Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Jerry Mays
Jerry Mays (born 1939) was an American college and professional football player from Southern Methodist University, where he had been a co-captain and an All-Southwest Conference defensive tackle. The Dallas Texans drafted Mays in 1961,in the fifth round. Mays was also drafted by the Vikings, but chose to play in the American Football League, near his home in Dallas. He was a force at end on the Texans' and Kansas City Chiefs' vaunted defensive line, after starting his professional career playing defensive tackle.
A six-time AFL All-Star, Jerry Mays was selected to the All-Star team at two different positions: at defensive tackle in 1962 and 1964, and at defensive end in 1965 through 1968.
An emotional, durable competitor with speed, agility and strong "second effort", Mays played in 126 straight games for the AFL Texans and Chiefs, and once recovered and returned a Jets' fumble 58 yards for a touchdown. He was not only an AFL player but an AFL fan, who empathized with Titans players when their paychecks were late and celebrated with Broncos players when they burned their infamous vertically striped socks. His contribution to the Chiefs' strong defense helped them throttle the Vikings in the final AFL-NFL World Championship game after the 1969 season.
Mays is a member of the All-time All-AFL Team , and the American Football League Hall of Fame. Mays died of cancer in 1994.
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