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Flipper Anderson
Flipper Anderson
Flipper Anderson
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Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. (born March 7, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was selected by the Rams in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft. Anderson played in the NFL for the Rams (1988–1994), the Indianapolis Colts (1995), the Washington Redskins (1996), and the Denver Broncos (1997). As a Bronco, he was a member of their Super Bowl XXXII championship team. As a Ram, he set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game with 336 against the Saints on November 26, 1989.[1]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2] He played high school football at Paulsboro High School in southern New Jersey and was one of the nation's top high school football recruits of the Class of 1983.[3][4][5]

College career

[edit]

Anderson played college football at UCLA, where he was a receiving target for quarterback Troy Aikman.[6][7]

In his time at UCLA, Anderson had eight games with at least 100 receiving yards. His eight games reaching the mark were the most in school history at the time of his departure to the NFL.[8]

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+5⁄8 in
(1.82 m)		 169 lb
(77 kg)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.45 s 1.57 s 2.60 s 4.31 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)		 4 reps

Los Angeles Rams

[edit]

Anderson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round (46th overall) of the 1988 NFL draft. He was the seventh wide receiver to be selected that year.[9]

1988 season

[edit]

In his rookie season, Anderson finished with 11 receptions for 319 receiving yards in 1988.[10] He was part of a crowded receiving unit that contained Pro Bowler Henry Ellard.[11]

1989 season

[edit]

In Week 4, against the San Francisco 49ers, Anderson scored his first professional touchdown on a 65-yard reception in the 13–12 victory.[12] He finished the season with a career-high 1,146 yards off just 44 receptions, giving him an average of 26 yards per reception.[13] Anderson led the NFL in yards per reception in the 1989 season.[14] Anderson and Henry Ellard combined to be a 1,000-yard receiving duo for the Rams.[15]

Record-breaking game
[edit]

Anderson set the National Football League record for most receiving yards and yards from scrimmage in a game, with 336 yards on 15 receptions with a 22.4 yards per reception average, during the 12th week of the 1989 season in a 20–17 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints.[16][17] Forty of those yards came in overtime.[18] He broke the previous mark of 309 yards, set by Stephone Paige of the Kansas City Chiefs, in 1985.[19] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his record-breaking game.[20]

1989 postseason
[edit]

On January 7, 1990, during a Divisional Round game, the Rams won the coin toss after taking the New York Giants to overtime. The Rams drove 77 yards in four plays, the last being a 30-yard touchdown pass to Anderson, who caught the ball in the end zone and ran directly through the tunnel and into the locker room.[21] He caught two touchdown passes in that 19–13 win.[22]

1990 season

[edit]

Anderson had four games with at least 100 receiving yards in the 1990 season. In the 1990 season, Anderson finished with 51 receptions for 1,097 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[23] For the second consecutive season, he led the NFL in yards per reception.[24] In addition, Anderson and Ellard gave the Rams' a 1,000-yard receiving duo for back-to-back seasons.[25]

1991 season

[edit]

Anderson was inactive for four games with a back injury.[26] In the 1991 season, Anderson appeared in 12 games and finished with 32 receptions for 530 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[27]

1992 season

[edit]

From Weeks 12–15, Anderson recorded a receiving touchdown in four consecutive games. In the 1992 season, Anderson appeared in 15 games and recorded 38 receptions for 657 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.[28] He led the Rams in receiving touchdowns.[29]

1993 season

[edit]

In the 1993 season, Anderson finished with 37 receptions for 552 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 15 games.[30] He tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with Troy Drayton.[31]

1994 season

[edit]

In Week 2, against the Atlanta Falcons, Anderson had five receptions for 154 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 31–13 loss.[32] In the 1994 season, Anderson finished with 46 receptions for 945 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[33] He led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.[34]

Indianapolis Colts

[edit]

The Colts signed Anderson as a free agent before the 1995 season.[35]

1995 season

[edit]

In the 1995 season opener for the Colts, Anderson scored two touchdowns in the 24–21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.[36] Anderson suffered a knee injury in Week 2, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.[37] The Colts later waived Anderson.

