Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills started off the decade slowly, but they won the East Division every season from 1963 to 1966, and won the AFL Championship in ’64 and ’65. In 1966 they lost the AFL final to the Chiefs, who went on to play in Super Bowl I. 

 

Jack Kemp was acquired from the Chargers in 1962. He made the AFL All-Star team every season from 1960-69, except for missing the entire 1968 season due to injury. Curiously, for all those awards, he never led the league in any passing category. There was always Len Dawson or someone else ahead of him. (Next week’s Denver Broncos post will be a good time to look at the top AFL quarterbacks, as none of them ever played for Denver.) 

 

Tom Flores was the Raiders’ starting QB for much of 1960-66, then was traded to the Bills in the Daryle Lamonica deal. He sat behind Kemp for his final 3 seasons in the league. (It’s surprising that the Bills didn’t use Flores in 1968, during Kemp’s absence.) 

 

Keith Lincoln was the Chargers’ 2nd-round pick in 1961, and was their starting fullback for most of 1961-66. He started 13 games at halfback for the Bills in 1967 (making his 5th and final All-Star game) then returned to San Diego midway through 1968. 

 

Wray Carlton was the Eagles’ 3rd-round pick in 1959, but never played for them. He played for the Bills from 1960-67, and was their starting halfback or fullback every season but ’63 and ’64, missing all but 4 games in those 2 seasons. He made the All-Star team in ’65 and ’66, and led the AFL with 6 rushing TDs in 1965. 

 

*Elbert Dubenion was a 14th-round pick for the Browns in 1959, but did not play for them. He was the Bills’ starting flanker every season from 1960-67, except for missing all but 3 games in 1965. He only missed 2 other games in that 8-year span. Elbert finished his career with 4 games for the Bills in 1968, but had no catches. 

 

Art Powell was one of the top 4 wide receivers in the AFL’s early days (along with Don Maynard, Lance Alworth, and Lionel Taylor). Drafted by the Eagles in 1959, he was a backup defensive back for them in his rookie season, then joined the New York Titans in 1960. Powell was his team’s starting split end in every game for the next 7 seasons (3 with the Titans, 4 with the Raiders). 

 

Powell led the AFL in receiving yards in ’62 and ’63, and in receiving TDs in ’60 and ’63. He also made the AFL All-Star team every year from 1963-66, and was named first-team Al-Pro in ’60 and ’63. Powell came to the Bills in 1967 in the Lamonica-for-Flores trade, and played in 6 games (all starts) that season. In 1968 he played 1 game for the Vikings.

 

*Billy Shaw was the Bills’ #2 pick in 1961, and was their starting left guard for his entire career (9 seasons). He made the All-Star team in all but his rookie season, and was named first-team All-Pro from 1962-66. Shaw was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. 

 

Stew Barber was a 4th-round pick in 1961. He started half the games at linebacker as a rookie, then moved to offense in 1962, where he was the Bills’ starting left tackle until retiring after the 1969 season. He made 5 All-Star teams and was named first-team All-Pro twice. 

 

*Dick Hudson was drafted in the 2nd round by the Chargers in 1962. After playing guard as a rookie, he moved to the Bills and after playing only 2 games in 1963, he started at right tackle for all 50 games he played from 1964-67. 

 

Ron McDole was drafted by the Broncos and Cardinals in 1961. After playing offensive tackle for the Cardinals as a rookie, he joined the Oilers in 1962 and switched to defensive end. After just one season in Houston, McDole joined the Bills in 1963. 

 

He played 12 games (no starts) in his first season there, then from 1964 to 1977 he was his team’s starting left defensive end, playing in all but 1 game in that 14-year span, while starting all but 3 games. From 1965-67 he made either the All-Star team or first-team All-Pro. After the 1970 season, George Allen brought McDole to the Redskins, where he continued through the 1978 season, starting 10 of 16 games in his final year. 

 

*Jim Dunaway was the Bills’ 2nd-round pick n 1963. He was their starting left defensive tackle for the next 9 seasons, playing every game while starting all but 12. He was an All-Star from 1965-68. In his final season (1972) he played for the Dolphins. 

