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Gary Anderson (running back)

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Gary Anderson
refer to caption
Anderson with the Chargers c. 1987
No. 43, 40, 34
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1961-04-18) April 18, 1961 (age 63)
Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Hickman (Columbia)
College:Arkansas
NFL draft:1983 / round: 1 / pick: 20
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:3,409
Average:3.9
Touchdowns:32
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Gary Wayne Anderson (born April 18, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL), United States Football League (USFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1983 to 1995.

USFL

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Anderson was drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, but could not agree on a contract. Instead, Anderson signed to play for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 1983 after a college football career at the University of Arkansas. Anderson had filed suit against his first agent, Dr. Jerry A. Argovitz, and the Tampa Bay Bandits. The suit alleged that Argovitz misrepresented the Chargers' offer and that Argovitz steered Anderson to the Bandits in exchange for a USFL franchise (the Houston Gamblers). Sports Illustrated August 29, 1983.

Anderson started late in the season and quickly became the starting running back for the Bandits. He finished with 516 yards on 97 carries with 4 touchdowns in 1983. In 1984, Anderson rushed for 1008 yards on 268 carries and scored 19 touchdowns (league leader). In 1985, Anderson had his best USFL season as he rushed for 1207 yards on 276 carries and had 16 touchdowns. He was named to one All-Star team in his USFL career and is the 4th leading rusher in USFL history.

NFL

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In 1985, Anderson signed with the NFL's San Diego Chargers and was used primarily as a backup running back and kick returner. He returned a kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown on November 17, 1985, that was the longest kickoff return of the 1985 season. In 1986, he caught 80 passes out of the backfield for 871 yards and 8 touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl that season. He continued to be a reserve and special teams player for the Chargers until 1988, when he became the starting running back and rushed for 1119 yards on 225 carries.

In 1989, he sat out the season in a contract dispute with the Chargers. Anderson returned in 1990 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and rushed for 646 yards on 166 carries. He played with the Buccaneers as a reserve running back until 1993, when he played briefly for the Detroit Lions before retiring.

CFL

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In 1995, Anderson came out of retirement to play in the CFL for the expansion Memphis Mad Dogs where he joined a man who coached against him in the USFL, Pepper Rodgers. Anderson scored three touchdowns and gained 523 rushing and receiving yards and scoring 4 total touchdowns in his lone CFL season. When the US teams folded, the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected him the 12th round of the dispersal draft, but released him prior to the start of the 1996 season.[1]

Professional career statistics

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Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
G GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1983 TBB 8 7 97 516 5.3 73 4 29 347 12.0 49 0
1984 TBB 18 18 268 1,008 3.8 40 19 66 682 10.3 37 2
1985 TBB 18 17 276 1,207 4.4 68 16 72 678 9.4 41 4
1985 SD 12 6 116 429 3.7 27 4 35 422 12.1 52 2
1986 SD 16 12 127 442 3.5 17 1 80 871 10.9 65 8
1987 SD 12 7 80 260 3.3 25 3 47 503 10.7 38 2
1988 SD 14 13 225 1,119 5.0 36 3 32 182 5.7 20 0
1989 DNP Missed season - Contract dispute
1990 TB 16 13 166 646 3.9 22 3 38 464 12.2 74 2
1991 TB 16 5 72 263 3.7 64 1 25 184 7.4 21 0
1992 TB 15 4 55 194 3.5 18 1 34 284 8.4 34 0
1993 TB 6 1 28 56 2.0 13 0 11 89 8.1 28 1
1993 DET 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995 MEM 14 0 66 250 3.8 17 3 28 273 9.8 27 1
Career 169 103 1,576 6,390 4.1 73 58 497 4,979 10.0 74 22[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Gary Anderson (B)".
  2. ^ "Gary Anderson". Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
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