Wes Chandler WR at Florida from 1974 to 1977 posting 93 receptions for 1994 yards and 22 TDs.
Also moonlighted rushing the ball 61 times for 353 yards and 6 TDs in his Senior campaign, finishing 10th in Heisman voting.
Selected 3rd overall in the first round of the 78 draft by the New Orleans Saints.
Had 1069 yards on 65 receptions, including a career long 85 yard long the following year.
Traded during the 1981 season to San Diego.
Chandler finished out the year with 1142 yards on 69 receptions.
In 1982 led NFL during strike shortened season with 1032 yards and 9 TDs in just 8 games.
Had career high 1199 yards and 10 TDs in 1985.
After the 1987 season, joined the 49ers for final year in 88 playing in 4 games.
Has seen extensive time coaching in a variety of leagues including the Orlando Thunder, UCF, Rhein Fire, Frankfurt Galaxy, Berlin Thunder, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, New York Sentinels, and the California Golden Bears.
Briefly served as the commissioner of the MLFB before it reorganized in 2017.
CAREER ACCOLADES:
Earned Pro Bowl Honors in 79, 82, 83, and 85
First Team All Pro 1982
San Diego Chargers 40th All-Time Team
San Diego Chargers 50th All-Time Team
San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame
University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
NOTES:
Chandler has been overlooked by the Pro Football Hall of Fame numerous times, primarily due to the fact that he played during the dead ball era.
Card: Hartford Colonials 2010 Team Issued Card Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home Sent: 2/22 Received: 3/11 (17 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Chris Palmer was a QB for Southern Connecticut State from 1969 to 1971.
He quickly went into coaching in 1972 seeing stops with Connecticut, Lehigh, and Colgate as a positional coach.
After working with the Montreal Concordes of the CFL in 1983, he worked in the USFL with the New Jersey Generals in 84 and 85.
Palmer’s first HC gig came in 1986, where he’d work with New Haven, and later Boston University.
His first taste of the NFL came with the Houston Oilers in 1990 as a WR coach, before working with the Patriots from 1993-1996.
After helping Jacksonville’s offense reach new heights in 97/98, Chris was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1999.
He’d work as the OC for the expansion Houston Texans in 2002. A position he’d hold through the 2005 season.
Palmer worked with the Cowboys (06) and Giants (07-09) as a QB coach.
In 2010 Chris would serve as both the GM and the HC of the Hartford Colonials of the UFL- posting a 3-5 record.
Chris spent the next few years working with the Titans, 49ers, and Bills, and in 2019 worked as an AD with New Haven.
ACCOLADES:
New Haven Chargers Athletics Hall of Fame 1997
NFL
Coach Chris Palmer, 62 Cafe
NOTES:
Tony Sparano, Romeo Crennel and Ken Whisenhunt are considered children of the Chris Palmer tree. Chris himself is considered an acolyte of the Bill Parcells tree, although an argument could be made he was from the Jack Pardee tree, since he gave him his first professional break at the NFL level with the Oilers. Chris is also considered to be one of the major architects behind the maturation of Eli Manning as a passer. While coaching with the Browns, Palmer appeared as himself on an episode of The Drew Carey Show.
Hi Lee,
Good to hear from you. The Oilers were great! Beating Dallas opening nite was outstanding. The UFL was a fun time.
Love Football,
Chris Palmer
Palmer has always had a fond place in my heart, since he was a coach with the Houston Oilers, and was the OC with the Texans when they beat the Cowboys in their Franchise debut (02). I had been looking for some sort of card of his for years but I gave up sometime ago, when a friend of mine CFLFanInPhilly sent me this card (along with a stack of others) to try to get autographed. I jumped at the chance to add Chris. He added this very nice note and wrote up a play for me as well (52 Cafe).
Card: Upper Deck College Legends 2011 Acquired: 2020, EBay
Pat Devlin split his time playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens. He made the jump to play for the Blue Hens in 2009, helping guide the team to a 6-5 record while throwing for 16 TDs to 9 interceptions. Along the way he’d break multiple single game, season and career passing records at the school. Pat’s numbers really shone brightly in 2010, as he threw for 3,032 yards, 65.2% completion percentage (261/384) and 22 TDs to just 3 interceptions. Although considered by many to be a fine quarterback, he was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.
He signed with the Miami Dolphins and was on the team through 2014, joining the Vikings only briefly that year. The next year, Pat spent about a month with the Bears, and then later the Browns. He retired without throwing an NFL pass. Of note, the UFL tried to make a run at Pat to join their league in 2011, but due to a mandatory contract they were unable to come to terms.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