Washington Redskins

[edit]

During the 1996 season, the Redskins signed Anderson.[38] He only appeared in two games and recorded no statistics.[39]

Denver Broncos

[edit]

Anderson joined the Broncos for the 1997 season. He appeared in four games and recorded no statistics.[40] He won a Super Bowl title when the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.[41]

Anderson finished his career with 267 receptions for 5,357 yards and 28 touchdowns, giving him a 20.1 career yards per catch average.[42]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Led the league
Bold Career best

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fum
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD
1988 LA 16 0 11 319 29.0 56 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
1989 LA 16 13 44 1,146 26.0 78 5 1 −1 −1.0 −1 0 0
1990 LA 16 13 51 1,097 21.5 55 4 1 13 13.0 13 0 0
1991 LA 12 10 32 530 16.6 54 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 2
1992 LA 15 9 38 657 17.3 51 7 0 0 0.0 0 0 1
1993 LA 15 15 37 552 14.9 56 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
1994 LA 16 16 46 945 20.5 72 5 1 11 11.0 11 0 0
1995 IND 2 2 8 111 13.9 28 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
1996 WAS 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
1997 DEN 4 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
Career 114 78 267 5,357 20.1 78 28 3 23 7.7 13 0 3

Personal life

[edit]

Anderson lives in Suwanee, Georgia and is a high school basketball referee.[43] His son, Dres Anderson, played wide receiver for the Utah Utes.[44] His other son, Seth, plays wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Flipper Anderson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. (born March 7, 1965) is a former who played professionally in the () from 1988 to 1997, most notably for the , where he established himself as a deep-threat specialist and set the single-game record for receiving yards with 336 on November 26, 1989, against the . Over his 10-year career, Anderson appeared in 114 games for four teams, recording 267 receptions for 5,357 yards and 28 touchdowns, while earning a reputation for his speed and big-play ability with an -leading 26.0 yards per reception in 1989. Anderson attended the (UCLA), where he excelled as a before being selected by the in the second round (46th overall) of the out of college. His rookie season with the was modest, but he broke out in 1989 with 1,146 receiving yards and five touchdowns, capped by his record-setting performance that included 15 catches and one touchdown in an overtime victory. After seven seasons with the (1988–1994), where he amassed 259 receptions for 5,246 yards and 26 touchdowns, Anderson moved to the in 1995, followed by stints with the Washington Redskins in 1996 and the in 1997, during which he contributed to the Broncos' championship victory over the . Retiring after the 1997 season, Anderson later pursued a career in coaching and officiating, including high school basketball refereeing in the Atlanta area.

Early years

Childhood and high school

Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. was born on March 7, 1965, in Paulsboro, New Jersey, to Willie Lee Anderson Sr.. As an only child, he was raised primarily by his grandparents alongside nine cousins in Paulsboro, where he earned his lifelong nickname "Flipper" from a dolphin-like cry as a baby. Shy and soft-spoken in his youth, Anderson displayed early athletic promise by competing against his younger uncles in neighborhood games, which introduced him to football and honed his exceptional speed and sure hands—traits that would define his playing style. Anderson attended Paulsboro High School in , making the varsity football team as a freshman and excelling as a and , while also starring in track events like the sprints, , and , where he demonstrated a vertical leap exceeding three feet. During his junior year, he recorded 51 receptions and seven interceptions, contributing to the Red Raiders' success in securing three consecutive Colonial Conference championships from 1981 to 1983. Recognized as an All-American, Anderson's versatility extended to playing in his senior year and participating in , showcasing his multi-sport prowess. His standout high school performances made him one of the nation's top football recruits, drawing interest from major programs including Penn State, , Notre Dame, and Georgia before he committed to UCLA on a . This foundational period in Paulsboro laid the groundwork for his transition to at UCLA.

