Garland Boyette

Garland Dean Boyette is a former professional linebacker in the American Football League for the Houston Oilers and in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals (1962–63) and the Houston Oilers (1966–72). In 1967, he was the regular starting middle linebacker for the Oilers and joined Willie Lanier of the Kansas City Chiefs as the first African-Americans to play that position in professional football. He played in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes from 1964 to 1965. In 1974, he finished he played for the Houston Texans of the WFL. Midway through the 1974 season the Texans moved to Shreveport and became the Steamer. Boyette finished his career with the Shreveport Steamer of the WFL in 1975. Boyette is the uncle of former Oiler teammate, and San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Ernie Ladd (despite Ladd being born two years prior to Boyette).