The Broncos on Wednesday morning held a press conference at Dove Valley to announce that Gene Mingo — one of the most versatile players in club history — will be the team’s honorary captain for Week 5′s Legacy Game against the Boston Patriots.
Having Mingo, of all players, be the team’s honorary captain for the game holds much significance.
On Friday night, Sept. 9, 1960, the Broncos and Patriots squared off in the first-ever American Football League game, and Mingo made his mark on that contest — recording the first-ever punt return for a touchdown in AFL history to help the Broncos squeeze out a come-from-behind, 13-10 victory in Boston.
With the game hanging in the balance, Mingo can still recall catching the ball at his own 24-yard line and slicing his way downfield for the 76-yard touchdown like it was yesterday.
“When it came time for me to be back there for that punt, I can visualize it right now, right here, how I caught it,” he said. “I made a couple steps to my left, went up the field a little bit, cut back to the right and the blocking was just perfect going down the sideline.”
