Dallas Texans (1960-1962)

Lore & Background

The Texans were established in 1959 as a charter member of the AFL and began play in 1960. They shared the Cotton Bowl with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. In their third season (1962), the Texans posted an 11–3 record and won the AFL Championship, defeating the Houston Oilers 20–17 in double overtime—the longest championship game in AFL history. Despite this success, Hunt decided the Dallas–Fort Worth market could not support two professional football teams, and he moved the franchise to Kansas City in 1963.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across Jeppesen Stadium in Houston on a freezing December night in 1962, biting through the wool coats of the desperate fans. Inside, the air was thick with tension as the Dallas Texans and Houston Oilers battled for the AFL title in what would become known as 'the greatest game ever played.' The clock ticked down to zero in regulation, forcing a sudden-death overtime—a concept still foreign to many spectators. But the drama didn't end there; the teams pushed into double overtime under the glare of stadium lights. Finally, a decisive field goal from 25 yards out secured the championship for Dallas, proving that this young franchise could conquer any obstacle.

Reader's Guide

The Texans won one AFL championship, in 1962. They did not win championships in 1960 or 1961. The 1962 AFL Championship Game was the third AFL title game, not the first. The team's overall record from 1960 to 1962 was 25 wins, 17 losses, and 0 ties.

Did You Know?

• The Texans' 1962 AFL Championship Game against the Houston Oilers lasted 77 minutes and 54 seconds, setting a record for the longest professional American football game at the time.
• The team was renamed the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963 after a fan contest, honoring Kansas City Mayor Harold Roe Bartle, whose nickname was 'Chief'.
• The Texans were the first AFL team to win a championship in double overtime.