1960 Houston Oilers season

NFL team season (inaugural) November 2013 March 2026 Houston Oilers 601009-Oilers-Titans-program.jpg 1960 10–4 1st AFL Eastern Bud Adams Don Suman Lou Rymkus Jeppesen Stadium Won AFL Championship(vs. Chargers) 24–16 none true Oilers seasons The 1960 Houston Oilers season was the first season for the Houston Oilers as a professional American football franchise; Head Coach Lou Rymkus led the Oilers to the AFL Eastern Division title, with a 10–4 record.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7clRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZWwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6981%2C97674 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Houston, Los Angeles play for AFL title January 1, 1961 2, section 2 It was also the first American Football League season. It ended with a 24–16 victory in the AFL championship game at home over the Los Angeles Chargers (10–4).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7slRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZWwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5560%2C775952 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Blanda paces Oilers to AFL title Associated Press January 2, 1961 44 Player movements AFL draft In the 1960 AFL draft, the Houston Oilers selected the following players. Peter Arena, G, Northwestern Dick Bass, HB, College of Pacific William Bohler, E/T, St. Ambrose Larry Cadwell, T, Louisville Billy Cannon, HB, Louisiana State Doug Cline, LB, Clemson DeJustice Coleman, HB, Illinois Bob Crandall, HB, New Mexico Cleatus Drinnon, C, Hardin–Simmons John Gremer, G, Illinois George Herring, G/T, North Texas State Steve Johnson, QB, Pepperdine John Lands, E, Montana Jacky Lee, QB, Cincinnati Bruce Maher, HB, Detroit 2em Don Mattson, T, Southern California Mike McGee G, Duke Hugh McInnis, E, Mississippi State Max Messner, T, Cincinnati George Mulholland, E, New Mexico State Gary O'Steen, HB, Alabama Gene Prebola, E, Boston University Palmer Pyle T, Michigan State William Roach, T, Texas Christian Robert Simms, E, Rutgers Phillip Snowden, QB, Missouri Don Underwood, G/T, McNeese State Duane Whetstone, FB, George Washington Bob White FB, Ohio State Maury Youmans, T, Syracuse Regular season The Oilers scored an important victory over the NFL when they signed the Heisman Trophy winner, All-America running back Billy Cannon of LSU. Cannon joined other Oiler offensive stars such as veteran quarterback George Blanda. Roster 1960 Houston Oilers roster Quarterbacks 16 George Blanda K 15 Jacky Lee y 12 Charlie Milstead y P Running backs 20 Billy Cannon y 31 Doug Cline y 21 Ken Hall American football 32 Dave Smith fullback y 44 Charley Tolar y 33 Bob White fullback y Wide receivers 89 Bill Groman y 37 Charley Hennigan y Tight ends 82 Johnny Carson American football 86 John White tight end y Offensive linemen 57 George Belotti C 65 Gary Greaves y T 70 Al Jamison y T 51 John Simerson T 61 Bob Talamini G y 63 Hogan Wharton G Defensive linemen 80 Dalva Allen DE 75 Don Floyd DE y 72 Jerry Helluin DT 73 Dan Lanphear DE y 74 George Shirkey DT y 79 Orville Trask DT y Linebackers 30 Mike Dukes OLB 50 Dennit Morris MLB 53 Hugh Pitts OLB 88 Al Witcher OLB/ WR Defensive backs 40 Tony Banfield y CB 47 Bobby Gordon American football FS 41 Mark Johnston American football y CB 34 Charlie Kendall y CB 43 Jim Norton safety y CB/S 24 Julian Spence SS Reserve lists 62 Wahoo McDaniel y G IR 77 Rich Michael T IR 56 Phil Perlo y LB IR 64 Fred Wallner G (Retired) rookies in italics Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 August 6, 1960 vs. Dallas Texans L 10–27 0–1 Skelly Field 12,000 2 August 11, 1960 at Los Angeles Chargers