Ken Houston

This article is about the American football defensive back. For the NHL hockey defenseman, see Ken Houston (ice hockey). For the Irish rugby player, see Kenneth Houston.

Ken Houston

No. 29, 27

Position:

Safety

Personal information

Date of birth:

November 12, 1944

Place of birth:

Lufkin, Texas

Height:

6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Weight:

197 lb (89 kg)

Career information

High school:

Dunbar High School

College:

Prairie View A&M

NFL draft:

1967 / Round: 9 / Pick: 214

Career history

Houston Oilers (1967–1972)
Washington Redskins (1973–1980)

Career highlights and awards

12× Pro Bowl (1968–1979)
"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year (1980)
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
70 Greatest Redskins

Career NFL statistics

Games played:	196
Interceptions:	49
Interception return yards:	898
Fumbles recovered:	21
Touchdowns:	12
Player stats at NFL.com

Player stats at PFR

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Kenneth Ray Houston (born November 12, 1944) is a former American football defensive back in the American Football League and National Football League. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Houston played for the AFL's Houston Oilers from 1967 through 1969, and after the AFL-NFL merger, with the Oilers from 1970 through 1972, then with the Washington Redskins until 1980.

Early life

Houston was born in Lufkin, Texas and was the third of four children. His father, Herod, owned a dry cleaning business.^[1] Houston attended Dunbar High School where he played basketball and football.^[1]

College career

Only one school that recruited Houston after high school was Prairie A&M College (now Prairie View A&M University).^[1] Bishop College initially offered him a scholarship, but then withdrew it (the school had yet to be desegregated).^[1]

Houston attended and played college football at Prairie View A&M College (Prairie View A & M University].^[1] For a short time he was a center, and then became the starting linebacker and was selected All-American in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.^[1]

Houston also ran track, and was on the swim team during the four years he was at Prairie View.

Professional career

Houston was an all-league free safety player for twelve consecutive years: an American Football League All-Star in 1968 and 1969, and then in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1979.^[2] He was selected All-Pro three times. In 1999, he was ranked number 61 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.^[3]

Throughout his career he had an extraordinary ability to know where the ball was going. Houston intercepted 49 passes, recovered 21 fumbles, gained 1,498 return yards (on interception, fumble, blocked field goal, kickoff, and punt returns), and scored 12 touchdowns. Ken is a member of the 1986 class of the Hall of Fame.^[2]

Houston Oilers

Houston was drafted in the ninth round of the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He became a starter by the third game of his rookie season.^[2] Two weeks later, in a game against the New York Jets, he scored two touchdowns, one on a 71-yard (65 m) blocked field goal attempt, and the other on a 43-yard (39 m) interception return.^[2]

In 1971 he set an NFL record with five touchdown returns (four interceptions and one fumble). This would stand until surpassed by Devin Hester's six return touchdowns in the 2006 season.^[4]

Washington Redskins

After six years with the Oilers, Houston was traded to the Washington Redskins for five veteran players in 1973.^[2] Included in the trade were offensive lineman Jim Snowden, tight end Mack Alston, wide receiver Clifton McNeil, defensive end Mike Fanucci, and defensive back Jeff Severson.^[1] While with the Redskins, Houston went to seven straight Pro Bowls.

Coaching career

After his retirement in 1980, Houston served as a head football coach for Wheatley High School and Westbury High School in Houston, Texas.^[1] From 1982 to 1985, he was the defensive backfield coach for the Houston Oilers and from 1986 to 1990 he was the defensive backfield coach for the University of Houston.^[1]

After football

Since 1990, Houston has served as a guidance counselor for children in hospitals and who are home bound or have been placed in child care agencies by the State of Texas. He does this work for the Houston Independent School District.^[1]

Personal

Houston has a wife, Gustie, a daughter, Kene; and a son, Kenneth Christian.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Whatever Happened to … Ken Houston". Extreme Skins. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
1 2 3 4 5 "Ken Houston's HOF Profile". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
↑ "Football's 100 Greatest Players". The Sporting News. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
↑ Pedulla, Tom; Mihoces, Gary (2007-02-01). "Addai, Hester step lightly, make impact". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-06-19.

