicago Cardinals.

The Giants won that game at the old Polo Grounds 10-0.

The Giants moved to Yankee Stadium the following season.

Here's One From The AFL

Here's the front cover of the official program for the Dallas Texans' American Football League home game against the Buffalo Bills, set to be contested at the Cotton Bowl on September 30, 1962.

The Texans, who went on to win the AFL title, won the game 41-21 in front of 25, 500 fans.

The Texans, after three years of battling the NFL's Cowboys,  moved to Kansas City the following year and became the Chiefs.

Here's A Gem From The AAFC

Here's the front cover of the official game program of the Miami Seahawks' home game against the Buffalo Bisons, which took place on November 18, 1946.

After that season, the Seahawks, who won only three games (two against Buffalo) were dropped from the All-America Football Conference, replaced by the original version of the Baltimore Colts.

In 1947, the Bisons were renamed the Bills.

Early Niners Game Program

Here's the front cover of the official program of the San Francisco 49ers' November 2, 1946 All America Football Conference home game against the Buffalo Bisons.

The game was played at Kesar Stadium, which was the 49ers' original home for their 25 seasons of existence.

The Bisons were renamed the Buffalo Bills in 1947 and not related to the same-name club that started play in 1960.

Here's A Historic Game Program

Here's the front cover of the official game program for the inaugural American Football League game for both the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Texas, which was played on September 10, 1960, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which the Chargers shared with the National Football League's Rams for one year before moving to San Diego in 1961.

Here's More AFL Fun!

Here's the front cover of the official program of the Denver Broncos' September 29, 1963 American Football League home game against the Boston Patriots.

The game took place at Bears Stadium, later to be known as the original Denver Mile-High Stadium.