Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Bob Chandler
View on Wikipedia
Robert Donald Chandler (April 24, 1949 – January 27, 1995) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons.[1]
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Born in Long Beach, California in April 1949, Chandler was raised in Whittier and graduated from Whittier High School in 1967. He was considered one of the best all-around high school athletes to play in southern California. He was All-CIF in football and basketball and was one of the country's top high school decathletes, high-jumping 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), pole-vaulted more than 13 feet (4.0 m), and put the 12-pound (5.4 kg) shot 57 feet (17 m).[1]
College career
[edit]Chandler played college football at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles; he was a captain and the team's leading receiver during his senior year in 1970. He played in two Rose Bowl games; as a junior he was named Most Valuable Player of the 1970 Rose Bowl. In the third quarter, Chandler caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Trojan quarterback Jimmy Jones and broke several Michigan tackles to score and gave USC its margin of victory, 10–3.[2]
Professional career
[edit]A seventh round pick in the 1971 NFL draft, Chandler played nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills (1971–1979) and three with the Oakland Raiders (who moved to Los Angeles by his final playing season) (1980–1982). He led the NFL in receptions from 1975–1977 with 176, and was named Second-team All-Pro in 1975 and 1977. He also caught four passes for 77 yards in the Raiders' 27–10 Super Bowl XV victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in January 1981.[3]
In the first game of the 1981 season against the Denver Broncos, Chandler stretched out for a pass and took a hit so severe it ruptured his spleen.[4] Chandler was rushed to a Denver hospital where doctors saved his life. Chandler made a miraculous recovery and returned to the field later in the season, appearing in a total of eleven regular season games.[citation needed]. Though he wasn't able to return right away as a receiver, he was able to resume his normal duties holding the ball for Raiders placekicker Chris Bahr.[5]
In his rookie season of 1971, Chandler saw action in only a handful of games, finishing the season five receptions for 60 yards. Bills coach Harvey Johnson was dismissed at the end of the season and the Bills named Lou Saban as their new head coach. Saban began to use Chandler more in the offense, as Chandler was a starter in all 14 games that season. He scored his first professional touchdown in a 38-14 blow out of the New England Patriots. The opposing quarterback that day was Jim Plunkett, who would be Chandler's teammate on the Raiders several years later.[6] Over the next several seasons for Buffalo, Chandler would be one of the core starters and a favorite target of Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson. Chandler's role was greatly reduced under coach Chuck Knox in 1979. Knox preferred a solid ground game over the passing game. In 1980, Chandler was traded to the Raiders for LB Phil Villapiano and was part of a Raiders team that won Super Bowl XV.
He retired in July 1983;[4] for his career, he had 370 receptions for 5,243 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 11 carries for 18 yards.
Chandler and running back O. J. Simpson were teammates for a season in college (1968) and seven in the pros at Buffalo (1971–77).
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1971 | BUF | 13 | 0 | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 20 | 0 |
| 1972 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 33 | 528 | 16.0 | 43 | 5 |
| 1973 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 30 | 427 | 14.2 | 37 | 3 |
| 1974 | BUF | 14 | 0 | 7 | 88 | 12.6 | 21 | 1 |
| 1975 | BUF | 14 | 13 | 55 | 746 | 13.6 | 35 | 6 |
| 1976 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 61 | 824 | 13.5 | 58 | 10 |
| 1977 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 60 | 745 | 12.4 | 31 | 4 |
| 1978 | BUF | 16 | 13 | 44 | 581 | 13.2 | 44 | 5 |
| 1979 | BUF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 49 | 786 | 16.0 | 56 | 10 |
| 1981 | OAK | 11 | 7 | 26 | 458 | 17.6 | 45 | 4 |
| 1982 | RAI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 145 | 105 | 370 | 5,243 | 14.2 | 58 | 48 | ||
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1974 | BUF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | OAK | 4 | 4 | 7 | 119 | 17.0 | 32 | 0 |
| 5 | 4 | 7 | 119 | 17.0 | 32 | 0 | ||
Broadcasting career
[edit]Chandler served as a color analyst for NFL games on NBC in 1983, hosted 2 On The Town for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles from 1984 to 1987, was a sports reporter for KABC-TV in the late 1980s and hosted Amazing Games (a global documentary series about the world's most exotic sports) for ESPN in 1989. He also served as a "Technical Advisor" for the humor book The Unofficial NFL Players Handbook.
