Charlie Joiner

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Charlie Joiner
Date of birth	October 14, 1947 (age 59)
Place of birth	Many, Louisiana
Position(s)	Wide Receiver
College	Grambling State
Pro Bowls	3
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1969 1970-1972 1972-1975 1976-1986	AFL Houston Oilers NFL Houston Oilers NFL Cincinnati Bengals NFL San Diego Chargers
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1996

Charles Joiner Jr. (Born October 14, 1947, in Many, Louisiana) is a former football player who starred in the NFL for eighteen seasons, virtually exclusively at the position of wide receiver. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Joiner graduated from Grambling State University in 1969 and was drafted in the fourth round by the American Football League's Houston Oilers, with whom he played until 1972, when he was traded to Cincinnati. From 1972 to 1975 he played for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1975 he was traded to the San Diego Chargers, with whom he remained for eleven seasons before retiring as a player after the 1986 season. Before leaving the Bengals, he set a franchise record with 200 receiving yards in single game.[1]

It was with the Chargers' high flying "Air Coryell" offense under coach Don Coryell that Joiner had his most productive years, exceeding 1,000 yards receiving in a season four times and going to three Pro Bowls (1976, 1979-80). Joiner was selected All-Pro in 1980 and 2nd Team All-AFC in 1976. Although he never played in a Super Bowl, Joiner helped the Chargers reach the AFC title game in the 1980 and 1981 seasons. In 1981, he played a key role in San Diego's 41-38 devisional postseason overtime win over the Miami Dolphins in a game that is known in NFL Lore as The Epic In Miami. Joiner caught 7 passes for 108 yards in the game, including 2 key receptions on his team's game winning drive in overtime.

Joiner finished his 18 AFL/NFL seasons with 750 receptions for 12,146 yards and 65 touchdowns. He also rushed for 22 yards and returned 10 kickoffs for 194 yards.

In addition to good health and longevity, Joiner was an intelligent player and precise pass route runner. Following his playing career, Joiner successfully transitioned into a receiver's coach and (as of March 2007) is with the Kansas City Chiefs. Joiner was the last former American Football League player (Oilers, 1969) to retire from professional football, in 1986.

In 1999, he was ranked number 100 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.