View source for Chris Chambers

{{Short description|American football player (born 1978)}}
{{Other people}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name         = Chris Chambers
| image        = Chris Chambers.jpg
| caption      = Chambers in 2002
| number       = 84
| position     = [[Wide receiver]]
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1978|8|12}}
| birth_place  = [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date   =
| death_place  = 
| height_ft    = 5
| height_in    = 11
| weight_lbs   = 210
| high_school  = [[Bedford High School (Ohio)|Bedford]] ([[Bedford, Ohio]])
| college      = [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin]] (1997–2000)
| draftyear    = 2001
| draftround   = 2
| draftpick    = 52
| pastteams    = * [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
| pastcoaching = * [[Fort Lauderdale Eagles football|Fort Lauderdale]] (2021)<br/>Head coach 
* [[Keiser Seahawks football|Keiser]] (2022)<br/>Wide receivers coach
| highlights   = * [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2006 Pro Bowl|2005]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] (2001)
* Second-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[2000 All-Big Ten Conference football team|2000]])
| statlabel1   = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1   = 540
| statlabel2   = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue2   = 7,648
| statlabel3   = [[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
| statvalue3   = 58
| pfr          = ChamCh00
| current_team =  
}}
'''Christopher J. Chambers'''  (born August 12, 1978) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] for 10 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin Badgers]]. He was selected by the [[Miami Dolphins]] in the second round of the [[2001 NFL draft]], and also played for the [[San Diego Chargers]] and [[Kansas City Chiefs]].

After his playing career, Chambers served in 2021 as the first-ever [[University of Fort Lauderdale]] head football coach.

==Early life==
{{unsourced BLP section|date=June 2025}}
Chambers attended [[Bedford High School (Bedford, Ohio)|Bedford High School]] in [[Bedford, Ohio|Bedford]], Ohio. While there, he was a three-sport letterman in [[American football|football]], [[basketball]] and [[Track and field|track]].  In football, he won [[All-America]] accolades and was a two-time all-state selection.  In basketball, he was a third-team all-state performer as a senior. He was a high school teammate of wide receiver [[Lee Evans (American football)|Lee Evans]], who also played for the [[Wisconsin Badgers]].

In track, he won the state championship in the [[400 meters|400-meter dash]] as a senior with a time of 47.1 seconds. He also ran the [[200 meters|200-meter dash]] in 21.4 seconds.

==College career==
{{unsourced BLP section|date=June 2025}}
Following high school, Chambers was a four-year letterman at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Chambers played in 43 games during his career, starting the final 33. He was also a backup guard on the Badgers basketball team during his freshman year in 1997–98.

Chambers topped the football team in receiving his sophomore season when he totaled 28 catches for 563 yards and seven touchdowns, including an 80-yard grab against [[University of Michigan|Michigan]]. He missed two games as a junior with a broken finger, but still led the team in receiving with 41 catches for 578 yards and four scores, and was an honorable mention [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] selection. Despite playing in only nine games as a senior because of a stress fracture in his right foot, Chambers put together the most productive season of his career with 52 receptions for 813 yards and five [[touchdown]]s. He was a second-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten Conference]] selection. He had the best game of his career when he hauled in 11 passes for 191 yards against [[University of Iowa|Iowa]]. That game came one week after he had 11 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown against [[Purdue University|Purdue]].

He finished his collegiate career with 127 receptions for 2,004 yards and 16 [[touchdowns]]. He also rushed for 17 yards on two carries, returned one kickoff for 15 yards and fielded five punts for two yards. He currently ranks fourth on the school's all-time list for receptions and yardage, and fifth in receiving touchdowns. He was part of Badger teams that won the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] following the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

==Professional career==
{{nfl predraft
|    height ft = 5
|    height in = 11 5/8
|       weight = 210
|         dash = 4.33
|    ten split = 
| twenty split = 
|      shuttle = 4.00
|   cone drill = 
|     vertical = 45.0
|     broad ft = 11
|     broad in = 2
|        bench = 
|    wonderlic = 
|     arm span = 34
|    hand span = 9
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=303&DraftYear=2001 |title=Chris Chambers, Wisconsin, WR, 2001 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5859 |title=Chris Chambers, Combine Results, WR – Wisconsin |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=December 24, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Miami Dolphins===

