Central Division (AFL)

The Central Division is one of four divisions that make up the Arena Football League. It's also one of two divisions that make up the "American Conference", now part of the "National Conference". The division was first formed in 1995 when expansion teams were formed and put into the current divisions.

Division lineups
1995 and 1996 Creation of the Central Division as part of the American Conference. Iowa, St. Louis, and Memphis are enfranchised for this division.
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * St. Louis Stampede
 * Memphis Pharaoahs
 * Milwaukee Mustangs

1997 Memphis moved to Portland as the Forest Dragons. St. Louis Stampede folded. Texas Terror moved in from National Conference's Southern Division.
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * Milwaukee Mustangs
 * Portland Forest Dragons
 * Texas Terror

1998-2000 Grand Rapids Rampage enfranchised. Portland moved to American Conference's Western Division. Texas Terror renamed Houston Thunderbears.
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Houston Thunderbears
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * Milwaukee Mustangs

2001 Albany from National Conference's Eastern Division moved in to this division as Indiana Firebirds, relocated in Indianapolis. Chicago Rush and Detroit Fury enfranchised. Houston moved to Western Division. Iowa moved to Uniondale, New York as New York Dragons.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Detroit Fury
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Indiana Firebirds
 * Milwaukee Mustangs

2002 Milwaukee Mustangs folded.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Detroit Fury
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Indiana Firebirds

2003 Dallas moved in from Western Division. Detroit Fury moved to Eastern Division.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Dallas Desperados
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Indiana Firebirds

2004 Colorado moved in from Western Division. Dallas moved to Eastern Division. Detroit moved back from Eastern Division.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Colorado Crush
 * Detroit Fury
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Indiana Firebirds

2005 and 2006 Detroit and Indiana folded. Nashville Kats (not to be confused with Georgia Force of the Southern Division which are the original Kats team) enfranchised.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Colorado Crush
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Nashville Kats

2007 Kansas City moved in from Southern Division.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Colorado Crush
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Kansas City Brigade
 * Nashville Kats

2008 Nashville folded. Kansas City suspended. The AFL has been put on a one-year hiatus in 2009.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Colorado Crush
 * Grand Rapids Rampage
 * Kansas City Brigade

2010 Central Division moved to National Conference as Midwest Division. Cleveland moved in from Eastern Division (which is moved to the American Conference for this season as the Southwest Division). Milwaukee Iron as well as the second Iowa Barnstormers franchise (not to be confused with the original one known as the New York Dragons) moved in from the now-defunct af2.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Cleveland Gladiators
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * Milwaukee Iron

2011 The Midwest Division changed its name back to Central Division. Dallas and Tulsa moved in from Southwest Division (now Eastern Division). Cleveland and Milwaukee moved to the Eastern Division. Kansas City reactivated.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Dallas Vigilantes
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * Kansas City Command
 * Tulsa Talons

2012 Dallas suspended, Tulsa relocated to San Antonio.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * Kansas City Command
 * San Antonio Talons

2013 Kansas City folded.
 * Chicago Rush
 * Iowa Barnstormers
 * San Antonio Talons

Division Champions

 * 1995: St. Louis Stampede (9-3)
 * 1996: Iowa Barnstormers (12-2)
 * 1997: Iowa Barnstormers (11-3)
 * 1998: Houston Thunderbears (8-6)
 * 1999: Iowa Barnstormers (11-3)
 * 2000: Iowa Barnstormers (9-5)
 * 2001: Grand Rapids Rampage (11-3)
 * 2002: Chicago Rush (9-5)
 * 2003: Dallas Desperados (10-6)
 * 2004: Chicago Rush (11-5)
 * 2005: Colorado Crush (10-6)
 * 2006: Colorado Crush (11-5)
 * 2007: Chicago Rush (12-4)
 * 2008: Chicago Rush (11-5)
 * 2010 (as Midwest Division): Milwaukee Iron (11-5)
 * 2011: Chicago Rush (13-5)
 * 2012: San Antonio Talons (14-4)