 

*Tom Sestak – Selected in the 17th round in 1962, Sestak was the Bills’ starting right defensive tackle for his entire career (1963-68). He was named to the All-Star team in his first 4 seasons, and made first-team All-Pro in 3 of them. 

 

*Harry Jacobs was drafted by the Lions in 1959, but did not play for them. He was the Patriots’ middle linebacker for their first 2 seasons, then was a backup player in 1962. He joined the Bills in 1963 and was their starting middle linebacker from 1963-69. He finished up with the Saints in 1970.

 

*Mike Stratton – A 13th-round pick in 1962, Stratton was the Bills’ starting right linebacker from 1962-72, although he missed a number of games in ’70 and ’71. He was an All-Star every year from 1963-68, and was first-team All-Pro 3 times in that span. He finished his career in 1973 with the Chargers. 

 

George Saimes – The Chiefs’ 6th-round pick in 1963, Saimes was the Bills’ starting free safety from 1963-69, making the All-Star team 5 times while being named first-team All-Pro 3 times. He also played for the Broncos from 1970-72, and was their starting free safety in 1971. 

 

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023 

 

Next: Denver Broncos 

 

Oakland Raiders

This is the year the Raiders finished with a 13-1 record and went to Super Bowl II, led by the newly-acquired Daryle Lamonica. 

 

It was also the first year of an 11 out of 12 run where they finished in 1st place in their division. (Yes, in 1969 the Raiders finished ahead of the Chiefs in the AFL West, but a one-off playoff format that year had the division leaders playing the 2nd-place team in the other division. The Chiefs beat the Jets in the first round, then beat the Raiders in the AFL championship game.) 

 

Daryle Lamonica was the Bills’ 24th-round pick in 1963. After riding the bench for 4 seasons behind Jack Kemp, he was traded to the Raiders before the 1967 season for QB Tom Flores. Lamonica was named AFL Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro in ’67 and ’69. He was the team’s starting QB from 1967-72, then backed up Ken Stabler in his final 2 seasons. 

 

Cotton Davidson was the Colts’ 1st-round pick in 1954. After backing up in his rookie season, he missed the next 2 years for military service. Upon his return, he resumed backup chores in 1957. He played in the CFL in 1958, and was retired in 1959 (coaching at Baylor). 

 

The AFL came calling in 1960, and Davidson was the Dallas Texans' starting QB for their first 2 seasons. With the arrival of Len Dawson in 1962, Davidson was traded to the Raiders, where he started in place of Flores, who missed the entire ’62 season. In 1963, Flores returned to the starting role, and Davidson returned to the Oakland bench, playing 1 game in 1968 before retiring. 

 

Clem Daniels was the Dallas Texans’ starting right cornerback in 1960, then played halfback for the Raiders for the next 7 seasons, starting almost every game from 1963-66, while making the Pro Bowl in those 4 years. He finished up with the 49ers in 1968. 

 

Larry Todd – A first-round pick in 1965, Todd was a little-used halfback for the Raiders from 1965-70. This is one of 5 cards that came in the only pack I bought in 1967, so it’s creased and worn.

 

Fred Biletnikoff was the Raiders’ 2nd-round pick in 1965, and started half the games at flanker in his first 3 seasons. Beginning in 1968 he started almost every game for the next 10 seasons, while making 6 Pro Bowls and garnering 2 first-team All-Pro selections. He started 2 games in 1978, his final season with Oakland. 

 

*Glenn Bass was drafted by the Chargers in 1961, but played split end for the Bills from 1961-66. Although pictured on a Raiders’ card, he was a backup flanker for the Oilers in ’67 and ’68. 

 

Billy Cannon – The 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick by the Rams in the 1960 draft, Cannon caused quite a stir by signing with both the Rams AND Oilers. He was Houston’s starting halfback from 1960-62 and led the AFL with 948 rushing yards in 1961. After missing half of the 1962 season, he was traded to the Raiders and was their starting fullback in 1964. The next year he switched to tight end and started most of 1967-69. He finished as a backup with the Chiefs in 1970.

 

Jim Otto was drafted by the Raiders in 1960, and started every game at center from 1960-74. He is one of 3 players to have played in every AFL game. Otto was named first-team All-Pro 10 times, and selected for 12 All-Star games/Pro Bowls. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1980. 