====2001====
[[File:Chris Chambers2.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Chambers during his tenure with the Miami Dolphins.]]
Chambers was drafted by the [[Miami Dolphins]] 52nd overall in the second round of the [[2001 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Chambers turned in one of the most productive seasons of any rookie wide receiver in club history. He started seven of the 16 games in which he played, and finished with 48 receptions for 883 yards and seven touchdowns. His yardage and touchdown totals both led the team, as did his 18.4-yards per reception average. His reception figure ranked third on the team behind those of fellow receivers [[Oronde Gadsden]] and [[James McKnight (American football)|James McKnight]]. Chambers finished the year ranked 18th in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] in receiving yards, while his average per catch was first among the top 20 receivers in both the AFC and [[National Football Conference|NFC]]. Chambers topped the 100-yard receiving mark three times. He also returned 36 kickoffs for a 22.5-yard average with a long of 47. Chambers missed the team's first-round playoff game on January 13, 2002, against the [[Baltimore Ravens]] due to a sprained ankle suffered the last week of the regular season.

====2002====
In 2002, Chambers started all 15 games in which he played. He missed the team's October 20 contest against the Buffalo Bills while recovering from a concussion suffered on a hit by then-[[Denver Broncos]] safety [[Kenoy Kennedy]]. Chambers led team with 52 receptions for 734 yards and also scored three touchdowns. He totaled 78 rushing yards on six carries, including a long run of 45 yards. He had seven catches of 25 yards or longer (second-most on the team), trailing only James McKnight (9). Chambers led the team in receptions five times and in receiving yards on five occasions as well. His rushing total on the year was the fourth-highest single-season total by a Dolphins wide receiver at the time, and it was the highest figure since [[Nat Moore]] had 89 yards in 1977.

====2003====
Chambers started all 16 games in 2003, becoming the first Dolphins wide receiver to do so since Oronde Gadsden in 2000. He finished the season with 64 catches for 963 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. His reception total tied for 14th in the AFC, while his yardage figure ranked seventh. He tied for fifth in the conference in overall touchdowns and was first in the AFC and third in the NFL in receiving scores. Chambers accounted for the most catches by a Dolphin since 1999 when [[Tony Martin (football player)|Tony Martin]] had 67 receptions. Chambers' yardage total was the most by a Dolphin since Martin had 1,037 yards in 1999, and his 11 touchdowns were the most since [[Mark Clayton (American football, born 1961)|Mark Clayton]] hauled in 12 receiving scores in 1991. Of Chambers' 64 receptions, eight went for 25 yards or longer, topping the team. Over the course of the season, he led the team in receptions nine times and in receiving yards on nine occasions. His average per reception of 15.0 tied for the ninth-highest figure among the top 50 receiving yardage leaders in the AFC. He also rushed for 30 yards on four attempts on the year.

====2004====
Chambers started 15 games in 2004, missing only an October 3 contest against the [[New York Jets]] with a knee injury. He led Miami in both receiving yards and touchdowns with 898 yards and seven scores. His 69 receptions were second on the team only to tight end [[Randy McMichael]]'s 73. It marked the fourth straight year in which Chambers led the team in receiving yardage, which made him just the third Dolphin ever to achieve this feat, joining [[Paul Warfield]] (1970–1973) and Nat Moore (1974–1977). Chambers had six receptions of 25 yards or longer – the most on the team. He also rushed for 76 yards on nine attempts during the course of the season, including a season-long 24-yard run against the [[Arizona Cardinals]] on November 7. He led team in receptions seven times and in receiving yards on five occasions during the course of the season. His reception total was 15th in the AFC while his yardage figure ranked 18th. Chambers accounted for four 100-yard receiving games on the year, tied for the sixth-highest single-season figure in club history and the most by a Dolphin since Tony Martin had five in 1999.

