Lance Alworth

The first AFL star enshrined in Canton.

Lance Dwight Alworth (born August 3, 1940), nicknamed "Bambi", is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL), and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. Often considered one of the greatest wide receivers of all time, he played for 11 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.

Quick Facts

Position: Wide receiver
Born: 3 August 1940
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, U.S.
High school: Brookhaven (Brookhaven, Mississippi)
College: Arkansas (1959–1961)
Draft year: 1962
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 8

Lore & Background

His teammates called him Bambi because he had a baby face and could run like a deer. Born in Houston, Texas, to Dick and Beth Alworth, he was the second of two children. His sister Ann was fast enough in track to be invited to the Olympic Games trials, though she declined. He was raised in Hog Chain, Mississippi.

Alworth struck a 400-foot home run while playing Little League Baseball as a twelve year old. He played football at Brookhaven High School, earning 15 letters. He was offered baseball contracts by the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates, but chose to play college football at Arkansas. At Arkansas, he was a flanker who led all colleges in punt return yardage in 1960 and 1961, and was a track star.

He was a three-time Academic All-American, graduating with a degree in marketing as a pre-law student. He was a key member of Arkansas teams that won three consecutive Southwest Conference championships between 1959 and 1961. He was MVP of the 1961 Cotton Bowl Classic after returning a punt for a touchdown. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor, and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Alworth was chosen in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1962 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. The AFL's Oakland Raiders selected him with their first pick (ninth overall) in the second round of the 1962 AFL draft. The Raiders traded his rights to the San Diego Chargers. Alworth opted to sign with the Chargers.

In his rookie season, he had 10 receptions in 4 games. In his second year, 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. Over the next six seasons (1964–1969), he broke his own franchise receiving records several times, and 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), and was the first player with back-to-back seasons averaging 100+ receiving yards per game. 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. He formed a formidable tandem with Chargers quarterback John Hadl. He is a member of the AFL All-Time Team.

On May 19, 1971, Alworth was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. In Super Bowl VI, he scored the game's first touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Roger Staubach. He retired on July 2, 1973. Alworth finished his 11 AFL/NFL seasons with 543 receptions for 10,266 yards, 87 touchdowns (85 receiving and 2 rushing).

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 by Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. 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.