Best quarterback/wide receiver duos in NFL history

13. Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner

Philip Rivers may have broken most of the franchise passing records by now, but Dan Fouts was the man with his name in the record books before Rivers got there.

Fouts was the No. 64 overall draft pick in the 1973 NFL Draft, and the Chargers sure are glad he was available in that third round. He and the Chargers were just skimming by for the first few seasons. It wasn’t until 1976 that Fouts got a little help in the form of Charlie Joiner.

Joiner was the No. 93 overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and put up just 20 receiving touchdowns in nine seasons between the Oilers and the Cincinnati Bengals.

But when Joiner and Fouts found each other, they also found some success. Joiner hit the 1,000-yards-receiving mark for the first time that year and caught seven touchdowns. Fouts also hit double digits in touchdowns for the first time with 14 scoring passes.

After an injury-plagued 1977 season, Fouts and Joiner turned it on for the Chargers. Fouts led the NFL in passing yards for four consecutive years from 1979-1982. Joiner had more than 1,000 receiving yards in three of those seasons.

Of Fouts’ 254 career passing touchdowns, Joiner was the recipient of 34 of them. Joiner ended his career with 64 career receiving touchdowns.

Their greatest season together came in 1981. Fouts completed 59 percent of his passes for 4,802 and 33 passing touchdowns. He led the NFL in yards and touchdowns that season. Joiner brought in 70 receptions for 1,188 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 17 yards per reception that season. They never won a Super Bowl together, but they sure do exemplify how a quarterback and wide receiver should work in tandem.