====2005====
In 2005, Chambers started all 16 games in which he played. He led Miami with 82 receptions for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns – figures which earned him his first [[Pro Bowl]] selection. His reception total tied for sixth in the AFC and 13th in the NFL, while his yardage figure was third in the conference and 12th in the league. His eleven touchdown catches tied for the second-highest figure in the conference and third in the NFL, trailing only [[Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis']] [[Marvin Harrison]] (12) and [[Carolina Panthers|Carolina]]'s [[Steve Smith (NFL wide receiver)|Steve Smith]] (12). Chambers set career highs for both receptions and receiving yards, while his touchdown total equaled his career best from 2003. Over the final six games of the season, he recorded 43 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns. With 82 catches on the year, Chambers became the first wide receiver to increase his receiving totals in each of his first five NFL seasons since [[Muhsin Muhammad]] did it from 1996 to 2000 with the Carolina Panthers. In addition, Chambers became just the second Dolphins wide receiver to do it, joining [[O.J. McDuffie]] (1993–1997). He became the first Dolphin to record 1,000 or more receiving yards since Tony Martin had 1,037 receiving yards in 1999. Overall, it marked the 14th time a Dolphin had a 1,000 receiving yard season, and he is the sixth different Dolphin player to reach that plateau, joining Mark Clayton (five times), [[Mark Duper]] (four), [[Irving Fryar]] (two), O.J. McDuffie (one) and Tony Martin (one). Chambers also rushed for 92 yards on 12 attempts during the course of the season, good for third on the team in rushing.

Chambers' best game of the season (and his career) came on December 4 against the Buffalo Bills. In the game, which the Dolphins trailed by 20 points entering the fourth quarter, Chambers caught 15 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown. Key receptions included a 57-yard grab on the final drive with under two minutes left, as well as the game-winning touchdown on a pass from [[Sage Rosenfels]] with only six seconds remaining. His impressive performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. His yardage total was the highest for any player in the NFL in 2005, and the most by any player since [[Plaxico Burress]] had 253 yards for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 2002.

A high school and college teammate, Bills wide receiver [[Lee Evans (American football)|Lee Evans]], also had a career day during the game with 117 receiving yards and three touchdowns&mdash;both personal bests.

====2006====
Chambers suffered a down season in 2006 after a Pro Bowl performance the year before. The Dolphins' offense struggled as a whole, and he never seemed to be a favorite target for [[quarterback]] [[Joey Harrington]], and finished third on the team in both receptions and receiving yards. He also ranked third on the team in rushing with eight rushes for 95 yards. Chambers led the team in receptions four times and in reception yardage four times during a season in which he started all 16 games. He was held without a catch on December 17 at the Buffalo Bills, breaking his streak of making at least one reception in 60 consecutive games.

===San Diego Chargers===
[[File:Jamal Williams (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Chambers with the San Diego Chargers in 2008]]

====2007====
Just before the October 16, 2007 NFL trade deadline, the [[San Diego Chargers]] acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers from the [[Miami Dolphins]] for a 2nd round pick in the upcoming [[2008 NFL draft]].  Signed through 2009, Chambers was reunited with Chargers coach [[Norv Turner]], who was Miami's offensive coordinator in 2002–03.  The Chargers hoped that Chambers' experience this season with Dolphins head coach [[Cam Cameron]], whose offense is a derivative of the Norv Turner offense, would help make the transition to the Chargers smoother.<ref>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20071018-9999-1s18chargers.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers – To Chambers, it's same ol', same ol'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  The decision to go after Chambers was made after the team realized that receiver [[Eric Parker (American football)|Eric Parker]]'s toe injury was not healing fast enough for him to have an impact in 2007 and he was subsequently placed on [[injured reserve]] to make room on the roster for Chambers.<ref>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20071017-9999-1s17chnotes.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers – Club ran out of time for Parker to recover<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The Chargers are responsible for $3.5M of Chambers' $5.4M 2007 salary.  Chambers was scheduled to earn $5.1M and $4.55M in 2008 and 2009 respectively.<ref>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20071017-9999-1s17chargers.html SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers – What's the catch? Bolts add receiver<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In Chambers' first games with the Chargers, he caught two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.  On the season, Chambers had 66 receptions for 970 yards and 4 touchdowns.  While with the Chargers, Chambers produced 35 receptions, 555 yards, and 4 touchdowns, in addition another 16 catches for 268 yards, and one more score in their three playoff games that year.

====2008====
As of Week 15 in the 2008 season with the San Diego Chargers, Chambers had 26 receptions for 357 yards with 5 touchdowns, and 1 rushing yard on 1 rushing attempt. Chambers' was inactive in weeks 6 and 7 due to an ankle injury sustained during a game against the [[Miami Dolphins]]. Chambers finished the 2008 season with 33 receptions for 462 yards and 5 touchdowns.

====2009====
Chambers was released by the Chargers on November 2<ref name="Release">{{cite web | title = Released from Chargers | work = Cowboyszone.com | url = http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167046 | accessdate = November 2, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111001170541/http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167046 | archive-date = October 1, 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> At the time of his release, Chambers had only 9 receptions for 122 yards with 1 touchdown.

