The division was formed in 1960 as the American Football League's Western Division. In 1970, as part of the new NFL's two-conference, six-division alignment, the AFL West entered the merged league more or less intact as the AFC West.
The Division Champion qualifies for the NFL Playoffs along with a Wild Card team with the next best record on the road to the Super Bowl.
Historical helmets can be found on the The Helmet Project website.
- Division Teams
- Team Profiles
- Division History
- Division Champions
Division Navigation
Division Teams
TEAMS |
FIRST SEASON | AFL | AFC | SB | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
DENVER BRONCOS |
1960 (AFL) 1970 (NFL) |
0 | 8 | 3 |  EMPOWER FIELD AT MILE HIGH (DENVER, CO) (2001-) |
  |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
1960 (AFL) 1970 (NFL) |
6 | 5 | 4 |  ARROWHEAD STADIUM (KANSAS CITY, MO) (1972-) |
  |
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS |
1960 (AFL) 1970 (NFL) |
1 | 4 | 3 |  ALLEGIANT STADIUM (PARADISE, NV) (2020-) |
  |
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS |
1960 (AFL) 1970 (NFL) |
1 | 1 | 0 |  SOFI STADIUM (INGLEWOOD, CA) (2020-) |
LEGEND
Team Profiles
Denver Broncos (1960–present)
Stadiums
- Mile High Stadium (1960–2000)
- Empower Field at Mile High (2001–present)
League / Conference Affiliations
- American Football League (1960–1969)
- Western Conference (1960–1969)
- National Football League (1970-present)
- American Football Conference (1970–present)
- AFC West (1970–present)
- American Football Conference (1970–present)
League Titles: 3
- Super Bowl: 1997 (XXXII), 1998 (XXXIII), 2015 (50)
Conference Championships: 8
Division Titles: 16
- AFC West: 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2025
Playoff Appearances: 24
- NFL: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2024, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs (1960–present)
Team history
- Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
- Kansas City Chiefs (1963–present)
Stadiums
- Cotton Bowl (1960–1962)
- Municipal Stadium (1963–1971)
- Arrowhead Stadium (1972–present)
- New Chiefs Stadium (c. 2031)
League / Conference Affiliations
- American Football League (1960–1969)
- Western Conference (1960–1969)
- National Football League (1970-present)
- American Football Conference (1970–present)
- AFC West (1970–present)
- American Football Conference (1970–present)
League Titles: 4
- AFL championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) (3): 1962, 1966, 1969
- Super Bowl (4): 1969 (IV), 2019 (LIV), 2022 (LVII), 2023 (LVIII)
Conference Championships: 7
Division Titles
- AFL Western: 1962, 1966
- AFC West: 1971, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Playoff Appearances: 27
- AFL: 1962, 1966, 1968, 1969
- NFL: 1971, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Las Vegas Raiders (1960–present)
Team history
- Oakland Raiders (1960–1981, 1995–2019)
- Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1994)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2020–present)
Stadiums
- Kezar Stadium, San Francisco,CA (1960)
- Candlestick Park, San Francisco,CA (1961)
- Oakland Coliseum, Oakland,CA (1966–1981, 1995–2019)
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles,CA (1982–1994)
- Allegiant Stadium, Paradise,NV (2020–present)
League / Conference Affiliations
- American Football League (1960–1969)
- Western Conference (1960–1969)
- National Football League (1970-present)
- American Football Conference (1996–present)
- AFC West (1970–present)
- American Football Conference (1996–present)
League Titles: 4
- AFL championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) (3): 1967
- Super Bowl 3: 1976 (XI), 1980 (XV), 1983 (XVIII)
† – Does not include 1967 AFL championship won during the same season that the Super Bowl was contested.
