San Antonio Toros
Minor league powerhouse with multiple championships and a 128–13 record.
From 1967 to 1973, San Antonio, Texas, was home to the Toros, a minor league football powerhouse. They dominated the South, drawing huge crowds with explosive offenses and winning multiple titles. Their all-time record was a staggering 128–13, with players earning just $100 to $300 per game.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1967
- Folded
- 1974
- Arena
- Alamo Stadium
- North East Stadium
- Harlandale Memorial Stadium
- City
- San Antonio, Texas
- Championships
- 5 (1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972)
- Titles
- 5 (1967–1971)
Facts from the source article.
History
The San Antonio Toros began in 1967 as a member of the Texas Football League, a minor league that helped players and coaches move up to the NFL or AFL. Owner Henry Clay Hight kept costs low by hiring local players, paid his bills on time, and moved the team’s schedule among several high school stadiums around San Antonio to avoid conflicts and let different neighborhoods see the games. This approach built a loyal fan base and kept the Toros stable in the shaky world of minor pro football. Under first head coach Duncan McCauley, the team won the TFL championship in its very first season. In 1969, the entire eight-team TFL joined the higher-level Continental Football League as a separate Texas Division, split into East and West. TFL teams mostly played each other but also faced opponents from other divisions. The Toros made it to the CoFL title game that year, losing 44–38 in overtime to the Indianapolis Capitols. After the CoFL folded following the 1969 season, the Toros moved to the Trans-American Football League, facing teams from Florida, Tennessee, and the Midwest. With head coach George Pasterchick, they won back-to-back TAFL championships in 1970 and 1971. In 1972, the TFL merged with other leagues to create the Southwest Professional Football League, and the Toros played in its two seasons. The TAFL shut down after 1973, ending the Toros’ seven-year run as a professional team. They continued into 1974 in the semi-pro Mid-America Football League and played an exhibition game against the Houston Oilers on July 16. Due to a players’ strike, the Oilers fielded an all-rookie squad and barely won 13–7. The Toros finally dissolved when the San Antonio Wings of the World Football League arrived.
Legacy
The San Antonio Toros earned a place in the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame for their championship titles and impact on Texas professional football. Their achievements paved the way for future pro and semi-pro teams in the city. Later San Antonio football franchises included the WFL's Wings, the American Football Association's Charros, the USFL's Gunslingers, the World League's Riders, the CFL's Texans, and the XFL and UFL's Brahmas. In the 2020s, a new professional team revived the Toros name to honor the original club, competing in a league that brought back the Continental Football League brand.
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