1960 American Football League Championship Game
Encyclopedia
The 1960 American Football League
Championship Game
was the first AFL title game. The game was played on New Year's Day 1961 at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas
.
.
The Chargers led 6-0 in the first quarter on two field goals by Ben Agajanian
, one of only two players (Hardy Brown
) who played in the AAFC
, the NFL and the AFL
. In the second period, Houston scored on a 17-yard Blanda pass to All-AFL fullback Dave Smith, then answered a 27 yard Agajanian field goal with a 17-yard kick by Blanda. In the final quarter, Heisman Trophy
winner Billy Cannon
caught a short toss from Blanda and went for an 88-yard touchdown scamper. The Chargers, down by eight points, tried to reach the end zone on their final possession. Had they scored they could have gone for the two-point conversion, but the clock ran out with the Chargers at the Oilers' 22-yard line. The Oilers won the first American Football League
championship, 24-16.
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...
Championship Game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
was the first AFL title game. The game was played on New Year's Day 1961 at Jeppesen Stadium 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 ...
.
Background
The game matched the Eastern Division champion Houston Oilers (10-4), against the Western Division champion Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), in the first championship game of the new American Football LeagueAmerican 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...
.
Game summary
The AFL had established a format in which championship games would be alternated each year between the Western Division winners and the Eastern Division. The first game was originally scheduled to be played in the cavernous Los Angeles Coliseum, but it was moved to the cozier Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, where it drew 32,183.The Chargers led 6-0 in the first quarter on two field goals by Ben Agajanian
Ben Agajanian
Benjamin James Agajanian "The Toeless Wonder" is an American former collegiate and Professional Football player. He was born in Santa Ana, California. A placekicker, he played college football at the University of New Mexico...
, one of only two players (Hardy Brown
Hardy Brown
Hardy Brown was an American football linebacker in the National Football League, All-America Football Conference, and the American Football League. He played college football at the University of Tulsa and then professionally for the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and the Denver Broncos...
) who played in the AAFC
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
, the NFL and the AFL
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...
. In the second period, Houston scored on a 17-yard Blanda pass to All-AFL fullback Dave Smith, then answered a 27 yard Agajanian field goal with a 17-yard kick by Blanda. In the final quarter, Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon
William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
caught a short toss from Blanda and went for an 88-yard touchdown scamper. The Chargers, down by eight points, tried to reach the end zone on their final possession. Had they scored they could have gone for the two-point conversion, but the clock ran out with the Chargers at the Oilers' 22-yard line. The Oilers won the first 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...
championship, 24-16.
- First Quarter
- LA-AgajanianBen AgajanianBenjamin James Agajanian "The Toeless Wonder" is an American former collegiate and Professional Football player. He was born in Santa Ana, California. A placekicker, he played college football at the University of New Mexico...
38-yard FG - LA-AgajanianBen AgajanianBenjamin James Agajanian "The Toeless Wonder" is an American former collegiate and Professional Football player. He was born in Santa Ana, California. A placekicker, he played college football at the University of New Mexico...
22-yard FG
- LA-Agajanian
- Second Quarter
- Hou-Dave Smith 17 yard pass from George BlandaGeorge BlandaGeorge Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
(Blanda kick) - LA-AgajanianBen AgajanianBenjamin James Agajanian "The Toeless Wonder" is an American former collegiate and Professional Football player. He was born in Santa Ana, California. A placekicker, he played college football at the University of New Mexico...
27-yard FG - Hou-Blanda 17-yard FG
- Hou-Dave Smith 17 yard pass from George Blanda
- Third Quarter
- Hou-Bill GromanBill GromanWilliam Frederick Groman was an American football player. A wide receiver, he played college football at Heidelberg College, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Houston Oilers from 1960 through 1962 and was on the first two AFL Championship teams...
7-yard pass from BlandaGeorge BlandaGeorge Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
(Blanda kick) - LA-Paul LowePaul LowePaul Edward Lowe is a retired American football running back who played for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League from 1960 to 1969.-College career:...
2-yard run (Agajanian kick)
- Hou-Bill Groman
- Fourth Quarter
- Hou-Billy CannonBilly CannonWilliam Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
88-yard pass from BlandaGeorge BlandaGeorge Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
(Blanda kick)
- Hou-Billy Cannon