Age: 22
College: Morgan
State
Height: 6’3” Weight: 220
Prelude:
With veteran
Billy Cannon coming up on his 11th season and backup Roger Hagberg
having died tragically in an auto accident, the Raiders were in the market for
a tight end. They took Chester in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft (24th
overall), impressed with the speed he brought to the position. Cannon was let
go, thus making room for the rookie in the starting lineup.
1970 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 42
Most
receptions, game – 8 (for 110 yds.) vs. Washington 10/19
Yards – 556
Most yards,
game - 110 (on 8 catches) vs. Washington 10/19
Average gain
– 13.2
TDs – 7 [9,
tied with Fred Biletnikoff, Roy Jefferson & Jack Snow]
100-yard
receiving games – 2
Scoring
TDs – 7 [18,
tied with nine others]
Points – 42
Postseason: 2 G
Pass
receptions – 4
Most pass
receptions, game – 2 vs. Miami, AFC Divisional playoff; at Baltimore, AFC
Championship
Pass
receiving yards – 83
Most
receiving yards, game – 47 vs. Miami
Average yards
per reception – 20.8
Pass
Receiving TDs - 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL Rookie of
the Year: NEA
2nd
team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Raiders went 8-4-2
to finish first in the AFC West while leading the NFL in total offense (4829
yards). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Miami Dolphins (21-14). Lost AFC
Championship to Baltimore Colts (27-17).
Aftermath:
Chester went
to the Pro Bowl after the 1971 and ’72 seasons, although his numbers were below
those of his first year. But while his output was 62 catches over those two
seasons, 15 of them went for touchdowns. He was dealt to the Baltimore Colts
for DE Bubba Smith in 1973 and, over the course of five seasons with them,
caught 148 passes for 2122 yards and 11 TDs. Chester returned to the Raiders in
1978 and, in ’79, achieved NFL career highs in pass receptions (58) and yards
(712) while earning a fourth Pro Bowl selection. His second stint with the
Raiders came to an end in 1981, but in ’83 he played for the Oakland Invaders
of the USFL and caught 68 passes for 951 yards and five TDs to earn All-League
honors, after which he retired. For his 12-year NFL career, he had 364 pass
receptions for 5013 yards (13.8 avg.) and 48 touchdowns.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
[Updated 2/4/14]
[Updated 2/4/14]
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