Dave Grayson

For other people of the same name, see David Grayson (disambiguation).

David Lee Grayson (born June 6, 1939) is a former American football defensive back in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

College career

After playing at Lincoln High School (San Diego, CA), he signed with the University of Oregon, where he played offensive and defensive halfback.

Professional career

In 1961 he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, but because Tom Landry did not have room for him on the roster, Gil Brandt called Dallas Texans head coach Hank Stram and suggested he give Grayson a try. Grayson made the team and played four years with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Oakland Raiders in 1965.

Grayson held the AFL record for longest interception return for a touchdown, 99 yards, against the New York Titans in 1961. He had an interception off George Blanda in the Texans' classic 1962 double-overtime championship game victory over the defending AFL Champion Houston Oilers. Grayson was an American Football League All-Star six times, in Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs in 1962, 1963 and 1964, and in Oakland Raiders in 1965, 1966 and 1969.

He made a 48-yard return with the opening kickoff against the Oilers in the 1967 AFL Championship Game. At Oakland in 1968, he led the American Football League with ten interceptions. He is the all-time AFL leader in interceptions with 47, for a 20-yard return average and 5 touchdowns, and he averaged 25.4 yards on 110 kickoff returns. He is a member of the American Football League All-Time Team.

Grayson's son, David Lee Grayson, Jr. also played in the NFL in 1987 thru 1990 with the Cleveland Browns and in 1991 with the San Diego Chargers.

See also

• Other American Football League players

External links

• Grayson's 1964 Topps Football card