External links

Ken Houston at Pro-Football-Reference.com
Ken Houston at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award winners

1967: Starr
1968: W. Davis
1969: Meador
1970: Sayers
1971: Alexander
1972: May
1973: Russell
1974: Little
1975: Bleier
1976: Hart
1977: Alzado
1978: Manning
1979: Staubach
1980: Upshaw
1981: Houston
1982: Harris
1983: Dieken
1984: Benirschke
1985: Williams
1986: Moore
1987: Martin
1988: Cherry
1989: Singletary
1990: Newsome
1991: Kenn
1992: R. White
1993: Lowery
1994: Kelso
1995: Thomas
1996: Brooks
1997: Zorich
1998: Nickerson
1999: Carter
2000: Pelfrey
2001: McCrary
2002: Brunell
2003: Vincent
2004: Brooks
2005: Manning
2006: McNair
2007: Lynch
2008: Dunn
2009: Dawkins
2010: Asomugha
2011: Richardson
2012: Brees
2013: Batch
2014: Boldin
2015: Greenway
2016: T. Davis

1975 AP NFL All-Pro Team

National Football League | NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team

National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1986

Paul Hornung Ken Houston Willie Lanier Fran Tarkenton Doak Walker

Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Players

Pre-modern era	Badgro Battles Baugh Canadeo Chamberlin Clark Conzelman Driscoll Dudley Edwards Flaherty Fortmann Friedman Grange Guyon Halas Healey Hein Henry Herber Hewitt Hinkle Hubbard Hutson Kiesling Lambeau Leemans Luckman Lyman McAfee McNally Michalske Millner Musso Nagurski Nevers Owen A. Parker Pollard Strong Stydahar Thorpe Trafton Turner Van Buren Wojciechowicz

Modern era	Adderley Aikman L. Allen M. Allen Alworth Atkins Barney Bednarik Bo. Bell Berry Bethea Bettis Biletnikoff Blanda Blount Bradshaw Brooks B. Brown J. Brown R. Brown T. Brown W. Brown Buchanan Buoniconti Butkus Butler Campbell Carson Carter Casper Christiansen Connor Creekmur Csonka Culp W. Davis D. Dawson L. Dawson Dean DeLamielleure Dent Dickerson Dierdorf Ditka Doleman Donovan Dorsett Eller Elway Favre Faulk Fears Ford Fouts Gatski George Gifford Graham Green J. Greene K. Greene Gregg Griese Grimm Groza Guy Haley Ham Hampton Hanburger Hannah Harris Harrison Hayes Haynes Hendricks Hickerson Hirsch Hornung Houston Huff Humphrey Irvin Jackson J. Johnson J. H. Johnson Joiner W. Jones D. Jones S. Jones Jordan Jurgensen J. Kelly L. Kelly Kennedy Kinard Krause Lambert Lane Langer Lanier Largent Lary Lavelli Layne LeBeau Lilly F. Little L. Little Lofton Long Lott Mack Mackey Marchetti Marino Martin Matson Matthews Maynard McCormack McDaniel McDonald McElhenny Mitchell Mix Monk Montana Moon Moore Motley Munchak Muñoz Namath Newsome Nitschke Nomellini Ogden Olsen Otto Pace Page J. Parker Payton Perry Pihos Randle Reed Renfro Rice Richter Riggins Ringo Roaf Robinson Robustelli B. Sanders C. Sanders D. Sanders Sapp Sayers Schmidt Seau Selmon Sharpe Shaw Shell Shields Simpson Singletary Slater B. Smith E. Smith J. Smith St. Clair Stabler Stallworth Stanfel Starr Staubach Stautner Stenerud Stephenson Strahan Swann Tarkenton C. Taylor J. Taylor L. Taylor D. Thomas E. Thomas T. Thomas Tingelhoff Tippett Tittle Trippi Tunnell Unitas Upshaw Van Brocklin Walker Warfield Waterfield Webster Wehrli Weinmeister Ra. White Re. White Wilcox Williams Willis L. Wilson Winslow Wood Woodson Wright Yary Young Youngblood Zimmerman

Coaches

Contributors

Washington Redskins

Founded in 1932 Formerly the Boston Braves and Boston Redskins Based in Landover, Maryland Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia

Franchise	Franchise History Seasons Players Coaches First-round draft picks Draft Starting quarterbacks

Stadiums	Braves Field Fenway Park Griffith Stadium RFK Stadium FedExField

Culture	Redskins Band Hail to the Redskins Hogettes Cheerleaders Chief Zee Joe Gibbs Team name controversy Name change advocates Trademark dispute Original Americans Foundation "Go Fund Yourself" (South Park episode)

Lore	Redskins 0, Bears 73 The Hogs The Fun Bunch The Over-the-Hill Gang The Body Bag Game Redskins Rule

Rivalries	Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles

Division championships (14)	1936 1937 1940 1942 1943 1945 1972 1983 1984 1987 1991 1999 2012 2015

