1960 Dallas Texans season
Encyclopedia
The 1960
Dallas Texans
season was the inaugural season of Lamar Hunt
’s American Football League
franchise from Dallas, Texas
. Head coach Hank Stram
led the team to an 8–6 record and second place in the AFL’s Western Conference.
For the Texans' inaugural season, team owner Lamar Hunt pursued both legendary University of Oklahoma
coach Bud Wilkinson
and New York Giants
defensive assistant Tom Landry
to lead his Texans franchise. Wilkinson opted to stay at Oklahoma, while Landry was destined to coach the NFL’s expansion franchise
in Dallas. Hunt settled on a relatively unknown assistant coach from the University of Miami
, Hank Stram
. “One of the biggest reasons I hired Hank was that he really wanted the job,” Hunt explained. “It turned out to be a very lucky selection on my part.”
The Texans set up offices in the Mercantile Securities Building, while Jerry Foss headquartered the AFL offices out of Dallas, as well. Reserved seats were USD $4, general admission USD $2 and high school students paid USD $.90 that initial season. Don Rossi served as the team’s General Manager
until November when he was succeeded by Jack Steadman
.
The Texans conducted their inaugural training camp at the New Mexico Military Institute
in Roswell, New Mexico
. The club embarked on a whirlwind pre-season barnstorming
tour that featured road games in Oakland, Tulsa
, Boston, Abilene
, and Little Rock
. An announced crowd of 51,000 at the Cotton Bowl witnessed a 24–3 victory against Houston
on September 2 as the club concluded a perfect 6–0 preseason record.
The Texans had a strong home-state identity with quarterback
Cotton Davidson
from Baylor
, linebacker
Sherrill Headrick
from TCU
and running back
Abner Haynes
from North Texas. Haynes led the league with 875 rushing yards and nine TDs, as well as combined net yards (2,100) and punt return average (15.4).
The Texans also had a flashy, high-scoring club which finished the year at 8–6 as three close losses kept the squad from challenging for the division title. The Texans averaged 24,500 for their home games, the highest average in the league.
American Football League Draft
, the Texans chose the following players to fill-up their squad:
1960 American Football League season
The 1960 American Football League season was the inaugural regular season of the American Football League.The season ended when the Houston Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in the inaugural AFL Championship game.-Division races:...
Dallas Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
season was the inaugural season of Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
’s American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
franchise from Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Head coach Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
led the team to an 8–6 record and second place in the AFL’s Western Conference.
For the Texans' inaugural season, team owner Lamar Hunt pursued both legendary University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
coach Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
and New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive assistant Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
to lead his Texans franchise. Wilkinson opted to stay at Oklahoma, while Landry was destined to coach the NFL’s expansion franchise
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in Dallas. Hunt settled on a relatively unknown assistant coach from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
. “One of the biggest reasons I hired Hank was that he really wanted the job,” Hunt explained. “It turned out to be a very lucky selection on my part.”
The Texans set up offices in the Mercantile Securities Building, while Jerry Foss headquartered the AFL offices out of Dallas, as well. Reserved seats were USD $4, general admission USD $2 and high school students paid USD $.90 that initial season. Don Rossi served as the team’s General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
until November when he was succeeded by Jack Steadman
Jack Steadman
Jack W. Steadman is the former chairman, vice president, president and general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League....
.
The Texans conducted their inaugural training camp at the New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico Military Institute is a state-supported educational institution. NMMI is located in Roswell, New Mexico, United States. It is sometimes referred to as the West Point of the West and it is the only state-supported military college located in the western United States. NMMI includes a...
in Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
. The club embarked on a whirlwind pre-season barnstorming
Barnstorming
Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s in which stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes, either individually or in groups called a flying circus. Barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight...
tour that featured road games in Oakland, Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, Boston, Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, and Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. An announced crowd of 51,000 at the Cotton Bowl witnessed a 24–3 victory against Houston
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on September 2 as the club concluded a perfect 6–0 preseason record.
The Texans had a strong home-state identity with quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Cotton Davidson
Cotton Davidson
Francis Marion Davidson , known by his nickname "Cotton" Davidson, was an American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback...
from Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Sherrill Headrick
Sherrill Headrick
Sherrill Headrick was an American college and Professional Football player from Texas Christian University.In 1960, Headrick came to the American Football League's Dallas Texans as an undrafted linebacker...
from TCU
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Abner Haynes
Abner Haynes
Abner Haynes is a former college and professional football player in the United States.Haynes is a graduate of North Texas State University where he and his then teammate Leon King integrated college football in the state of Texas in 1956...
from North Texas. Haynes led the league with 875 rushing yards and nine TDs, as well as combined net yards (2,100) and punt return average (15.4).
The Texans also had a flashy, high-scoring club which finished the year at 8–6 as three close losses kept the squad from challenging for the division title. The Texans averaged 24,500 for their home games, the highest average in the league.
1960 AFL Draft
In the inaugural1960 American Football League Draft
The 1960 American Football League Draft was held on November 22, 1959, shortly after the organization of the league, and lasted 33 rounds. An additional draft of 20 rounds was held by the AFL on December 2.- Territorial draft :...
American Football League Draft
American Football League Draft
The American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:# Signing free agents ....
, the Texans chose the following players to fill-up their squad:
- Jack Atcheson, E, Western Illinois
- George Boone, T, Kentucky
- Chris BurfordChris BurfordChristopher William Burford, III is a former American football wide receiver. Burford was a master of sideline receptions for the Dallas Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs. What he lacked in great speed or physical presence, he made up for by running perfectly choreographed pass routes that...