Conference Championships: 4
Division Titles: 15
- AFL Western: 1967, 1968, 1969
- AFC West: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2002
Playoff Appearances: 23
- AFL: 1967, 1968, 1969
- NFL: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2021
Los Angeles Chargers (1960-present)
Team history
- San Diego Chargers (1961–2016)
- Los Angeles Chargers (1960, 2017–present)
Stadiums
- Los Angeles Coliseum, Los Angeles,CA (1960)
- Balboa Stadium, San Diego,CA (1961–1966)
- San Diego Stadium, San Diego,CA (1967–2016)
- Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe,AZ (2003, 1 game due to the Cedar Fire)
- Dignity Health Sports Park (2017–2019)
- SoFi Stadium (2020–present)
League / Conference Affiliations
- American Football League (1960–1969)
- Western Conference (1960–1969)
- National Football League (1970-present)
- American Football Conference (1996–present)
- AFC West (1970–present)
- American Football Conference (1996–present)
League Titles
Conference Championships
- AFC: 1994
Division Titles: 15
- AFL Western: 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965
- AFC West: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Playoff Appearances: 22
Division History
| AFL WESTERN (1960-1969) | |
|---|---|
| 1960 | DALLAS TEXANS DENVER BRONCOS LOS ANGELES CHARGERS OAKLAND RAIDERS |
| 1961-1962 | DALLAS TEXANS DENVER BRONCOS OAKLAND RAIDERS |
Los Angeles Chargers › SAN DIEGO |
|
| 1963-1967 | DALLAS TEXANS DENVER BRONCOS OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS |
Dallas Texans › Kansas City Chiefs |
|
| 1968-1969 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS |
Cincinnati Bengals (Expansion) |
|
| AFC WEST (1970-) | |
| 1970-1975 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS |
Cincinnati Bengals › AFC Central |
|
| 1976 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Expansion) |
|
| 1977-1981 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS |
Seattle Seahawks < NFC West |
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers › NFC Central |
|
| 1982-1994 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Seattle Seahawks |
OAKLAND RAIDERS › Los Angeles |
|
| 1995-2001 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Seattle Seahawks |
Los Angeles RAIDERS › OAKLAND |
|
| 2002-2016 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs OAKLAND RAIDERS SAN DIEGO CHARGERS |
Seattle Seahawks › NFC West |
|
| 2017-2019 | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs OAKLAND RAIDERS |
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS › LOS ANGELES |
|
| 2020- | DENVER BRONCOS Kansas City Chiefs LOS ANGELES CHARGERS |
OAKLAND RAIDERS › Las Vegas |
|
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
The current season champions and standings are listed below.
| SEASON | TEAM |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | | Los Angeles Chargers (1) | |
| 1961 | | San Diego Chargers (2) | |
| 1962 |  | Dallas Texans (1) | |
| 1963 | | San Diego Chargers (3) | |
| 1964 | | San Diego Chargers (4) | |
| 1965 |
| San Diego Chargers (5) | |
| 1966 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (2) | |
| 1967 |
| Oakland Raiders (1) | |
| 1968 |
| Oakland Raiders (2) | |
| 1969 |
| Oakland Raiders (3) | |
| 1970 |
| Oakland Raiders (4) | |
| 1971 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (3) | |
| 1972 |
| Oakland Raiders (5) | |
| 1973 |
| Oakland Raiders (6) | |
| 1974 |
| Oakland Raiders (7) | |
| 1975 |
| Oakland Raiders (8) | |
| 1976 |
| Oakland Raiders (9) | |
| 1977 |
| Denver Broncos (1) | |
| 1978 |
| Denver Broncos (2) | |
| 1979 |
| San Diego Chargers (6) | |
| 1980 |
| San Diego Chargers (7) | |
| 1981 |
| San Diego Chargers (8) | |
| 1982 |
| Los Angeles Raiders# | |
| 1983 |
| Los Angeles Raiders (10) | |
| 1984 |
| Denver Broncos (3) | |
| 1985 |
| Los Angeles Raiders (11) | |
| 1986 |
| Denver Broncos (4) | |
| 1987 |
| Denver Broncos (5) | |
| 1988 |  | Seattle Seahawks (1) | |
| 1989 |
| Denver Broncos (6) | |
| 1990 |
| Los Angeles Raiders (12) | |
| 1991 |
| Denver Broncos (7) | |
| 1992 |
| San Diego Chargers (9) | |
| 1993 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (4) | |
| 1994 |
| San Diego Chargers (10) | |
| 1995 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (5) | |
| 1996 |
| Denver Broncos (8) | |
| 1997 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (6) | |
| 1998 | | Denver Broncos (9) | |
| 1999 | | Seattle Seahawks (2) | |
| 2000 |
| Oakland Raiders (13) | |
| 2001 |
| Oakland Raiders (14) | |
| 2002 |
| Oakland Raiders (15) | |
| 2003 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (7) | |
| 2004 |
| San Diego Chargers (11) | |
| 2005 | | Denver Broncos (10) | |
| 2006 | | San Diego Chargers (12) | |
| 2007 |
| San Diego Chargers (13) | |
| 2008 |
| San Diego Chargers (14) | |
| 2009 |
| San Diego Chargers (15) | |
| 2010 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (8) | |
| 2011 | | Denver Broncos (11) | |
| 2012 | | Denver Broncos (12) | |
| 2013 | | Denver Broncos (13) | |
| 2014 | | Denver Broncos (14) | |
| 2015 | | Denver Broncos (15) | |
| 2016 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (9) | |
| 2017 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (10) | |
| 2018 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (11) | |
| 2019 | | Kansas City Chiefs (12) | |
| 2020 | | Kansas City Chiefs (13) | |
| 2021 | | Kansas City Chiefs (14) | |
| 2022 | | Kansas City Chiefs (15) | |
| 2023 | | Kansas City Chiefs (16) | |
| 2024 | | Kansas City Chiefs (17) | |
| 2025 | | Denver Broncos (16) | |
Division Standings
| Team | T | RT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs/Dallas Texans | 17 | 2024 |
| Denver Broncos | 16 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 15 | 2002 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 15 | 2009 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2 | 1999 |
 | Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | - |
 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | - |