Editing All-America Football Conference (section)

===1949===
Since 1934, the College All-Star Game had matched the defending NFL champions against an all-star team of recent college graduates. The game was a major event, as Rose Bowl-sized crowds (more than 105,000 in 1947)<ref name="ESPN">The ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, edited by Michael MacCambridge, 2005</ref> watched college football's best often hold their own with the pros. Held in late August at Soldier Field, the game was sponsored by the ''Chicago Tribune''—whose sports editor, Ward, had founded the AAFC.

After the game's contract with the NFL expired with the 1948 game, Ward refused to renew it.  He attempted to help the AAFC by putting its champion into the prestigious game. However, the NFL was able to convince the ''Tribune's'' board to override Ward and force him to re-sign with the NFL, handing the AAFC an embarrassing defeat.<ref name="Officialhl-AAFC" />

Red ink on both sides continued to flow. The Colts and Hornets were only kept afloat when Dons owner Ben Lindheimer subsidized them.<ref name="Coffin2">The Coffin Corner, Volume 2, 1980, published by the Professional Football Researchers Association, ''All-America Football Conference'', by Stan Grosshandler</ref> The Green Bay Packers, then as now owned by a local civic group, had to issue new stock to remain solvent.<ref name="Official-GB">The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History: ''The Green Bay Packers'', pgs. 138–145</ref> Now facing two cross-town rivals, the Bulldogs predictably had even lower attendance in New York than in Boston. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions were also having serious financial problems.<ref name="Total27"/>

Remarkably, the AAFC actually enjoyed better attendance than the NFL over its four-year run.<ref name="Officialhl-AAFC" /> In an era when sports teams were wholly dependent on gate receipts to remain in business, and when revenues from sources such as media rights were negligible, this had the potential to put the AAFC on essentially an equal financial footing. However, the NFL had a critical advantage in that its ownership was deeply committed to ensuring the survival of their teams. In contrast, it was becoming clear that the AAFC's better-financed owners, who were accustomed to operating profitable businesses, as opposed to underwriting expenses year after year, were not willing to absorb losses indefinitely.

On the field, Cleveland finally showed some vulnerability. An opening day tie with the Bills ended their winning streak, and on October 9th the 49ers ended their unbeaten streak in a 56–28 upset to move into first place.

Things soon reverted to form, however. The Browns won the rematch with the 49ers 30–28; and Cleveland (9–1–2) and San Francisco (9–3) finished one-two for the fourth consecutive year. Brooklyn–New York and Buffalo were the other playoff qualifiers, followed by Chicago and Los Angeles. Baltimore finished far behind at 1–11.

In playoff action, Cleveland defeated Buffalo 31–21 and San Francisco defeated Brooklyn–New York 17–7. The two best teams in AAFC history met at last with the title at stake, with the Browns winning the final title 21–7. No MVP was named for this season.

The Browns now owned a 52–4–3 record and all four AAFC titles.