1960 American Football League Draft
Encyclopedia
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.
The first territorial or "bonus" picks for each team were:
1 Minneapolis reneged on its agreement to join the AFL, and jumped to the NFL as an expansion team that became the Minnesota Vikings
. By the time the Oakland Raiders
were granted the eighth AFL franchise, other AFL teams had signed some of the Minneapolis draftees. In order to stock the Raiders with players, the AFL held an "allocation draft" on January 27, 1960. The Minneapolis group did not take any of the players they drafted with them when they went to the NFL.
After the first "territorial picks" the 1960 AFL draft proceeded with teams selecting by lot and player position, e.g., each team selected backs from the available list, then linemen, etc.
Often, AFL teams cooperated in signing draftees, allowing other teams in the league to sign their choices, to keep the players in the AFL; for example, Bill Mathis
, whose "rights" belonged to the Broncos
, but who signed with the Titans
; Ron Mix
, drafted by the Patriots, signed by the Chargers, etc. Each team had a set of "first selections" and "second selections", with each group listed separately and alphabetically as below.
and Wayne Hawkins
, two men who played the entire ten years of the American Football League.
Future Hall of Famers
American Football League Draft
The American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:# Signing free agents ....
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
Each AFL team had "territorial rights" to players from its general region for a first draft selection, so that teams could sign players who were known to their fans. These were not "picked" as such, but agreed on by consensus.The first territorial or "bonus" picks for each team were:
- Boston Patriots ~ Gerhard Schwedes, HB, SyracuseSyracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
- Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe 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...
~ Richie LucasRichie LucasRichard John "Riverboat Richie" Lucas is an American former collegiate and Professional Football quarterback, noteworthy as a College Football Hall of Fame quarterback, and best known for his All-American career at Pennsylvania State University .Lucas was born in Glassport, Pennsylvania. He was a...
, QB, Penn StatePennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service... - Dallas TexansHistory of the Kansas City ChiefsThe following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...
~ Don MeredithDon MeredithJoseph Don "Dandy Don" Meredith was an American football quarterback, sports commentator and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years as a player...
, QB, SMUSouthern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church... - Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe 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...
~ Roger LeClerc, C, TrinityTrinity College (Connecticut)Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has... - Houston Oilers ~ 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...
, HB, LSULouisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name... - Los Angeles Chargers ~ Monty SticklesMonty SticklesMontford Anthony "Monty" Stickles was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints. He also served as a color commentator on Oakland Raiders radio broadcasts. He died of heart failure after a brief illness. He was...
, E, Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States... - New York TitansNew York JetsThe 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...
~ George IzoGeorge IzoGeorge William Izo is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, QB, Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States... - Minneapolis AFL teamMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
1 ~ Dale HackbartDale HackbartDale Leonard Hackbart is a former American football defensive back who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Cardinals, and Denver Broncos from 1960 to 1973...
, QB, WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonThe University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
1 Minneapolis reneged on its agreement to join the AFL, and jumped to the NFL as an expansion team that became the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. By the time the 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...
were granted the eighth AFL franchise, other AFL teams had signed some of the Minneapolis draftees. In order to stock the Raiders with players, the AFL held an "allocation draft" on January 27, 1960. The Minneapolis group did not take any of the players they drafted with them when they went to the NFL.
After the first "territorial picks" the 1960 AFL draft proceeded with teams selecting by lot and player position, e.g., each team selected backs from the available list, then linemen, etc.
Often, AFL teams cooperated in signing draftees, allowing other teams in the league to sign their choices, to keep the players in the AFL; for example, Bill Mathis
Bill Mathis
Bill Mathis was an American college and professional football player. A halfback, he is in the Clemson University Hall of Fame, South Carolina Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Hall of Fame...
, whose "rights" belonged to the 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...
, but who signed with the 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...
; Ron Mix
Ron Mix
Ronald Jack Mix , in Los Angeles, California was an American football player.Mix attended USC, and upon graduation played right tackle and guard for the American Football League's Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and the NFL Oakland Raiders .- College career :A graduate of the University of Southern...
, drafted by the Patriots, signed by the Chargers, etc. Each team had a set of "first selections" and "second selections", with each group listed separately and alphabetically as below.
