Kellen Winslow

Kellen Boswell Winslow Sr. (born November 5, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1995), he is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the league's history. Winslow played his entire NFL career (1979–1987) with the San Diego Chargers after being selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft. He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, earning consensus All-American honors in 1978. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Winslow had a late start to his football career, not playing until his senior year of high school. Noted for his unusual combination of size and speed, he was recruited by the Missouri Tigers, where he played from 1975 to 1978, ranking among the team's reception leaders during his last two seasons. He was named All-American as a senior, entering the NFL draft as one of the highest-regarded prospects for the league.

San Diego traded up to draft Winslow with the 13th overall pick in the draft. Over the next nine seasons, he was named a first-team All-Pro three times and a Pro Bowler five times. After a promising rookie season (1979) was ended by injury, Winslow became a key figure in head coach Don Coryell's offense from 1980 to 1983, twice leading the league in receptions. His success in the passing game had long-term effects on the usage of tight ends, who had previously been perceived as good blockers who would catch occasionally. Highlights for Winslow included a five-touchdown performance against the Oakland Raiders and a starring role in the 1981 playoff game known as the Epic in Miami.

Winslow was progressing at a record-breaking pace in 1984 when a serious knee injury knocked him out of the game for a year. He recovered enough to play from 1985 to 1987, but generally failed to recapture his pre-injury form. Winslow planned to return for a tenth year in the league but after a single appearance in the 1988 preseason the condition of his knees forced him to retire.

Early life

Winslow was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, on November 5, 1957, the third of seven children.<ref name="hof"/> He attended East St. Louis Senior High School and did not play high school football until his senior year. Until then, he was a self-described "nerd" who played chess.Template:SfnTemplate:Efn He tried football as a sophomore, but was discouraged by two-a-days and gave it up after a week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a junior, he had a job with United Parcel Service (UPS) and had no time for the sport.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was convinced to try football again in his senior year by his coach, Cornelius Perry, who persuaded Winslow that it would fund his college education.<ref name="III-15">Template:Cite news</ref>

In his solitary year with the East St. Louis Flyers, Winslow caught 17 passes and was voted to the 1974 All-Southwestern Conference first team as an end.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="col"/> The Flyers season ended with an overtime 19–13 defeat by Glenbrook North in the championship game; a tearful Winslow blamed himself after failing to make a difficult catch in the end zone on the game's penultimate play.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

College career

The University of Missouri recruited Winslow to play football for the Tigers; head coach Al Onofrio described him as "the best looking future prospect on the East side." Winslow theorized that he had been recruited chiefly because of his size, as his high school statistics had been unremarkable.<ref name="col">Template:Cite news</ref> He played primarily on the junior varsity team in his first year,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> then saw some action with the Tigers as a sophomore.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Winslow had an increased impact as a junior, increasing his total receptions from 16 to 25.<ref name="chess">Template:Cite news</ref> He was a consensus pick for tight end in the 1977 All-Big Eight first team.<ref name="col"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Entering his senior year, an Associated Press (AP) article described him as "probably the best player" awaiting new head coach Warren Powers; Powers said of Winslow, "his kind don't come along very often."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He went on to catch 29 passes in 1978,<ref name="sen">Template:Cite news</ref> being voted a consensus All-American<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and second team All-Big Eight.Template:Efn He finished his college career with 71 receptions for 1,089 yards and 10 touchdowns.<ref name="sen"/> In his final game as a Tiger, he added a further touchdown and Missouri defeated Louisiana State University 20–15 in the 1978 Liberty Bowl.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Winslow's college achievements subsequently brought him numerous honors—he has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of the Missouri Tigers, Missouri Sports and College Football. The Tigers retired his No. 83 jersey.<ref name="n83">Template:Cite web</ref>

College statistics

Season	Team	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr
1975	Missouri	11	1	12	12.0	0
1976	Missouri	11	16	240	15.0	1
1977	Missouri	11	25	358	14.3	3
1978	Missouri	11	29	479	16.5	6
Career		44	71	1089	15.3	10

