Gene Mingo
Kick returner | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | September 22, 1938 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 216 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Akron (OH) South |
| College: | None |
| Undrafted: | 1960 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
Eugene L. Mingo (born September 22, 1938) is an American former professional
He played youth football at the behest of a cousin, Dean Newby. After quitting, his cousin was angry. He called Gene a quitter, and tried to get him to come back. Shortly after, his cousin lost his life when mauled by a dog. When his aunt called him a quitter, too, he went back to football. After missing a couple of years to care for his terminally ill mother, he returned to school and found out that he excelled at football.[3]
He later dropped out of high school and joined the Navy where he played for a Navy team and was a star. After his discharge, he returned to Akron and worked at the Goodyear plant. Reading the paper in the lead up to the inaugural 1960 season, he read about a former opponent who had played for the Army who was signed by the Denver Broncos. He wrote them a letter and received a contract. He made the team without having played any college football.[4]
In
.On September 14, 2014, Mingo, along with
See also
References
- ^ Moss, Irv (May 8, 2014). "Broncos welcome Gene Mingo to Ring of Fame". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ Whitley, David (September 7, 2012). "Justin Medlock adds to list of black NFL kickers, but he's not a trend-setter". Sporting News. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ "Gene Mingo: A Hall of Fame Life".
- ^ "Gene Mingo: A Hall of Fame Life".
