Willard Dewveall

Willard Charles Dewveall (Pronounced: DOO-vawl) (April 29, 1936 – November 20, 2006) was an American football end. He was the first player to jump from the National Football League (NFL) to the American Football League (AFL).

He left the Chicago Bears of the NFL after the 1960 season to play for the AFL champion Houston Oilers. He was the only one to switch leagues for five years, until kicker Pete Gogolak went from the AFL to the NFL in 1966.

In 1962, Dewveall caught the (then) longest pass reception for a touchdown in professional football history, 98 yards, from Jacky Lee, against the San Diego Chargers. It is still the longest receiving touchdown in Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise history. He was an American Football League All-Star in 1962.

He was Dandy Don's favorite receiver, and All-American at SMU. Selected by the Bears in the second round of the 1958 NFL draft, Dewveall played a year in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1958 under head coach Bud Grant, and they won the Grey Cup. He returned to the United States and played for the Bears for two seasons in 1959 and 1960.

NFL/AFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1959 CHI 11 6 20 420 21.0 76 3 1960 CHI 12 12 43 804 18.7 91 5 1961 HOU 7 1 12 200 16.7 66 3 1962 HOU 14 6 33 576 17.5 98 5 1963 HOU 14 14 58 752 13.0 35 7 1964 HOU 14 8 38 552 14.5 60 4 72 47 204 3,304 16.2 98 27

Playoffs Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1961 HOU 1 1 2 10 5.0 11 0 1962 HOU 1 1 6 95 15.8 24 1 2 2 8 105 13.1 24 1