Among the remainder of any cards out there that I needed of Steve, this was probably it. A set need, I really enjoyed the Upper Deck Legends 1997 set. This is a great photo of Steve, on a simple yet well designed canvas. After his political career fizzled out, Largent moved back to Oklahoma where he serves on the board at Tulsa. He rarely has signed through the mail since 2017 really and this didn’t set me back at all to acquire this certified on card autograph.
As the Seahawks have recently discovered their legacy, Steve has seen a renaissance of sorts in popularity- with current Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf even sporting his jersey in 2019, calling Steve, “The GOAT.” Steve himself is a big DK Metcalf fan and believes that he has a great career in front of him. In 2020, Metcalf shattered Largent’s single season receiving yardage record- to which Steve called DK up and congratulated him. Steve is pretty much retired and lives in Tulsa full-time and speaks to his former QB Jim Zorn on a weekly basis.
The 3rd overall pick of the 1976 draft by the New Orleans Saints, Chuck Muncie had a banner year in 1975 at Cal, rushing for 1460 yards on 228 carries, and 13 TDs. He also caught 39 passes for 392 yards and 2 TDs- and finished second in Heisman voting that year.
A hefty powerback much like Earl Campbell, the Saints stuck Muncie at fullback pairing him with Tony Galbraith. Muncie had a respectable rookie season posting 659 yards on 149 carries. His best season for the Saints came in 1979. It’d be a banner year- as he’d be the first player in franchise history to post a 1,000 yard season, start in the Pro Bowl, and earn Pro Bowl MVP honors. Chuck charged ahead rushing for 1198 yards on 238 carries, and a franchise record (at the time) 11 TDs rushing, along with 40 receptions for 308 yards.
Chuck was traded in 1980 to the San Diego Chargers, where he’d pay quick dividends as the team’s leading rusher- but the specter of drugs was not far behind. He was a perfect fit for the ‘Air Coryell’ offense, and earned back to back Pro Bowl berths in 1981 and 1982. In 81 Muncie rushed for a league record 19 TDs at the time, on 251 carries (1144) yards, while posting a career high 43 receptions. But by 83- the stories were circulating of his cocaine abuse.
“I was spiraling downhill.”
-Chuck Muncie
In 1984, unable to depend on Muncie any longer, the Chargers traded Chuck to Miami, where he famously failed a subsequent drug test due to cocaine. Despite entering rehab, the league took a zero tolerance stance and banned him indefinitely. He’d be reinstated for 1985 and quickly traded to Minnesota, where he quickly retired wanting to try to make reclaiming his life from drugs a priority.
Unfortunately that was not rock bottom for Chuck. After a bout of homelessness, Muncie spent time in prison for distribution. It was there, Chuck turned his life around, as he credits prison for saving his life. He became a speaker, did volunteer work, and built a youth foundation in his name. He worked hard at donating time, money, and his fundraising skills, towards noble causes.
A true redemption story, Chuck passed away of a heart attack in 2013. He was only 60 years old.
Chuck Muncie seemed like a random selection to be inserted into what is considered one of the best of the best collections of NFL greats ever, but if not for a career maligned by drug abuse, you have to wonder where Chuck would’ve stood at the end of the day.
Cards: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Top Notch Signature Select Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home Sent: 9/15/18 Received: 1/13/20 (487 days) See Also: Bill Bradley ‘Super Bill’
Bill Bradley signed my custom card of him, and also sent back the extra with more inscriptions upon it. A solid return, he wrote me a nice note with a full page of additional inscriptions and thanked me for being a fan and putting this website together with my shrines to the multiple leagues.
I hadn’t seen Bill since he appeared in Austin for the Upper Deck set signing back in 2011. In the meantime, while he was coaching at Lamar (2012-2014) I found this Upper Deck Legends card I really wanted to get him on, but I opted not to try him through the mail yet.
Time passed, and in 2018- after much deliberation, the Alliance of American Football established their last franchise in San Antonio. I quickly speculated that the team was going to nab Mike Riley as their head coach. While at the Season Ticket Holders Team Announcement Party, Mike let me in on a little secret since he knew I was a San Antonio Riders fan- he was courting Bill to come back and work for him on the Commanders defense as a defensive secondary coach!
Bill’s secondary in the AAF was an exciting unit to watch and led the league in turnovers. His coaching legacy now also includes the AAF Defensive Player of the Year Derron Smith, and a bevvy of players who were signed to NFL, Arena, and XFL rosters.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