Super Bowl appearances (5)	VII XVII XVIII XXII XXVI

League championships (5)	1937 1942 1982 1987 1991

Hall of Fame players	Battles Baugh Dudley Edwards Green Grimm Hanburger Houston Huff D. Jones S. Jones Jurgensen Krause Millner Mitchell Monk Riggins Smith Taylor

All-time leaders	Passing Receiving Rushing Kick & Punt Returning

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: East Division

Seasons (84)	1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

70 Greatest Redskins

21 Terry Allen RB 1995–98
41 Mike Bass CB 1969–75
20 Cliff Battles B 1932–37
33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
31 Don Bosseler B 1957–64
53 Jeff Bostic C 1980–93
4 Mike Bragg P 1968–79
80 Gene Brito DE 1951–53, 1955–58
43 Larry Brown RB 1969–76
77 Bill Brundige DE 1970–77
65 Dave Butz DT 1975–88
21 Earnest Byner RB 1989–93
84 Gary Clark WR 1985–92
51 Monte Coleman LB 1979–94
53 Al DeMao C 1945–53
36 Chuck Drazenovich LB 1950–59
35 Bill Dudley RB 1950–51, 1953
17 Turk Edwards T 1932–40
44 Andy Farkas FB 1938–44
37 Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
28 Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
68 Russ Grimm G 1981–91
55 Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
57 Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
56 Len Hauss C 1964–77
27 Ken Houston S 1973–80
70 Sam Huff LB 1964–67, 1969
66 Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
47 Dick James RB 1955–63
9 Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
22 Charlie Justice RB 1950, 1952–54
17 Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
26 Paul Krause DB 1964–67
79 Jim Lachey T 1988–95
14 Eddie LeBaron QB 1952–53, 1955–59
72 Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
71 Charles Mann DE 1983–93
58 Wilber Marshall LB 1988–92
73 Mark May T 1981–89
79 Ron McDole DE 1971–78
63 Raleigh McKenzie G 1985–94
53 Harold McLinton LB 1969–78
40 Wayne Millner E 1936–41, 1945
49 Bobby Mitchell FL 1962–68
30 Brian Mitchell RB 1990–99
81 Art Monk WR 1980–93
3 Mark Moseley K 1974–86
29 Mark Murphy S 1977–84
21 Mike Nelms KR 1980–84
52 Neal Olkewicz LB 1979–89
23 Brig Owens LB 1966–77
65 Vince Promuto G 1960–70
44 John Riggins RB 1976–79, 1981–85
11 Mark Rypien QB 1987–93
83 Ricky Sanders WR 1986–93
76 Ed Simmons T 1987–93
87 Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
60 Dick Stanfel G 1956–58
74 George Starke T 1973–84
72 Diron Talbert DT 1971–80
84 Hugh (Bones) Taylor E 1947–54
42 Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
7 Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
67 Rusty Tillman LB 1970–77
85 Don Warren TE 1979–92
25 Joe Washington RB 1981–84
17 Doug Williams QB 1986–89

Coaches

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936–42
Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981–92

Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Cliff Battles RB 1932–37
Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
Gene Brito DE, 1951–53, 1955–58
Larry Brown RB 1969–76
Dave Butz DT 1975–88
Gary Clark WR 1985–92
Jack Kent Cooke Owner 1961–97
Bill Dudley RB, 1950–51, 1953
Wayne Curry Prince George's County Executive 1994–2002
Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
Joe Gibbs Head Coach, 1981–92, 2004–07
Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
Russ Grimm G 1981–91
Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
Len Hauss C 1964–77
Phil Hochberg PA Announcer 1963–2000
Ken Houston S 1973–80
Sam Huff LB, 1964–67, 1969
Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
Dick James RB 1956–63
Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
Charlie Justice RB, 1950, 1952–54
Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
Eddie LeBaron QB, 1952–53, 1955–59
Vince Lombardi Head Coach 1969
Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
Charles Mann DE 1983–93
George Preston Marshall Team Founder & Owner 1932–69
Wayne Millner End, 1936–41, 1945
Bobby Mitchell Flanker 1962–68
Brian Mitchell RB/KR 1990–99
Art Monk WR 1980–93
Mark Moseley PK 1974–86
Brig Owens DB 1966–77
Richie Petitbon S 1971-72, defensive coordinator 1981-92
Vince Promuto G 1960–70
John Riggins RB, 1976–79, 1981–85
Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
Sean Taylor S 2004–07
Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
Lamar "Bubba" Tyer Head Athletic Trainer, 1971–2002, 2004–08
Doug Williams QB 1986–89

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