1960 NFL expansion draft

The 1960 NFL expansion draft was the first National Football League (NFL) draft in which a new expansion team, named the Dallas Rangers,[1] selected its initial players. The NFL awarded Dallas, Texas a franchise to compete for revenue with Lamar Hunt's Dallas Texans of the upstart American Football League.[2] The Dallas expansion franchise was approved too late for it to participate in the 1960 NFL draft which had been held on November 30, 1959.[2] Dallas is the only NFL expansion team to not have had the benefit of a college draft in its first year.[2]

So that the Rangers (Cowboys) could become competitive with existing teams, the league gave them the opportunity to select current players from existing teams. That selection was provided by the expansion draft, held on March 13, 1960.[3] In this draft, the Rangers chose 36 players from the existing 12 teams.[4] The NFL also assigned the rights to 1960 NFL draft picks Don Meredith (who had been drafted by the Chicago Bears) and Don Perkins (drafted by the Baltimore Colts) to the Cowboys for a couple of future draft picks.[2]

22 players made the active roster that season. 11 players played only one year with Dallas. Eight players (including Jack Patera, who was injured early in the 1961 season) played in 1960 and 1961. The three remaining players from the draft started for several years, including: Bob Fry, Tackle, 1960–64; Jerry Tubbs, Linebacker, 1960–66; and Frank Clarke, Wide Receiver, 1960–67.[5]

On March 19, 1960, the Rangers renamed themselves the Cowboys.

Rules of the draft

Every existing NFL team listed nine players, and the Rangers (Cowboys) selected three players on the list from each team.

Player Selections

The players in bold made the active roster of the Cowboys in 1960.

PlayerPositionCollege TeamOriginal NFL Team
L.G. "Long Gone" DupreRBBaylor UniversityBaltimore Colts
Ray KrouseDE-DTMarylandBaltimore Colts
Dave Sherer WR-PSMUBaltimore Colts
Don Healy DTMarylandChicago Bears
Jack JohnsonDB-PMiamiChicago Bears
Pete JohnsonDBVirginia Military InstituteChicago Bears
Leroy Bolden RB-KRMichigan StateCleveland Browns
Franklin ClarkeWR-TEColoradoCleveland Browns
Ed Modzelewski RBMarylandCleveland Browns
Charley Ane CUSCDetroit Lions
Gene Cronin LBPacificDetroit Lions
Jim Doran TEIowa StateDetroit Lions
Nate Borden DEIndiana Green Bay Packers
Bill Butler STennessee-ChattanoogaGreen Bay Packers
Don McIlhenny RBSMUGreen Bay Packers
Tom Franckhauser CBPurdue Los Angeles Rams
Bob Fry OTKentuckyLos Angeles Rams
Duane Putnam OGPacificLos Angeles Rams
Al BarryOGUSCNew York Giants
Melwood “Buzz” Guy OGDukeNew York Giants
Don Heinrich QBWashington New York Giants
Dick Bielski TEMarylandPhiladelphia Eagles
Jerry DeLucca OTTennesseePhiladelphia Eagles
Bil StriegelLBPacificPhiladelphia Eagles
Ray FisherOT-DTEastern IllinoisPittsburgh Steelers
Bobby Luna RB University of AlabamaPittsburgh Steelers
Ray MathewsWRClemsonPittsburgh Steelers
Bobby Cross OTStephen F. AustinChicago Cardinals
Ed HusmannDTUniversity of NebraskaChicago Cardinals
Jack PateraLBOregonChicago Cardinals
Fred DuganWRDaytonSan Francisco 49ers
John GonzagaDE-DTNoneSan Francisco 49ers
Jerry Tubbs LBOklahomaSan Francisco 49ers
Tom Braatz LBMarquetteWashington Redskins
Joe Nicely CWest VirginiaWashington Redskins
Doyle Nix RBSMUWashington Redskins

See also

References

  1. ↑ The team was renamed the Dallas Cowboys six days later.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Buck, Ray (2008-02-15). "From meager beginnings to America’s Team". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  3. ↑ "Cowboys draft for 1960". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  4. ↑ "Pro Football History". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-09-22.(listed as the Dallas Rangers)
  5. ↑ "1960 Expansion Draft". 2008-09-28. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
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