NFL HOF Spotlight: Dan Fouts

This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on a truly special passing phenomenon—Dan Fouts. Fouts wasn’t just any quarterback, he was a real leader with a fiery hunger to win every time he stepped onto the gridiron. Spending his entire 15-season career playing for the San Diego Chargers, he etched his name in the history books as one of the greatest in the passing game.

In this article, we’ll take you through Fouts’ incredible football journey.

Fouts’ Beginnings

Born in San Francisco, Fouts attended Marin Catholic High School just north of his hometown. He then transferred to St.Ignatius College Preparatory with the hopes of having a better chance at getting a scholarship. Those hopes weren’t dashed as he got a scholarship offer from the University of Oregon.

While at Oregon, Fouts had to start as a backup. But his display in the opening game of the 1970 season made him a strong competitor. Before long, he became a starter and went on to set Oregon’s single-game record for most attempts. He also set the single-season record for completions and touchdowns. He was named to the All-Pac 8 team, the All-Coast team, and the All-West Coast team in 1972.

The Chargers selected him in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft.

Professional Football Career

Fouts struggled early in his professional football career. His first six seasons were not his best, but his fighting spirit never died. In 1978, Don Coryell became the Chargers head coach and that was when Fouts sprung to life. Coryell’s “Air Coryell” system emphasized an aggressive passing attack, and with a quarterback of Fouts’ caliber at the helm, it saw incredible success.

Fouts helped transform the once-lacklustre Chargers, leading them to an AFC West title with a 12-4 season record. Finishing the season with 4,082 passing yards, Fouts broke New York Jets’ Joe Namath’s record. It was the beginning of many record-breaking feats.

Fouts was voted second behind Earl Campbell in the AP NFL MVP and the AP Offensive Player of the Year. But despite having a good individual season, Fouts was not satisfied. He didn’t care much for records as he knew they would come naturally. He had his eyes set on winning. The Chargers qualified for the playoffs that season but fell to the Houston Oilers.

In 1980, Fouts continued to break records for fun. As early as Week 2, he broke the single-game passing yards franchise record. He set yet another franchise record after he completed a 20-game streak of regular season games with at least one touchdown. By the end of the regular season, he had crossed the 4000-yard mark again, becoming the first quarterback in league history to achieve the feat twice.

Fouts set several other NFL records that season and continued to break more in the years that followed. At the time of his retirement, he held 42 team records and seven league records.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year

When Fouts finally reached his full potential in 1979, he earned six Pro Bowls over a seven-year span. During that period, he was a total genius in the passing game. He was the dominant force that made the Air Coryell work magic.

In the 1982 season, Fouts led the league in several categories, including passing yards and touchdowns. Although he didn’t match the numbers of the previous three seasons, he was still named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year—a well-deserved honor for an incredibly hard worker. He also finished second in MVP voting, only behind Mark Moseley of the Washington Redskins.

A Legacy Beyond Championships

Fouts left a once-in-a-generation legacy for the Chargers. After his retirement, it was difficult for them to find the perfect replacement. The Chargers made several quarterback changes in a very short time just trying to find someone who would fill the huge gap that Fouts’ absence had left. Across the league, everyone also knew his name. In a game against the New York Giants during the 1980 season, Fouts’ exceptional performance led the Giants’ head coach to admit, “he may be the best quarterback there is.”

Fouts had redefined the passing game, taking the standards to super-human heights. His playing style was fearless, often standing tall in the pocket despite heavy pressure and delivering pinpoint throws to his receivers. In his prime, he was mostly patient before throwing a pass, usually waiting to ensure his receivers were open enough to make a catch.

Yet, he processed the game quickly, reacting decisively when the moment called for it. And if taking a hit was the price for the perfect throw, Fouts never hesitated to take one for the team. Coryell wrote of Fouts, “He had quick feet and could get back and make decisions. He wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger and let the ball go.”

Fouts’ greatest game came against the Miami Dolphins in the 1981 AFC divisional playoffs—a game dubbed “Epic in Miami.” Ranked No. 4 in the NFL 100 Greatest Games, this matchup earned its spot thanks to its high-scoring action. Fouts was a major contributor to that high scoring, throwing the game-tying touchdown and setting up the winning field goal.

Although Fouts never won a Super Bowl, his impact on the game couldn’t be questioned. His career statistics tell the story. He retired after amassing 43,040 passing yards and 254 touchdowns.

Career Achievements

Fouts’ career proved that it’s not how you start that matters but how you end. After his early struggles, he blossomed into one of the league’s most prolific passers. His top-draw performances earned him six Pro Bowl berths. He also earned First-team All-Pro honors twice.

Fouts led the league in passing yards from 1979 to 1982. He also finished the 1981 and 1982 seasons as the league’s passing touchdowns leader. He posted the best completion percentage in the NFL for the 1979 season.

Fouts is a member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and the San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team. His No.14 Jersey was retired in 1988 and he became a Los Angeles Charger Hall of Fame inductee in 1993.

Fouts was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

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