October 31, 2016

Highlighted Year: Lynn Chandnois, 1951

Tailback/Halfback, Pittsburgh Steelers


Age: 26
2nd season in pro football & with Steelers
College: Michigan State
Height: 6’2”   Weight: 195

Prelude:
Following two years of military service during World War II, Chandnois was an all-purpose star at Michigan State, rushing for 885 yards on 129 carries, intercepting 7 passes, and accumulating 1382 total yards as a senior in 1949, when he received some All-American recognition. Overall, he gained 3535 all-purpose yards, including 2103 rushing with a 6.6-yard average, and set school career records for interceptions (20) and interception return yards (410). Chandnois was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 1950 NFL draft (eighth overall). With speed and excellent running ability in the open field, he made his biggest mark as a rookie returning kickoffs as he averaged 29.3 yards on 12 returns. His numbers were more modest on offense, where he gained 216 yards on 71 rushing attempts (3.0 avg.) and caught 7 passes for 158 yards (22.6 avg.).

1951 Season Summary
Appeared in all 12 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 108 [12]
Most attempts, game – 17 (for 60 yds.) vs. San Francisco 10/14
Yards – 332
Most yards, game – 76 yards (on 16 carries) at Green Bay 10/7
Yards per attempt – 3.1
TDs – 2

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 28 [20, tied with Fred Cone, John Hoffman & Elbie Nickel]
Most receptions, game – 6 (for 89 yds.) at Washington 12/16
Yards – 440
Most yards, game – 104 (on 3 catches) vs. NY Giants 10/1
Yards per catch – 15.7 [13]
TDs – 4 [12, tied with four others]
100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing
Attempts – 43
Completions – 16
Yards – 256
Completion percentage – 37.2
Yards per attempt – 6.0
TD passes – 2 [19, tied with five others]
Most TD passes, game – 1 at Chi. Cards 10/28, vs. Green Bay 11/11
Interceptions – 4
Passer rating – 34.6

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 12 [15]
Yards – 390 [10]
Average per return – 32.5 [1]
TDs – 0
Longest return – 55 yards

Punt Returns
Returns – 12 [18, tied with Buddy Young & Vitamin Smith]
Yards – 55
Average per return – 4.6 [19]
TDs – 0
Longest return – 20 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1217 [6]

Scoring
TDs – 6         
Points – 36

Steelers went 4-7-1 to finish fourth in the NFL American Conference.

Aftermath:
Chandnois again led the NFL by averaging 35.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns in 1952, two of which were touchdowns. He also rushed for 298 yards and caught 28 passes for 370 on his way to accumulating 1378 total yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl. His most productive season came in 1953, when he achieved career highs in rushing attempts (123), yards (470), and pass receptions (43), and averaged 29.0 yards on 21 kickoff returns, leading the league with 1593 all-purpose yards. Chandnois was again named to the Pro Bowl. He spent three more seasons with the Steelers, with declining numbers due to injuries, until 1956. Overall, he averaged 29.6 yards on 92 kickoff returns, still among the highest marks in NFL history. Chandnois also rushed for 1934 yards on 593 carries (3.3 avg.), caught 162 passes for 2012 yards (12.4 avg.), and averaged 4.7 yards on 66 punt returns. In all, Chandnois accumulated 6978 all-purpose yards and scored a total of 26 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970