Ken Houston

Kenneth Ray Houston, born November 12, 1944, in Lufkin, Texas, is an American former professional football player who played safety in the American Football League and the National Football League. The third of four children, he was raised by his father, Herod, who owned a dry cleaning business. Houston attended Dunbar High School, where he played basketball and football.

The only school to recruit him out of high school was Prairie View A&M College. Bishop College initially offered a scholarship but withdrew it, as the school had not yet been desegregated. At Prairie View A&M, Houston played briefly at center before becoming the starting linebacker, earning All-American honors in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He also ran track and competed on the swim team.

Houston began his professional career with the AFL's Houston Oilers, playing for the club from 1967 through 1969. Following the AFL–NFL merger, he remained with the Oilers from 1970 through 1972 before joining the Washington Redskins, where he played until 1980.

Houston was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.