(1938-09-22) September 22, 1938 (age 85) Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Height:
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:
216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:
Akron (OH) South
College:
None
Undrafted:
1960
Career history
Denver Broncos (1960–1964)
Oakland Raiders (1964–1965)
Miami Dolphins (1966–1967)
Washington Redskins (1967)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1969–1970)
Career highlights and awards
2× AFL All-Star (1960, 1962)
Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
NFL record
Most touchdown passes by a halfback, game: 2
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR
Eugene L. Mingo (born September 22, 1938) is an American former professional football player who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played several positions including halfback, placekicker, and return specialist. He is widely recognized as the first African American placekicker in football.[1][2]
He played youth football at the behest of a cousin, Dean Newby. After quitting, his cousin was angry. He called Gene a quitter, and tried to get him to come back. Shortly after, his cousin lost his life when mauled by a dog. When his aunt called him a quitter, too, he went back to football. After missing a couple of years to care for his terminally ill mother, he returned to school and found out that he excelled at football.[3]
He later dropped out of high school and joined the Navy where he played for a Navy team and was a star. After his discharge, he returned to Akron and worked at the Goodyear plant. Reading the paper in the lead up to the inaugural 1960 season, he read about a former opponent who had played for the Army who was signed by the Denver Broncos. He wrote them a letter and received a contract. He made the team without having played any college football.[4]
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 a touchdown pass, from the halfback position, to help the Broncos win 22-10: a 50-yarder to Lionel Taylor in the first quarter. Mingo kicked the PATs after each score. He led the American Football League in scoring as a rookie in 1960 with 123 points and in 1962 with 137 points. Mingo holds the Broncos' franchise record for the longest touchdown run, an 82-yarder against the Raiders in 1962. He also played for the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Redskins. He kicked for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 and 1970.
On September 14, 2014, Mingo, along with Dan Reeves and Rick Upchurch, was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame.
^Moss, Irv (May 8, 2014). "Broncos welcome Gene Mingo to Ring of Fame". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
^Whitley, David (September 7, 2012). "Justin Medlock adds to list of black NFL kickers, but he's not a trend-setter". Sporting News. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
kickers, but he's not a trend-setter". Sporting News. Retrieved August 20, 2018. "GeneMingo: A Hall of Fame Life". "GeneMingo: A Hall of Fame Life"....
the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. An extra point kick by GeneMingo allowed the Dolphins to lead 7–0 barely into the start of the game. Miami...
2009 80 Rod Smith WR 1994–2006 2012 66 Tom Nalen C 1994–2007 2013 21 GeneMingo RB, K, RS 1960–1964 2014 — Dan Reeves Head coach 1981–1992 2014 80 Rick...
from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023. "GeneMingo Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference...
George Blanda, Paul Maguire, Cookie Gilchrist, Gino Cappelletti, and GeneMingo, a running back who became the first black placekicker in modern professional...
2009 80 Rod Smith WR 1994–2006 2012 66 Tom Nalen C 1994–2007 2013 21 GeneMingo RB, K, RS 1960–64 2014 – Dan Reeves Head coach 1981–92 2014 80 Rick Upchurch...
passes in a 1959 NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams; utility player GeneMingo of the Denver Broncos threw two touchdowns as a halfback in an American...
During halftime, the Broncos made three additions to their Ring of Fame: GeneMingo, who played multiple positions with the Broncos from 1960 to 1964; Dan...
first Black placekicker in U.S. professional football, GeneMingo of the Denver Broncos (Mingo's primary claim to fame, however, was as a running back...
American professional football team to have an African-American placekicker, GeneMingo, the first to have a receiver with 100 receptions in a season, Lionel...
Allen FB 20 Henry Bell HB 36 J. W. Brodnax FB 40 Al Carmichael HB 21 GeneMingo HB/K 35 Dave Rolle FB Wide receivers 41 Bob McNamara 87 Lionel Taylor...
Canadian actor 1937 – Don Rutherford, English rugby player (d. 2016) 1938 – GeneMingo, American football player 1939 – Bogdan Baltazar, Romanian economist and...
from Dick Wood (Mike Mercer kick) Tie 7–7 2 OAK GeneMingo 40 yard field goal Raiders 10–7 3 OAK GeneMingo 28 yard field goal Raiders 13–7 3 KC Tommy Brooker...
League (AFL) played its first season First black pro football placekicker: GeneMingo (Denver Broncos, AFL) First Hispanic pro football quarterback: Tom Flores...
(1991–1996) Freddie Milons (2003) Henry Minarik (1951) Tom Miner (1958–1959) GeneMingo (1969–1970) Frank Minini (1949) Michael Minter (1987) Arthur Moats (2014–2017)...
October 1 with all of the region's military equipment left intact. Born: GeneMingo, American football player, in Akron, Ohio The new Czechoslovakian government...
and scampered 41 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Bronco GeneMingo took a punt 76 yards for a touchdown. Later in the quarter Patriot receiver...
pass from Tom Flores (Mike Mercer kick). Chargers 10–7. Drive: OAK – GeneMingo 10-yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Mercer kick). Raiders 14–10. Drive:...
set up Denver for the game's first points, a 37-yard field goal from GeneMingo. Lincoln made amends only three plays later, taking a screen pass in for...
the Kansas City Chiefs. Two weeks later, Speedie suspended placekicker GeneMingo and defensive back Willie West for "conduct detrimental to the club",...
Milks Alan Miller Bill Miller Bill Miller Pete Mills Charley Milstead GeneMingo (first black field goal kicker in United States professional football...
Edmond Miles Kyle Miller Lamar Miller Scott Miller Billy Milner Gene Milton GeneMingo Travis Minor George Mira Koa Misi Earl Mitchell Marvin Mitchell...
Denver Broncos Eldon Danenhauer † OT Pittsburg State CIAC Denver Broncos GeneMingo † RB/K He did not attend college Houston Oilers Tony Banfield † S...
Bronco Alumni Association Board of Directors. He and Jerry Sturm and GeneMingo were the only players from the original Denver AFL franchise. (see www...
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