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Lance Alworth
American football player

Lance Alworth

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
American football player
Work field
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Houston, USA
Age
84 years
Stats
Height:
183 cm
Weight:
184 lbs
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Lance Dwight Alworth (born August 3, 1940) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.He played for eleven seasons, from 1962 through 1972, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. He was the first player inducted whose playing career was principally in the AFL. Alworth is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early life

Born in Houston, Texas, Alworth was raised in Hog Chain, Mississippi. He played football at Brookhaven High School before attending the University of Arkansas. While in high school, he earned 15 letters. Alworth's sister Ann was fast enough in the 50- and 75-yard dashes in track to be invited to the Olympic Games trials, though she declined the invitation.After high school, Alworth was offered contracts by the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

College career

At Arkansas, the six-foot (1.83 m), 180-pound (82 kg) Alworth was a flanker who led all colleges in punt return yardage in 1960 and 1961. He also was a track star competing in thelong jump and running the 100 and 220-yard dashes (in 9.6 seconds and 21.2 seconds, respectively). Alworth was a three-time Academic All-American, graduating with a degree in marketing as a pre-law student. In 1962, Alworth was on multiple All-American teams: Look magazine, Associated Press, United Press International and Coaches. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Alworth is a member of the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame; he was named to the University of Arkansas' 1960's All-Decade Team, and the school's All-Century Team in 1994.

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

Alworth was chosen in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1962 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. The American Football League's Oakland Raiders selected him with their first pick (ninth overall) in the second round of the 1962 AFL Draft, and then traded his rights to the San Diego Chargers in return for halfback Bo Roberson, quarterback Hunter Enis, and offensive tackle Gene Selawski. Alworth opted to sign with the Chargers instead of the 49ers. The Chargers kept Alworth at flanker. His slender build, speed, grace, and leaping ability earned him the nickname "Bambi."

In his rookie season, Alworth had just 10 receptions in 4 games (though three were for touchdowns). His second year was a different story, as he set franchise records in receptions (61), yards (1,205), and touchdowns (11), earning the UPI's AFL Most Valuable Player award. He had 4 receptions for 77 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown, in San Diego's AFL championship win over the Boston Patriots. He was selected as an AFL Western Division All-Star for the first of seven consecutive seasons, as well as an AFL All-League flanker for the first of six seasons, selected by his peers from 1963 to 1966, and by newspaper wire services from 1967 to 1968.

Over the next six seasons (1964-69), Alworth broke his own franchise receiving records several times, and also led the league in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and total touchdowns three times each. He shattered the record for most consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards (7, previously 3, now held by Jerry Rice with 11), and was the first player with back-to-back seasons averaging 100+ receiving yards per game, both of which led the league. The 1966 season was particularly noteworthy, because he led the league in five categories. He still shares the record for the most regular season games with 200+ yards receiving (5), and had a franchise-record streak of 96 consecutive games with a reception.

Alworth formed a formidable tandem with Chargers quarterback John Hadl, and is considered by many to be the best wide receiver in all professional football during the 1960s. He is a member of the AFL All-Time Team. He was the first of only a few American Football League stars to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which like other media of the 1960s, showed a distinct bias for the NFL. Sports Illustrated even went so far as to declare Alworth the "Top Pro Receiver" in December 1965, this at a time when many claimed the AFL had inferior players. Alworth's productivity sharply declined in 1970 (35 catches for 608 yards), and he was traded to Dallas at the end of the season. See below for his numerous franchise records with the Chargers.

Dallas Cowboys

On May 19, 1971, Alworth was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, for his final two seasons. In exchange, the Chargers received Tony Liscio, Pettis Norman, and Ron East.

In Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season, he scored the game's first touchdown, which was a 7-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach in the Cowboys' 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Alworth would later call the two receptions he made in Super Bowl VI (one that converted a third and long and the other for the touchdown) the two most important catches of his career.

