Ranking the 30 Best NFL QB-WR duos in the modern era
By Brad Weiss
30 Best NFL QB-WR duos in the modern era
No. 9: Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner
When he played quarterback for the Chargers, Dan Fouts looked like a lumberjack, sporting a big beard to go along with his big arm. The product of Oregon would be the catalyst behind the success of the “Air Coryell” offense with the Chargers, throwing the ball all over the field to the likes of tight end Kellen Winslow, and wide receiver Charlie Joiner.
Coming to the Chargers from Houston by way of Cincinnati, Joiner became a star with the Chargers, and would play 11 seasons with the team before retiring as the oldest wide receiver in NFL history. During his illustrious career with Fouts, Joiner would break the NFL’s career receptions record, while being named to three straight Pro Bowls.
Fouts would also go on to put up eye-popping numbers playing for Coryell, and with that, the Chargers started winning at an incredible clip. They won three straight AFC West titles from 1979 through 1981 and went to playoffs four straight seasons. Fouts’ right arm was a big reason why.
Together, the two accounted for nearly 10,000 receiving yards, while connecting on 47 touchdowns. This was a duo that lit up the San Diego sky for more than a decade, and are now both enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.