List of the best American Football League players of 1966
The 1966 American Football League All-League Team was selected after the 1966 American Football League season by AFL players,[ 1] the Associated Press (AP),[ 2] the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA),[ 3] the New York Daily News (NYDN), and United Press International (UPI)[ 4] to honor the league's top performers at each position.
Teams
Offense
Position
First team
Second team
Quarterback
Len Dawson , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Jack Kemp , Bills (AFL, AP, NYDN) George Blanda , Oilers (AFL) Joe Namath , Jets (NEA) John Hadl , Chargers (UPI)
Halfback
Clem Daniels , Raiders (AFL, AP, NEA, UPI) Bobby Burnett , Bills (NYDN)
Bobby Burnett, Bills (AFL, AP, NEA, UPI) Mike Garrett , Chiefs (NYDN)
Fullback
Jim Nance , Patriots (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Wray Carlton , Bills (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Wide receiver
Lance Alworth , Chargers (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Otis Taylor , Chiefs (AP, NEA, UPI) Art Powell , Raiders (AFL, NYDN) Bob Scarpitto , Broncos (AFL)
George Sauer Jr. , Jets (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN) Art Powell, Raiders (AP, NEA, UPI) Otis Taylor, Chiefs (AFL, NYDN)
Tight end
Fred Arbanas , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Al Denson , Broncos (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Tackle
Jim Tyrer , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Ron Mix , Chargers (AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Sherman Plunkett , Jets (AFL)
Stew Barber , Bills (AFL, AP, NYDN) Dick Hudson , Bills (AP, NEA, UPI) Walter Suggs , Oilers (NEA, UPI) Ron Mix, Chargers (AFL) Sherman Plunkett, Jets (NYDN)
Guard
Billy Shaw , Bills (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Wayne Hawkins , Raiders (NEA, NYDN, UPI) Bob Talamini , Oilers (AFL) Ed Budde , Chiefs (AP)
Ed Budde, Chiefs (AFL, NEA, NYDN) Bob Talamini, Oilers (NEA, NYDN, UPI) Wayne Hawkins, Raiders (AFL, AP) Sam DeLuca , Jets (AP, UPI)
Center
Jim Otto , Raiders (AFL, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Jon Morris , Patriots (AP)
Jon Morris, Patriots (AFL, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Jim Otto, Raiders (AP)
Defense
Position
First team
Second team
Defensive end
Jerry Mays , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Ron McDole , Bills (AP, NYDN) Verlon Biggs , Jets (NEA, UPI) Larry Eisenhauer , Patriots (AFL)
Verlon Biggs, Jets (AFL, AP, NYDN) Larry Eisenhauer, Patriots (NEA, UPI) Ron McDole, Bills (NEA, UPI) Tom Day , Bills (AFL) Ike Lassiter , Raiders (AP) Ben Davidson , Raiders (NYDN)
Defensive tackle
Houston Antwine , Patriots (AFL, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Buck Buchanan , Chiefs (AFL, AP, UPI) Tom Sestak , Bills (NEA, NYDN) Jim Dunaway , Bills (AP) Tom Keating , Raiders (NEA)
Tom Keating, Raiders (AFL, AP, UPI) Buck Buchanan, Chiefs (NEA, NYDN) Jim Dunaway, Bills (NYDN, UPI) Tom Sestak, Bills (AFL) Houston Antwine, Patriots (AP) Jim Lee Hunt , Patriots (NEA)
Middle linebacker
Nick Buoniconti , Boston (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Sherrill Headrick , Chiefs (AP, NEA, NYDN) Harry Jacobs , Bills (AFL, UPI)
Outside linebacker
Bobby Bell , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Mike Stratton , Bills (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
E. J. Holub , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NYDN, UPI) John Bramlett , Broncos (AP, NEA, UPI) Frank Buncom , Chargers (AFL) Johnny Baker , Oilers (NEA) Larry Grantham , Jets (NYDN)
Cornerback
Butch Byrd , Bills (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Dave Grayson , Raiders (AFL, NEA, NYDN) Kent McCloughan , Raiders (AP, UPI)
Speedy Duncan , Chargers (AFL, AP, NYDN, UPI) Kent McCloughan, Raiders (AFL, NEA) Dave Grayson, Raiders (AP, UPI) Willie Brown , Broncos (NEA) Johnny Sample , Jets (NYDN)
Safety
Johnny Robinson , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI) Kenny Graham , Chargers (AP, NEA, UPI) George Saimes , Bills (AFL, NYDN)
Bobby Hunt , Chiefs (AFL, AP, NEA) Kenny Graham, Chargers (AFL, NYDN) Hagood Clarke , Bills (AP, NYDN) George Saimes, Bills (NEA, UPI) Willie West , Dolphins (UPI)
Source :[ 5]
References
^ "Chiefs Land 7 On All-AFL Team" . Valley Morning Star . United Press International. December 16, 1966. p. 10. Retrieved November 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "K.C. Grabs 9 Spots On All-AFL Team" . The Index-Journal . Associated Press. December 20, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved November 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Olderman, Murray (December 20, 1966). "Chiefs Dominate All-AFL Selections" . The Kingston Daily Freeman . Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 27. Retrieved November 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Stellino, Vito (December 29, 1966). "Nance, Tyrer Pace All-AFL" . Cumberland Evening Times . United Press International. p. 16. Retrieved November 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "1966 AFL All-Pros" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved December 3, 2023 .