This has been a difficult year in many respects, but certainly in the area of cultural icons that have left us. It was no different among the AFL members. Please take a moment to remember the following men, read the obituary linked to each, and if you have a story about one-or-more of them, please share it in the comments section below.
January 16 – Joe Hergert – Linebacker/Kicker – Buffalo Bills – 1960-61
*January 22 – Fred Bruney – Defensive Back – Boston Patriots – 1960-62
February 5 – Billy Perkins – Halfback – New York Jets – 1963
March 2 – Richard “Dick” Hudson – Guard/Tackle – San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills – 1962-67
*March 5 – Caesar Belsar – Defensive Back – Kansas City Chiefs – 1968-69
*April 18 – Proverb Jacobs – Tackle/Defensive Tackle – New York Titans, Oakland Raiders – 1961-1964
April 25 – Ernie Zwahlen – Assistant Coach – New York jets – 1967
April 26 – Winston Hill – Tackle – New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams – 1963-1977
May 2 – Jacky Lee – Quarterback – Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs – 1960-1969
*June 12 – Curley Johnson – Running Back/Punter/Tight End – Dallas Texans, New York Titans, New York Jets – 1960-1968
June 12 – Earl Faison – Defensive End – San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins – 1961-1966
*June 28 – Buddy Ryan – Defensive Line Coach – New York Jets – 1968-1975
August 27 – Bill Lenkaitis – Center – San Diego Chargers, Boston Patriots – 1968-1978
September 27 – Randy Duncan – Quarterback – Dallas Texans – 1961
October 1 – Bobby Burnett – Running Back – Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos – 1966-1969
October 6 – George Pernicano – Minority Owner – San Diego Chargers – 1961-2016
*October 17 – Morris Stroud – Tight End – Kansas City Chiefs – 1969-1974
*November 10 – Bill Stanfill – Defensive Line – Miami Dolphins – 1969-1976
*November 30 – Royce Womble – Running Back – Los Angeles Chargers – 1960
*December 15 – Chuck Allen – Linebacker – San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles – 1961
-1972
*Spent time in the NFL as well.
RIP men.You made a new league great.
Not only time and players, but stadiums too are passing, AFL links an bygone era. In another decade or so, most if not all will be no more… the fans too (yes Virginia, there really was a little league who could, once upon a time.)
Time moves fast when you’re not a little boy: seems only yesterday a couple of ‘brand new’ stadiums were opening, Oakland 1966 and San Diego 1967, both bright & shiny with an promise future Championships and memories galore ahead them. Flash forward half an century: hubbub replaced ‘they’re so outdated’, ‘insufficient amenities’ & ‘not showy (‘gaudy’) enough’. Upshot, Chargers & Raiders may be moving places other Los Angeles, Las Vegas or elsewhere (half a billion ju$t to relocate?) leaving but fading memories and Luddites in their wake.
As AFL same departed for merger, they call it ‘progress’… yeah. Danger of the AFL imploding afore the NBC TV contract mid-60’s seems small potatoes, quaint today, as reality impinges: billions replace millions, bu$ine$$ takes precedence pro football, exponentially ever more obscene than before. R.I.P. AFL; we knew ye when.
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Information on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] There you can find 62669 additional Information on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Information here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] There you will find 76546 more Info to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Info here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More on on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Information to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 37792 additional Info on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Information here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] There you can find 34174 more Info on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Information here on that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 56142 more Information to that Topic: talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/afl-in-memorium-2016/ […]