Houston Antwine facts for kids
| No. 65, 75 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | April 11, 1939 Louise, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Died: | December 26, 2011 (aged 72) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 270 lb (122 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Manassas (Memphis, Tennessee) |
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| College: | Southern Illinois | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1961 / Round: 3 / Pick: 38 | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1961 / Round: 8 / Pick: 63 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Houston J. Antwine (born April 11, 1939 – died December 26, 2011) was a talented American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for 12 seasons. He was part of both the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
Contents
Early Life and College Sports
Houston Antwine was a great athlete even before he became a professional. He played college football and wrestled for Southern Illinois University. He was so good at football that he was named a "Little All-American" in 1960. His team, the Southern Illinois Salukis, even won their conference championship that year!
Antwine was also a strong wrestler. He finished second in the NAIA heavyweight division. In 1979, he was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
Houston Antwine began his professional career in 1961. He was first chosen by the Houston Oilers in the AFL draft. However, he was soon traded to the Boston Patriots. He didn't play much in his first two seasons.
Becoming an All-Star
By 1963, Antwine became a key player for the Patriots. He earned his first of six straight All-Star selections that year. The Patriots had a strong season, tying for the best record in their division. They won a playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. This was Antwine's only playoff experience. The team later lost to the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Championship Game.
Playing Style and Nickname
Houston Antwine was nicknamed "Twine." He was known for being very athletic and quick on his feet. Other players, like Hall of Famer Billy Shaw, said he was one of the best at rushing the passer. He was so good that opposing teams often needed two players to block him. This helped his teammates, like "Earthquake" Jim Lee Hunt, get through the line. His teammate Gino Cappelletti said Antwine had the quickness of a cat.
Key Moments and Achievements
On December 12, 1965, Antwine made his only interception as a player. He returned the ball for two yards in a win against the Denver Broncos.
In 1968, Antwine had an amazing game against the Buffalo Bills. He sacked their quarterback, Dan Darragh, three times! This earned him the AFL Defensive Player of the Week award. That year, he also had his career high in sacks with 7.5. He also made a career-high ten tackles in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 1972, Antwine was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He played nine games for them before ending his career.
Legacy and Hall of Fame
During Antwine's playing days, sacks were not officially recorded. However, it is known that he had 39 sacks in his 142 games with the Patriots. He led the team in sacks for three straight seasons from 1967 to 1969.
In 1970, Houston Antwine was named to the American Football League All-Time Team. He was recognized as one of the best defensive tackles in AFL history. After being a finalist for many years, Antwine was finally inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2015.
Personal Life
Houston Antwine passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 26, 2011. He died from heart failure. Sadly, his wife, Evelyn, passed away from lung cancer less than a day later.
See also
- List of American Football League players
