Don Floyd
Encyclopedia
Donald Wayne Floyd was a professional American football
defensive end
who played in the American Football League
(AFL). Born in Abilene, Texas
, He played his high school football
in Midlothian, Texas
, for the Midlothian Panthers
. Midlothian named a stadium in his honor, but built a new one. Now Don Floyd stadium is used primarily as a practice field, which brought much criticism from Midlothian citizens. The wiry defensive end earned All America honors at Texas Christian University
and stayed in Texas for his professional career. He was a draft choice
of the AFL's Houston Oilers
in 1960, the league's first year, and was selected as a defensive end
on the American Football League All-League team
in 1961 and 1962, and an AFL Eastern Division All-Star
in 1963. In the early 1960s, Floyd was among the best, using a combination of strength and speed to establish a presence to be accounted for by the opposition on every play.
He played in four American Football League Championships, helping the Oilers win the league's first two titles in 1960 and 1961. Don Floyd is on the Oilers' All-Time Team.
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 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...
who played 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...
(AFL). Born in Abilene, Texas
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...
, He played his high school 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....
in Midlothian, Texas
Midlothian, Texas
Midlothian is a city in northwest Ellis County, Texas, United States. It is the hub for the cement industry in North Texas as it is the home to three separate cement production facilities, as well as a steel mill. Midlothian is also a fast growing community with a growth rate of 142% since 2000...
, for the Midlothian Panthers
Midlothian High School (Texas)
Midlothian High School is a public high school in Midlothian, Texas, United States. It is a part of the Midlothian Independent School District.-External links:*...
. Midlothian named a stadium in his honor, but built a new one. Now Don Floyd stadium is used primarily as a practice field, which brought much criticism from Midlothian citizens. The wiry defensive end earned All America honors at Texas Christian University
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 stayed in Texas for his professional career. He was a draft choice
American Football League Draft
The American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:# Signing free agents ....
of 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...
in 1960, the league's first year, and was selected as a 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...
on the American Football League All-League team
1961 American Football League All-League Players
-Sporting News American Football League All-League Team - 1961:The 1961 American Football League All-League Team was selected by AFL players and published by the Sporting News. The 1961 All-League players were augmented by other All-Stars to form two squads, Eastern and Western, to play in the...
in 1961 and 1962, and an AFL Eastern Division All-Star
American 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 1963. In the early 1960s, Floyd was among the best, using a combination of strength and speed to establish a presence to be accounted for by the opposition on every play.
He played in four American Football League Championships, helping the Oilers win the league's first two titles in 1960 and 1961. Don Floyd is on the Oilers' All-Time Team.