Al “Hoagy” Carmichael started his career playing for some of the most distinguished football programs in the country.

After spending time with the Marine Corps and playing service football, he competed collegiately at the University of Southern California, where he played in the same backfield as Frank Gifford. He even caught the winning touchdown in USC’s 7-0 win against Wisconsin in the 1953 Rose Bowl. From there, he went on to spend six years playing for the Green Bay Packers, a franchise typically referred to as the first dynasty of the NFL. He is now part of the Packers Hall of Fame.

Then in 1960, Carmichael joined the Broncos, taking what some would consider a step down at the time — moving onto a brand new team in an upstart league.

But Carmichael felt otherwise, and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“If I had to do it again, I would do it again, because I think it was one of the greater things I experienced, being on a new team, starting out in a whole new league,” he said. “Not everybody gets that opportunity. I feel real honored being a member of that 1960 team.”