Charlie Joiner

Charles Joiner Jr. (born October 14, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 18 seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL), primarily with the San Diego Chargers. In 11 seasons with the Chargers, he earned all three of his Pro Bowl selections, and was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 1980. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Joiner played college football with the Grambling Tigers and was a three-time, first-team all-conference selection in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He was selected as a defensive back in the fourth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the AFL's Houston Oilers, who soon returned him to the wide receiver position. Joiner played three and a half seasons each for the Oilers (1969–1972) and Cincinnati Bengals (1972–1975), missing substantial time through injuries with both teams.

Cincinnati traded Joiner to the Chargers, with whom he played for eleven seasons (1976–1986). He made the Pro Bowl in his first year with the team, but his role was reduced in the following two seasons, nearly leading him to retire as early as 1978. Joiner's career was revitalised once head coach Don Coryell installed his Air Coryell passing offense. He had three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1979 to 1981, making two further Pro Bowls (1979–1980) and the 1980 All-Pro team.

He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was noted for his precise route running, as well as his longevity and late-career success, with 586 of his 750 regular season catches coming after he joined the Chargers. Joiner went on to serve as a wide receivers coach for twenty-six years before retiring completely after the 2012 season.

Charles Joiner Jr. was born on October 14, 1947, in Many, Louisiana, the only child in a low-income family; his father, Charlie Sr., was a truck driver. Joiner attended W. O. Boston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He did not play football until his junior year, preferring baseball, but excelled as an all-state receiver while doubling as a defensive back. He scored 110 points as a senior, the most in the area. Joiner also played high school basketball and was a district champion javelin thrower.

Joiner's parents could not afford to send him to college, but his high school coach told him football would be a good way to earn a scholarship. He was able to secure a place at Grambling College—now known as Grambling State University—to play for head coach Eddie Robinson's Tigers. Future NFL starter James Harris was the Tigers' primary quarterback throughout Joiner's four years at the college, each of which resulted in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship.

After seeing some play on both offense and defense as a freshman, Joiner had a breakout sophomore year as a receiver; he caught 34 passes for 822 yards and 9 touchdowns, and his teammates voted him the Tigers' Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the season. He continued to feature heavily in the passing game for the next two years, setting a Grambling record with 42 catches as a senior, going for 733 yards and 8 touchdowns. He scored two more touchdowns in his final college game, a victory in the 1968 Pasadena Bowl. He was a three-time first-team All-SWAC selection (1966–1968), and finished with 2,066 career receiving yards.

Joiner later credited Robinson as a great inspiration who also pushed him to complete his college degree in accountancy. In 2013, Joiner was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.