Age: 26
2nd
season in pro football & with Steelers
College: Michigan
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 195
Prelude:
Following two
years of military service during World War II, Chandnois was an all-purpose
star at Michigan State, rushing for 885 yards on 129 carries, intercepting 7
passes, and accumulating 1382 total yards as a senior in 1949, when he received
some All-American recognition. Overall, he gained 3535 all-purpose yards,
including 2103 rushing with a 6.6-yard average, and set school career records
for interceptions (20) and interception return yards (410). Chandnois was
chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 1950 NFL draft (eighth
overall). With speed and excellent running ability in the open field, he made
his biggest mark as a rookie returning kickoffs as he averaged 29.3 yards on 12
returns. His numbers were more modest on offense, where he gained 216 yards on
71 rushing attempts (3.0 avg.) and caught 7 passes for 158 yards (22.6 avg.).
1951 Season Summary
Appeared in all
12 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 108
[12]
Most
attempts, game – 17 (for 60 yds.) vs. San Francisco 10/14
Yards – 332
Most yards,
game – 76 yards (on 16 carries) at Green Bay 10/7
Yards per
attempt – 3.1
TDs – 2
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 28
[20, tied with Fred Cone, John Hoffman & Elbie Nickel]
Most
receptions, game – 6 (for 89 yds.) at Washington 12/16
Yards – 440
Most yards,
game – 104 (on 3 catches) vs. NY Giants 10/1
Yards per
catch – 15.7 [13]
TDs – 4 [12,
tied with four others]
100-yard
receiving games – 1
Passing
Attempts – 43
Completions –
16
Yards – 256
Completion
percentage – 37.2
Yards per
attempt – 6.0
TD passes – 2
[19, tied with five others]
Most TD
passes, game – 1 at Chi. Cards 10/28, vs. Green Bay 11/11
Interceptions
– 4
Passer rating
– 34.6
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 12
[15]
Yards – 390 [10]
Average per
return – 32.5 [1]
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 55 yards
Punt Returns
Returns – 12
[18, tied with Buddy Young & Vitamin Smith]
Yards – 55
Average per
return – 4.6 [19]
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 20 yards
All-Purpose
yards – 1217 [6]
Scoring
TDs – 6
Points – 36
Steelers went
4-7-1 to finish fourth in the NFL American Conference.
Aftermath:
Chandnois
again led the NFL by averaging 35.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns in 1952, two of
which were touchdowns. He also rushed for 298 yards and caught 28 passes for
370 on his way to accumulating 1378 total yards and was selected to the Pro
Bowl. His most productive season came in 1953, when he achieved career highs in
rushing attempts (123), yards (470), and pass receptions (43), and averaged
29.0 yards on 21 kickoff returns, leading the league with 1593 all-purpose
yards. Chandnois was again named to the Pro Bowl. He spent three more seasons
with the Steelers, with declining numbers due to injuries, until 1956. Overall,
he averaged 29.6 yards on 92 kickoff returns, still among the highest marks in
NFL history. Chandnois also rushed for 1934 yards on 593 carries (3.3 avg.),
caught 162 passes for 2012 yards (12.4 avg.), and averaged 4.7 yards on 66 punt
returns. In all, Chandnois accumulated 6978 all-purpose yards and scored a
total of 26 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
--
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
