Highlighted Year: Gary Garrison, 1970

Wide Receiver, San Diego Chargers

 Age: 26

5^th season in pro football & with Chargers

College: San Diego State

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 193

Prelude:

Garrison gained 1272 pass receiving yards in San Diego State’s air-oriented offense, setting a school record with 26 touchdowns. He twice received Little All-American honors and appeared in the East-West Shrine Game as a senior. Garrison was a future draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chargers in 1965. Joining the Chargers in 1966, he moved into the starting lineup as split end in place of the injured Don Norton across from star flanker Lance Alworth during his 1966 rookie season, catching 46 passes for 642 yards (14.0 avg.) and four TDs. The speedy Garrison followed up with 44 receptions for 772 yards (17.5 avg.) in 1967 and 52 catches for 1103 yards (21.2 avg.) and 10 TDs in ’68 when he was selected to the AFL All-Star Game. Plagued by injuries in 1969, Garrison’s numbers dropped to a still-impressive 40 catches for 804 yards (20.1 avg.) with 7 TDs.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 44 [16, tied with four others]         

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 165 yds.) at Chicago 10/18

Yards – 1006 [4]

Most yards, game – 165 (on 8 catches) at Chicago 10/18

Average gain – 22.9 [4]

TDs – 12 [2, tied with Gene Washington, 1^st in AFC]

100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 4

Yards – 7

Average gain – 1.8

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 12 [3, tied with Ron Johnson & Gene Washington, 1^st in AFC]

Points – 72 [20, tied with Ron Johnson & Gene Washington]

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Chargers went 5-6-3 to finish third in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Garrison followed up with Pro Bowl seasons in 1971 and ‘72, catching 42 passes for 889 yards (21.2 avg.) and 6 TDs in ’71 and 52 for 744 yards (14.3 avg.) and 7 scores in ’72. He spent a total of 11 seasons with San Diego, until 1976, catching a total of 404 passes for 7533 yards (18.6 avg.) and 58 touchdowns. He appeared in one game with the Houston Oilers in 1977 after being let go by the Chargers and caught one last pass for five yards to close out his career. Garrison received second-team All-AFL or All-AFC honors twice and was chosen to three 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