September 9, 1960 – It was the dawn of a whole new era of professional football. When the Denver Broncos met and defeated the Boston Patriots, 13-10 in the American Football League’s first game, it put the NFL on notice that some things were going to change.
The contest was held in front of 21,597 fans at Nickerson Field in Boston as the AFL pushed pro football to new heights in the coming decade including National TV contracts, paying players better, and an eventual merger of the two leagues creating the sports world’s greatest championship game, the Super Bowl.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

The Best NFL Division in 1975 (AFC Central)
The American Football Conference’s Central Division was unquestionably the best division in pro football

Chuck Noll’s 1972 Steelers: How a Rookie and a Defense Built a Legacy
From 1933 (their first season in the NFL) through 1971, the Pittsburgh Steelers had

Unknown Facts From the History of Sports That Will Surprise You
The history of sports is vast and fascinating. This should come as no surprise,

Legends, Lines, and Luck: How Gambling Wove Into the Fabric of Aussie Sport
Australians don’t just love sport — they live it. From backyard cricket games to

Fast Bets and Faster Payments: The Evolution of Sports Gambling and PayID Pokies
There’s no denying that sports and betting have been intertwined for decades. Whether it’s

Ray Guy and the Pro Bowl Gondola
To complete the 1975 NFL season, the annual Pro Bowl game pitted the best

“Munich Air Disaster” of 1958 – Busby Babes Tragedy
What would become known as the “Munich Air Disaster,” a plane crashed after trying

How Sportsbooks Mostly Got It Right About the NFL Playoffs
When you look at things statistically, there is some wisdom in the statement that