By Darin Dan Fouts transformed the quarterback position by executing the legendary “Air Coryell” offense and rewriting the NFL record books.
DAN FOUTS
Football Bio
June 10, 1951 – Quarterback Dan Fouts was born in San Francisco, California.
In 15 NFL seasons, Fouts completed 3,297 passes for 43,040 yards with 254 touchdowns.
He also rushed for 476 yards and scored 13 touchdowns with his legs.
When Dan retired, he was one of only three quarterbacks to pass for more than 40,000 yards.
He led the NFL in passing yardage four straight years from 1979 to 1982, and became the first player in history to throw for 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.
Dan Fouts secured his place as an all-time great by pushing the boundaries of the passing game. He pioneered an aggressive aerial attack that set new standards for modern NFL offenses.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1993 in his first year of eligibility.
- NFL Most Valuable Player: Named NFL MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America in 1982.
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Won the honor from the Associated Press in 1982.
- All-Pro Selections: Earned First-team All-Pro honors twice (1979, 1982) and Second-team All-Pro twice (1980, 1985).
- Pro Bowl Selections: Voted to six Pro Bowls during his career (1979–1983, 1985).
- Passing Yards Leader: Led the NFL in passing yards for four consecutive seasons from 1979 to 1982.
- Passing Touchdowns Leader: Led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 1981 and 1982.
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team: Selected as one of the defining quarterbacks of the decade.
- Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame: Honored by the franchise and had his No. 14 jersey retired.
- College Honors: Named First-team All-Pac-8 at the University of Oregon in 1972 and inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.