That heritage will be saluted this year by the NFL as part of 16 "Legacy Games" recognizing the 50th anniversary of the founding of the American Football League.

The Cowboys will face the Kansas City Chiefs, who began as the Dallas Texans from 1960-62. The game is Oct. 11 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Texans , founded and owned by the late Lamar Hunt, won the AFL title in 1962 but moved to Kansas City the next season.

When they meet the Cowboys, the Chiefs will wear uniforms modeled after the Texans' championship team - red and white colors with red helmets featuring an outline of the state of Texas.

The Cowboys will host one of the Legacy Games on Nov. 26, when the Oakland Raiders, original AFL members, visit for their first Thanksgiving Day game since 1970.

The Legacy series begins Aug. 9 with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, pitting two original AFL teams - the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans, who began play as the Houston Oilers.

Chuck Carlton

2009 AFL Legacy games

Date Game TV (Time)

Sun., Aug. 9 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio:

Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans (Houston Oilers) Ch. 5 (7:00)

Mon., Sept. 14 Buffalo at New England Patriots

(Boston Patriots) ESPN (6:00)

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders ESPN (9:15)

Sun., Sept. 27 Tennessee at New York Jets (Titans of New York) Ch. 11 (noon)

Sun., Oct. 11 Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs

(Dallas Texans ) Ch. 4 (noon)

New England at Denver Broncos Ch. 11 (3:15)

Sun., Oct. 18 Tennessee at New England Ch. 11 (3:15)

Mon., Oct. 19 Denver at San Diego ESPN (7:30)

Sun., Oct. 25 San Diego at Kansas City Ch. 11 (noon)

New York Jets at Oakland Ch. 11 (3:05)

Sun., Nov. 1 Miami Dolphins at New York Jets Ch. 11 (noon)

Sun., Nov. 15 Buffalo at Tennessee Ch. 11 (noon)

Kansas City at Oakland Ch. 11 (3:05)

Thu., Nov. 26 Oakland at Cowboys Ch. 11 (3:15)

Sun., Nov. 29 Miami at Buffalo Ch. 11 (noon)

Sun., Dec. 6 New England at Miami Ch. 5 (7:20)