[1] His professional career began with the AFL's first training camp in 1960, and was capped the day the New York Jets stunned the NFL's Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969.

Hall of Famers George Blanda and Billy Cannon benefited from his blocking as the Oilers won the first two AFL Championships.

Talamini made first-team All-AFL in 1962 and was a regular at AFL All-Star games, selected to six straight, through 1967.

He anchored an offensive line that gave Blanda time to set passing records that would last for decades and opened holes for the likes of Cannon, Charlie Tolar, Sid Blanks and Hoyle Granger to run through.

The Oilers fell one game short in 1967, but Talamini got to realize his dream the following year when he was released and picked up by the New York Jets.