First Game In Chiefs History

It all got started for the Chiefs franchise on this day, 48 years ago.

The date was July 31, 1960.  The place was Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. The Dallas Texans opponent that day was the Oakland Raiders.

The Texans won that first game in franchise history, 20-13.

It was the first of many losses that piled up in those early seasons for the Raiders.  First, they were representing Oakland but playing in San Francisco.  Kezar was the home of the 49ers at that time, so they were not close to being the favored tenant.  Second, they were the AFL’s eighth and final franchise for that season.  In fact the only reason there was a Oakland Raiders was because in November 1959, the folks in Minnesota jumped ship and accepted an NFL expansion franchise that began play in 1961 as the Vikings.  That left the Oakland franchise trying to catch up when it came to scouting and signing players.  Among the starters that day for the Raiders was center Jim Otto and quarterback Tom Flores.

The Texans were the first AFL team and going into that inagural season, Lamar Hunt’s club was considered the favorite.

Here’s how the Dallas Morning News started it’s story after the game:

“Dallas’ defense made it to hot for the Oakland Raiders in chilly Kezar Stadium Sunday as the Texans grabbed a 20-13 victory in their first exhibition football game … A crowd estimated at 18,000 sat in bleak, 50-degree weather to watch the two new American Football League clubs in their debut and they saw both sides commit frequent errors.  However, both sides hit eagerly and the Texans enjoyed some big offensive plays after a frigid first quarter.”

Texans head coach Hank Stram said after the game: “There were a lot of ups and downs but I’m just tickled to death to win.  I thought our guys showed a lot of poise after that terrible first quarter.”

Said Quarterback Cotton Davidson: “We can do a lot better.”

Davidson was nine of 21 for 101 yards.  Johnny Robinson was playing running back at the time and he led all rushers with 76 yards on 12 carries.

For those scoring at home, on the first offensive play in team history, Robinson fumbled and it was recovered by Oakland.  The Raiders scored in three plays, Buddy Allen hitting the end zone from two yards out.

First touchdown in franchise history came early in the second quarter as Davidson directed a nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive with short passes to Jim Swink and Jack Spikes and a 17-yard run by Robinson.  Davidson found Chris Burford for five yards and a TD, then threw the 2-point conversion pass to Robinson.

Spikes scored the final two touchdowns for the Texans, the last score coming when Mel Branch intercepted a Flores pass, giving Dallas great field position at the Raiders 13-yard line.  Branch was the defensive star.  His two sacks both set up field position for the Texans and his interception – the first of his career be it  high school, college or pros — set up the third TD.

 From the Oakland Tribunecame this description of the planned half-time activites:

“Del Courtney and his band will be playing, the famed Weldonians will march and play, chariots and sulkys will race and some of the nation’s top majorettes will perform.  Some 100 Shetland ponies will take part in the half time activities, through the cooperation of the Northern California Shetland Pony Club.”

It was certainly a different time and place!

Many of the men who played and coached in that game are no longer with us.  Kezar Stadium, which sat in the southeast corner of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is no longer around.  It was so severely damaged during the 1989 earthquake that it was demolished and replaced by a smaller stadium.  You may have seen Kezar in the original Dirty Harry movie.  That’s where Clint Eastwood chases and captures the serial killer in that now famous movie.