College career

Anderson enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1983 after being one of the nation's top recruits, where his exceptional speed from Paulsboro High School translated into early promise as a for the Bruins under head coach . He played alongside future NFL quarterback during the 1987 season, contributing to a dynamic passing attack that helped UCLA achieve a 10-2 record and vie for Pac-10 supremacy. Over four seasons from 1984 to 1987, Anderson amassed 104 receptions for 2,017 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns, showcasing his development as a deep-threat receiver with an impressive career average of 19.4 yards per catch. His route-running skills sharpened progressively, allowing him to exploit defenses with precise breaks and speed on vertical routes, which became hallmarks of his playing style. In his senior year of 1987, Anderson led the Bruins in receiving with 48 catches for 903 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 18.8 yards per reception while earning honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors. These performances were instrumental in UCLA's offensive output, as the team averaged 36.9 and secured a share of the conference title under Donahue's guidance.

Professional career

Los Angeles Rams

Anderson was selected by the in the second round (46th overall) of the out of UCLA. In his rookie season of 1988, Anderson appeared in all 16 games, recording 11 receptions for 319 yards with no touchdowns, primarily serving as a deep threat off the bench. The Rams finished 10–6 and qualified for the playoffs as a wild card, though Anderson's limited role kept his postseason contributions minimal. Anderson broke out in 1989, starting 13 of 16 games and posting 44 receptions for 1,146 yards and five touchdowns, leading the NFL with 26.0 yards per reception. His most memorable performance came on November 26, 1989, against the New Orleans Saints, where he set the NFL single-game record for receiving yards with 336 on 15 catches in a 20–17 overtime win during Week 12 of the regular season. The Rams again reached the playoffs at 11–5, and Anderson contributed significantly in the NFC Divisional Round victory over the New York Giants, catching a 30-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Jim Everett in a 19–13 win. From 1990 to 1994, Anderson solidified his role as a starter. Over his seven seasons with the , he accumulated 259 receptions for 5,246 yards and 26 touchdowns, appearing in 106 games with 76 starts. He led the in yards per reception once more in 1990 with 21.5 yards on 51 catches for 1,097 yards and four touchdowns. Anderson's speed and deep-threat ability, honed during his record-setting at UCLA, were integral to the ' offensive schemes during their early playoff appearances, including wild card berths in 1988 and 1989. The team released him prior to the 1995 season.
YearGames (Starts)ReceptionsYardsYards/RecTouchdowns
198816 (0)1131929.00
198916 (13)441,14626.05
199016 (13)511,09721.54
199112 (10)3253016.61
199215 (9)3865717.37
199315 (15)3755214.94
199416 (16)4694520.55
Total106 (76)2595,24620.326

Indianapolis Colts

After being released by the , Flipper Anderson signed a five-year worth $8.5 million, including a $2 million , with the as an unrestricted on March 7, 1995. This deal aimed to add a proven deep threat to the Colts' offense, leveraging Anderson's veteran reliability from his Rams tenure, where he had amassed over 250 receptions and held the single-game receiving yards record. Anderson appeared in the first two games of the season, starting both and recording 8 receptions for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. In the opener, a 24-21 loss to the on September 3, he caught 6 passes for 67 yards, including two scores that nearly rallied the Colts from a 21-0 deficit. The following week against the , he added 2 receptions for 44 yards before suffering a injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season on injured reserve. Intended as a rotational receiver to support primary targets like Floyd Turner and complement Jim Harbaugh's balanced attack, Anderson's brief stint provided early spark but was cut short, limiting his contribution to veteran depth. The Colts finished 9-7, securing a wild card berth and advancing to the with wins over the and before falling to the . Anderson was waived by the Colts during the 1996 preseason as part of maneuvers and did not return to the team.

Washington Redskins

Anderson signed with the Washington Redskins as a veteran free agent on October 7, 1996, to bolster the team's depth with his experience from prior seasons. Known for his deep-threat reputation during his time with the , he aimed to provide speed and reliability in a supporting role. However, Anderson's tenure was limited by ongoing recovery from a knee injury sustained the previous year with the , which included damage to his posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. This, combined with his position behind established starter on the depth chart, restricted his opportunities. In 2 games for the season, with no starts, he recorded no receptions, no receiving yards, and no touchdowns. Under head coach , the Redskins employed an offense that emphasized a balanced passing attack, but Anderson's backup status meant he saw minimal snaps, primarily in late-season contests against the and . The team concluded the year with a 9-7 record, securing third place in the but falling short of the . Anderson was released by the Redskins during the 1997 offseason, reflecting a continued reduction in his playing time amid persistent injury challenges and the team's roster adjustments.

