Ken Houston
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Ray Houston is a former American football
defensive back
in the American Football League
and National Football League
. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1986.
Houston played for the AFL's Houston Oilers
from 1967 through 1969, and after the AFL-NFL merger
, with the Oilers from 1970
through 1972
, then with the Washington Redskins
until 1980
.
and was the third of four children. His father, Herod, owned a dry cleaning business. Houston attended Dunbar High School
where he played basketball and football
.
). Bishop College
initially offered him a scholarship, but then withdrew it (the school had yet to be desegregated).
Houston attended and played college football
at Prairie View A & M University
. For a short time he was a center
, and then became the starting linebacker
and was selected All-America
n in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
.
Houston also ran track, and was on the swim team during the four years he was at Prairie State.
in 1968 and 1969, and then in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
from 1970 through 1979. He was selected All-Pro three times. In 1999, he was ranked number 61 on The Sporting News
list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Throughout his career, Houston intercepted 49 passes, recovered 21 fumbles, gained 1,498 return yards (on interception, fumble, blocked field goal, kickoff, and punt returns), and scored 12 touchdowns. Houston is a member of the 1986 class of the Hall of Fame.
in the ninth round of the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft
by the Houston Oilers
of the American Football League
. He became a starter by the third game of his rookie season. Two weeks later, in a game against the New York Jets
, he scored two touchdowns, one on a 71 yards (64.9 m) blocked field goal
attempt, and the other on a 43 yards (39.3 m) interception return.
In 1971
he set an NFL record with five touchdown returns (four interceptions and one fumble). This would stand until surpassed by Devin Hester
's six return touchdowns in the 2006 season
.
for five veteran players in 1973
. Included in the trade were offensive lineman Jim Snowden
, tight end
Mack Alston
, wide receiver
Clifton McNeil
, defensive end
Mike Fanucci
, and defensive back
Jeff Severson
. While with the Redskins, Houston went to seven straight Pro Bowls.
and Westbury High School
in Houston, Texas
. From 1982
to 1985
, he was the defensive backfield coach for the Houston Oilers
and from 1986 to 1990 he was the defensive backfield coach for the University of Houston
.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
in the 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...
and National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1986.
Houston played for the AFL's 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...
from 1967 through 1969, and after the AFL-NFL merger
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
, with the Oilers from 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
through 1972
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
, then with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
until 1980
1980 NFL season
The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws...
.
Early life
Houston was born in Lufkin, TexasLufkin, Texas
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
and was the third of four children. His father, Herod, owned a dry cleaning business. Houston attended Dunbar High School
Lufkin High School
Lufkin High School is a public secondary school located in Angelina County, Texas . It serves the Lufkin area as part of the Lufkin Independent School District. The current Lufkin High School was formed in 1970 by consolidation of Lufkin High School and Dunbar High School, the formerly...
where he played basketball and football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
.
College career
Only one school that recruited Houston after high school was Prairie State College (now Prairie View A&M UniversityPrairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
). Bishop College
Bishop College
Bishop College was a historically black college, founded in Marshall, Texas, and later moved to Dallas, Texas, that operated from 1881 to 1988.-History:...
initially offered him a scholarship, but then withdrew it (the school had yet to be desegregated).
Houston attended and played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
. For a short time he was a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
, and then became the starting 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...
and was selected All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
.
Houston also ran track, and was on the swim team during the four years he was at Prairie State.
Professional career
Houston was an all-league player for twelve consecutive years: an American Football League All-StarAmerican Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
in 1968 and 1969, and then in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
from 1970 through 1979. He was selected All-Pro three times. In 1999, he was ranked number 61 on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Throughout his career, Houston intercepted 49 passes, recovered 21 fumbles, gained 1,498 return yards (on interception, fumble, blocked field goal, kickoff, and punt returns), and scored 12 touchdowns. Houston is a member of the 1986 class of the Hall of Fame.
Houston Oilers
Houston was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the ninth round of the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft
1967 NFL Draft
The 1967 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft in the first year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on March 14–15.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
by the 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...
of the 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...
. He became a starter by the third game of his rookie season. Two weeks later, in a game against the New York Jets
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...
, he scored two touchdowns, one on a 71 yards (64.9 m) blocked field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
attempt, and the other on a 43 yards (39.3 m) interception return.
In 1971
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
he set an NFL record with five touchdown returns (four interceptions and one fumble). This would stand until surpassed by Devin Hester
Devin Hester
Devin Hester is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university’s recent history to play in all three phases of American football...
's six return touchdowns in the 2006 season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
.
Washington Redskins
After six years with the Oilers, Houston was traded to the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
for five veteran players in 1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
. Included in the trade were offensive lineman Jim Snowden
Jim Snowden
James John Snowden is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1964 NFL Draft. Snowden was also selected in the fifteenth round of...
, tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Mack Alston
Mack Alston
Mack C. Alston, Jr. is a former professional American football player. A 6'2", . tight end from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Alston played 11 seasons from 1970-1980 in the National Football League....
, wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Clifton McNeil
Clifton McNeil
Clifton Anthony McNeil is a former professional American football player in the National Football League from 1964 through 1973. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the eleventh round in the 1962 NFL Draft out of Grambling State University...
, defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Mike Fanucci
Mike Fanucci
Michael Joseph Fanucci is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, and Green Bay Packers. He later played with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Arizona State...
, and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
Jeff Severson
Jeff Severson
Jeffrey Kent Severson is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football at Long Beach State University and was drafted in the 12th round of the 1971 NFL Draft...
. While with the Redskins, Houston went to seven straight Pro Bowls.
Coaching career
After his retirement in 1980, Houston served as a head football coach for Wheatley High SchoolWheatley High School (Houston)
Phillis Wheatley High School is a secondary school located at 4801 Providence Street in Houston, Texas, United States with a ZIP code of 77020....
and Westbury High School
Westbury High School (Houston)
Westbury High School is a secondary school located in Brays Oaks, of Southwest Houston, Texas, near the Westbury neighborhood. It has grades 9 through 12, and is part of the Houston Independent School District. As of 2010 the principal is Andrew Wainwright...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. From 1982
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
to 1985
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
, he was the defensive backfield coach for the 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...
and from 1986 to 1990 he was the defensive backfield coach for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
After football
Since 1990, Houston has served as a guidance counselor for children in hospitals and who are home bound or have been placed in child care agencies by the State of Texas. He does this work for the Houston Independent School DistrictHouston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...
.