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

Eras of NFL Playoff Frustration (My Top 15)
We always hear about the teams that win it all, and walk away with

The First Game of the Packers vs. Cardinals Rivalry
It was a big deal in 1921, and it’s still a big deal in

Celebrating 25 Years Since One of the Greatest – And Most Unexpected – Super Bowl Games In History
The Super Bowl is an occasion never shy of razzmatazz anyway, but the 2000

Don of All Dons (Don Muraco) – A “Mad Man Parody”
In this episode, we travel down villainy lane via a MAD MAN parody, for

Loserville: How Professional Sports Remade Atlanta and Atlanta Remade Professional Sports
In this episode I chat with Clayton Trutor about his forthcoming book – Loserville:

How Fans Can Celebrate Milestones With Personalised Football Cards
Football is more than just a game; it’s a passionate lifestyle for many fans.

1980 Oakland Raiders: The Unlikely Super Bowl Champs
Few saw it coming–before the season began and even at mid-season. But with excellent

Chicago Cardinals and the Longest Losing Streak in NFL History
During the early part of the 2021 NFL season, there has been much discussion