Ken Houston

NFLretired


position=Safety
number=29, 27
birthdate=birth date and age|1944|11|12
Lufkin, Texas
deathdate=
debutyear=1967
finalyear=1980
draftyear=1967
draftround=9
draftpick=214
college=Prairie View A&M
teams=
* Houston Oilers (1967-1972)
* Washington Redskins (1973-1980)
stat1label=INT
stat1value=49
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=898
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=9
nfl=HOU519110
highlights=
* Pro Bowl (x12) (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)
* NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
* NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
* 70 Greatest Redskins
HOF=100
CollegeHOF=

Kenneth Ray Houston (born November 12, 1944 in Lufkin, Texas, USA) is a former American football defensive back in the American Football League and National Football League. Houston was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Houston played for the AFL's Houston Oilers from 1967 through 1969, and after the AFL-NFL merger, with the Oilers from 1970 through 1972, then with the Washington Redskins until 1980.

Early life

Houston was born in Lufkin, Texas and was the third of four children. His father, Herod, owned a dry cleaning business.cite web | work=Extreme Skins | url=http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118721 | title=Whatever Happened to ... Ken Houston | accessdate=2008-06-19] Houston attended Dunbar High School where he played basketball and football.

College career

Only one school that recruited Houston after high school was Prairie State College (now Prairie View A&M University). Bishop College initially offered him a scholarship, but then withdrew it (the school had yet to be segregated).

Houston attended and played college football at Prairie State. For a short time he was a center, and then became the starting linebacker and was selected All-American in the Southwest Conference.

Houston also ran track, and was on the swim team during the four years he was at Prairie State.

Professional career

Houston was an all-league player for twelve consecutive years: an American Football League All-Star in 1968 and 1969, and then in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1979.cite web | work=Pro Football Hall of Fame | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=100 | title=Ken Houston's HOF Profile | accessdate=2008-06-19] He was selected All-Pro three times. In 1999, he was ranked number 61 on "The Sporting News"' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. [cite web | work=The Sporting News | url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/ | title=Football's 100 Greatest Players | accessdate=2008-06-19]

Throughout his career, Houston intercepted 49 passes, recovered 21 fumbles, gained 1,498 return yards (on interception, fumble, blocked field goal, kickoff, and punt returns), and scored 12 touchdowns.

Houston Oilers

Houston was drafted in the ninth round of the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He became a starter by the third game of his rookie season. Two weeks later, in a game against the New York Jets, he scored two touchdowns, one on a convert|71|yd|sing=on blocked field goal attempt, and the other on a convert|43|yd|sing=on interception return.

In 1971 he set an NFL record with five touchdown returns (four interceptions and one fumble). This would stand until surpassed by Devin Hester's six return touchdowns in the 2006 season. [cite web | work=USA Today | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/2007-02-01-bonus-rookies_x.htm | title=Addai, Hester step lightly, make impact | accessdate=2008-06-19]

Washington Redskins

After six years with the Oilers, Houston was traded to the Washington Redskins for five veteran players in 1973. Included in the trade were offensive lineman Jim Snowden, tight end Mack Alston, wide receiver Clifton McNeil, defensive end Mike Fanucci, and defensive back Jeff Severson. While with the Redskins, Houston went to seven straight Pro Bowls.

Coaching career

After his retirement in 1980, Houston served as a head football coach for Wheatley High School and Westbury High School in Houston, Texas. From 1982 to 1985, he was the defensive backfield coach for the Houston Oilers and from 1986 to 1990 he was the defensive backfield coach for the University of Houston.

After football

Since 1990, Houston has served as a guidance counselor for children in hospitals and who are home bound or have been placed in child care agencies by the State of Texas. He does this work for the Houston Independent School District.

Personal

Houston has a wife, Gustie, a daughter, Kene; and a son, Kenneth Christian.

References

External links

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