BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN EUGENE L. MINGO A FORMER PROFESSIONAL AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER POSITION INCLUDING HALFBACK, PLACEKICKER AND RETURN SPACIALIST : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

                          BLACK           SOCIAL            HISTORY                                                                                                                                                            Eugene L. Mingo  born September 22, 1938 in Akron, Ohio  is a former professional American football player who played several positions including halfback, placekicker, and return specialist. He is widely recognized as the first African American placekicker in American football.
In 1960, he had the first punt return for a touchdown in the American Football League, for the Denver Broncos. That touchdown won the first-ever American Football League game, as the Broncos defeated the Boston Patriots. Mingo also scored the first points in Mile High Stadium, then called Bears Stadium, with an 18-yard field goal. In the 1961 season opener at War Memorial Stadium against the Buffalo Bills, Mingo threw two touchdown passes, from the halfback position, to help the Broncos win 22-10: a 50-yarder to Lionel Taylor in the first quarter, and a 52-yarder to Taylor in the third. Mingo kicked the PATs after each score. He led the American Football League in scoring as a rookie in 1960 with 123 points and in 1962 with 137 points. Mingo holds the Broncos' franchise record for the longest touchdown run, an 82-yarder against the Raiders in 1962. He also played for the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Redskins. He kicked for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 and 1970.

Gene Mingo
Born	September 22, 1938 (age 74) Akron, Ohio
Position(s)	Running back Placekicker Kick returner
College	None
Jersey #(s)	21,11,16
Career highlights
Records	Most TD passes by a halfback, game (2)
Statistics
Pro Football Reference NFL.com DatabaseFootball
Teams
1960-1964 1964, 1965 1966, 1967 1967 1969-1970	AFL Denver Broncos AFL Oakland Raiders AFL Miami Dolphins NFL Washington Redskins NFL Pittsburgh Steelers