Professional Football in Texas

Professional Football in Texas Professional football first arrived in Texas in the fall of 152 when a 1-member syndicate purchased the National Football League franchise that had been known as the New York Yanks. The team, coached by Jim Phelan, enjoyed little success playing in the Cotton Bowl as the Dallas Texans. By the end of the season, after the league had bought back the franchise, the Texans were playing home games elsewhere, including Akron, Ohio, where they had their only victory, 2-23, over the Chicago Bears of George Halas. Dallas Texans (NFL) Year Win Loss Tie 151 played as the New York Yanks 152 1 11 153 remnants of the team became the new Baltimore Colts, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Art Donovan and Gino Marchetti. The coin toss at the AFL championship game in between the Dallas Texans and the Houston Oilers. Big-time professional football returned to Texas when Bud Adams of Houston and Lamar Hunt of Dallas started the American Football League in 15. In October 15, Adams announced the Houston team would be known as the Oilers. Hunt s team was named the Texans and played in the Cotton Bowl. AFL play began in 1. The Oilers were an immediate success, winning the first AFL championship by defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in January 11. The Dallas Texans, meanwhile, had difficulties. Dallas Texans (AFL) They found themselves battling for ticket sales with the new National Football League expansion team owned by Clint Murchison Jr., the Dallas Cowboys. In May of 13 the Cowboys had their first major victory when Hunt announced he was moving his team to Kansas City, where it would be renamed the Chiefs. When the city of Houston declined to build a new stadium for the Oilers, who had been playing in the Astrodome, Adams moved his team in 1 to Nashville, where it was renamed the Tennessee Titans. 1 11 11 3 won AFL championship over Houston Oilers 13 team moved to Kansas City to become the Chiefs

Houston Oilers (AFL NFL) 1 1 won AFL championship over Los Angeles Chargers 11 1 3 1 won AFL championship over San Diego Chargers 11 3 lost AFL championship to Dallas Texans 13 1 1 15 1 1 3 11 1 1 lost AFL championship to Oakland Raiders 1 1 2 lost divisional playoff to Oakland Raiders AFL, NFL merge 1 3 1 1 11 1 1 13 13 1 13 1 15 1 1 5 1 1 1 2nd AFC Central; lost AFC championship to Pittsburgh Steelers 1 11 5 2nd AFC Central; lost AFC championship to Pittsburgh Steelers 1 11 5 2nd AFC Central; lost wild-card playoff to Oakland Raiders 11 1 (players strike) 13 2 13 1 3 13 15 5 11 1 5 11 1 2nd AFC Central; lost divisional playoff to Denver Broncos 1 1 3rd AFC Central; lost divisional playoff to Buffalo Bills 1 2nd AFC Central; lost wild-card playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers 1 2nd AFC Central; lost wild-card playoff to Cincinnati Bengals 11 11 5 1st AFC Central; lost divisonal playoff to Denver Broncos 1 2nd AFC Central; lost wild-card playoff to Buffalo Bills 13 1st AFC Central; lost divisional playoff to Kansas City Chiefs 1 2 1 15 1 1 moved to Tennessee, renamed the Titans in 1. Dallas Cowboys (NFL) The National Football League expanded to 13 teams in January 1 when Dallas businessman Clint Murchison Jr. was granted a franchise. His Dallas Cowboys (originally to be called the Dallas Rangers) were organized too late to take part in the college draft that year and did not win a single game in the 1 season. Since that first year, the Cowboys have developed into one of the most popular teams in the NFL. The Cowboys have gone to the Super Bowl eight times, winning five times, and have advanced to the playoffs 32 times. The team now plays at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. 1 11 1 11 1 5 1 13 1 1 5 1 15

