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

Edward “Butch” O’Hare: Capone, Cardinals, and a Chicago Legacy
This is one of those stories that you certainly can not make up: happiness,

The Oakland Raiders in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
The 1970 Oakland Raiders dug themselves a hole by not registering a win until

Great Rookie Running Back Seasons During The 1970s
During the 1970s, there were several outstanding rookie running backs whose first year in

Super Bowl X: A Retrospective on the Thrilling Final Drive
We have finished reviewing the first 50 Super Bowls, and if you want to

NFL Player Profile: Tyreek “The Freak” Hill
When you are looking through the latest NFL odds, a man you will often see

The Minnesota Vikings in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
The Vikings began the 1970 season by getting a small measure of revenge for

Selling Baseball: How Superstars George Wright and Albert Spalding Impacted Sports In America
George Wright and Al Spalding are two of the most important figures in 19th

The Los Angeles Rams in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane
The 1970 Rams were 8–3–1 going into week thirteen, but they needed to win