College honors

• First-team All-Big Eight (1977)<ref name="col"/>
• Second team All-Big Eight (1978)<ref name="2nd"/>
• Consensus first-team All-American (1978)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Missouri Tigers Hall of Fame inductee (1990)<ref name="n83"/>
• Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee (1994)<ref name="n83"/>
• Missouri Tigers No. 83 retired (1995)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2002)<ref name="n83"/>

Professional career

NFL draft

Template:Quote box Winslow entered the 1979 NFL draft rated as "unquestionably the best prospect at tight end" by analyst Don Heinrich.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chicago Bears general manager Jim Finks said, "Some people can play tight end with two of the three requirements. I hear Winslow has all three—size, speed and strength." Winslow was expected to be chosen early in the first round, with the Kansas City Chiefs (drafting No. 2 overall) and the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 3 overall) both likely destinations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the event, Winslow was unexpectedly yet to be chosen by the time the draft reached the Cleveland Browns who had selection No. 13. At that point the San Diego Chargers, who were not scheduled to pick until No. 20, made a deal with Cleveland to move up seven places and select Winslow.Template:Efn The Chargers were delighted with the trade, as they had rated Winslow as the top player in the draft, and had twice unsuccessfully tried to trade up into the top seven picks to get him. Head coach Don Coryell explained that the Chargers had an area of need at tight end, as their current starters Bob Klein and Pat Curran were both in their 30's and likely to retire soon.<ref name="fast">Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow himself had expected to go to Cincinnati but was pleased when the Chargers selected him as he liked to catch the ball and was aware of Coryell's affinity for the passing game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1979 season

Less than three weeks after the draft, Winslow signed a series of one-year contracts to play for the Chargers. Coryell described him as "a big strong man who has great potential and ability," and suggested Winslow could play both tight end and wide receiver.<ref name="versatile">Template:Cite news</ref> When the season began, Winslow did serve in both roles, being both the second tight end behind Klein and a third wide receiver behind Charlie Joiner and John Jefferson depending on the formation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He caught his first career touchdown in week 2 of his rookie season on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Dan Fouts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> When an injury to Klein forced Winslow into the starting line-up, he responded with a seven-catch performance that left him as the Chargers' leader in receptions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following week, he lost a key fumble in a 7–0 defeat to the Denver Broncos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A Los Angeles Times article described him as inconsistent, both as a blocker and a receiver, and "like a runaway locomotive without tracks" when carrying the ball.<ref name="III-15"/>

Winslow's season ended in a week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks due to a fractured left fibula.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While he was initially projected to be out for only six weeks, Winslow was still missing for the Chargers' season-ending playoff loss to the Houston Oilers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow finished with 25 catches, which had led the team at the point when he was injured, for 255 yards and two touchdowns.<ref name="bob">Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow later believed that the injury had positive effects, saying in a 2006 interview, "My breaking my leg my rookie year turned out to be a blessing, because I got a chance to sit back and look at some things... from another angle and came back my second year and things really made sense."Template:Sfn

1980 season

File:Kellen Winslow 1980.jpg

Winslow catching a touchdown pass during the 1980 season.

Winslow entered the 1980 season with a chance to claim the number one tight end position, as Klein retired during the offseason.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Due to a series of minor injuries, Winslow was unable to win the place in preseason, with Greg McCrary beginning the regular season as the starter.<ref name="bob"/> In week 2, Winslow had a breakthrough performance against the Oakland Raiders with 9 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in an overtime win.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Coryell used Winslow in various positions and formations throughout the game, trying to force mismatches where the 6 foot 5 Winslow would be covered by a smaller defender.<ref name="book">Template:Cite news</ref>

