One of the primary challenges that the AFL encountered in preparation for its inaugural season in 1960 was that of fielding competitive teams. The eight team league made an immediate impact by signing a number of college draftees following their initial draft the previous November, yet the pool of collegiate players was not enough in and of itself to fill each roster. Subsequently, a number of players who had been rejected or released by NFL teams signed as free agents with AFL teams. In several cases, these “NFL rejects” actually had lengthy and productive careers in the AFL. In fact certain NFL rejects went on to become AFL MVP’s, and were significant players on AFL and even Super Bowl Championship teams. In essence, the AFL provided the format for many players who the NFL had rejected; to extend their careers, showcase their talents, and contribute to the ultimate team accomplishments.
The contributions of NFL rejects was such that all but two of the 10 AFL Championships were won by teams whose quarterbacks were NFL rejects.
George Blanda; the former Chicago Bears quarterback/placekicker, came out of retirement to lead the Houston Oilers to win the first two AFL Titles in 1960 and in 1961. His 36 TD passes in 1961 set the AFL single season record, and earned him that season’s AFL MVP award. In 1962 Blanda lead the Oiler’s to a third consecutive AFL Title game, only to be defeated by their cross state rival, the Dallas Texans. Blanda was one of an elite few who played all 10 seasons in the NFL (Houston 1960-1966; Oakland 1967-1969). When his career ended in 1975, Blanda had scored more points and played more seasons than anyone else in NFL history.
The quarterback for the 1962 AFL Champion Dallas Texans; Lenny “the cool” Dawson; was himself an NFL reject. After the Texans relocated to Kansas City in 1963, Dawson would win two more AFL titles in 1966 and 1969. KC’s victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1969 Super Bowl was the final game ever played by an AFL team, and gave Dawson the distinction of being the only NFL reject quarterback to defeat an NFL team in the Super Bowl. Dawson’s three AFL titles were also more than any other quarterback in the history of the AFL.
Native Texan Tobin Rote; like many NFL rejects, had an intermediate stint in the Canadian Football League, before signing as a free agent with the AFL’s San Diego Chargers in 1963. Rote, who had several highly productive seasons with the Green Bay Packers before quarterbacking the 1957 Detroit Lions to and winning the NFL title that season, likewise lead the Chargers to and won the 1963 AFL title. Rote thus has the distinction of being the only player to quarterback teams to both NFL and AFL championships.
NFL reject Jack Kemp made an immediate and enduring impact as an AFL quarterback for two different teams. He is also the only quarterback in AFL history to quarterback teams from three different cities in the AFL to the league championship game. He lead the 1960 LA Chargers and the 1961 San Diego Chargers respectively to AFL title games against the George Blanda quarterbacked Houston Oilers. Both games were disappointing losses for Kemp and crew, who missed much of the following season due to injuries. After being picked up on waivers by Buffalo; Kemp would lead the Bills to back to back AFL championships in 1964 and again in 1965. He again lead the Bills to a third consecutive AFL Championship game in 1966, only to lose to the Super Bowl bound Kansas City Chiefs. Kemp started five of the league’s 10 AFL Championship games, and was the only player who was his respective team’s starting quarterback all 10 years of the league’s existence.
Blanda, Dawson, Rote, and Kemp are but a sampling of the NFL rejects who revived their personal careers, contributed to individual team accomplishments, and played vital roles in the successful collective football entity known as the American Football League.
Long live the memory of the AFL.
Dave Henderson
The AFL Original Eight 