- Gene Mingo
Infobox Pro Football player
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1938|09|22
Birthplace=Akron, OH
Position=Running back Placekicker Kick returner
College=None
Jersey=21
AFLDraftedYear=
AFLDraftedRound=
Awards=
Honors=
Records=Most TD passes by
a halfback, game (2)
Retired #s=
Stats=y
Career Highlights=Y
PFR=MingGe20
DatabaseFootball=MINGOGEN01
NFL=MIN146571
years=1960-1964
1964, 1965
1966, 1967
1967
1969-1970
teams=AFLDenver Broncos
AFLOakland Raiders
AFLMiami Dolphins
NFLWashington Redskins
NFLPittsburgh Steelers
AFLAll-Star=1960, 1962
HOF=Eugene L. Mingo (born
September 22 ,1938 in Akron,Ohio ) is a former professionalAmerican football player who played several positions including halfback,placekicker , and kickoff/punt returner . He is widely recognized as the firstAfrican American placekicker in American Football.In 1960, he had the first punt return for a touchdown in the
American Football League , for theDenver Broncos . That touchdown won the first-ever American Football League game, as the Broncos defeated the Boston Patriots. Mingo also scored the first points inMile High Stadium , then called Bears Stadium, with an 18-yard field goal. In the 1961 season opener at War Memorial Stadium against theBuffalo Bills , Mingo threw two touchdown passes, from the halfback position, to help the Broncos win 22-10: a 50-yarder toLionel Taylor in the first quarter, and a 52-yarder to Taylor in the third. Mingo kicked the PATs after each score. He led the American Football League in scoring as arookie in 1960 with 123 points and in 1962 with 137 points. Gene Mingo holds the Broncos' franchise record for the longest touchdown run, an 82-yarder against the Raiders in 1961. He also played for the AFL'sOakland Raiders and theMiami Dolphins . He kicked for thePittsburgh Steelers in 1970.See also
* Other American Football League players
External links
* [http://www.conigliofamily.com/Broncos.htm#GENEMINGO Mingo's 1964 Topps Football card]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.