Personal life
[edit]Chandler's father Gene was the mayor of Whittier, California from 1987 to 1988. Chandler married his college sweetheart, Marilyn, and had three children: Marisa, Justin, and Emma. Chandler earned a law degree from Western State University College of Law.[7] Chandler posed for Playgirl magazine in January 1982.[7] Chandler's niece Sarah George Chester and her daughter Payton were two of the nine victims, along with Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, on board the helicopter that crashed in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Chandler's nephew Jake George #81 is a WR for the University of Arizona Wildcats Football team.
Death
[edit]Chandler began experiencing a nagging cough in 1994. A rare strain of lung cancer was discovered in his lungs in September 1994. He continued to work on Raider broadcasts while undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the USC Norris Cancer Center, but died there on Friday, January 27, 1995, at the age of 45, after a four-month battle with cancer.[1] He was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
Legacy
[edit]In 1996, USC established the annual Bob Chandler Award, given to an underclassman based on his athletic ability, academic scholarship as well as character on and off the field. The award funds a scholarship for the player's full tuition, room, and board for the following year.
Chandler was inducted into the USC Hall of Fame in November 1999. Highlights of his USC athletic career are on permanent display in USC's Heritage Hall lobby.
Whittier High School's sports facilities are named the Bob Chandler Sports Complex.
Bob was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Stewart, Larry (January 28, 1995). "Ex-Raider Bob Chandler is dead at 45". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ "USC's winning Rose Bowl formula: Wild bunch + 1". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. January 2, 1970. p. 3B.
- ^ "There's no one left to favor over Raiders". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. January 26, 1981. p. 1D.
- ^ a b "Raiders' Chandler calling it a career". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. UPI. July 19, 1983. p. 11.
- ^ "Fans attending Oakland's regular season home opener against Seattle".
- ^ "New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills - October 8th, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ a b Looney, Douglas S. (July 12, 1982). "The Bare Facts Are He's A Star". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Obituary from New York Times
- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
- Bob Chandler at Find a Grave
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
Bob Chandler
View on GrokipediaEarly Years
Early Life
Bob Chandler was born on April 24, 1949, in Long Beach, California.[1] His family relocated to the nearby city of Whittier shortly after his birth, where he spent his formative years in a suburban community known for its family-oriented neighborhoods and local institutions.[4] Chandler grew up as the son of Gene and Barbara Chandler, a couple deeply involved in Whittier civic life.[6] His father served on the Whittier City Council for eight years before becoming mayor from 1986 to 1988, reflecting the family's longstanding commitment to public service that shaped their household dynamics and community engagement during Bob's youth.[7] [8] In his early years in Whittier, Chandler gained initial exposure to sports and physical activities through local youth opportunities, laying the groundwork for his later athletic pursuits.[9] This foundation naturally progressed into organized high school athletics.High School Career
Bob Chandler attended Whittier High School in Whittier, California, where he graduated in 1967.[1] During his high school years, he emerged as a versatile multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and track and field, including decathlon events.[4][10] He earned 12 varsity letters across these three sports, demonstrating remarkable athletic range and dedication.[10] In football, Chandler played as a receiver and earned All-CIF honors, establishing himself as one of the school's all-time greats in the sport.[4][8] He also received All-City recognition in football and basketball, highlighting his consistent excellence across team sports.[10] On the track, Chandler stood out as one of the nation's top high school decathletes, achieving a high jump of 6 feet 7 inches, a pole vault over 13 feet, and a 12-pound shot put throw of 57 feet.[4][10] Chandler's multifaceted success at Whittier High positioned him as one of the best all-around athletes in Southern California, drawing attention from college recruiters seeking well-rounded talent.[4] His achievements underscored a strong foundation in competitive sports, nurtured by family encouragement from his early years in Whittier.[8]College Career
