David Grayson (June 6, 1939 – July 29, 2017) was a two-way football player for the Oregon Ducks who became one of the great defensive backs to ever play in the American Football League.
Grayson was a big name in San Diego as a two-sport prep athlete. He was part of San Diego High School's unofficial 1955 national championship team in football before transferring to the brand-new Lincoln High School. He ran a 10.0 100-yard dash and was an excellent relay member. He then starred for two years at San Diego Junior College on a football team that won a conference championship and an 880-relay team that sert a national junior college record.
At Oregon, Dick concentrated on football, continuing to play on both offense and defense. On offense, he ran for over 900 yards in three seasons (1958-60) but really stood out as a defensive back and kick returner. His senior year, the Ducks went 7-3-1 and faced Penn State in the Liberty Bowl. Grayson was co-captain of that 1960 team
Grayson's height (5-foot, 10 inches) kept his from the NFL draft, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys but ended up across town with the Dallas Texans of the AFL.
Dick played four years with the Dallas Texans, who would become the 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.
Grayson was an AFL All-Star six times, with the Texans/Chiefs in 1962, 1963, and 1964, and with the Oakland Raiders in 1965, 1966, and 1969. In Oakland, was part of the defense that played in the second Super Bowl and the next season (1968), he led the AFL with 10 interceptions. He had 29 interceptions as a Raider.
Grayson was the All-time AFL leader in interceptions with 47, he returned five for touchdowns. He also averaged 25.4 yards on 110 kickoff returns. He is a member of the AFL All-Time Team.
He returned to his hometown of San Diego after his football career and supported organizations helping local youth.
In 2010, he was inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame in San Diego