Professional career statistics

League leader* = Pro-bowl+ = All-Pro team
ReceivingRushingPunt returnsKickoff returns
YearTmGRecYdsTDY/GRushYdsTDRetYdsTDRtYdsTDAll-prp ydsTotal TDsFmb
1962SD410226356.5117030
1963*+SD14611,2051186.121401112001021601,555110
1964*+SD13611,235139536021818901,484153
1965*+SD14691,60214114.43-120142
1966*+SD13731,38313106.43100130
1967*+SD11521,010991.815090
1968*+SD14681,3121093.73180100
1969*SD14641,003471.6525040
1970SD1435608443.440
1971DAL1234487240.62-10020
1972DAL1415195213.912020
Career13754210,2668574.9241292875

Source:

Legacy

Alworth finished his 11 AFL/NFL seasons with 543 receptions for 10,266 yards.He also rushed for 129 yards, returned 29 punts for 309 yards, gained 216 yards on 10 kickoff returns, and scored 87 touchdowns (85 receiving and 2 rushing).

In 1972, he was inducted to the San Diego Hall of Champions. In 1977, he was inducted in the Chargers Hall of Fame. In 1978, he became the first San Diego Charger and the first player who had played in the AFL to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.He chose to be presented at the Canton, Ohio ceremony by Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, his former position coach at San Diego, who had much to do with the success of the AFL.

Alworth's number 19 was retired by the Chargers in 2005. In 1970, he was selected as a member of the AFL All-Time Team, and in 1994, he was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, the only player to be named to both teams.

In 1979, he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1999, he was ranked number 31 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, making him the highest-ranking Charger and the highest-ranking player to have spent more than one season in the AFL.

In 2014, he was inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.

NFL records

  • Most games with 200+ receiving yards: 5 (tied with Calvin Johnson)
  • Most touchdown receptions, 70+ yards, career: 12
  • Most consecutive seasons, 11+ TD receptions: 4 (1963–1966; tied with Marvin Harrison, 1999–2002; Art Powell, 1963–1966)
  • Most consecutive seasons, 12+ TD receptions: 3, (1964–1966; tied with Jerry Rice, 1989–1991 and 1993–1995; Marvin Harrison, 1999–2001 and 2004–2006; Terrell Owens, 2000–2002; Cris Carter, 1997–1999)
  • Most consecutive seasons, 13+ TD receptions: 3, (1964–1966; tied with Jerry Rice, 1989–1991 and 1993–1995; Terrell Owens, 2000–2002)

Chargers franchise records

  • Receiving yards, season: 1,602 (1965)
  • Receiving touchdowns, season: 14 (1965; tied with Tony Martin)
  • Yards per reception, season: 23.2 (1965)
  • Yards per reception, career (min. 50 receptions): 19.4
  • Yards per game, season: 114.4 (1965)
  • Yards per game, career: 86.3
  • Seasons with 1000+ receiving yards: 7 (1963–1969)
  • Consecutive seasons with 1000+ receiving yards: 7 (1963–1969)
  • Seasons with 10+ receiving TDs: 5
  • Consecutive games with a reception: 96 (September 7, 1962 – December 14, 1969)
  • Games with 100+ receiving yards, career: 41
  • Games with 100+ receiving yards, season: 9
  • Games with 200+ receiving yards: 5 (only 3 other such games in franchise history)
  • Games with 100+ receiving yards, and 1+ TDs: 36

Personal life

Alworth and his wife, Laura, whom he married in 1997, live in San Diego. He has six children. He founded All Aboard Mini Storage, with facilities throughout California. His first wife, the former Betty Jeanne Allen, later married Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker.

The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who is Lance Alworth?
Lance Alworth is a former American football wide receiver who played in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL) from 1962 to 1972. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest receivers in pro football history.
What teams did Lance Alworth play for?
Alworth played for the San Diego Chargers in the AFL from 1962 to 1970, and then for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL from 1971 to 1972.
What are some of Lance Alworth's career achievements?
Lance Alworth was a 7-time Pro Bowl selection and a 6-time AFL All-Star. He was a key player in the Chargers' AFL championship victory in 1963 and was named the AFL Player of the Year in 1963 and 1965. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.
What records did Lance Alworth set during his career?
Alworth set several records during his career, including becoming the first player in AFL history to have two 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He also set the record for the most touchdowns in a single AFL season with 14 in 1965. Additionally, he held the record for the most receiving yards in a Super Bowl game for many years.
What is Lance Alworth doing now?
After retiring from football, Alworth remained involved in the sport as a coach and consultant. He currently resides in San Diego, California, and is involved in various charitable endeavors.
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