Chuck Muncie

Chuck Muncie

Muncie in October 2008
No. 42, 46
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1953-03-17)March 17, 1953
Place of birth:	Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Date of death:	May 13, 2013(2013-05-13) (aged 60)
Place of death:	Perris, California
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	227 lb (103 kg)
Career information
College:	California
NFL Draft:	1976 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Career history
New Orleans Saints (1976–1980) San Diego Chargers (1980–1984)
Career highlights and awards
3× Pro Bowl (1979, 1981, 1982) Pro Bowl MVP (1979) San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team San Diego Chargers 40th Anniversary Team Pop Warner Trophy (1975) Japan Bowl MVP (1976)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 110 Games started: 92 Rushing Yards: 6,702 Average: 4.3 TDs: 71 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie (March 17, 1953 − May 13, 2013) was an American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1984. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and tied the then-NFL season record for rushing touchdowns in 1981.

Muncie played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting numerous school records. In his senior year, he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding college football player. Muncie was drafted by New Orleans in the first round in the 1976 NFL Draft with the third overall pick. He became the first member of the Saints to be named to a Pro Bowl, and he was their first player to rush for 1,000 yards. He was traded to San Diego in 1980, starring in their high-scoring offense known as Air Coryell while being named to two additional Pro Bowls.

Muncie was considered one of the best running backs of his era until cocaine problems forced him into retirement. His drug problems eventually landed him in prison. Afterwards, he turned his life around by helping others through mentoring programs. He founded the Chuck Muncie Youth Foundation.

Muncie was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area town of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, as one of six children in a football-playing family. His three brothers called him "Chuck" because they did not like "Harry". When he was six, Muncie was hit by a truck, breaking his thigh, leg, hip, and arm. He was in a cast from his neck to his toes for six months, and doctors warned that he might never be able to walk properly again. Muncie recovered to become a multi-sport athlete, but the accident left his left leg shorter than his right. He compensated by playing with a shoe with an extra-thick sole.