View source for Dave Grayson

{{Short description|American football player (1939–2017)}}
{{other people||David Grayson (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Dave Grayson
| image         =
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| number        = 45
| position      = [[Cornerback]], [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]]
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1939|6|6|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[San Diego, California]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2017|7|29|1939|6|6}}
| death_place   = 
| height_ft     = 5
| height_in     = 10
| weight_lb     = 187
| high_school   = [[Lincoln High School (San Diego)|Lincoln]] (San Diego)
| college       = [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]] (1959–1960)
| undraftedyear = 1961
| pastteams     =
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1961}})*
* [[History of the Kansas City Chiefs#Early years in Dallas|Dallas Texans]] / [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1961 American Football League season|1961]]–[[1964 American Football League season|1964]])
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ([[1965 American Football League season|1965]]–{{NFL Year|1970}})
| highlights    =
* 2× [[American Football League playoffs|AFL champion]] ([[1962 American Football League Championship Game|1962]], [[1967 American Football League Championship Game|1967]])
* 4× First-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] ([[1964 All-AFL Team|1964]], [[1965 All-AFL Team|1965]], [[1968 All-AFL Team|1968]], [[1969 All-AFL Team|1969]])
* Second-team All-AFL ([[1966 All-AFL Team|1966]])
* 6× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1962–1966, 1969)
* [[List of National Football League annual interceptions leaders#AFL annual interceptions leaders|AFL interceptions leader]] (1968)
* [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]]
; AFL record
* Most career interceptions: 47
| statleague    = AFL/NFL
| statlabel1    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1    = 48
| statlabel2    = Interception yards
| statvalue2    = 933
| statlabel3    = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3    = 2
| statlabel4    = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue4    = 1
| statlabel5    = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue5    = 5
| statlabel6    = Return yards
| statvalue6    = 2,839
| statlabel7    = Return touchdowns
| statvalue7    = 1
| pfr           = GrayDa00 
}}

'''David Lee Grayson''' (June 6, 1939 – July 29, 2017) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[cornerback]] and [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] who played in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[History of the Kansas City Chiefs#Early years in Dallas|Dallas Texans]] / [[Kansas City Chiefs]] and the [[Oakland Raiders]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon Webfoots]].

==Early life==
Grayson attended [[San Diego High School]], playing [[running back]] and [[defensive back]]. As a sophomore, he helped his team achieve an 11-0-1 record, while outscoring opponents 382-65 and being awarded the mythical National championship by the National Sports News Service. After the season he transferred to [[Lincoln High School (San Diego)|Lincoln High School]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/nfl/sd-sp-dave-grayson-raiders-lincoln-dead-20170801-story.html | title=Dave Grayson, San Diego prep and AFL star, dies at 78 | date=August 2017 | access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>

After graduating from high school he went on to play at [[San Diego City College]]. Besides football, in [[track & field|track]] he was a part of the [[4 × 200 metres relay]] team that set a national junior college record.

As a junior, he transferred to the [[University of Oregon]], where he played [[Offense (sports)|offensive]] and [[Defense (sports)|defensive]] [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]].

In 1982, he was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]]. In 2010, he was inducted into the [[Breitbard Hall of Fame]].

==Professional career==
In [[1961 NFL season|1961]], he was signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] by the [[Dallas Cowboys]],<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19610804&id=NokRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3380,465459&hl=es | title=Grayson on Defense | access-date=February 3, 2018}}</ref> but because head coach [[Tom Landry]] felt he lacked size for the physical play that was needed in NFL at the time, Chief talent scout [[Gil Brandt]] called the AFL's [[History of the Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]] head coach [[Hank Stram]] and suggested he give Grayson a look.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81f9b25d/article/few-recognize-value-of-speed-more-than-raiders-davis | title=Few recognize value of speed more than Raiders' Davis | website=[[NFL.com]] | access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>

Grayson made the team and played four years with the [[History of the Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]]/[[Kansas City Chiefs]]. In [[1961 AFL season|1961]], he set the franchise and AFL record for the longest interception return with a 99-yarder against the [[New York Titans (AFL)|New York Titans]]. In [[1961 AFL season|1961]], he also led the league in kickoff returns. In [[1962 AFL season|1962]] and [[1963 AFL season|1963]], he finished second in the league in kickoff returns. In [[1965 AFL season|1965]], he was traded to the [[History of the Oakland Raiders|Oakland Raiders]] in exchange for [[cornerback]] [[Fred Williamson]].

Grayson held the AFL record for longest [[interception]] return for a [[touchdown]], 99 yards, against the [[History of the New York Jets|New York Titans]] in [[1961 AFL season|1961]]. He had an interception off [[George Blanda]] in the Texans' [[1962 American Football League Championship Game|1962 double-overtime championship game]] victory over the defending AFL champion [[History of the Tennessee Titans|Houston Oilers]]. Grayson was an [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]] six times, with the Texans/Chiefs in [[1962 AFL season|1962]], [[1963 AFL season|1963]] and [[1964 AFL season|1964]], and with the Raiders in [[1965 AFL season|1965]], [[1966 AFL season|1966]] and [[1969 AFL season|1969]].

In [[1967 AFL season|1967]], he was moved from right [[cornerback]] to [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]]. He made a 48-yard return with the opening [[Kickoff (American football)|kickoff]] against the Oilers in the [[1967 American Football League Championship Game|1967 AFL Championship Game]], helping his team win the game and reach [[Super Bowl II]]. In [[1968 AFL season|1968]], he led the AFL with 10 interceptions. His 29 interceptions rank seventh all-time in Raiders history.

Grayson is the all-time AFL leader in interceptions with 47, for a 20-yard return average and 5 touchdowns, and he averaged 25.4 yards on 110 kickoff returns. He is a member of the [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]].

Despite his accomplishments, Grayson has yet to be inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].  He remains the only first-team defensive back from the AFL All-Time Team to not be selected.

In 2017, the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Grayson to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2017.htm|title=PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2017|access-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020123531/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2017.htm|archive-date=October 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
After football he opened different businesses, which included one of the biggest nightclubs in Southeast San Diego during the seventies. He also was involved with organizations like the Boys Club, YMCA and the Committee for Community Involvement of Black Athletes.

Grayson died on July 29, 2017.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Remembering-Former-Raider-Dave-Grayson/312d9765-a274-422a-b18e-a44f7515bf49 | title=Remembering Former Raider Dave Grayson | access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> His son, [[David Grayson (American football)|David Lee Grayson Jr.]] played [[linebacker]] in the [[NFL]] from 1987 to 1990 with the [[History of the Cleveland Browns|Cleveland Browns]] and in 1991 with the [[History of the San Diego Chargers|San Diego Chargers]].<ref name=Profootballhof.com>{{cite web|title=Fathers and sons that have played in the NFL |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/UserFiles/file/FATHER-SON_Oct_10_2012.pdf |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=July 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020074256/http://www.profootballhof.com/UserFiles/file/FATHER-SON_Oct_10_2012.pdf |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{1962 Dallas Texans}}
{{1967 Oakland Raiders}}
{{American Football League season interception leaders}}
{{AFL1960s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grayson, Dave}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:Players of American football from San Diego]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:San Diego City Knights football players]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks football players]]
[[Category:Dallas Texans (AFL) players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Time Team]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:San Diego High School alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]