, E, Stanford - Earl Ray Butler, T, North Carolina
- Gail Cogdill, E, Washington State
- James Crotty, HB, Notre Dame
- Gary Ferguson, T, SMU
- Tom Glynn, C, Boston College
- Gene Gossage, T, Northwestern
- Jim Heineke, T, Wisconsin
- William Jerry, G/T, South Carolina
- John Kapele, T, BYU
- Louis Kelley, FB, New Mexico State
- Gilmer Lewis, T/G, Oklahoma
- John Malmberg, T/G, Knox College
- Arvle Martin, C, TCU
- Don Meredith, QB, SMU
- Tom Moore, HB, Vanderbilt
- Ola Murchison, E, COP
- Bob Nelson, C, Wisconsin
- Jim Norton, E, Idaho
- Warren Rabb, QB, LSU
- Howard Ringwood, HB, BYU
- Johnny Robinson, HB, LSU
- John Saunders, FB, South Carolina
- Glenn Shaw, FB, Kentucky
- Gordon Speer, HB, Rice
- Jack Stone, G, Oregon
- Marvin Terrell, G, Mississippi
- Emery Turner, G, Purdue
- Joe Vader, E, Kansas State
- Carroll Zaruba, HB, Nebraska
- Grady Alderman, G/T, Detroit
- Herman Alexander, T/G, Findlay (OH)
- Taz Anderson, HB, Georgia Tech
- Jim Beaver, T/G, Florida
- Bill Beck, T/G, Gustavus Adolphus
- Gary Campbell, HB, Whittier
- Vernon Cole, QB, North Texas State
- Toby Deese, T/G, Georgia Tech
- Carl Dumbald, T/G, West Virginia
- Charles Elizey, C, Mississippi State
- Tom Gates, HB, San Bernardino
- Austin (Goose) GonsoulinGoose GonsoulinAustin William "Goose" Gonsoulin of Baylor University was a Professional Football safety, the original Denver Bronco, selected first in the 1960 season. At the end of his Bronco career, he was the all-time American Football League leader in interceptions with 40...
, HB, Baylor - Clark Holden, HB, USC
- Dewitt Hoopes, T/G, Northwestern
- Don Leebern, T/G, Georgia
- Bill Thompson, C, Georgia
- Billy Tranum, E, Arkansas
- Jim Vickers, E, Georgia
- Larry Ward, E, Lamar Tech
- Paul Winslow, HB, North Carolina College
- Doug Pat Brown, T/G, Fresno State
Regular season
The Texans finished their inaugural season 8–6, with three wins coming by shut-out.| Western Division | ||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | 1960 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 373 | 336 | Details 1960 Los Angeles Chargers season The 1960 Los Angeles Chargers season was the team's inaugural season. It was also the inaugural season of the American Football League. The team's only season in Los Angeles ended with a loss in the AFL Championship to the Houston Oilers.-Season schedule:... |
|||
| Dallas Texans Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 362 | 253 | Details | |||
| Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 319 | 388 | Details 1960 Oakland Raiders season The 1960 Oakland Raiders season was the inaugural one for the franchise and for the American Football League. Head coach Eddie Erdelatz led the team to a 6–8 finish, third out of four teams in the Western Division.-Offseason:... |
|||
| Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
4 | 9 | 1 | .286 | 309 | 393 | Details 1960 Denver Broncos season The Denver Broncos finished the inaugural American Football League's 1960 season with a record of four wins, nine losses, and one tie, thus finishing last in the AFL's western division.-Regular season:-External links:*... |
|||
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against |
||||||||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10, 1960 | Los Angeles Chargers | L 20–21 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team... |
|
| 2 | September 16, 1960 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34–16 | Kezar Stadium Kezar Stadium Kezar Stadium is a stadium located adjacent to Kezar Pavilion in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and of the San Francisco Dragons of MLL. It also served as the home of the... |
|
| 3 | September 25, 1960 | Los Angeles Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 17–0 | Cotton Bowl Cotton Bowl (stadium) The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,... |
|
| 4 | October 2, 1960 | New York Titans New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 35–37 | Cotton Bowl | |
| 5 | October 9, 1960 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 19–20 | Cotton Bowl | |
| 6 | October 16, 1960 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 10–20 | Jeppesen Stadium | |
| Week 7 — Bye | |||||
| 8 | October 30, 1960 | Denver Broncos | W 17–14 | Bears Stadium Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the... |
|
| 9 | November 6, 1960 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 45–28 | War Memorial Stadium War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo) War Memorial Stadium is the name of a stadium that formerly stood in Buffalo, New York. The stadium was on a rectangular block near the downtown area. Its main entrance was at Jefferson Avenue to the east and Best Street to the south... |
|
| 10 | November 13, 1960 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34–7 | Cotton Bowl | |
| 11 | November 18, 1960 | Boston Patriots | L 14–42 | Nickerson Field Nickerson Field Nickerson Field is a stadium on the site of Braves Field, in Boston, Massachusetts, the former home of the National League Boston Braves baseball team which is now located in Atlanta... |
|
| 12 | November 24, 1960 | New York Titans New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 35–41 | Polo Grounds Polo Grounds The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963... |
|
| 13 | December 4, 1960 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
W 24–0 | Cotton Bowl | |
| 14 | December 11, 1960 | Boston Patriots | W 34–0 | Cotton Bowl | |
| 15 | December 18, 1960 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–7 | Cotton Bowl | |