Denver Broncos

Anderson joined the prior to the 1997 season as a veteran to provide depth behind starters Rod Smith and . In his only season with the team, Anderson appeared in four regular-season games without recording a start or any receiving statistics, including zero receptions, yards, or touchdowns. His role was limited to depth and rotational duties on offense. Despite minimal on-field contributions, Anderson remained part of the Broncos' roster through their postseason, earning a as a member of the team that defeated the 31–24 in on January 25, 1998, at Qualcomm Stadium in . The victory capped a John Elway-led offensive effort that scored 30-plus points in each playoff game. His experience from nine prior seasons with the , Colts, and aided in securing this opportunity to end his career on a championship squad. Anderson did not play in 1998, retiring at age 32 after a 10-year professional career.

Career statistics and records

Regular season statistics

Over his 10-season career spanning 1988 to 1997, Flipper Anderson amassed 267 receptions for 5,357 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns, achieving an average of 20.1 yards per reception. The table below details his regular season receiving statistics by year, including games played (G), games started (GS), receptions (Rec), receiving yards (Yds), touchdowns (TD), and yards per reception (Y/R).
YearTeamGGSRecYdsTDY/R
1988RAM16011319029.0
1989RAM1613441,146526.0
1990RAM1613511,097421.5
1991RAM121032530116.6
1992RAM15938657717.3
1993RAM151537552414.9
1994RAM161646945520.5
1995IND228111213.9
1996WAS20000
1997DEN40000
Anderson led the in yards per reception during the 1989 season with 26.0 and again in with 21.5.

Notable achievements and records

One of Flipper Anderson's most enduring accomplishments is holding the record for the most receiving yards in a single game, achieved on November 26, 1989, when he recorded 336 yards on 15 receptions, including a , during the ' 20-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. This mark, set in a regular-season contest that extended into , surpassed the previous record of 309 yards and remains unbroken as of 2025, with the next closest performance being Calvin Johnson's 329 yards in 2013. Anderson's explosive output in that game, which accounted for nearly 30% of his season total, underscored his role as a deep-threat receiver with a career average of 20.1 yards per catch, helping lay the foundation for his record-setting performance. Despite not earning Pro Bowl selections during his 10-year NFL career, Anderson was a pivotal contributor to successful team efforts, including the ' 11-5 regular season in 1989 that secured a wild-card playoff berth, where he amassed 1,146 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Later, in 1997, he joined the as a veteran wideout and was part of their championship roster, contributing to their 31-24 victory over the , though in a limited rotational role with no postseason receptions. In the years following his retirement, Anderson's legacy has been celebrated through various media retrospectives highlighting his unbreakable record. He was profiled in a 2019 NFL Films feature that explored his career and the iconic game, emphasizing his place in trivia history. Additionally, the honored his achievement in a 2018 commemorative video, and he received in-depth coverage in a 2022 article examining the context and enduring impact of his performance.

Personal life

Family

Flipper Anderson was born Willie Lee Anderson Jr. on March 7, 1965, in , , to mother Verna Anderson, who was 15 years old at the time of his birth. As an , he was raised primarily by his grandparents in , alongside nine other grandchildren in a close-knit household that emphasized discipline and supported his early interest in athletics. Anderson's first marriage to resulted in the birth of their son, Dres Flipper Anderson, on July 20, 1992. Dres followed in his father's footsteps as a , playing college football for the from 2011 to 2014, where he amassed 2,077 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. After going undrafted in the , Dres pursued a professional career, spending time on practice squads for several teams, including the (2015–2016), (2016), Washington Redskins (2017), (2017), (2018), and (2018). In his second marriage to , Anderson has three children: daughter Summer, son Anderson (born October 11, 2002), and son Drew. , continuing the family's football legacy, transferred to the in 2023 after playing at , where he recorded 42 receptions for 612 yards and seven touchdowns as a redshirt in 2022; in the 2025 season, he has recorded 10 receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns as of November 2025. As of 2024, he remains a for the . Drew participates in youth football, while Summer pursues other interests outside of athletics. As of 2024, Anderson and Chantal are grandparents to two grandchildren.