As the season progressed, Winslow established himself as a key component of the Air Coryell offense and eventually led the league with 89 catches,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> setting a new NFL record for tight ends by breaking the previous mark of 75 held by Mike Ditka.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Open access</ref>Template:Efn He became the first tight end to exceed 1,000 receiving yards since Jackie Smith in 1967.<ref name="acc">Template:Cite news</ref> Some sources credit Winslow's 1,290 yards as having set a new tight end record.Template:Efn He was instrumental in the Chargers' second consecutive AFC West division title,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was voted both a Pro Bowler and first-team AP All-Pro.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Winslow caught only a single pass in San Diego's first playoff game, a 20–14 divisional playoffs victory over the Buffalo Bills.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was partially due to an injury to McCrary early in the game. The Chargers frequently used a two-tight end formation, with McCrary lining up as a regular tight end and Winslow appearing in variable positions, often going in motion. They had no backup to McCrary, so Winslow was forced to replace him as a conventional tight end, with far less scope to catch passes.<ref name="pos">Template:Cite news</ref> McCrary attempted to play through the injury the following week, but Winslow still had only 3 catches for 42 yards,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and San Diego lost the AFC Championship game 34–27 to Oakland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1981 season: Acclaimed performance in Miami

The 1981 season began slowly for Winslow, with only five catches in the first two games. He drew more double coverage after Jefferson was traded to the Green Bay Packers; Winslow also theorized that teams were more aware of the threat he posed following his performances the previous year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Aided by the midseason arrival of wide receiver Wes Chandler in place of Jefferson,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow saw more single coverage as the season went on and produced better numbers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A highlight was a 55–21 win in Oakland when Winslow caught 13 passes for 144 yards and 5 touchdowns.<ref name="5td">Template:Cite news</ref> The five receiving touchdowns tied an NFL single-game record that has not been surpassed Template:As of, while the 13 receptions tied Lance Alworth's franchise record.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow said of the performance, "I just happened to get my number called today. A lot of things were going our way and they just happened to go my way in particular."<ref name="5td"/>

San Diego were struggling with a 6–5 record before Winslow's five-touchdown game,<ref name="5td"/> but recovered to finish 10–6 and win their third consecutive AFC West title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow led the league in receptions for the second consecutive season, finishing with 88 catches for 1,075 yards and 10 touchdowns.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was again named to the Pro Bowl (where he won co-MVP) and the AP All-Pro first team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Quote box Winslow excelled in the Chargers' divisional playoff game, a 41–38 overtime win over the Miami Dolphins played in draining humidity that became known as the Epic in Miami.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had 13 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown, and blocked a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time. Winslow leaped in the middle of the line to block the kick, barely deflecting the ball with the outside of his right hand: he said, ""For all the receptions and all the yardage, I got more satisfaction out of blocking the field goal. It was something I'd never done before. It had always been a dream of mine."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His 13 receptions set a new single-game playoff record,Template:Efn while his yardage total was a playoff record for tight ends.Template:Efn He achieved these statistics despite repeatedly having to leave the game with dehydration and severe cramps; he was also treated for a pinched nerve in his shoulder and received three stitches in his lower lip.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the game, a picture of Winslow being helped off the field by his teammates became an enduring image in NFL lore.Template:Sfn

Winslow's performance in the Miami game was greatly praised afterwards. Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka said, "Kellen Winslow portrayed in Miami what it takes to be great. The difference between great and good is a matter of heart. He gave a tremendous amount to help his team win one of the great games ever played."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dolphins' tackle Bob Kuechenberg said the game made Winslow's career in a 2017 interview, adding "I deeply resented the fact that they literally carried him off the field five times and he'd come back and do some other miracle."Template:Sfn A 2012 ESPN article rated it the second-best single-game playoff performance in NFL history up to that point,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while a 2014 San Diego Union-Tribune article named it the joint-best playoff performance by a Charger.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

While Winslow scored again the following week, it was the Chargers' only touchdown in a 27–7 AFC Championship game loss at Cincinnati. The game became known as the Freezer Bowl for the unusually frigid and windy conditions. Winslow commented afterwards, "I wouldn't send my dog out in that kind of weather."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1982 season