Chuck Howley intercepts a Bob Griese pass during the Cowboys first Super Bowl victory in January. Dallas beat the Miami Dolphins 2 3. Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach () stands on the sidelines. 1 1 3 1 1st Eastern Conf.; lost NFL championship to Green Bay Packers 1 5 1st Capitol Div.; lost NFL championship to Green Bay Packers 1 2 1st Capitol Div.; lost divisional playoff to Cleveland Browns 1 11 2 1 1st Capitol Div.; lost divisional playoff to Cleveland Browns AFL, NFL merge 1 1 1st NFC East; lost Super Bowl to Baltimore Colts 11 11 3 1st NFC East; won Super Bowl over Miami Dolphins 1 2nd NFC East; lost NFC championship to Washington Redskins 13 1 1st NFC East; lost NFC championship to Minnesota Vikings 1 15 1 2nd NFC East; lost Super Bowl to Pittsburgh Steelers 1 11 3 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Los Angeles Rams 1 2 1st NFC East; won Super Bowl over Denver Broncos 1 1st NFC East; lost Super Bowl to Pittsburgh Steelers 1 11 5 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Los Angeles Rams 1 2nd NFC East; lost NFC championship to Philadelphia Eagles 11 1st NFC East; lost NFC championship to San Francisco ers 3 (players strike); lost NFC championship to Washington Redskins 13 2nd NFC East; lost wild-card playoff to Los Angeles Rams 1 15 1 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Los Angeles Rams 1 1 1 3 13 1 1 15 1 11 11 5 2nd NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Detroit Lions 13 3 1st NFC East; won Super Bowl over Buffalo Bills 13 13 3 1st NFC East; won Super Bowl over Buffalo Bills 1 1st NFC East; lost NFC championship to San Francisco ers 15 1st NFC East; won Super Bowl over Pittsburgh Steelers 1 1 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Carolina Panthers 1 1 1 1 1st NFC East; lost wild-card playoff to Arizona Cardinals 1 2nd NFC East; lost wild-card playoff to Minnesota Vikings 2 5 11 21 5 11 22 5 11

Year 23 2 25 2 2 2 2 21 211 2 213 21 215 21 21 Win 1 13 11 13 Loss 1 3 5 1 3 Tie Playoffs 2nd NFC East; lost wild-card playoff to Carolina Panthers 2nd NFC East; lost wild-card playoff to Seattle Seahawks 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to New York Giants 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Minnesota Vikings 1st NFC East; lost divisional playoff to Green Bay Packers 1st NFC East: lost divisional playoff to Green Bay Packers NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, has a retractable roof. Houston Texans (NFL) After Bud Adams moved to Tennessee, Houston decided to build a new football stadium in order to get a National Football League expansion franchise. On Oct., 1, the NFL team owners voted 2- to award their 32nd franchise to Houston and businessman Bob McNair. Year 22 23 2 25 2 2 2 2 21 211 2 213 21 215 21 21 Win 5 2 1 2 Loss 11 1 1 1 1 Tie In September 22, the Texans became the first NFL team in 1 years to win their expansion debut, stunning the Dallas Cowboys 1-1 before, at Reliant (now NRG) Stadium in Houston. The Texans have made the playoffs four times. Playoffs 1st AFC South; lost divisional playoff to Baltimore Ravens 1st AFC South; lost divisonal playoff to New England Patriots 1st AFC South; lost wild-card playoff to Kansas City Chiefs 1st AFC South; lost divisional playoff to New England Patriots

Other professional football leagues The United States Football League played for three seasons, 13-5, with teams in San Antonio and Houston after the initial season. The Gamblers, who played in the Astrodome, were coached by former NFL head coach Jack Pardee. The most notable player was future Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. The San Antonio Gunslingers, owned by oilman Clint Manges, were quarterbacked by Rick Neuheisel. Their home games were in Alamo Stadium. Houston Gamblers (USFL) 1 13 5 lost quarterfinal to Arizona Wranglers 15 1 lost quarterfinal to Birmingham Stallions San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL) 1 11 15 1 13 San Antonio Wings and Houston Texans (WFL) The World Football League played in 1 and part of 15, with teams briefly in Houston and San Antonio. In 1, the Texans played in the Houston Astrodome for eleven games, going 3--1, before the franchise moved to northern Louisiana to become the Shreveport Steamer. The team finished the year with a --1 record overall. In 15, the San Antonio Wings were the brief, last incarnation of the Washington-Baltimore Ambassadors, Virginia Ambassadors, Florida Blazers. The Wings played home games in 23,-seat Alamo Stadium and finished with a - record before the league disbanded in October 15. San Antonio Riders (WLAF) The World League of American Football was founded in 1 with the support of the National Football League. The San Antonio Riders played in 11 in Alamo Stadium with a - record and in in Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos with a -3 record. When the NFL suspended the league after the season, the San Antonio and Sacramento teams were accepted into the Canadian Football League, but the San Antonio franchise folded before the beginning of the 13 season. The NFL revived the WLAF with European teams in 15. It existed as NFL Europe until 2. Houston Outlaws (RFL) The Regional Football League existed for one season in 1. The Houston Outlaws played most of their home games at Memorial Stadium in Pasadena and went -2. They were defeated 1- by the Mobile Admirals before 5,5 fans in Mobile in the only championship game. San Antonio Matadors and Houston Marshals (SFL) The Spring Football League played for less than a month in 2. Besides the teams in San Antonio and Houston, there were teams in Los Angeles and Miami. The San Antonio Matadors and the Houston Marshals, both with 2- records, were declared league cochampions before the league folded.