Full Color Football : The History of the American Football League Full Color Football : The History of the American Football League is a sports documentary miniseries that focuses on the American Football League ( AFL , 1960 - 1969 ) , recognized by many as the genesis of modern Professional Football . The 5 - part series originally aired on the US pay - cable network Showtime in the fall of 2009 to coincide with the 50th anniversary season of both the AFL ' s founding and its original 8 teams . Reruns are currently airing on NFL Network . The show traces the history of the league using game broadcasts and highlight footage ( some of which have never been previously aired on national television ) ; archived and recent interviews with AFL personalities and players including Joe Namath , Al Davis and John Madden ; and commentary from football historians , authors , and AFL eyewitnesses such as Ange Coniglio , Dan Rather and Larry King , and AFL players including Ernie Warlick , Alex Kroll , and Larry Eisenhauer . The show is narrated by Peter Coyote and was produced by NFL Films . It has not been released on DVD . Warner Home Video owns the rights as part of its output deal with NFL Films . Episode Synopsis . Episode 1 : " The New Frontier " ( original air date : 9 / 16 / 2009 ) looks at how Lamar Hunt , after the NFL turned down his attempts to purchase a franchise , arranges a group of fellow businessmen , the self - titled " Foolish Club , " to start their own league . The episode examines back stories of the 8 founding owners , and spotlights the AFL ' s humble beginnings , from games played in mostly empty stadiums to the exciting 1962 championship game that took 2 overtimes to be resolved . Episode 2 : " Times They Are A Changin ' " ( original air date : 9 / 23 / 2009 ) highlights how the San Diego Chargers ( powered by coach Sid Gillman ' s offensive schemes ) and the Buffalo Bills ( and their dominating defense ) became the AFL ' s premier teams . Societal effects on the AFL are also examined , from the John F . Kennedy assassination to the relocation of the league ' s January 1965 All - Star Game from New Orleans to Houston after several black players were refused service in the former city . Episode 3 : " War and Peace " ( original air date : 9 / 30 / 2009 ) sees the AFL reach a watershed : a lucrative new TV contract with NBC , the awarding of a 9th franchise to Miami , and the launch of a player bidding war with the NFL that began with the New York Jets ' signing of Alabama QB Joe Namath . The two leagues would reach a truce that would lead to the start of the Super Bowl , a " common draft " of collegiate players , and their eventual 1970 merger . Episode 4 : " Revolution " ( original air date : 10 / 7 / 2009 ) looks at how , amidst a backdrop of upheaval in American society , the AFL generates its own upheaval in the sports world : after its champions are soundly defeated in the first two Super Bowls , the league gains respectability on the shoulders of Joe Namath , who , after his Jets defeat Oakland for the 1968 league title , fulfills a brash guarantee to defeat NFL champ Baltimore in Super Bowl III , regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history . Episode 5 : " The Final Frontier " ( original air date : 10 / 14 / 2009 ) profiles the league ' s final year , 1969 , including the contentious debate on post - merger league realignment , Joe Namath ' s near - retirement , and innovations like the West Coast Offense and stack defense that found their origins in the AFL . With the respectability it long sought now secure , the league ends on a high note with Hank Stram ' s Kansas City Chiefs soundly defeating Minnesota in Super Bowl IV .