Keith Lincoln

Keith Payson Lincoln (May 8, 1939 – July 27, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a halfback for eight seasons in the American Football League (AFL), primarily with the San Diego Chargers. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars. Lincoln was a two-time All-AFL selection and a five-time AFL All-Star. A member of the Chargers Hall of Fame, he won an AFL championship with the Chargers in 1963, when he was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the championship game. He had a stint with the Buffalo Bills before returning to San Diego and finishing his career.

Early life

Born in Reading, Michigan, on May 8, 1939,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lincoln graduated in 1957 from Monrovia High School in Monrovia, California, in Los Angeles County. He played college football at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Washington.<ref name=klbbld>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=cfwiuvkl>Template:Cite news</ref> Originally a quarterback on the Cougars' freshman team,<ref name=vncsfbwo>Template:Cite news</ref> he was moved to halfback and was also the team's punter.<ref name=licjoatr>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=wantdqb>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=elmksset>Template:Cite news</ref> He was nicknamed the "Moose of the Palouse",<ref name=moppcv>Template:Cite news</ref> given to him by a sportswriter from Spokane.<ref name=klbbld/>

Lincoln was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame Template:Nowrap<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.<ref name=klntshof>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1995, he was named to Washington State's all-time team by a panel of experts commissioned by The Spokesman-Review to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school's football program.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Professional career

Lincoln began his career with the San Diego Chargers, who selected him in the 1961 AFL draft, choosing them over the Chicago Bears of the more established NFL.<ref name=klspoch>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=klpafllac>Template:Cite news</ref> As a rookie in 1961, he had a 91-yard reception for a touchdown, the longest catch in the AFL that year. His 86- and 76-yard touchdown runs in 1962 and 1963, respectively, were the league's longest run in those seasons. His 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in 1963 was the AFL's longest that year, and is tied for the Chargers team record with Darren Sproles (2008).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In the 1963 AFL championship game, Lincoln was voted the game MVP after the Chargers routed the Boston Patriots 51–10.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It remains the only league title in the franchise's history,<ref name=sandomir_07292019>Template:Cite news</ref> as well as the city of San Diego's only championship in a major sports league.<ref name=krasovic_07272019>Template:Cite news</ref> In the game, Lincoln carried the ball 13 times for 206 yards and had seven catches for 123 yards, compiling an AFL-record 329Template:Nbspyards from scrimmage; he also passed for 20 yards.<ref name=krasovic_07272019/><ref name=achgefn>Template:Cite news</ref> The record stood for both AFL and NFL players until 1971, when Kansas City Chiefs running back Ed Podolak gained 350 in a double-overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins.<ref name=sandomir_07292019/><ref name=canepa_01072009/> Lincoln's 206 yards rushing remained an NFL playoff record for 22 years, when Eric Dickerson of the Los Angeles Rams gained 248 against the Dallas Cowboys in 1985.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 1964 AFL Championship Game, in a play which came to be known as the "Hit Heard 'Round the World", Lincoln was the recipient of a particularly hard tackle from Buffalo Bills linebacker Mike Stratton which broke one of his ribs and forced him out of the game midway through the first quarter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lincoln was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 1967.<ref name=ctrkltb>Template:Cite news</ref> He was productive that season, but was waived toward the end of the 1968 season before returning to San Diego and playing one game.<ref name=sandomir_07292019/> Over his eight-year career, Lincoln rushed for 3,383 yards and 19 touchdowns and had 165 receptions for 2,250 yards and 19 touchdowns.<ref name=sandomir_07292019/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was a two-time All-AFL selection (1963, 1964)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>San Diego Chargers 2010, p. 228.</ref> and a five-time AFL All-Star (1962–1965, 1967), twice being named the game's MVP (1963, 1964).<ref name=canepa_01072009>Template:Cite news</ref> He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1980,<ref>San Diego Chargers 2010, p. 231.</ref> and was also named to their 40th and 50th anniversary teams.<ref name=lewiston>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=pe>Template:Cite news</ref>

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the AFL Championship
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	Games		Rushing						Receiving					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Y/G	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	FR
1961	SD	14	5	41	150	3.7	10.7	17	0	12	208	17.3	91	2	0	0
1962	SD	14	10	117	574	4.9	41.0	86	2	16	214	13.4	29	1	1	0
1963	SD	14	14	128	826	6.5	59.0	76	5	24	325	13.5	39	3	5	0
1964	SD	14	13	155	632	4.1	45.1	25	4	34	302	8.9	37	2	1	0
1965	SD	10	7	74	302	4.1	30.2	24	3	23	376	16.3	66	4	0	0
1966	SD	14	7	58	214	3.7	15.3	23	1	14	264	18.9	67	2	1	0
1967	BUF	14	13	159	601	3.8	42.9	28	4	41	558	13.6	60	5	3	2
1968	BUF	4	0	26	84	3.2	21.0	24	0	1	3	3.0	3	0	1	0
	SD	1	0	Did not record any stats
Career		99	69	758	3,383	4.5	34.2	86	19	165	2,250	13.6	91	19	12	2

Later years

After retiring as a player, Lincoln was a college assistant coach for the Idaho Vandals in 1970 under first-year head coach Don Robbins.<ref name=klmtv>Template:Cite news</ref> He became an assistant coach at his alma mater WSU in 1971 under fourth-year head coach Jim Sweeney,<ref name=ljcsft>Template:Cite news</ref> and later became the school's long-time director of alumni relations.<ref name=klbbld/><ref name=cmtjh>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=gntqut>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Lincoln was married to Bonnie Jo Lincoln (Template:Nee McKarcher). They had two sons, Lance and Keith (nicknamed "Kip").<ref name=sandomir_07292019/>

Lincoln died at age 80 of congestive heart failure at Pullman Regional Hospital on July 27, 2019.<ref name=sandomir_07292019/>

See also

• List of American Football League players

External links

• Template:Footballstats
• Washington State University Athletics Hall of Fame – Keith Lincoln
• State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame – Keith Lincoln
• Obituary from Lewiston Tribune
• Template:Find a Grave