File:Kellen Winslow running 1982.jpg

Winslow Template:Circa 1982

The 1982 season was interrupted by a 57-day NFL players strike which reduced the regular season to nine games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow expressed impatience with the process, claiming that players' union director Ed Garvey and management negotiator Jack Donlan were both on "ego trips." While Garvey was seeking a wage scale for the players, Winslow believed that abolishing the NFL draft and encouraging the development of the rival United States Football League (USFL) would do more to increase their salaries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On the field, his success continued—Winslow's 54 receptions were the most in the AFC, while his 721 yards were second to his teammate Chandler.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> For the third consecutive season, he was named both a Pro Bowler and AP first-team All-Pro.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

San Diego qualified for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, taking their place in an expanded 16-team Super Bowl tournament as the AFC's fifth seed and travelling to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their first game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Steelers led 28–17 in the final quarter, but two touchdowns by Winslow gave San Diego a 31–28 win; he had 7 catches for 102 yards and the two scores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A rematch with the Dolphins in Miami followed. Winslow was unable to repeat his performance of the previous year, playing with a twisted ankle for most of the game and finishing with only one catch for 18 yards as Miami won 34–13.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow said of the defeat, "You can say it either way: They had a great day, or we had an off day. But really it was both."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was the last playoff game of his career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) survey released after the season reported his annual salary as $210,000, joint third-most on the Chargers but behind 64 players league-wide, including some tight ends.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1983 season

The Chargers had a disappointing 1983 season and missed the playoffs for the first time in Winslow's career, although he himself had another statistically productive year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow had 14 catches for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns in a win over the Chiefs, breaking the franchise single-game receptions record he'd previously shared with Alworth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He finished the year with 88 catches for 1,172 yards and 8 touchdowns,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was voted to another Pro Bowl, though this time as the AFC's reserve tight end behind Todd Christensen of Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow had caught more passes than any other player over the five-year period 1979–83.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1984 season: Holdout and career-threatening injury

File:Kellen Winslow 1984 (cropped).jpg

1984: Two weeks after announcing his retirement, Winslow returned to action against the Houston Oilers.

Winslow entered the 1984 season seeking to renegotiate his contract. He had two years remaining on a five-year contract and a verbal agreement from Chargers ownership that he could negotiate a new deal in 1984.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He requested an amount which the Chargers refused, with Winslow's agent Jim Steiner stating shortly before the regular season started that the two sides were far apart with their offers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn Steiner declared Winslow's intention to play in week 1 at Minnesota, "out of respect for the team, Don Coryell and the coaching staff," then retire if no agreement was forthcoming.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 2 he followed through on the threat, catching four passes in the game then travelling to East St. Louis instead of flying back to San Diego with his teammates. He criticized ownership for letting players such as Jefferson and Fred Dean leave in the past due to similar contract disputes, saying "I feel cheated... they've turned their back on me. I have nowhere else to go but home."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chargers general manager Johnny Sanders said that there would be no further negotiations with Winslow while he refused to report to camp.<ref name="wvc">Template:Cite news</ref> San Diego declined to place Winslow on the retirement list, which would have prevented him playing for the rest of the year. On September 5, Steiner suggested that Winslow could still be induced to return, but that they were investigating other means of income, including television work.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Chargers signed veteran tight end Al Dixon as a replacement on September 6.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Houston Gamblers of the USFL declared an interest in signing Winslow, staging a press conference with the player on September 8.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow stated at the conference that he would return to San Diego and play the remaining two years there; he was not permitted to sign for the Gamblers until his Chargers contract expired, but expressed an interest in joining them for the 1986 season.Template:Efn Winslow then returned to the Chargers, allowing negotiations to re-open.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 12, Winslow agreed to a new five-year contract with San Diego.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn

