July 11, 2014

Highlighted Year: Gary Anderson, 1984

Running Back, Tampa Bay Bandits



Age: 23 (April 18)
2nd season in pro football & with Bandits
College: Arkansas
Height: 6’0”   Weight: 180

Prelude:
An outstanding all-purpose back in college, Anderson received All-Southwestern Conference honors in 1982 and was chosen in the first round (20th overall) of the 1983 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers and in the USFL draft by the New Jersey Generals (fifth overall). The Chargers intended to convert him into a wide receiver, but Anderson expressed an interest in playing for Tampa Bay of the new spring league, and his draft rights were accordingly dealt to the Bandits. He didn’t join the team until halfway through the ’83 season but had an impact when he did, rushing for 516 yards on 97 carries (5.3 avg.) and catching 29 passes for 347 yards in eight games.

1984 Season Summary
Appeared in all 18 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 268 [4]
Most attempts, game - 26 (for 114 yds.) vs. Houston 2/26
Yards – 1008 [10]
Most yards, game – 114 yards (on 26 carries) vs. Houston 2/26
Average gain – 3.8
TDs – 19 [1]
100-yard rushing games - 2

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 66 [8] 
Most receptions, game – 7 (for 42 yds.) at Philadelphia 4/1, (for 57 yds.) at Birmingham 6/24
Yards – 682
Most yards, game – 100 (on 6 catches) vs. Houston 2/26
Average gain – 10.3
TDs – 2
100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing
Attempts – 3
Completions – 2
Yards – 44
TDs – 1
Interceptions – 1

Punt Returns
Returns – 4
Yards – 22
Average per return – 5.5
TDs – 0
Longest return – 12 yards

Scoring
TDs – 21 [1, tied with Herschel Walker]
Points – 126 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (USFL First Round playoff at Birmingham)
Rushing attempts – 8
Rushing yards – 21
Average gain rushing – 2.6
Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 3
Pass receiving yards - 19
Average yards per reception – 6.3
Pass Receiving TDs - 0

Bandits went 14-4 to finish second in the USFL Southern Division and qualify for a Wild Card playoff spot. Lost USFL First Round playoff to Birmingham Stallions (36-17).

Aftermath:
Anderson had another outstanding season in 1985, rushing for 1207 yards, catching 72 passes for another 678 yards, and scoring a total of 20 touchdowns. He was named to the official USFL All-League team and was also an All-USFL selection by The Sporting News. With the demise of the USFL, Anderson joined the Chargers during the ’85 NFL season and was a Pro Bowl honoree in 1986 after gaining 2022 all-purpose yards, including 871 on a career-high 80 catches. He had a lesser year in the strike-interrupted 1987 season while splitting time with Curtis Adams at halfback, but rushed for 1119 yards in ’88. A contract dispute led to Anderson sitting out in 1989 and he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in ’90. While he gained 1110 yards from scrimmage that year despite dealing with nagging injuries, his production dropped off significantly thereafter as he was used more as a specialty receiver out of the backfield. He finished up with Detroit, who obtained him during the ’93 season. Anderson came out of retirement in 1995 to play for the Memphis Mad Dogs of the CFL, rushing for 250 yards and catching 28 passes in his final pro season. Overall in the USFL, Anderson rushed for 2731 yards on 641 attempts (4.3 avg.), had another 1707 yards on 167 catches, and scored 45 touchdowns. In the NFL, he gained 3409 yards on the ground, 2999 on 302 pass receptions, and adding in kick returns gained 9572 all-purpose yards while scoring 32 TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970