 

Harry Schuh – The Raiders’ 1st pick in the 1965 draft, Schuh was their starting right tackle from 1965-70, making 3 All-Star games in that time. He also played for Rams from 1971-73 (starting every game in the first 2 seasons) and the Packers in 1974. 

 

Bob Svihus was picked in the 3rd round of the 1965 draft and start all but 1 game at left tackle for the Raiders from 1965-69, then was replaced by 2nd-year man Art Shell in 1970. He played for the Jets from 1971-73, starting every game for the first 2 seasons. 

 

Ben Davidson was the Giants’ 4th-round pick in 1961, but was a backup defensive end for the Packers that year. After 2 seasons as a backup with the Redskins, Davidson came to Oakland and was their starting right defensive end from 1964-71, making the Pro Bowl 3 times. 

 

Ike Lassiter was the Rams’ 9th-round pick in 1962, but chose to play for the Denver Broncos, where he started about half the games at defensive end for 3 seasons. From 1965 to 1969 he started every game at left end for the Raiders, making the All-Star game in 1966. He finished up with the Patriots from 1970-71. 

 

Kent McCloughan – An 11th-round pick for the Oilers in 1965, McCloughan was the Raiders’ right cornerback from 1965-68, and 1970. He missed all but 4 games in 1969. 

 

Dave Grayson – An undrafted free agent, Grayson was the Texans/Chiefs starting right cornerback from 1961-64, making 3 All-Star games in that time. He was traded to the Raiders in 1965, and after 2 seasons as the starting right cornerback, he was their starting free safety from 1967-70. He snared 3 first-team All-Pro selections while a Raider, along with 3 Pro Bowls. 

 

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023. 

 

Next: Buffalo Bills

Houston Oilers

The Houston Oilers were the AFL’s first success story, appearing in the first 3 AFL Championship games, and winning the first two. This can surely be attributed to their veteran QB George Blanda, and also 1960 rookie Billy Cannon (the 1959 Heisman Trophy winner). 

 

After winning 10, 10, and 11 games in their first 3 seasons, they only posted 6, 4, 4, and 3 wins in their next 4 seasons. What happened to the Oilers’ machine in 1963? After 10 weeks they were 6-4, but after a 2-week layoff (bye, JFK cancellation), they lost their final 4 games to the Chargers (twice), Raiders, and Patriots (all good teams). Cannon also missed 8 games in ’63, and was traded after the season.

 

The Oilers bounced back in 1967 to win the East Division with a 9-4-1 record, but lost to the Raiders in the AFL Championship game. They didn’t have another winning season until 1975. 

 

The 1967 card set includes quarterbacks Jacky Lee and Don Trull, but neither was the Oilers’ regular QB in 1967 (their first season without Blanda at the helm). Lee played in the first 4 games (including 3 starts), then during the Oilers’ bye week, he and Ernie Ladd were traded to the Chiefs for Pete Beathard. Pete played in the remaining 10 games, starting 9 of them. 

 

Trull played in 3 of the first 4 games (no starts), then 6 days after the Lee/Beathard trade, he was traded to the Patriots.

Jacky Lee was drafted by the Oilers in 1960**. After backing up George Blanda for 4 seasons, he was traded to the Broncos, where he was the starter in ’64 and a backup in ’65. He returned to the Oilers for all of 1966 and part of 1967, then finished up with the Chiefs from 1967-69. 

 

Don Trull was the Oilers’ 14th-round pick in 1963. He replaced Lee as Blanda’s backup for 1964-66. Traded to the Patriots in mid-October 1967, he started 3 games there (behind Babe Parilli), then returned to the Oilers for 1968-69. 

 

Sid Blanks – The Oilers’ 5th-round pick in 1964, Blanks was the team’s starting halfback as a rookie, leading the AFL with 6 rushing TDs and making the All-Star team. After missing the 1965 season, he was a backup for the Oilers from 1966-68, and the Patriots from 1969-70. 

 

Ode Burrell was the Oilers’ 4th-round pick in 1964. After riding the bench in his rookie season, he was the starting halfback in 1965 (making the All-Star team) and part of 1966, before moving to flanker in ’67. Burrell missed all but 1 game in 1968, and was a backup in 1969. 

