Gene Mingo

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Eugene L. Mingo (born September 22, 1938 in Akron, Ohio) is a former professional American football player who played several positions including halfback, placekicker, and return specialist. He is widely recognized as the first African American placekicker in American football. In 1960, he had the first punt return for a touchdown in the American Football League, for the Denver Broncos. That touchdown won the first-ever American Football League game, as the Broncos defeated the Boston Patriots. Mingo also scored the first points in Mile High Stadium, then called Bears Stadium, with an 18-yard field goal. In the 1961 season opener at War Memorial Stadium against the Buffalo Bills, Mingo threw two touchdown passes, from the halfback position, to help the Broncos win 22-10: a 50-yarder to Lionel Taylor in the first quarter, and a 52-yarder to Taylor in the third.