Winslow had missed one game due to his holdout,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but returned in week 3 to face the Oilers at home. The Jack Murphy Stadium crowd booed him when he was announced at the start of the game,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a 31–14 victory in which he had 10 catches for 146 yards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Three weeks later, he broke the Chargers single-game receptions record for the second time with 15 catches for 157 yards in a 34–28 win at Green Bay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn Despite having missed a game, he was on course to break Charley Hennigan's league record of 101 catches in a season before being stopped by a serious knee injury.<ref name="recover">Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Quote box In week 8, late in a 44–37 loss to the Raiders, Winslow took a short pass over the middle for his 55th reception of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His knee twisted while being tackled by Los Angeles linebackers Jeff Barnes and Rod Martin. In the immediate wake of the injury, Winslow described himself as "flopping on the field like a flounder out of water."Template:Sfn Once medical staff reset his knee, Winslow smiled and exchanged jokes with the Raiders as he left the field, but learned in the treatment room that his injury would require season-ending surgery after the game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Team physician Gary Losse, who performed the surgery over the course of two hours, later said that Winslow's knee looked like "spaghetti... like a couple of mop ends." Losse also said, "The ligaments had almost an explosion-like appearance, it was a very, very severe knee injury."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The severity was due in part to both the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) being damaged.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reflecting on his season the following week, Winslow was relieved that he had insisted on a guaranteed contract during negotiations, which ensured he would be paid in full for five years even if he was unable to play again.<ref name="recover"/>

1985 season

Interviewed during April 1985, Winslow reported that his recovery was proceeding ahead of schedule. He was optimistic of a midseason return in the coming season, and of again being the best tight end in the league.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In August, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow returned to action in week 7, two days short of a year after the injury happened. In a loss at the Minnesota Vikings, he caught two passes, produced key blocks on a pair of touchdown runs, and described the game as "like old times."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two weeks later, he was used on only four plays in a win over Denver, all of which were running plays.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was visibly upset over his lack of usage, and failed to report for practice the next day, instead flying to Canada to promote a drink in which he had a financial stake.<ref name="quartc"/> The following day, he returned to the team and apologised for his absence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Winslow was used primarily as a blocker or decoy throughout the season,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and finished with only 25 catches for 318 yards and no touchdowns from his ten appearances.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Compared with his play before the injury, Winslow struggled to break tackles and change directions sharply when running pass routes. He said, "I'll never be the Kellen Winslow of old. There will always be something missing because of the reconstruction."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1986 season

File:Kellen Winslow circa 1986.jpg

Winslow Template:Circa 1986

Winslow improved in 1986, catching 64 passes for 728 yards and 5 touchdowns,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with 45 of his catches coming in the final nine games.<ref name="early">Template:Cite news</ref> Offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese described his movement as more fluid and his play as more confident.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow would later describe his own play as still being tentative and scared during the 1986 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1987 season

During the offseason Winslow underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee to clear out scar tissue from his injury; he reported improved running ability afterwards.<ref name="early"/> The 1987 season was shortened by a players strike, which saw one week cancelled and three more played primarily with replacement players. Winslow sat out the entire strike, which he described as frustrating. He taped over his jersey number during a training session in protest at his No. 80 being used by one of the replacement players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On the field, Winslow was pleased to find that he was that he was better at breaking tackles than the previous year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His play after the strike prompted his new head coach Al Saunders to say that he was once again playing at a league-leading standard.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow made his 500th career reception during the season, following Ozzie Newsome as the second tight end to pass the landmark.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He finished with 53 catches from his twelve games, second-most among NFL tights ends,<ref name="88k">Template:Cite news</ref> though his 9.8 yards per reception was the least of his career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His performances earned him his fifth Pro Bowl nomination (his first since the knee injury) and a place in the AP All-Pro second team, while his teammates named him their offensive player of the year.<ref name="phys">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He said that during the year he had accomplished "the regaining of respect, both on this team and around the league... a resurgence to the level a lot of people wondered I could still play at."<ref name="88k"/>