L 13–22 0–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 11,500 3 August 20, 1960 Denver Broncos W 42–3 1–2 Jeppesen Stadium 19,500 4 August 26, 1960 vs. New York Titans W 30–14 2–2 Ladd Memorial Stadium 10,000 5 September 2, 1960 at Dallas Texans L 3–24 2–3 Cotton Bowl 51,000 Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Game Recap 1 September 11 at Oakland Raiders W 37–22 1–0 Kezar Stadium 12,703 Recap 2 September 18 Los Angeles Chargers W 38–28 2–0 Jeppesen Stadium 20,156 Recap 3 September 25 Oakland Raiders L 13–14 2–1 Jeppesen Stadium 16,421 Recap 4 Bye 5 October 9 New York Titans W 27–21 3–1 Jeppesen Stadium 16,151 Recap 6 October 16 Dallas Texans W 20–10 4–1 Jeppesen Stadium 19,026 Recap 7 October 23 at New York Titans W 42–28 5–1 Polo Grounds 21,000 Recap 8 October 30 at Buffalo Bills L 24–25 5–2 War Memorial Stadium 23,001 Recap 9 November 6 at Denver Broncos W 45–25 6–2 Bears Stadium 14,489 Recap 10 November 13 at Los Angeles Chargers L 21–24 6–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 21,805 Recap 11 November 20 Denver Broncos W 20–10 7–3 Jeppesen Stadium 20,778 Recap 12 November 25 at Boston Patriots W 24–10 8–3 Nickerson Field 27,123 Recap 13 December 4 at Dallas Texans L 0–248–4 Cotton Bowl 20,000 Recap 14 December 11 Buffalo Bills W 31–23 9–4 Jeppesen Stadium 25,247 Recap 15 December 18 Boston Patriots W 37–21 10–4 Jeppesen Stadium 22,352 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Regular season game summaries Week 1 (Sunday, September 11, 1960): at Oakland Raiders Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Houston Oilers 1960 2; text-align:center collapsed Week 1: Houston Oilers at Oakland Raiders September 11 Oilers 7 0 13 17 Raiders 0 7 7 8 Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California 12,703 66 F C Recap Week 2 (Sunday, September 18, 1960): vs. Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Houston Oilers 1960 2; text-align:center collapsed Week 2: Los Angeles Chargers 28 at Houston Oilers 38 – Game summary September 18, 1960 2:30 p.m. CST Chargers (1–1) 7 7 0 14 Oilers (2–0) 14 7 17 0 Jeppesen Stadium • Houston, Texas 20,156 80 °F °C 1 or, relative humidity 72%, wind 4 mph km/h knots ABC Jack Buck (play–by–play) and Dick Danehe (color commentator) Pro Football Reference; Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Oilers – September 18, 1960 right Los Angeles Chargers LAC Houston Oilers HOU LAC HOU collapsed 28 38 Point spread: Oilers –6½ Time of game: ChargersGame statisticsOilers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Completions–Attempts–Interceptions Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Number–Average yardage Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession Week 3 (Sunday, September 25, 1960): vs. Oakland Raiders Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Houston Oilers 1960 2; text-align:center collapsed Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Houston Oilers September 20 Raiders 7 0 0 7 Oilers 0 10 3 0 Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas 16,421 72 F C Recap Week 5 (Sunday, October 9, 1960): vs. New York Titans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 6 (Sunday, October 16, 1960): vs. Dallas Texans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 7 (Sunday, October 23, 1960): at New York Titans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 8 (Sunday, October 30, 1960): at Buffalo Bills Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 9 (Sunday, November 6, 1960): at Denver Broncos Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 10 (Sunday, November 13, 1960): at Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Houston Oilers 1960 