Regular draft
Boston Patriots | 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... |
---|---|
|
|
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... |
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... |
---|---|
|
Wayne Hawkins Wayne Hawkins was an American college and Professional Football player from the University of the Pacific. Drafted as an offensive guard in the American Football League's first draft by the Denver Broncos in their "First Selection round", he joined the Oakland Raiders through the allocation draft... , T, COP Dean Look Dean Zachary Look was an American college and Professional Football player. A quarterback at Michigan State and for the American Football League New York Titans, a Major League Baseball outfielder, and American football official in the National Football League... , QB, Michigan State Bill Mathis Bill Mathis was an American college and professional football player. A halfback, he is in the Clemson University Hall of Fame, South Carolina Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Hall of Fame... , HB, Clemson Jack Spikes Jack Erwin Spikes is a former American collegiiate and Professional Football running back and placekicker. He played in the American Football League for the Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Oilers, and the Buffalo Bills... , FB, TCU Jim Walden Jim "Jimmy" Walden is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University from 1978 to 1986 and at Iowa State University from 1987 to 1994, compiling a career college football record of 72–109–7.-Playing career:Walden played... , QB, Wyoming Willie West Willie Tennyson West was an American football defensive back. He played for nine seasons professionally: for the NFL St. Louis Cardinals; and for the American Football League's Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. He was an AFL All-Star for the Bills in 1963, and for... , HB, Oregon
|
Houston Oilers | Los Angeles Chargers |
---|---|
|
Bob Bercich Robert Edward Bercich is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.... , HB, Michigan State Paul Maguire Paul Leo Maguire is a former American football player and current television sportscaster.-Early sports career:Maguire attended Ursuline High School in Youngstown,Ohio and was recruited to play at The Citadel by the late Al Davis who was then an assistant coach and chief recruiter... , E, The Citadel Wahoo McDaniel Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel was a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American who achieved fame as a professional American football player and later as a professional wrestler.-Early life:... , E, Oklahoma Bob Zeman Robert Zeman is a former American football defensive back who played six seasons in the American Football League from 1960 to 1966.-See also:*Other American Football League players... , DB, Wisconsin
|
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... |
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... (formerly Minneapolis) |
---|---|
|
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... , HB, North Texas State Don Norton Donald Farris Norton is a former American football end in the American Football League. He played college football at the University of Iowa and was drafted by the newly formed AFL in 1960, playing seven seasons for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers , making the AFL All-Star team in 1961 and 1962... , E, Iowa Jim Otto James Edwin Otto is a former Professional Football center for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League.-Wausau High School and University of Miami:... , C, Miami (Florida)
|
Allocation draft
For the allocation draft, the other seven AFL teams each froze eleven players, and Oakland selected a total of 24 players from the ranks of the other teams' "unfrozen" lists. The number of players originally drafted for the eighth AFL franchise, but who were signed by other teams, combined with the process of the allocation draft, virtually guaranteed that the Raiders would have the worst team in the AFL in its first year. In spite of this, they managed to sign future stars Jim OttoJim Otto
James Edwin Otto is a former Professional Football center for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League.-Wausau High School and University of Miami:...
and Wayne Hawkins
Wayne Hawkins
Wayne Hawkins was an American college and Professional Football player from the University of the Pacific. Drafted as an offensive guard in the American Football League's first draft by the Denver Broncos in their "First Selection round", he joined the Oakland Raiders through the allocation draft...
, two men who played the entire ten years of the American Football League.
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... (allocation draft) |
---|
|
Future Hall of FamersPro Football Hall of FameThe 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...
Selected by AFL Teams
- Jim OttoJim OttoJames Edwin Otto is a former Professional Football center for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League.-Wausau High School and University of Miami:...
1, Center, University of MiamiUniversity of MiamiThe 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...
-- Taken as a "First Selection" by the AFL's Oakland Raiders. Inducted in 1979. - Ron MixRon MixRonald Jack Mix , in Los Angeles, California was an American football player.Mix attended USC, and upon graduation played right tackle and guard for the American Football League's Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and the NFL Oakland Raiders .- College career :A graduate of the University of Southern...
1, Offensive Tackle, USCUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
-- Taken as a "First Selection" by the AFL's Boston Patriots. Inducted in 1980.
Other Notable Players Selected by AFL Teams
- Tom DayTom DayThomas Frederick Day was an American football player. A defensive end, he played college football at North Carolina A&T State University, and professionally in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers...
, Defensive End - Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe 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...
, "Second Selection", North Carolina A&T - Larry GranthamLarry GranthamLarry Grantham is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player.A member of the "Ole Miss" Athletic Hall of Fame, he was a linebacker of the University of Mississippi who came to the American Football League's New York Titans in the 1960 college draft and helped form the backbone...
, Linebacker - New York TitansNew York JetsThe 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...
, "First Selection", MississippiUniversity of MississippiThe University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the... - Abner HaynesAbner HaynesAbner 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...
2, Halfback - Dallas TexansHistory of the Kansas City ChiefsThe following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...
, "First Selection", North Texas StateUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067... - Johnny Robinson 1, Defensive Back - Dallas TexansHistory of the Kansas City ChiefsThe following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...
, "First Selection", LSULouisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name... - 1 Member of the American Football League All-Time TeamAmerican Football League All-Time TeamThe American Football League All- Time Team was selected on January 14, 1970. The first and second teams would be determined by a panel of members of the AFL's Hall of Fame Board of Selectors: Since the First team included two halfbacks, rather than a halfback and a fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, a...
. - 2 1960 AFL Rookie of the YearAmerican Football League Rookies of the YearIn each year of its ten-year existence , numerous sports-news services named their choice for the American Football League's best first-year player...
and Most Valuable PlayerAmerican Football League Most Valuable PlayersDuring its ten-year existence , the American Football League's best player for each year was called the Most Valuable Player by some sports-news sources and the Player of the Year by others...
.
See also
- List of American Football League players
- History of American Football League draftAmerican Football League DraftThe American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:# Signing free agents ....
- List of professional football drafts