State Your Case: Dave Grayson

The American Football League spent the 1960 decade fighting for respect from the NFL. Six decades later, the AFL is still fighting for respect … this time from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The upstart AFL went head-to-head with the NFL in the 1960s. The AFL spent the first six seasons proving it could compete financially with the NFL, signing Joe Namath to a record contract plus Heisman Trophy winners Billy Cannon, John Huarte and Mike Garrett and Outland Trophy winners Scott Appleton and Bobby Bell. Then the AFL spent the last four years of the decade proving it could play with the NFL, winning the final two Super Bowls between the two leagues.

But when it came time to acknowledge greatness in the two leagues, the Pro Football Hall of Fame reserved its bronze busts and gold jackets for the NFL portion of the 1960s. There were 23 players selected first-team NFL all-decade and 22 of them now have busts in Canton. There were 22 players selected to the AFL’s all-time team but only 11 have busts.

Among the most glaring – and decorated – omissions has been Dave Grayson, who was selected to the AFL’s all-time team as a cornerback.

What’s interesting is that in the 1960s the NFL played the game on the ground, the AFL played the game in the air. The NFL ran the ball, the AFL passed it. The NFL has six running backs from the 1960s in the Hall of Fame, the AFL just one. Deservedly so. The NFL ran the ball.

But the AFL passed it. Frank Tripucka became pro football’s first 3,000-yard passer for the Denver Broncos in the AFL’s inaugural season in 1960, then George Blanda set a pro football record with 36 touchdown passes for the Houston Oilers in 1961. Lionel Taylor became the first receiver to catch 100 passes in a single season for the Denver Broncos in 1961 and Charley Hennigan became the first 1,500-yard receiver for the Oilers in 1964. Then Joe Namath became pro football’s first 4,000-yard passer for the New York Jets in 1967. So AFL cornerbacks had their hands full.

Yet there are four NFL cornerbacks from the 1960 decade with busts in the Hall of Fame but only one from the AFL — Willie Brown.

Which brings us back to Grayson, who intercepted more passes in the 1960 decade than any player in either league — 47. His 48 career interceptions equal those of Hall-of-Famer Herb Adderley, a first-team NFL all-decade selection for the 1960s. That’s also one more interception than Jimmy Johnson, another of the NFL’s Hall-of-Fame corners from the 1960s.

Grayson was voted to six AFL Pro Bowls – more than Adderley and Johnson (5 apiece). Grayson also was a four-time first-team all-pro. That’s as many as Johnson and more than Lem Barney (2), another 1960s NFL all-decade corner.

Adderley was elected to the Hall in his third year of eligibility, Barney in his 10^th year and Johnson his 13^th year. Grayson is now in his 51st year of eligibility and his candidacy has never been discussed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. Never once has he been a finalist. He’s never even been a semifinalist.

But there is more to Grayson than just stats and accolades.

Grayson went to the same San Diego high school (Lincoln) as Hall-of-Famers Marcus Allen and Terrell Davis. Then he spent two years at San Diego City College, where he was a member of the school’s 4×200 meter relay team that set a national junior college record. That speed and his play on the football field earned him a scholarship to Oregon where he spent two seasons as an offensive and defensive back.

Grayson went undrafted in 1960 but signed with the expansion Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. After he was cut in training camp, Grayson crossed town to sign with the AFL Dallas Texans.

The Texans immediately tapped into his speed, using him on kickoff returns where he finished second in the AFL with a 28.3-yard average. Grayson also worked his way onto the field on defense, starting the final nine games at cornerback and intercepting three passes, including one he returned 99 yards for a touchdown against the New York Titans.

Grayson led the AFL in kickoff returns with a 29.7-yard average in 1961 and intercepted four passes, earning the first of his five consecutive Pro Bowls. He returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in 1963 against Denver and then intercepted seven passes in 1964, earning the first of his four all-pro nods from The Associated Press.

The Texans had moved to Kansas City by then and the Chiefs engineered a shocking swap of Pro Bowl cornerbacks in 1965, sending Grayson to the Oakland Raiders for Fred Williamson. Kansas City coach Hank Stram favored size on his team and Williamson gave him a 6-3, 220-pound corner. Raiders owner Al Davis favored speed and the 5-10, 187-pound Grayson gave him that in abundance.

Grayson continued to return kickoffs his first three seasons in Oakland, amassing 110 career returns for a 25.4-yard average. He moved to safety in 1967 and returned the opening kickoff of the AFL title game 48 yards against Houston, setting the stage for a 40-7 pounding of the Oilers.

Despite his pro football-leading 10 interceptions in 1968, Grayson was not selected for the Pro Bowl. He intercepted eight more passes in 1969 to earn his sixth and final Pro Bowl and fourth and final all-pro acclaim.

Grayson played only one more season, the first merged season of the AFL and NFL in 1970, then retired. He played on two AFL champions (Dallas in 1962 and Oakland in 1967) and scored six career touchdowns, including interceptions of Hall-of-Famers George Blanda, Namath and Bob Griese.

Grayson passed away in 2017. But he should not be forgotten and neither should his career, especially by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.