Gene Mingo made a significant contribution to the American Football League, which included playing in the first regular-season AFL game, and registering the first punt return for a touchdown in league history.  Additionally, Gene Mingo was likely the first African-American placekicker in professional football, and spent time in the Broncos backfield.

Gene Mingo encountered his share of trouble in his post-football life. But as the following article from 2009 (the AFL’s 50th anniversary season) shows, he dug in and turned things around.