1988 season: Suspension and retirement

Winslow expected to continue his career in 1988, though he hinted it might be his last season, reporting that the Chargers did not seem eager to extend his contract. Entering the season at 30 years old, he was the second-longest tenured Charger, behind only center Don Macek.<ref name="88k"/> He again had arthroscopic surgery during the offseason,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and failed one physical before passing a second one and joining his teammates at training camp in August.<ref name="phys"/><ref name="newspapers.com">Template:Cite news</ref> He was unable to play in the Chargers' first two preseason games and featured briefly in the third.<ref name="newspapers.com"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Subsequently, he had to leave training early on consecutive days, missed a third day entirely, and was ruled out of the final preseason game due to his knee. Saunders said, "It's just not coming around. It's concerning him and I know it's concerning us."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On August 29, Winslow announced to journalists that he had been suspended without pay by the Chargers following a meeting with team officials. Describing his physical state during his preseason appearance as "total ineptness," Winslow said he had informed Saunders and director of football operations Steve Ortmayer that he was unable to continue his career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Chargers maintained that he was fit to play having passed a physical, and had been suspended for refusing to do so. This caused a dispute as to whether Winslow should be paid his guaranteed salary of $795,000 for the coming season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He would forfeit the money if he officially retired; the Chargers offered him half the amount to retire, which Winslow refused.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA, supported Winslow—he said that the Chargers had suspended their player while citing an outdated collective bargaining agreement, and that the NFLPA intended to file a lawsuit against the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow also threatened litigation, but instead decided to wait while Steiner negotiated with Ortmayer to find a compromise retirement settlement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Quote box On September 30, the two sides reached agreement and Winslow's retirement became official. The terms of the agreement were not revealed.<ref name="sort">Template:Cite news</ref> Winslow was critical of the Chargers' handling of the situation, saying that they had stripped him of his dignity by imposing the suspension.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ortmayer responded that there no should be no negative connotations to being placed on the suspended players list, as the NFL required all players on the roster to be given one of the available designations.<ref name="sort"/>

Interviewed the following year, Winslow described his career as "like a fairy tale," saying that he had been fortunate with his choice of high school and college, and with having a head coach in Coryell who could best exploit his abilities.<ref name="fairy">Template:Cite news</ref>

Legacy

Through his nine years in the NFL, Winslow caught 541 passes for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns in the regular season. His receptions total ranked 14th in league history at the time of his retirement.<ref name="sort"/> Winslow played in five Pro Bowls, and was named to three AP All-Pro first teams and one second team.<ref name="hof"/> Further honors followed his retirement, as he was voted into the NFL's All-1980s team, 75th anniversary team, and 100th anniversary team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1995, Winslow was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Chargers Hall of Fame; the Chargers retired his No. 80 jersey in 2023.<ref name="hof">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="chof">Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Kellen Winslow portrait 1982.jpg

Winslow Template:Circa 1982

Winslow is widely recognized as one of the best to play his position, and credited with revolutionizing the usage of tight ends in the NFL.<ref>Template:Cite news
Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> Tight ends prior to Winslow were primarily blockers who lined up next to an offensive lineman and ran short to medium routes;Template:Sfn Winslow said upon being drafted, "I can get just as deep as wide receivers and just as fast,"<ref name="fast"/> and Coryell quickly identified him as someone who could line up as a wide receiver on some plays and a tight end on others.<ref name="versatile"/> As his career progressed, the Chargers would use Winslow unpredictably in a number of positions over the course of a game, including flanker, split end, slotback, H-back, wingback or conventional tight end.<ref name="pos"/><ref name="book"/> He might start the play in a three point blocking stance or a two point receiver's stance,Template:Sfn or be put in motion so he would not be jammed at the line.Template:Sfn

Winslow was credited with creating the H-back position by Joe Bugel, an offensive coordinator with the Washington teams who made use of H-backs to win multiple Super Bowls. He said, "It takes the complete athlete, a guy who can block an end or a linebacker or take a cornerback or strong safety deep."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Saunders described Winslow as "a wide receiver in an offensive lineman's body,"Template:Sfn while Coryell said, "If we're asking Kellen to block a defensive end and not catch passes, I'm not a very good coach."<ref name="espn_coryell_dies">Template:Cite web</ref> Former head coach Jon Gruden called Winslow the first "joker" in the NFL. Head coach Bill Belichick noted that the pass-catching tight ends who get paid the most money are "all direct descendants of Kellen Winslow" and that there were fewer tight ends in the 21st century who could block on the line.Template:Sfn Winslow himself credited Coryell and his coaching staff for thinking outside the box to utilize his abilities in new ways: "There were many athletes before me who could do the things that I did. You talk about Charlie Sanders... Could stand in there and hold his own. Could run good routes. Probably could split him out. But I came into a situation with the offensive system where I could do those things."Template:Sfn

He called the coin toss at the pregame ceremony at Super Bowl XXIX between the Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers, which was done by then-Congressman Steve Largent on behalf of the surviving members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1995 (the other survivor was Lee Roy Selmon) and 75th Anniversary Team members Otto Graham, Gale Sayers, Mean Joe Greene and Ray Nitschke (representing PBHOF Class of 1995 member Henry Jordan).

