Sports Then and Now

The 1965 American Football League (AFL) All-Star Game was unlike any other in professional football history. Scheduled to be played in New Orleans on January 16, 1965, the game became a defining moment in the civil rights movement within sports. Instead of being remembered for what happened on the field, the 1965 AFL All-Star Game is remembered for what didn’t happen—the players’ refusal to participate due to racial discrimination they faced upon arriving in New Orleans. This protest, led by the league’s African American players, forced the AFL to relocate the game to Houston, marking one of the earliest instances of professional athletes taking a stand against racial injustice.

The AFL and the Significance of the 1965 All-Star Game

The AFL, founded in 1960 as a rival to the NFL, was known for being more progressive in its approach to racial integration. While the NFL had long-standing unofficial policies that limited Black players in certain positions, the AFL was more open to signing Black talent, giving opportunities to players who had been overlooked by the more established league. The 1965 AFL All-Star Game was meant to be a showcase of the league’s brightest stars, including many of its top Black athletes.

The game was originally set to take place at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, a city that had never hosted a major professional football event. For the AFL, choosing New Orleans as the host city was strategic—the league was looking to expand and hoped to establish a franchise in the Deep South. However, despite assurances from local officials that Black and white players would be treated equally, the reality was far different when the players arrived.

Racial Discrimination in New Orleans

When the African American players arrived in New Orleans, they quickly found themselves subjected to blatant racism. Many were denied cab service, refused entry into restaurants, and treated with open hostility by locals. This was a stark reminder that, despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964 having been passed just months earlier, segregation and discrimination were still deeply ingrained in parts of the country.

Some players initially brushed off the treatment, hoping to focus on the game. However, as more and more instances of discrimination occurred, frustration grew. Players like Cookie Gilchrist, Ernie Warlick, and Abner Haynes, who had already experienced racism throughout their careers, began discussing taking action. The tipping point came when Black players attempted to get cabs and were ignored in favor of white players or refused service outright.

At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Cookie Gilchrist was bigger than most defensive players of his era.

Unless you are a long-time follower of the Buffalo Bills or a fan of the old AFL, you probably aren’t familiar with the name of Cookie Gilchrist. However, Gilchrist, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 75, was one of the early stars of the AFL and one of the few football greats never to play in college.

Though signing high school players was against NFL rules, Cleveland Browns Coach Paul Brown was given a special exemption by Commissioner Bert Bell to give Gilchrist a tryout following his senior year at Har-Brack High School in Pennsylvania.

Gilchrist left during training camp when he was not guaranteed a roster position. Had he ended up with the Browns, he might have eventually been paired with Jim Brown and perhaps formed one of the most devastating backfields in football history.

Instead, Gilchrist spent two years in the Ontario Rugby Football Union before moving to the Canadian Football League in 1956.

Gilchrist played for three different teams during six seasons in the CFL, but at each stop he was a standout and key performer. He was a five-time All-Star as a fullback and in 1958 rushed for 1,254 yards. He also played defense and was an All-Star linebacker in 1960.

During his CFL career, Gilchrist rushed for 4,911 yards, caught passes for 1,068 yards and intercepted 12 passes.

He joined the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League for the third season of the league in 1962 and the 6-foot-3, 250 pound fullback immediately became one of the top stars in the league.

Larger than most of the defensive players who were trying to tackle him, in 1962 Gilchrist became the first player in AFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards as he gained 1,096 yards with 13 rushing touchdowns. He also kicked for the Bills that season and finished second in the league with 128 points. Read the rest of this entry →