Age: 28 (Nov.
4)
7th
season in pro football & with Packers
College: San
Diego State
Height: 6’0” Weight: 190
Prelude:
Following a
college career that was capped by receiving All-America honors and being named
MVP of the East-West Shrine Game, Buchanon was taken by the Packers in the
first round of the 1972 NFL draft (seventh overall) and moved directly into the
starting lineup. He combined with Ken Ellis to create a fast and effective
cornerback tandem and was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the
Associated Press and NFC Rookie of the Year by the NEA. Buchanon suffered a
broken leg six games into the 1973 season that cost him the remainder of the
year but he still received Pro Bowl recognition. He was chosen again in ’74 but
once again broke his leg two games into the 1975 season. Buchanon returned to
spend two injury-free years with the Packers in 1976 and ’77 and intercepted
four passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
1978 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 9 [2, tied with Ken Stone, 1st in NFC]
Most
interceptions, game – 4 at San Diego 9/24
Int. return
yards – 93 [20]
Most int.
return yards, game – 77 (on 4 int.) at San Diego 9/24
Int. TDs – 1 [4,
tied with many others]
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly
2nd
team All-NFL: NEA
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Packers went 8-7-1
to finish second in the NFC Central, their first season with a winning record
in six years.
Aftermath:
Having played
out his option, Buchanon moved on to San Diego in 1979 where he was reunited
with his college coach, Don Coryell. He played four seasons for the Chargers,
until 1982, and retired with a total of 28 interceptions (21 of them with the
Packers). Buchanon was named to a total of three Pro Bowls and received All-NFL
honors once.
--
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