2; text-align:center collapsed Week 10: Houston Oilers 21 at Los Angeles Chargers 24 – Game summary November 13 3:30 p.m. CST Oilers (6–3) 0 14 0 7 Chargers (6–3) 14 7 3 0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, California 21,085 56 °F °C 1 or, relative humidity 85%, wind 9 mph km/h knots ABC Jack Buck (play–by–play) and Elmer Angsman (color commentator) Pro Football Reference; Houston Oilers at Los Angeles Chargers – November 13, 1960 right Houston Oilers HOU Los Angeles Chargers LAC HOU LAC collapsed 21 24 Point spread: Oilers Pick'em Time of game: OilersGame statisticsChargers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Completions–Attempts–Interceptions Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Number–Average yardage Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession Week 11 (Sunday, November 20, 1960): vs. Denver Broncos Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 12 (Friday, November 25, 1960): at Boston Patriots Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 13 (Sunday, December 4, 1960): at Dallas Texans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 14 (Sunday, December 11, 1960): vs. Buffalo Bills Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Week 15 (Sunday, December 18, 1960): vs. Boston Patriots Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09 Notable stats Player Comp. Att. Comp% YardsTD's INT's George Blanda (HOU)16936346.624132422 Standings Source:1960 AFL Standings & Team Stats https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1960_AFL/ 2024-12-05 Pro-Football-Reference.com en Postseason Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap AFL Championship January 1, 1961 Los Angeles Chargers W 24–16 Jeppesen Stadium 32,183 Recap 1960 AFL Championship Game (Sunday, January 1, 1961): vs. Los Angeles Chargers 1960 American Football League Championship Game Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-08 Houston Oilers 1960 2; text-align:center collapsed 1960 AFL Championship Game: Los Angeles Chargers 16 at Houston Oilers 24 – Game summary January 1, 1961 2:30 p.m. CST Chargers (0–1) 6 3 7 0 Oilers (1–0) 0 10 7 7 Jeppesen Stadium • Houston, Texas 32,183 45 °F °C or, relative humidity 82%, wind 8 mph km/h knots John McDonough ABC Jack Buck (play–by–play), George Ratterman (color commentator) and Les Keiter (sideline reporter)1960 NFL-AFL Commentator CrewsSeptember 2016 InternetArchiveBot yes Pro Football Reference; 1960 AFL Championship Game – Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Oilers – January 1, 1961 right Los Angeles Chargers LAC Houston Oilers HOU Jack Kemp 21/41, 171 YDS, 2 INTs Paul Lowe 21 CAT, 165 YDS, 1 TD Don NortonRoyce Womble 6 REC, 55 YDS6 REC, 29 YDS George Blanda 16/31, 301 YDS, 3 TDs Billy Cannon 18 CAR, 50 YDS Dave Smith 5 REC, 52 YDS, 1 TD LAC HOU collapsed 1 Chargers FG 38 Agajanian 3 0 1 Chargers FG 22 Agajanian 6 0 2 Oilers RecTD Smith Blanda 17 good Blanda 6 7 2 Chargers FG 27 Agajanian 9 7 2 Oilers FG 17 Blanda 9 10 3 Oilers RecTD Groman Blanda 7 good Blanda 9 17 3 Chargers RushTD Lowe 2 good Agajanian 16 17 4 Oilers RecTD Cannon Blanda 88 good Blanda 16 24 16 24 Point spread: Oilers –5 Time of game: ChargersGame statisticsOilers21 First downs 1730–190 Rushes–yards 40–100171 Passing yards 30121–41–2 Passes Completions–Attempts–Interceptions 16–32–03–28 Sacked–yards 0–0143 Net passing yards 301333 Total yards 401165 Return yards 1534–41.0 Punts Number–Average yardage 5–34.02–0 Fumbles–lost 0–03–15 Penalties–yards 4–54 Time of possession References Oilers on Pro Football Reference Oilers on jt-sw.com Houston Oilers Category:American Football League championship seasons Category:Houston Oilers seasons Houston