Age: 26
5th
season in pro football, 2nd with Chargers (1st complete)
College: Florida
Height: 6’0” Weight: 183
Prelude:
Playing wide
receiver in a wishbone offense in college, Chandler caught 93 passes for 1994
yards (21.4 avg.) and 22 touchdowns, adding 353 rushing yards and six TDs in
his senior season of 1977. He received some All-American recognition after both
the 1976 and ’77 seasons and was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the first
round (third overall) of the 1978 NFL draft. Chandler caught 35 passes for 472
yards (13.5 avg.) as a rookie and broke out in 1979 with 65 receptions for 1069
yards (16.4 avg.) and six TDs, gaining selection to the Pro Bowl as well as
second-team All-NFL honors from NEA. He followed up with another solid year in
’80, catching 65 passes for 975 yards (15.0 avg.) and six touchdowns. The
Chargers obtained him during the 1981 season after having dealt disgruntled WR
John Jefferson to Green Bay, and Chandler proved to fit perfectly in the
high-powered “Air Coryell” (for Head Coach Don Coryell) passing offense. Of his
69 catches for 1142 yards and six TDs, 52 for 857 yards (16.5 avg.) and five
scores came with San Diego.
1982 Season Summary
Appeared in 8
of 9 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 49
[4, tied with Cris Collinsworth & Ozzie Newsome]
Most
receptions, game – 10 (for 260 yds.) vs. Cincinnati 12/20
Yards – 1032
[1]
Most yards,
game – 260 (on 10 catches) vs. Cincinnati 12/20
Average gain
– 21.1 [2]
TDs – 9 [1]
200-yard
receiving games – 1
100-yard
receiving games – 6
Rushing
Attempts – 5
Yards – 32
Average gain
– 6.4
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 9 [4,
tied with Wilbert Montgomery & Chuck Muncie]
Points – 54 [15,
tied with Wilbert Montgomery, Chuck Muncie & Joe Danelo]
Postseason: 2 G
Pass
receptions – 11
Most pass
receptions, game – 9 at Pittsburgh, AFC First Round playoff
Pass
receiving yards – 162
Most pass
receiving yards, game – 124 at Pittsburgh, AFC First Round playoff
Average yards
per reception – 14.7
Pass
Receiving TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Chargers went
6-3 in the strike-shortened season and were fifth seed in the AFC playoff tournament
that replaced the usual postseason format while leading the NFL in total yards
(4048), passing yards (2927), touchdowns (34), and scoring (288 points). Won
First Round playoff over Pittsburgh Steelers (31-28). Lost Second Round playoff
to Miami Dolphins (34-13).
Aftermath:
Although
hampered by a sprained foot, Chandler caught 58 passes for 845 yards (14.6
avg.) and five touchdowns in 1983 and was again selected for the Pro Bowl. He
slipped further in ’84 but bounced back with 67 catches for a career-high 1199
yards (17.9 avg.) and 10 TDs in 1985, earning another Pro Bowl trip. Following
lesser seasons in 1986 and ’87, and with the team in decline, Chandler was
traded to San Francisco in 1988 where he caught four passes in four games in
his last year. Overall, Chandler caught 559 passes for 8966 yards (16.0 avg.)
and 56 touchdowns, with 373 of those receptions for 6132 yards (16.4 avg.) and
41 TDs coming with the Chargers. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL
selection once, received second-team honors after one other season, 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