===Kansas City Chiefs===
[[File:Chris Chambers Chiefs.JPG|thumb|Chambers with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010]]
Chambers was claimed off waivers by the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] on November 3. He made his Chiefs debut in week 9, catching 3 passes for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns.  On November 22, Chambers helped the Chiefs upset the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers with 119 receiving yards, including a 61-yard catch and run in overtime that set up the Chiefs' game-winning field goal.

On March 8, 2010, Chambers re-signed a 3-year, $15 million contract with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. He was released on July 28, 2011.

On April 19, 2018, Chambers signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Dolphins.<ref>{{cite web|title=Six Former Players Sign One Day Contracts|url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Six-Former-Players-Sign-One-Day-Contracts-/3ea12497-2052-442a-bdc9-2370fe126a34|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001853/http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Six-Former-Players-Sign-One-Day-Contracts-/3ea12497-2052-442a-bdc9-2370fe126a34|archive-date=June 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="6"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Tgt!! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''16''' || 7 || 90 || 48 || 883 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''18.4''' || 74 || 7
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 15 || 15 || 100 || 52 || 734 || 14.1 || 59 || 3
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 130 || 64 || 963 || 15.0 || 57 || '''11'''
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 15 || 15 || 140 || 69 || 898 || 13.0 || 76 || 7
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''166''' || '''82''' || '''1,118''' || 13.6 || '''77''' || '''11'''
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 154 || 59 || 677 || 11.5 || 46 || 4
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 6 || 5 || 66 || 31 || 415 || 13.4 || 28 || 0
|-
! [[2007 San Diego Chargers season|SD]]
| 10 || 7 || 63 || 35 || 555 || 15.9 || 44 || 4
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 San Diego Chargers season|SD]]
| 14 || 9 || 65 || 33 || 462 || 14.0 || 48 || 5
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 San Diego Chargers season|SD]]
| 7 || 5 || 31 || 9 || 122 || 13.6 || 20 || 1
|-
! [[2009 Kansas City Chiefs season|KAN]]
| 9 || 9 || 61 || 36 || 608 || 16.9 || 61 || 4
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Kansas City Chiefs season|KAN]]
| 13 || 7 || 43 || 22 || 213 || 9.7 || 26 || 1
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 153 !! 127 !! 1,109 !! 540 !! 7,648 !! 14.2 !! 77 !! 58
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="6"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Tgt!! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 San Diego Chargers season|SDG]]
| '''3''' || '''2''' || '''27''' || '''16''' || '''278''' || '''17.4''' || '''39''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 San Diego Chargers season|SDG]]
| 2 || 0 || 11 || 8 || 129 || 16.1 || 25 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 5 !! 2 !! 38 !! 24 !! 407 !! 17.0 !! 39 !! 1
|}

==Coaching career==
Chambers served in 2021 as the first-ever [[University of Fort Lauderdale]] head football coach. He was later the wide receivers coach at [[Keiser Seahawks|Keiser University]].

==Personal life==
Chambers majored in sociology and law at Wisconsin. He did a commercial for Reebok in which he is seen catching three footballs, one with each hand, then caught the third one between the two.<ref>{{YouTube|QEKlzwi_G5Y|NFL Fantasy Files – Chris Chambers}}</ref>

In 2010, Chambers married Stacey Saunders.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Chris-Chambers-gets-married-to-his-stalker.html |title=Chris Chambers get married to his stalker |access-date=September 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127180605/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Chris-Chambers-gets-married-to-his-stalker.html |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Fort Lauderdale Eagles football|Fort Lauderdale Eagles]]
 | conf      = [[National Christian College Athletic Association]]
 | startyear = 2021
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = 2021
 | name         = Fort Lauderdale
 | overall      = 0–7
 | conference   = 0–0
 | confstanding = N/A
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      =
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Fort Lauderdale
 | overall    = 0–7
 | confrecord = 0–0
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 0–7
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*[http://www.cjcsports.net Chris Chambers Football Skills Camp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203022331/http://www.cjcsports.net/ |date=February 3, 2007 }}

{{Dolphins2001DraftPicks}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Chris}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Fort Lauderdale Eagles football coaches]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Cleveland]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Cleveland]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers players]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Badgers football players]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Ohio]]
[[Category:Keiser Seahawks football coaches]]