Lists of the top 100 NFL players at any position frequently feature Winslow: In 1999, he was ranked No. 73 by The Sporting News,<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref> a 2010 NFL Network series had him at No. 67,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a panel of USA Today journalists placed him at No. 79 in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional statistics

Season	Team	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr
1979	San Diego	7	1	25	255	10.2	2
1980	San Diego	16	11	89	1,290	14.5	9
1981	San Diego	16	16	88	1,075	12.2	10
1982	San Diego	9	9	54	721	13.4	6
1983	San Diego	16	16	88	1,172	13.3	8
1984	San Diego	7	7	55	663	12.1	2
1985	San Diego	10	6	25	318	12.7	0
1986	San Diego	16	16	64	728	11.4	5
1987	San Diego	12	12	53	519	9.8	3
Career		109	94	541	6,741	12.5	45

Professional honors

• 3× First-team Associated Press All-Pro (1980, 1981, 1982)<ref name="hof"/>
• Second-team Associated Press All-Pro (1987)<ref name="hof"/>
• 5× Pro Bowl (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987)<ref name="hof"/>
• 2x NFL receptions leader (1980, 1981)<ref name="hof"/>
• San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame inductee (1995)<ref name="chof"/>Template:Efn
• Los Angeles Chargers No. 80 retired (2023)<ref name="chof"/>
• NFL team of the quarter-century, 1960–84<ref name="quartc"/>
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team<ref name="hof"/>
• NFL 75th anniversary team<ref name="hof"/>
• NFL 100th anniversary team<ref name="hof"/>
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1995)<ref name="hof"/>

Records

NFL records

The 2023 NFL Record & Fact Book credits Winslow with one league record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Most touchdown receptions, game: 5 (week 12, 1981; tied with Bob Shaw and Jerry Rice)

Los Angeles Chargers records

The Los Angeles Chargers 2023 Media Guide credits Winslow with six franchise records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Most points, game: 30 (week 12, 1981)
• Most touchdowns, game: 5 (week 12, 1981)
• Most touchdown receptions, game: 5 (week 12, 1981)
• Most playoff touchdowns, career: 4 (tied with three others)
• Most playoff receptions, game: 13 (divisional playoffs, 1981)
• Most playoff receiving touchdowns, career: 4 (tied with Charlie Joiner)

Personal life

In the immediate wake of his retirement, Winslow served as marketing vice president and major stockholder for a San Diego-based nutrition company.<ref name="wvc"/> He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego in 1993 and spent some time as a sports agent, while doubling as a radio commentator for his alma mater the Missouri Tigers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later, he worked as a college football announcer with Fox Sports Net.<ref name="fox">Template:Cite web</ref> Winslow served in various sports administrator roles, having been athletic director at Central State University,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> vice president for athletics and wellness at Lakeland College,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and director of athletics at Florida A&M University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Winslow has been married twice.<ref name="quartc"/> He has two sons, Kellen II with his first wife and Justin Winslow with his then-girlfriend.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kellen II also played tight end in the NFL.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Winslow has been a vocal proponent of affirmative action, particularly in football—he dedicated a substantial section of his Hall of Fame induction speech to highlighting the lack of African Americans in non-playing roles.<ref name="hof"/> When his son announced his intention to sign with the University of Washington, Winslow objected as the coaching staff featured no African Americans; Winslow II eventually signed with the University of Miami instead. Winslow described this as “a black father teaching his black son about the ways of the world.”<ref name="fox"/>

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Template:Trim Pro Football Hall of Fame profile
• Template:College Football HoF
• Template:Footballstats