Age: 34
13th
season in pro football, 1st in USFL & with Invaders
College: Morgan
State
Height: 6’3” Weight: 232
Prelude:
In the market
for a tight end, the Raiders took Chester in the first round of the 1970 NFL
draft (24th overall), impressed with the speed he brought to the
position. He moved directly into the starting lineup and responded by catching
42 passes for 556 yards (13.2 avg.) and seven touchdowns, receiving Rookie of
the Year honors from NEA and second-team All-AFC as well as Pro Bowl
recognition. Chester went to the Pro Bowl after the 1971 and ’72 seasons, after
which he also received first-team All-AFC honors, 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 the
Colts, 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 after sitting out a year he signed
with the Invaders of the new USFL for the Spring of ’83.
1983 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 18 games
[Bracketed numbers
indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 68
[4]
Most
receptions, game – 7 (for 101 yds.) at Michigan 3/19, (for 120 yds.) at Denver
3/28, (for 100 yds.) at Los Angeles 4/3
Yards – 951
[7]
Most yards,
game – 120 (on 7 catches) at Denver 3/28
Average gain
– 14.0 [17]
TDs – 5 [10,
tied with eight others]
100-yard
receiving games – 3
Scoring
TDs – 5
Points – 30
Postseason: 1 G (USFL Semifinal playoff at
Michigan)
Pass
receptions – 4
Pass
receiving yards – 41
Average yards
per reception – 10.3
Pass
Receiving TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly,
Pro Football Weekly
Invaders went
9-9 to finish first in the USFL Pacific Division. Lost USFL Semifinal playoff
to Michigan Panthers (37-21).
Aftermath:
Chester retired
following his lone USFL season. For his 12-year NFL career, he caught 364 passes
for 5013 yards (13.8 avg.) and 48 touchdowns and was chosen to four Pro Bowls.
--
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
