Age: 24 (Dec.
18)
2nd
season in pro football & with Oilers
College: Oklahoma
State
Height: 6’1” Weight: 185
Prelude:
Banfield was
a running back as well as defensive back in college and gained 1183 yards from
scrimmage over three seasons and scored 15 touchdowns. Undrafted in 1960, he signed
with the Oilers of the new AFL, who originally tried him in the offensive
backfield before shifting him to cornerback. He showed promise as a rookie,
intercepting three passes although hindered by ankle and leg injuries. While
lacking ideal speed, he proved to be adept as a ball hawk and at breaking up
passes.
1961 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 8 [4, tied with Bob Zeman]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 vs. Oakland 9/9, vs. San Diego 12/3
Int. return
yards – 136 [7]
Most int.
return yards, game – 58 (on 1 int.) vs. NY Titans 11/19
Int. TDs – 0
Postseason: 1 G (AFL Championship at San Diego)
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 0
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-AFL: League, AP, UPI, Sporting News
2nd
team All-AFL: NY Daily News
Oilers went 10-3-1
to finish first in the AFL Eastern Division. Won AFL Championship over San
Diego Chargers (10-3).
Aftermath:
Banfield
followed up by being a consensus first-team All-AFL selection in each of the
next two seasons, although a knee injury limited his use during the second half
of the 1963 season and he split time with Mark Johnston. He missed the entire
’64 season while rehabbing from the injury and, while he returned, he was a
lesser performer in 1965, his last season. In an outstanding, if
injury-shortened, career with the Oilers, Banfield intercepted 27 passes and
received first-team All-AFL honors three times.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
