Remembering Tommy Brooker And The 1962 AFL Title Game

Today, a day before the Kansas City Chiefs nee Dallas Texans host the Tennessee Titans nee Houston Oilers, 57 plus years later, in another playoff game, I note the passing of and remember the 1962 game hero, Tommy Brooker.

Mr.Brooker, a member of Bear Bryant’s first title team with Alabama the year before, (1961), kicked the winning field goal early in the second overtime period, lifting the Dallas Texans (20-17) at Houston, vs the Oilers, the team that won the first two AFL crowns in 1960 and 1961.

That gave the Texans the 1962 AFL crown, in their last game before moving to Kansas City and becoming the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tommy Brooker died in 2019 and perhaps he will be cited during tomorrow’s telecast of the AFC title tilt between Tennessee and Kansas City. He certainly should be.

Click below for a nice tribute to Tommy from writer Ian McNair.

Tommy Brooker Was Good Player And Good Man

Please click above to see Tommy Brooker’s game and AFL Title winning field goal in the 1962 game.

There was no Super Bowl then and the Texans had an “all the way” AFL crown.

Tomorrow’s winner in the AFC Title Game between the same franchises that played in the 1962 game, will advance to the 54th Super Bowl to face the winner of tomorrow’s NFC Title game between visiting Green Bay (Packers) and the San Francisco 49ers.