ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti, bˈɑːtʃən wʌz ɐpɹˈoʊtʃt baɪ skˈaʊts ʌvðə nˈuː ˈʌpstɑːɹt ɐmˈɛɹɪkən fˈʊtbɔːl lˈiːɡ ˌeɪˌɛfˈɛl ænd sˈaɪnd ɐ kˈɑːntɹækt fɔːɹ dˈɑːlɚ sˈɪks,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ tə plˈeɪ fɚðə lˌɑːs ˈændʒəlɪs tʃˈɑːɹdʒɚz ˌʌndɚ hˈɛd kˈoʊtʃ sˈɪd ɡˈɪlmən æz ɐ stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ lˈaɪnbækɚ.
In 1960, Botchan was approached by scouts of the new upstart American Football League (AFL) and signed a contract for $6,000 to play for the Los Angeles Chargers under head coach Sid Gillman as a starting linebacker.