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United States Lance Alworth is a pioneer in professional football, transitioning from a standout collegiate athlete to a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and subsequently a successful businessman.
Alworth was initially drafted by the AFL's Oakland Raiders and NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1962. The Raiders traded his rights to the San Diego Chargers, with whom he opted to sign. He became a seminal figure for the Chargers, achieving numerous receiving records and earning the UPI's AFL Most Valuable Player award in 1963.
In 1971, Alworth was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for his final two seasons. He played a key role in their Super Bowl VI victory, scoring the game's first touchdown.
Alworth was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, making him the only player recognized on both.
After retiring from football, Alworth founded All-Aboard Mini Storage. He sold this company, which built and operated industrial storage facilities nationwide, to Extra Space Storage in 2013 for $196 million.
Born on August 3, 1940, in Houston, Texas, Lance Alworth, nicknamed “Bambi” for his agile playing style, developed into a gifted athlete from a young age. Raised in Hog Chain, Mississippi, he excelled in multiple sports during high school, earning 15 letters. Despite receiving professional baseball offers from the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, Alworth chose to pursue college football at the University of Arkansas. There, the six-foot, 180-pound flanker distinguished himself as a three-time Academic All-American, leading all colleges in punt return yardage in both 1960 and 1961. He also participated in track and field, competing in the long jump and various dashes. Alworth played a crucial role in Arkansas’s three consecutive Southwest Conference championships from 1959 to 1961 and was named MVP of the 1961 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Alworth’s professional career began in 1962 when he was drafted by both the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and the AFL’s Oakland Raiders. He ultimately signed with the San Diego Chargers, who acquired his rights from the Raiders. His rookie season saw limited action, but his second year marked a significant turning point, with Alworth setting franchise records in receptions (61), yards (1,205), and touchdowns (11), earning him the UPI’s AFL Most Valuable Player award. He contributed to San Diego’s AFL championship victory in 1963. Over the next six seasons (1964-1969), Alworth consistently led the league in various receiving categories, including receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns, while playing alongside Chargers quarterback John Hadl. He was the first player to achieve seven consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, cementing his status as one of the top professional football receivers of the 1960s. He was named to the AFL All-Time Team.
In 1971, Alworth was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, where he played his final two seasons. During his tenure with the Cowboys, he notably scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl VI, contributing to their 24–3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Although he found the Cowboys’ run-first offense less aligned with his strengths, he retired in 1973 as a Super Bowl champion. Post-football, Alworth embarked on a business career, founding All-Aboard Mini Storage, which operated numerous facilities across California before being sold to Extra Space Storage in 2013 for $196 million. His contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, making him the first player whose career was primarily in the AFL to receive this honor. His number 19 was retired by the Chargers in 2005. He is also a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, the only player to be named to both.
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