Charlie Joiner Receiving Legend

October 14, 1947, in Many, Louisiana, Charlie Joiner overcame humble beginnings to forge a Hall of Fame career as a wide receiver in the NFL.  

College Career:

Joiner attended Grambling College (now Grambling State University) from 1965 to 1968, playing under the legendary coach Eddie Robinson. Initially not focused on football until his junior year of high school, Joiner quickly excelled as a receiver for the Tigers. He was a three-time First-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) selection from 1966 to 1968. During his time at Grambling, the Tigers boasted an impressive 24-5-1 record and Joiner led the team with 2,066 receiving yards. He was also named the Outstanding Offensive Player in the 1968 Little Rose Bowl, his final college game. Joiner credited Coach Robinson for not only developing him as a player but also pushing him to complete his degree in accountancy. In 2013, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.  

Road to the Pro Game:

Despite his successful college career as a wide receiver, Joiner was surprisingly drafted as a defensive back in the fourth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the AFL's Houston Oilers. However, the Oilers soon recognized his receiving talent and converted him back to wide receiver. He played three and a half seasons with the Oilers (1969-1972) and then was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played another three and a half seasons (1972-1975). Injuries hampered his early professional career, causing him to miss significant playing time with both teams.  

Football Legacy:

Charlie Joiner's true legacy blossomed after a trade to the San Diego Chargers in 1976. It was with the Chargers, under the innovative "Air Coryell" offense, that Joiner became a star. He and quarterback Dan Fouts formed a formidable duo. Joiner played eleven seasons in San Diego (1976-1986), earning all three of his Pro Bowl selections and First-team All-Pro honors in 1980. Known for his precise route running, intelligence, and exceptional longevity, Joiner had three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1979 to 1981. When he retired after 18 seasons, he held the NFL records for career receptions (750), receiving yards (12,146), and games played by a wide receiver (239). His record for career receptions stood until 1995, and his yardage record until 1992. Joiner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, a testament to his remarkable late-career success and lasting impact on the game.  

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats:

✦ First-team All-Pro (1980)  

✦ Second-team All-Pro (1976)  

✦ 3x Pro Bowl (1976, 1979, 1980)  

✦ Los Angeles Chargers No. 18 retired  

✦ Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame

✦ 3x First-team All-SWAC (1966-1968)  

✦ Grambling State MVP (1966)

✦ College Football Hall of Fame (2013)

✦ Pro Football Hall of Fame (1996)  

✦ NFL Career Stats: 239 games played, 750 receptions,

✦ 12,146 receiving yards, 65 receiving touchdowns.  

Sources and related content
Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com