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The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence. It was more successful than earlier rivals to the NFL with the same name, the 1926, 1936 and 1940 leagues, and the later All-America Football Conference.
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The Tennessee Titans play their home games at Nissan Stadium and are building a new stadium in 2024. It will be completed in 2027.
Miller Farr Jr. was an American professional football player who was a cornerback for 10 seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
William Abb Cannon Sr. was an American football halfback and tight end who played in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played college football as a halfback, return specialist, and safety for the LSU Tigers. At LSU, Cannon was twice named a unanimous All-American, helped the 1958 LSU team win a national championship, and received the Heisman Trophy as the nation's most outstanding college player in 1959. His punt return against Ole Miss on Halloween night in 1959 is considered by fans and sportswriters to be one of the most famous plays in LSU sports history.
James Charles Norton was an American professional football safety and punter who played for the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). An original member of the Oilers franchise, he played in their first nine seasons from 1960 to 1968. Norton was an AFL All-Star for three seasons and holds the league's record for career interceptions. His jersey No. 43 was the first of eight retired by the Oilers/Titans franchise.
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American professional football defensive end and actor. Smith played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Oilers.
Peter Falconer Beathard is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the American Football League (AFL), National Football League (NFL), and World Football League (WFL). He is the younger brother of former NFL executive Bobby Beathard and is current Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback C. J. Beathard’s great-uncle.
The 1967 NFL/AFL draft was conducted March 14–15, 1967, at the Gotham Hotel in New York City. It was the first common draft between the NFL and the AFL, part of the AFL–NFL merger agreement of June 1966.
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Norman Earl Evans is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 14 seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Evans is the only player in NFL history to be chosen in two expansion drafts. He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs. The Miami Dolphins took Evans from the Houston Oilers in the 1966 AFL Expansion draft. He played 10 seasons with Miami. Evans was also chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft and played three seasons there. He was selected to two Pro Bowls and played in three Super Bowls, all with the Dolphins.
Dave Smith is a former American collegiate and professional football player. A fullback, he attended Greendale High School in Greendale, Wisconsin, before playing collegiately for Ripon College and professionally from 1960 through 1964 for the American Football League (AFL)'s Houston Oilers, where he was a member of the AFL's first two championship teams, in 1960 and 1961. He was selected by Sporting News as the first All-AFL fullback in 1960. The league did not play an All-Star game that first year, but Smith's 154 carries for 643 yards and 5 touchdowns earned him a berth on the All-League Team. Smith later became a scout for the Buffalo Bills.
Gary Gayle Wisener was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Houston Oilers in the American Football League, during their second AFL Championship season. He played college football at Baylor University.
Ronald Smith Billingsley was an American football player, a defensive tackle in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).
Isaac Smith is a former Australian rules football player who previously played for the Hawthorn Football Club and Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League. Smith was drafted by the Hawthorn with the 19th pick in the 2010 AFL draft and played ten seasons for the Hawks. He took part in each of Hawthorn's three consecutive Grand Final victories from 2013 to 2015. Following the 2020 season, Smith moved to the Geelong Football Club as a free agent and played with the Cats for three seasons. He won his fourth premiership with Geelong in 2022 and was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as the game's best player. Smith retired from AFL at the conclusion of the 2023 AFL season, his third year at Geelong.
The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston, Texas from its founding in 1960 to 1996. The Houston Oilers began play as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) and won two AFL championships before joining the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger of the late 1960s.
George Gaylen Rice was an American football defensive tackle who played four seasons in the American Football League (AFL) with the Houston Oilers. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1966 AFL Draft. Rice was also drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1966 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University and attended Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Monte Richards Ledbetter is a former American football wide receiver who played three seasons in the American Football League (AFL) with the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Oilers in the eleventh round of the 1966 AFL Draft. He was also drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the tenth round of the 1966 NFL draft. Ledbetter played college football at Northwestern State University and attended Roanoke High School in Roanoke, Louisiana. He was also of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).
Bobby Lee Gordon was an American football defensive back who played one season with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the sixth round of the 1958 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Tennessee and attended Giles County High School in Pulaski, Tennessee.
Thomas Albert Witcher is a former American football linebacker who played one season with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the thirteenth round of the 1959 NFL Draft. He was also drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 1960 AFL Draft. Witcher played college football at Baylor University and attended Lampasas High School in Lampasas, Texas.
Roarke Smith is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 2015 until 2023. Smith was drafted with the fifth selection in the 2015 rookie draft. He made his AFL debut late in the 2015 season against West Coast. Just one week after his debut, he suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury which left him injured until July 2016. He played in the Bulldogs' 2016 VFL premiership team. In March 2017, he again ruptured his ACL. He was delisted by the Western Bulldogs at the conclusion of the 2017 season. He was later re-drafted by the Western Bulldogs in the 2018 rookie draft. He was involved in a car crash in 2018 which saw him miss one game. After having a breakout 2021 season, playing 14 games, he signed on with the Bulldogs on the main list.
References
- ↑ "BOB SMITH". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.