Post-NFL activities

After retiring from the following the 1997 season, Flipper Anderson established his home in , a suburb of , where he has lived since the mid-1990s. Anderson transitioned into sports officiating, becoming a referee in the Atlanta area starting around the early 2000s and continuing for over 20 years as of 2024. He works high school and games, a pursuit that began after connecting with NCAA official Mike Nance shortly after his playing career ended. Parallel to his refereeing, Anderson has served as a youth football coach for more than 15 years, emphasizing fundamental skill development among young players, including on teams coached for his sons Seth and Drew. He has made occasional media appearances tied to his NFL legacy, such as featuring in a 2018 Los Angeles Rams video highlighting his record-setting 336-yard receiving performance and participating in the NFL's 100th anniversary block party event in 2019. No significant business ventures or entrepreneurial pursuits have been documented for Anderson as of 2025. As of 2024, at age 59, Anderson maintained an active and healthy lifestyle, with ongoing commitments to officiating and youth coaching and no reported major health issues.

References

  1. https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/decade-by-decade-the-1980s-and-flipper-s-record/
  2. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeFl00.htm
  3. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/6506/flipper-anderson
  4. https://www.therams.com/news/flipper-anderson-where-are-they-now-rams-legend-wide-receiver
  5. https://njsports.com/flipper-anderson/
  6. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-16-sp-15149-story.html
  7. https://www.onlc.com/proday/fanderson.htm
  8. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1987.html
  9. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/flipper-anderson-1.html
  10. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-11-sp-428-story.html
  11. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_yds_single_game.htm
  12. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198911260nor.htm
  13. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001070nyg.htm
  14. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-08-sp-39986-story.html
  15. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeFl00/gamelog/1995/
  16. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/1995.htm
  17. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-08-sp-51661-story.html
  18. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/10/09/anderson-could-be-a-fine-catch/69306cec-ce24-45f3-b313-34528eea464d/
  19. https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/10/08/anderson-is-flipped-a-job-by-redskins-record-setting-receiver-coming-off-knee-surgery/
  20. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeFl00/gamelog/1996/
  21. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1996.htm
  22. https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2005/01/news-willie-flipper-anderson-lights-it-up/
  23. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeFl00/gamelog/1997/
  24. https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/11/17/the-night-flipper-anderson-set-an-unbreakable-record-daily-cover
  25. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1989.htm
  26. https://www.nfl.com/videos/this-day-in-history-los-angeles-rams-wide-receiver-flipper-anderson-sets--285122
  27. https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/09/10/look-ma-great-hands-la-receivers-flipper-anderson-and-henry-ellard-are-mamas-boys
  28. https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/a/ande06100.html
  29. https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster/dres-anderson/902
  30. https://www.49ers.com/news/dres-anderson-proudly-represents-family-name-15430576
  31. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeDr00.htm
  32. https://www.colts.com/news/roster-move-colts-sign-wr-dres-anderson-to-practice-squad-19764583
  33. https://www.nfl.com/news/practice-squad-tracker-nfl-teams-finalize-squads-0ap3000000957676
  34. https://hawkeyesports.com/sports/football/roster/player/seth-anderson
  35. https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/iowa-adds-wide-receiver-seth-anderson-from-transfer-portal/
  36. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/seth-anderson-1.html
  37. https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4876598/seth-anderson
  38. https://www.therams.com/video/this-day-in-history-los-angeles-rams-wide-receiver-flipper-anderson-sets-receivi
  39. https://www.nfl.com/videos/rams-host-nfl-100-block-party-featuring-former-wide-receivers-flipper-anderson-t
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