Dave Grayson – Football

David Lee Grayson (June 6, 1939 – July 29, 2017) was a defensive back in the American Football League for the Dallas Texans and the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Oregon.

After high school he went on to play at San Diego City College. Besides football, he was a part of the 4 x 200 relay team that set a national junior college record. As a junior, he transferred to the University of Oregon, where he played offensive and defensive halfback. In 2010, he was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame.

Grayson played four years with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs. In 1961, he set the franchise and AFL record for the longest interception return with a 99-yarder against the New York Titans. In 1961, he also led the league in kickoff returns. In 1962 and 1963, he finished second in the league in kickoff returns.

He had an interception off George Blanda in the Texans’ classic 1962 double OT championship game victory over the defending AFL Champion Houston Oilers. Grayson was an AFL All-Star six times, with the Texans/Chiefs in 1962, 1963, and 1964, and with the 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, helping his team win the game and reach Super Bowl II. In 1968, he led the AFL with 10 interceptions. His 29 interceptions rank seventh all-time in Raiders history.

Grayson 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 AFL All-Time Team.Dave Grayson2