 

*Larry Elkins was the Oilers’ 1st-round pick (2nd overall) in 1965. He missed all of the 1965 season, but was the starting flanker for half the games in 1966 and 2 games in 1967. 

 

Bob Talamini was drafted by the Oilers in 1960**, and played in every game from 1960 to 1968 (the last season with the Jets). He started every game (at left guard) except for 6 games in his rookie season and 7 games in his final season. A 6-time All-Star and 3-time first-team All-Pro, his final game was Super Bowl III. 

 

Walt Suggs was drafted by the Oilers in the 3rd round in 1961. He missed the 1961 season, and after playing every game in 1962 as a backup, he started every game at left tackle for the Oilers from 1963-70. In his final season (1971), he was the Oilers’ starting center. 

 

*Gary Cutsinger – The Oilers’ 4th-round pick in 1962, Cutsinger started every game at left defensive end for 2 seasons. In 1964 he played in every game but only started two. He returned to his starting role for 1965-66. After missing the 1967 season, he started 10 games on the right end in 1968. 

 

Ernie Ladd was drafted by the Chargers in the 15th round in 1961. He was the starting right defensive tackle for the next 2 seasons, and was a first-team All-Pro selection as a rookie, as well as the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting. He made the All-Star team every season from 1962-65 (despite only starting 2 games in 1963), and had 2 more first-team All-Pro selections in ’64 and ’65. 

After playing all of 1966 and part of 1967 with the Oilers, he was traded to the Chiefs in the Pete Beathard deal, and finished his career in 1968. 

 

*Danny Brabham was the Oilers’ 1st-round pick in 1963. He played for them from 1963-67, but was only a regular starter in 1965. He finished his career with the expansion Bengals in 1968. 

 

Bobby Maples – The Oilers’ 4th-round pick in 1965, Maples started half the games at left linebacker as a rookie, then was the team’s starting center from 1966-70. After spending 1971 with the Steelers, he played for the Broncos from 1972-78. Their starting center from 1973-76, he was used mostly as a long-snapper in ’72 and ’77. 

 

Miller Farr was the first overall pick in the 1965 draft by the Broncos. After 7 games as the starting strong safety, he was traded to the Chargers. He played every game as his team’s left cornerback from 1966 to 1972. After playing for the Chargers in 1966, he was traded to the Oilers for Scott Appleton, and made the All-Star team in his 3 seasons with Houston. 

In January 1970 he was traded to the Cardinals for QB Charley Johnson. After 3 seasons in St. Louis, Farr finished his career as a backup with the Lions in 1973. Besides his brother Mel Farr, his family includes cousins Lem Barney, Jerry LeVias, and Marvin Gaye. 

 

*Bobby Jancik – A 19th-round pick in 1962, Jancik played cornerback and safety for the Oilers from 1962-67. He started most of 1963 and parts of 1964-67. 

 

W.K. Hicks signed with the Oilers in 1964, and was their starting right cornerback from 1964-68, before switching to free safety for ’68 and ’69. He also played for the Jets from 1970-72, the first 2 years as their starting free safety. 

 

Jim Norton was drafted by the Dallas Texans in 1960**, but played for the Oilers from 1960-68. He was a staring safety in all but his rookie season, and was a 3-time All-Star selection. He was also the Oilers’ punter from 1961-68. 

 

 

*Unknown to me before November 2023.

** The 1960 AFL draft consisted of the teams drawing random names out of a hat.

San Diego Chargers

Lost in the focus on the late-1960s Super Bowl participants (i.e., Chiefs, Raiders, and Jets) is the fact that the Chargers were a very good team in the early 1960s. They were in 5 of the first 6 AFL Championship games, winning it in 1963. I recently added a “League Champions” chart to all my football card sidebars, so that we can appreciate the Chargers, Oilers, Bills, and Browns (in addition to the usual gang of Packers, Chiefs, Raiders, etc.)

 

After finishing in 1st place in the West for 5 of their first 6 seasons, the Chargers finished in 3rd or 4th place every year from 1966 to 1978. This 1967 club clocked in at 8-5-1, a one-game improvement over 1966’s 7-6-1. 

