Age: 23
2nd season in pro football & with Chargers
College: Arkansas
Height: 6’0” Weight: 180
Prelude:
Chosen by the Raiders in the 2nd round of the 1962 AFL draft, Alworth’s draft rights were obtained by San Diego. Due to injuries, he had a quiet rookie season, appearing in four games and catching 10 passes for 226 yards, although three of those went for touchdowns.
1963 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass Receiving
Receptions – 61 [6, tied with Charley Hennigan]
Most receptions, game – 13 (for 210 yds.) at Boston 11/10
Yards – 1205 [2]
Most yards, game - 232 (on 9 catches) at Kansas City 10/20
Average gain – 19.8 [3]
TDs – 11 [2]
200-yard receiving games - 2
100-yard receiving games - 4
Rushing
Attempts – 2
Yards – 14
Average gain – 7.0
TDs – 0
Punt Returns
Returns – 11 [8, tied with Willie West & Frank Jackson]
Yards – 120 [8]
Average per return – 10.9
TDs – 0
Longest return – 61 yards
Kickoff Returns
Returns – 10 [16, tied with Dick Westmoreland]
Yards – 216 [16]
Average per return – 21.6
TDs – 0
Longest return – 34 yards
Scoring
TDs – 11 [3]
Points – 66 [7, tied with George Blanda]
Postseason: 1 G (AFL Championship vs. Boston)
Pass receptions – 4
Pass receiving yards - 77
Average yards per reception – 19.3
Pass Receiving TDs – 1
Kickoff returns – 2
Kickoff return yards – 47
Average per return – 23.5
TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
AFL Player of the Year: UPI
1st team All-AFL: League, AP, NEA, UPI, NY Daily News
AFL All-Star Game
Chargers went 11-3 to win AFL Western Division while leading league in points scored (399), touchdowns (50), and total yardage (5145). Defeated Boston Patriots (51-10) for AFL Championship.
Aftermath:
The breakout year in 1963 was just the beginning for Alworth. It was the first of seven straight 1000-yard receiving seasons, three in which he led the AFL, and four straight (of an eventual five) years in which he reached double figures in receiving TDs (he led the league in each of the next three). Alworth led the AFL in pass receptions three times, was a consensus 1st-team All-AFL honoree for six straight years, and was selected to seven consecutive league All-Star games. Alworth spent his last two seasons (1971 and ’72) with the Dallas Cowboys. His #19 was retired by the Chargers and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1978 (the first inductee whose career was primarily in the AFL).
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/15/14]