The 1960 Houston Oilers season was the first season for the Houston Oilers as a professional American football franchise; Head Coach Lou Rymkus led the Oilers to the AFL Eastern Division title, with a 10–4 record. It was also the first American Football League season. It ended with a 24–16 victory in the AFL championship game at home over the Los Angeles Chargers (10–4).
Player movements AFL draft In the 1960 AFL draft, the Houston Oilers selected the following players.
Peter Arena, G, Northwestern Dick Bass, HB, College of Pacific William Bohler, E/T, St. Ambrose Larry Cadwell, T, Louisville Billy Cannon, HB, Louisiana State Doug Cline, LB, Clemson DeJustice Coleman, HB, Illinois Bob Crandall, HB, New Mexico Cleatus Drinnon, C, Hardin–Simmons John Gremer, G, Illinois George Herring, G/T, North Texas State Steve Johnson, QB, Pepperdine John Lands, E, Montana Jacky Lee, QB, Cincinnati Bruce Maher, HB, Detroit
Don Mattson, T, Southern California Mike McGee G, Duke Hugh McInnis, E, Mississippi State Max Messner, T, Cincinnati George Mulholland, E, New Mexico State Gary O'Steen, HB, Alabama Gene Prebola, E, Boston University Palmer Pyle T, Michigan State William Roach, T, Texas Christian Robert Simms, E, Rutgers Phillip Snowden, QB, Missouri Don Underwood, G/T, McNeese State Duane Whetstone, FB, George Washington Bob White FB, Ohio State Maury Youmans, T, Syracuse
Regular season The Oilers scored an important victory over the NFL when they signed the Heisman Trophy winner, All-America running back Billy Cannon of LSU. Cannon joined other Oiler offensive stars such as veteran quarterback George Blanda.
Roster 1960 Houston Oilers roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
OLB/ WR
Defensive backs Reserve lists
(Retired)
rookies in italics
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 vs. Dallas Texans L 10–27 0–1 Skelly Field 12,000 2 at Los Angeles Chargers L 13–22 0–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 11,500 3 Denver Broncos W 42–3 1–2 Jeppesen Stadium 19,500 4 vs. New York Titans W 30–14 2–2 Ladd Memorial Stadium 10,000 5 at Dallas Texans L 3–24 2–3 Cotton Bowl 51,000
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Game Recap 1 September 11 at Oakland Raiders W 37–22 1–0 Kezar Stadium Recap 2 September 18 Los Angeles Chargers W 38–28 2–0 Jeppesen Stadium Recap 3 September 25 Oakland Raiders L 13–14 2–1 Jeppesen Stadium Recap 4 Bye 5 October 9 New York Titans W 27–21 3–1 Jeppesen Stadium Recap 6 October 16 Dallas Texans W 20–10 4–1 Jeppesen Stadium Recap 7 October 23 at New York Titans W 42–28 5–1 Polo Grounds Recap 8 October 30 at Buffalo Bills L 24–25 5–2 War Memorial Stadium Recap 9 November 6 at Denver Broncos W 45–25 6–2 Bears Stadium Recap 10 November 13 at Los Angeles Chargers L 21–24 6–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap 11 November 20 Denver Broncos W 20–10 7–3 Jeppesen Stadium Recap 12 November 25 at Boston Patriots W 24–10 8–3 Nickerson Field Recap 13 December 4 at Dallas Texans L 0–248–4 Cotton Bowl Recap 14 December 11 Buffalo Bills W 31–23 9–4 Jeppesen Stadium Recap 15 December 18 Boston Patriots W 37–21 10–4 Jeppesen Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Regular season game summaries Week 1 (Sunday, September 11, 1960): at Oakland Raiders Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 2 (Sunday, September 18, 1960): vs. Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Point spread: Oilers –6½ Time of game:
ChargersGame statisticsOilers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 3 (Sunday, September 25, 1960): vs. Oakland Raiders Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 5 (Sunday, October 9, 1960): vs. New York Titans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 6 (Sunday, October 16, 1960): vs. Dallas Texans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 7 (Sunday, October 23, 1960): at New York Titans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 8 (Sunday, October 30, 1960): at Buffalo Bills Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 9 (Sunday, November 6, 1960): at Denver Broncos Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 10 (Sunday, November 13, 1960): at Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Point spread: Oilers Pick'em Time of game:
OilersGame statisticsChargers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Week 11 (Sunday, November 20, 1960): vs. Denver Broncos Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 12 (Friday, November 25, 1960): at Boston Patriots Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 13 (Sunday, December 4, 1960): at Dallas Texans Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 14 (Sunday, December 11, 1960): vs. Buffalo Bills Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Week 15 (Sunday, December 18, 1960): vs. Boston Patriots Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-09
Notable stats Player Comp. Att. Comp% YardsTD's INT's George Blanda (HOU)16936346.624132422
Standings
Source:
Postseason Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap AFL Championship Los Angeles Chargers W 24–16 Jeppesen Stadium 32,183 Recap
1960 AFL Championship Game (Sunday, January 1, 1961): vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2025-May-08
Point spread: Oilers –5 Time of game:
ChargersGame statisticsOilers21 First downs 1730–190 Rushes–yards 40–100171 Passing yards 30121–41–2 16–32–03–28 Sacked–yards 0–0143 Net passing yards 301333 Total yards 401165 Return yards 1534–41.0 5–34.02–0 Fumbles–lost 0–03–15 Penalties–yards 4–54 Time of possession
References
Oilers on Pro Football Reference Oilers on jt-sw.com