 

John Hadl – The Chargers’ 1st-round pick in 1962, Hadl took over for the departed Jack Kemp, and was the team’s starting QB from 1962 to 1972 (except for taking a back seat to Tobin Rote in 1963). Hadl led the league in passing yardage in ’65, ’68, and ’71. He also played for the Rams, Packers, and Oilers from 1973-77. 

 

Steve Tensi – A 4th-round pick in 1965, Tensi played sparingly in his 2 seasons with San Diego. He was the Bronco’s starting QB from 1967-69, before losing the job to Pete Liske in 1970. 

 

Paul Lowe – An undrafted free agent, Lowe was the team’s top back from 1960 to 1966 (missing the 1962 season with injuries). He rushed for over 1000 yards in ’63 and ’65, leading the AFL in 1965. He was also 1st-team All-Pro in ‘60 and ’65. Beginning in 1967, he was a backup to 1967 AFL Rookie of the Year Dickie Post. Lowe finished his career with the Chiefs in 1969. 

 

Jim Allison – A 12th-round pick in 1965, Allison played for the Chargers for 4 seasons, but only started 3 games (all in 1966). 

 

Lance Alworth was the Raiders’ 2nd-round pick in 1962, but never played for them. After playing only 4 games for the Chargers in ’62, Alworth’s career exploded in 1963 and was named AFL Player of the Year in ’63. He was also 1st-team All-Pro from 1963-68, leading the AFL in receptions 3 times and receiving yards 3 times. Alworth finished up with the Cowboys in ’71 and ’72. He was the first AFL player inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

 

Jacque MacKinnon – A 33rd (!) round pick in 1961, MacKinnon played tight end for the Chargers every season from 1961-69, except for playing halfback in 1962 in Lowe’s absence. He was the starter only in ’66 and ’68, making the All-Star team in both seasons. In 1970 he wrapped up with the Raiders.

 

Ron Mix was drafted* by the Patriots in 1960, but did not play for them. He was a starter for the Chargers in every AFL season (1960-69), and was 1st-team All-Pro every year but 1969. He was retired in 1970 but returned to play for Oakland in 1971. Mix was the second Chargers’ player inducted into the Hall of Fame (in 1979). 

 

 

Four defensive ends???

 

Tom Day was drafted by the Bills and Cardinals in 1960. After one season with St. Louis, he played for the Bills beginning in 1961. He was a starting guard until switching to defensive end in 1964, starting every game at right end for the next 3 seasons. After playing for the Chargers in 1967, he returned to the Bills for one more season. 

 

Steve DeLong was the Chargers’ 1st pick in 1965, and was a starter on the D-line from 1966-71. He started every game from 1968-71. In his final season (1972) he started every game for the Bears. 

 

Howard Kindig – A 14th-round pick in 1964, Kindig played defensive end for 2 seasons (as the starter in 1966). He split the 1967 season as a defensive tackle for the Chargers and the Bills. Beginning in 1968 he switched to offense, playing center and tackle for Buffalo from 1968-71, tackle for the Dolphins (’72), and center for the Jets (’74). 

 

Scott Appleton – This defensive tackle was the Oilers’ 1st-round pick in 1964. After 3 seasons with Houston, he played for the Chargers from 1967-68. 

 

Bob Petrich was drafted by the Chargers in 1963, and was their starting right defensive end for the next 4 seasons, starting all but 2 games. He finished his career in 1967 with the Bills. 

 

Chuck Allen – The Chargers’ 28th-round pick in 1961, Allen was the team’s starting middle linebacker from 1961-66, and in 1968. He also played for the Steelers (’70-’71) and the Eagles (1972). 

 

Frank Buncom – A 6th-round pick in 1962, Frank was the Chargers’ starting right linebacker from 1964-67, making the All-Star team in 3 of those 4 seasons. He was the expansion Bengals’ starting right linebacker in 1968, but died just hours before their 1969 season-opener.

 

Speedy Duncan was an undrafted free agent and was an excellent kick and punt returner. He led the league in yards per return in ’65, ’66, and ’71, and made the AFL All-Star team from 1965-67. He played for the Chargers from 1964-70, and the Redskins from 1971-74. From 1965-69 he was also San Diego’s starting right cornerback. 

 

 

* In 1960, the AFL draft consisted of the owners picking random names out of a hat.