Highlighted Year: Carlos Carson, 1983

Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs

Age: 25 (Dec. 28)

4^th season in pro football & with Chiefs

College: LSU

Height: 5’11” Weight: 174

Prelude:

Carson caught 89 passes for 1728 yards (19.4 avg.) and 14 touchdowns in college and was chosen by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1980 NFL draft. He was used primarily to return kickoffs in his first two seasons, catching just 12 passes. Carson saw more action at wide receiver during the strike-interrupted 1982 season, coming on strong in the last three games and catching 27 passes for 494 yards (18.3 avg.) and two touchdowns.

1983 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 80 [5] 

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 88 yds.) at Houston 10/23

Yards – 1351 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 165 (on 7 catches) at San Diego 12/11

Average gain – 16.9 [12]

TDs – 7 [13, tied with five others]

100-yard receiving games – 6

Rushing

Attempts – 2

Yards – 20

Average gain – 10.0

TDs – 0

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 1

Yards – 48

TD – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1  

Yards – 12

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 7

Points – 42

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Chiefs went 6-10 to finish fifth in the AFC West while ranking second in the conference in passing yards (4341).

Aftermath:

Carson followed up his breakout season with 57 catches for 1078 yards (18.9 avg.) and four TDs in 1984, becoming the first receiver in franchise history to put together consecutive thousand-yard totals. He had 47 receptions for 843 yards (17.9 avg.) and four touchdowns in an injury-plagued ’85 season and leg injuries in 1986 resulted in six missed games, although he still averaged 23.7 yards on his 21 catches. Carson bounced back with 55 receptions for 1044 yards (19.0 avg.) and 7 TDs in 1987 and was selected to the Pro Bowl. While he had 46 catches in ’88, his yards-per-catch were just 15.5 yards, his lowest as a starter, as he compiled 711 yards. He split 1989 between the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, catching eight passes in his last season. Overall, he caught 353 passes for 6372 yards (18.1 avg.) and 33 touchdowns, with all but one reception for 12 yards coming with the Chiefs. Carson was a first-team All-AFC choice once and was chosen to two Pro Bowls.

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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