Houston Antwine finally gets elected to Patriots' Hall of Fame
The New England Patriots have announced that defensive lineman Houston Antwine has been unanimously selected to the Patriots Hall of Fame by the senior selection committee.
Antwine played in New England for 11 seasons (1961-1971) and is tied for 10th on the team's all-time career sack list with 39. He led the Patriots in sacks for three consecutive seasons from 1967 to 1969.
13 players and coaches from the American Football League have been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, the late great DT Houston Antwine of the Boston Patriots was not one of them. A member of the 1960's All-Decade team, Antwine was selected alongside Buffalo Bills' DT Tom Sestak as starters. On the second team was Kansas City Chiefs' DT Buck Buchanan, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Houston received high praise from longtime season ticket holder, and present Patriots' owner, Bob Kraft. “In the 1960s, the defensive tackle tandem of Houston Antwine and Jim Lee Hunt was as good as any in the league." Houston was a six time ALL AFL first team selection on defense.
Having played football collegiately at Southern Illinois, Antwine was a 1961 third round draft pick of the Detroit Lions(NFL), and an eighth round selection by the Houston Oilers(AFL). Following the 1961 preseason trade from the Oilers to the Patriots, Houston missed only one game in his first 10 years with Boston. The steady DT terrorized rival ball carriers, and led one of the best defensive units in the AFL. Antwine recorded 39 QB sacks in his stellar 11 year career.
Houston played in the 1963 AFC Championship game against the San Diego Chargers. He is a member of the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team, and a deserving member of the Patriots' Hall of Fame.
It is too bad the Houston Antwine will not be present at the induction ceremony this summer. Antwine died December 26, 2011. His daughter, Regina will accept in his honor.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire. .
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