As the National Football League season gets underway this week, the fall always brings hope and optimism to every team and fans.
Flashback to 1960 and the beginnings of the American Football League.
The opening weekend featured four games from the upstart league that in 10 years would merge into the NFL we know today.
On Friday, Sept. 9, the Boston Patriots entertained the Denver Broncos in the first contest in AFL history with the visiting team winning 13-10 at Nickerson Field.
Boston’s Gino Cappelletti scored the first points with a 35-yard field goal in the opening quarter.
In the second period, the Broncos took the lead as Frank Tripucka found Al Carmichael for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Rookie Gene Mingo booted the new league’s initial PAT to make it 7-3 as he became the first professional African-American kicker.
The extra point would be the first of many in Mingo’s career, who at the end of the season would be the AFL’s scoring leader.
Part of that success came because Mingo was one of the versatile players in football history, which was evident in the first AFL contest as he made impact in the third quarter. Mingo extended Denver’s advantage with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown that proved to be the decisive score.
On the dubious side, Mingo became the first kicker to miss a PAT, which may have been understandable after his punt return.
The Patriots, who would change their name from Boston to New England in 1971, closed the gap with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Butch Songin to Jim Colclough, but it wasn’t enough to change the result.
With 66 yards on eight carries, Mingo finished as the top rusher in the contest.
Broncos Ring of Fame
It took a long time, but Mingo was honored in 2014 for his career in Denver as he was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Although Mingo never played college football, he was with the Broncos from 1960 to 1964.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Mingo was an AFL All-Star in 1960 and 1962. In his rookie season, he scored 123 points before leading the league again for a second time in 1962 with a career-best 137 points.
Setting Records
In addition to the first AFL game, Mingo had other notable moments in his career.
During the 1961 season opener in Buffalo, tossed touchdown passes of 50 and 52 yards from his halfback position to Lionel Taylor as the Broncos downed the Bills 22-10.
The following season, Mingo established a Bronco record that still is on the books today as he scored on an 82-yard run for the longest rushing touchdown in team history in a 44-7 win over the Oakland Raiders.
Against the San Diego Chargers in 1963, he set a mark that has been equaled several times with five field goals in a 50-34 Denver victory as he hit from 37, 41, 26, 13 and 21 yards.
Finished Career in 1970
After 13 games with the Broncos in 1964, Mingo played his final contest of the season with the Raiders.
Mingo would play the next season with the Raiders before joining the expansion Miami Dolphins in 1966. He played part of 1967 with the Dolphins before ending the season with the Washington Redskins.
He played his final two seasons in 1969 and 1970 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.