Bob Chandler enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1967, playing for the USC Trojans football team from 1968 to 1970.[11] As a wide receiver, he developed into a key offensive contributor, leveraging his versatility from high school to adapt to the demands of college-level play.[12] During his junior and senior seasons, Chandler's performance elevated significantly. In 1969, he recorded 14 receptions for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns.[11] His senior year in 1970 marked a breakout, as he became the team's leading receiver with 41 catches for 590 yards and 3 touchdowns, ranking eighth in the Pac-8 Conference in receptions and seventh in receiving yards.[11][13] That season, Chandler also served as team captain, helping guide the Trojans to the Pac-8 title and a berth in the Rose Bowl.[4] Over his college career, he amassed 76 receptions for 1,027 yards and 7 touchdowns, contributing to USC's competitive edge in conference play.[11] Chandler's standout moment came in the 1970 Rose Bowl against Michigan, where he earned MVP honors for the Trojans' 10-3 victory—the only score of the game being his pivotal 33-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.[14] This performance underscored his reliability in high-stakes national games, solidifying his legacy at USC.[15]NFL Career
Buffalo Bills Tenure
Bob Chandler was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round, 160th overall, of the 1971 NFL Draft following a standout college career at the University of Southern California.[1] Chandler spent nine seasons with the Bills from 1971 to 1979, developing from a peripheral rookie into one of the league's premier possession receivers. As a rookie in 1971, he appeared in 13 games, recording just 5 receptions for 60 yards while adjusting to professional play.[1] His role expanded in 1972, when he started all 14 games and posted 33 receptions for 528 yards and 5 touchdowns, establishing himself as a reliable target in the Bills' offense.[1] A dip followed in 1974, limited to 7 receptions amid injuries and team adjustments, but this set the stage for his resurgence.[1] Chandler reached his peak from 1975 to 1977, leading the NFL in total receptions with 176 catches over those three seasons—a mark that underscored his consistency and productivity.[15] In 1975, he hauled in 55 receptions for 746 yards and 6 touchdowns, earning Second-team All-Pro recognition for his role in bolstering quarterback Joe Ferguson's passing attack.[1] The following year, 1976, marked his most prolific scoring season with 61 receptions, 824 yards, and a career-high 10 touchdowns, despite the Bills' dismal 2-12 finish that highlighted broader team challenges like defensive woes and inconsistent play.[1] He closed the span in 1977 with 60 receptions for 745 yards and 4 touchdowns, securing another Second-team All-Pro nod and helping maintain offensive stability amid the franchise's rebuilding efforts.[1] By 1978, Chandler remained a steady presence with 44 receptions for 581 yards and 5 touchdowns across 16 games, ranking among the Bills' top contributors.[1] His tenure ended prematurely in 1979 after just 3 games due to injury, but over his Bills career, he amassed 295 receptions for 3,999 yards and 34 touchdowns, leaving a legacy as a durable, high-volume receiver who elevated a struggling team's aerial game.[1][15]Oakland Raiders
In April 1980, following nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills where he established himself as a premier receiver, Chandler was traded to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for linebacker Phil Villapiano.[4][16] Chandler quickly became a vital part of the Raiders' offense in his debut 1980 season, leading the team with 49 receptions for 786 yards and a league-high-tying 10 receiving touchdowns.[1] He played a significant role in the Raiders' postseason success, including their Super Bowl XV victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, where he recorded four receptions for 77 yards.[3][4] The 1981 season began disastrously for Chandler when, in the opening game against the Denver Broncos, he suffered a ruptured spleen from a severe hit while stretching for a pass, leading to internal bleeding and surgery that sidelined him for much of the year.[10][17] He returned in November but was limited to 11 games overall, posting 26 receptions for 458 yards and four touchdowns.[1] Chandler's playing time dwindled further in 1982 amid ongoing knee issues, as he appeared in just two of the nine regular-season games without a reception.[1] He retired prior to the 1983 season, ending his three-year Raiders stint with 75 receptions for 1,244 yards and 14 touchdowns across 29 games, contributing to the team's dynamic playoff runs during a period of sustained contention in the AFC West.[3][18]NFL Career Statistics
Over his 12-season NFL career from 1971 to 1982, primarily with the Buffalo Bills and later the Oakland Raiders, Bob Chandler amassed 370 receptions for 5,243 receiving yards and 48 touchdowns across 145 regular-season games.[1] The following table summarizes Chandler's regular-season receiving statistics by year, including team affiliation:| Year | Team | Games Played | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | BUF | 13 | 5 | 60 | 0 |
| 1972 | BUF | 14 | 33 | 528 | 5 |
| 1973 | BUF | 14 | 30 | 427 | 3 |
| 1974 | BUF | 14 | 7 | 88 | 1 |
| 1975 | BUF | 14 | 55 | 746 | 6 |
| 1976 | BUF | 14 | 61 | 824 | 10 |
| 1977 | BUF | 14 | 60 | 745 | 4 |
| 1978 | BUF | 16 | 44 | 581 | 5 |
| 1979 | BUF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | OAK | 16 | 49 | 786 | 10 |
| 1981 | OAK | 11 | 26 | 458 | 4 |
| 1982 | RAI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | - | 145 | 370 | 5,243 | 48 |