Tales from the American Football League
Preserving the legacy of the AFL
If you haven’t figured it out already, I really like the old AFL. The way the original eight owners challenged the NFL, and fought for legitimacy is inspirational. I find the individual teams’ rags-to-riches stories particularly interesting, and the many of the players have absolutely fascinating tales of their own. If I happened to need just [...]
In our Tales from the American Football League community, we have a number of readers who either played in the AFL, or grew up watching games. At 39 years old, I have done neither, and my “memories” of the league are based on video, my interactions with former players and coaches, and the many books and [...]
Though nearing the end of his career when the AFL started up in 1960, Bootin’ Ben Agajanian made his impact on the league. Agajanian was pro football’s first true kicking specialist, and likely developed that phase of the game more than anyone else in history. In addition, he likes to talk. Here is a portion [...]
In 1981, TCMA, a sports card manufacturer that focused mostly on producing throwback sets of baseball and football cards, issued a set called “TCMA Greats.” This 78-card football set featured a simple, yet beautiful design. The front of the card is nearly pure, and features a gorgeous color photograph of the subject, framed in a [...]
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – February 9, 1960 – FOOTBALL TALK – Eddie Erdelatz, left, chatted in Oakland’s Athens Athletic Club today with Y.C. (Chet) Soda after it was announced Erdelatz was picked as coach of the new Oakland professional team of the American Football League. Erdelatz was head coach of the Navy team from 1950 through [...]
AUGUST 23, 1967 – CHIEFS’ MIKE GARRETT (21) SWEPT LEFT END FOR 1ST DOWN AGAINST BEARS. Al Reynolds (60), right guard, paved the way for ex-U.S.C. star. After losing to Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I, the Kansas City Chiefs showed that they could indeed play against NFL talent when they defeated [...]
Leslie “Speedy” Duncan was one of the greatest kick returners that the game has ever known. Duncan made his name with the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League. Here he discusses how he made the most of the opportunities that he received in the AFL. AFL - What benefits do you think, not monetarily, [...]
From Joe Namath, as printed in Going Long, by Jeff Miller – Howard [Cosell] and Dick Schaap and I were sitting in my living room. Ray (roommate, Ray Abruzzese) was in the bedroom sleeping. Ray came walking out in a T-shirt and these nylon shorts, wiping his eyes. He looked up and saw Howard: “Oh [...]
