Tales from the American Football League
Preserving the legacy of the AFL
When I was writing my master’s thesis on Sid Gillman back in 1998, I figured that there were three interviews that would be essential to my research. The first, of course, was Sid himself. Fortunately for me, Bob Hood, a former Chargers employee, introduced me to the Gillmans, and I was able to begin a [...]
The first time I actually met the Oakland Raiders ‘ Ben Davidson was in 1998, when I interviewed him for my master’s thesis, which I wrote about Sid Gillman. I met Ben at his home on Mt. Helix, and we spoke about the Chargers, Raiders, and how teams planned to defend against Gillman’s offenses. As always, [...]
HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 19 — SID GILLMAN JOINS THE GOOD GUYS — Professional football coach Sid Gillman (left) of the Los Angeles Chargers doesn’t seem too menacing as he joins Chuck Connors, star of “The Rifleman,” during the filming of an episode for the television series yesterday. It was Gillman’s second appearance as an off-season actor. [...]
Bob Reifsnyder was a highly-touted defensive lineman from the Naval Academy when he tore his Achilles tendon in his senior year. He played one season in the NFL, and then joined the Los Angeles Chargers of the American Football League in 1960. His time with the Chargers was short, and he was traded to the [...]
In the summer of 1998, I was beginning the research for my master’s thesis on Sid Gillman. One of the things that I did to acquire information was type several questions and mail them to some of Gillman’s former players. Only a hanfdful of the players responded to my inquiries, but one that did was [...]
As someone whose introduction to the AFL came when I wrote my master’s thesis on Sid Gillman, I was excited to learn that a book had recently been published about Sir Sidney. Sid Gillman: Father of the Passing Game by Josh Katzowitz, was released on Amazon this past week. Published by Clerisy Press, the 322 page [...]
The fall of 1961 was the time when big-time football came to San Diego. The Chargers left their Los Angeles home after one struggling season, and moved south to the friendly confines of San Diego’s Balboa Stadium. Additionally, up on Montezuma Mesa, a man named Don Coryell left his spot as an assistant at USC, [...]
George Blair played defensive back and kicker for the San Diego Chargers from 1961-1964, before a leg injury suffered in a game against the Patriots prematurely ended his career. Blair led the AFL in Field Goal Percentage and Extra Point Percentage in both 1962 & 1963. During his time with the Chargers he scored 272 points [...]
It would have been a big one. San Diego Chargers defensive stars Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd to the Houston Oilers in exchange for John Baker, Gary Cutsinger and Pete Jaquess. The Oilers would receive a dominant pass rush, and the Chargers in return would get three fine defenders. The deal was signed and sealed, but was [...]
