Players

Veteran wide receiver Chris Chambers has proven that he’s a guy who Philip Rivers can depend on when a clutch catch needs to be made. Early in the 2008 season, Chambers caught touchdown passes in a career-best five straight games and late in the year, he made several key plays during the Bolts’ playoff run. He also caught the pass that allowed Rivers to become just the second QB in franchise history to eclipse 4,000 passing yards for a season.

  Chambers joined the Chargers in October 2007 in a trade from the Miami Dolphins. He made an immediate impact as the Bolts went 10-3 with him in the lineup. Chambers had at least two catches in every game and his 15.9 ypc average in the regular season and 17.4-yard average in the postseason both led the team. With the Bolts, Chambers played in his first-ever playoff games, debuting with a 121-yard effort in a Wild Card win over Tennessee. He finished his first postseason with the third-most receiving yards in the NFL (278) and the sixth-most catches (16).

  Chambers spent the first six and a half seasons of his NFL career in Miami, leaving as one of the most prolific pass-catchers in Dolphins history. He led the team in receiving his first five years (2001-05) and at the time of his departure, ranked fifth in career receptions (405), fourth in yards (5,688) and touchdown catches (43), and third in 100-yard games (17). A dual threat because of his speed, Chambers also rushed for more yards (355) than any other receiver in team history.

  Chambers had his best season with the Dolphins in 2005, when he was voted into the Pro Bowl after leading the Dolphins with a career-high 82 receptions, 1,118 yards and 11 TDs. He gave Miami its first 1,000-yard receiver since 1999 and just its sixth in team history.

  A very private and reserved individual away from the playing field, Chambers has quietly become a community leader wherever he has lived, including San Diego; his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, and South Florida. In 2005, Chambers started the CATCH-84 (Children Achieving Through Community Help) Foundation to benefit youth education and athletic programs (www.Catch84.com). One of the foundation’s signature events is a two-day football camp that he hosts each summer at his alma mater, Bedford High School, outside of Cleveland. At the conclusion of the camp, Chris’ foundation awards two $2,500 scholarships to campers who excel not only in athletics, but also in academics and community service. In San Diego, Chambers has lent his name and support to Big Brothers Big Sisters and in Miami he helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity and participated in the Dolphins’ annual Thanksgiving Turkey program. Chambers was also a member of the Dolphins’ “All-Community Team,” personally donating 20 tickets for every home game to local youth football organizations.

  In San Diego, Chambers has joined forces with Hoover High School and started a mentoring program for students. Each of the students are required to participate in community outreach, which recently included a trip to serve lunch to the residents St. Vincent de Paul, a service organization that strives to help individuals and families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. The mentoring program is designed to teach the students valuable life skills and visits like the one to St. Vincent de Paul are meant to show the kids that even if they don’t have much as far as material possessions that they still have a lot to be thankful for. Chambers has also worked with the students on health and fitness, resume building and money management, personally starting bank accounts for kids in the program.

  An astute businessman with an eye for talent, Chris and good friend and former Wisconsin teammate Mike Echols, are co-owners of King Ape Entertainment (www.KingApeEnt.com), a music label that represents up-and-coming hip-hop, rock, alternative and club acts. Their current featured artist is “Pryslezz,” who in 2009 released his first album, “Death of a Man, Rebirth of a King,” and his first single and music video, “More Than a Love Song,” which features Grammy-winning recording artist Dwele and a cameo appearance in the video from Chambers. Echols actually had a brief stint in the NFL, spending the 2002-04 seasons playing cornerback for the Tennessee Titans. Pryslezz’s album features several other well-known recording artists besides Dwele, including Raheem DeVaughn and Slum Village and his second music video for the song “Sideways” is in production and features Jason Derulo. Chambers has also started hosting and promoting concerts at the Anthology night club in San Diego.

  Chambers’ hobbies include traveling and spending time with his family. Past travels have taken Chris to London, Costa Rica, Brazil, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Second-round draft choice (52) by Miami, April 21, 2001…signed four-year contract, July 23, 2001 and five-year extension thru 2009, Aug. 5, 2004...traded to Chargers from Miami, Oct. 16, 2007.

  2009: Scored first touchdown reception week 4 against Pittsburgh.

   2008: 27-yard TD catch Wk 3 vs. NY Jets on ESPN’s MNF marked career-best fifth-consecutive game with TD catch…playing first game back in Miami Oct. 5, scored TD on 17-yard catch while tip-toeing to stay inbounds in back corner of end zone…later left game on final play of 3Q after suffering ankle injury while making catch at one-yard line and battling two Dolphin defenders to reach end zone…INA Weeks 6-7 against NE and at Buffalo because of injury…three of four catches in Jan. 5 AFC Wild Card Playoffs vs. Indy were 3rd down catches for first downs…set up 4Q TD in AFC Divisional Playoffs at Pittsburgh with back-to-back catches of 15 and 25 yards.

 2007: Played in 100th career game and caught 400th career pass at Cleveland Oct. 14…two days later, traded to Chargers (Oct. 16) for second-round choice in 2008 NFL Draft…caught TD pass (14 yards) in first game with Chargers Oct. 28 vs. Houston…three 4Q catches in 4Q of pivotal 23-17 OT win at Tennessee Dec. 9…26-yard catch set up first TD and on game-tying TD drive, had 19-yard catch on 4th-and-5 that survived replay challenge and two plays later added 28-yarder…off charts in first-ever playoff game with team-leading 121 yards in Jan. 6 AFC Wild Card game vs. Titans…caught 39-yard pass to go over 100 yards on 3rd-and-10 during game-clinching 4Q TD drive…combined with Vincent Jackson (114 yards) to give Bolts first pair of receivers to both go over 100 yards in playoff game since 1983…beat double-team to score on 30-yard catch on opening drive of 3Q in Jan. 13 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Indy, giving Bolts first lead of game at 14-10…after Colts scored to retake lead late in 3Q, 22-yard catch on 3rd-and-14 set up go-ahead TD two plays later…led team with seven catches in AFC Championship Game at NE.

 2006: Season-long 39-yard run set up TD in 13-10 win over Tenn. Sept. 24…went over 5,000-career yards on season-long 46-yard catch on flea-flicker that set up lone TD in 13-10 win over KC Nov. 12…had streak of 60 games (since Dec. 29, 2002 vs NE) with catch ended Dec. 17 at Buffalo.

 2005: Pro Bowl selection... career-long 61-yard run on reverse vs. Denver Sept. 11...career-long 77-yard TD catch vs. KC Oct. 21… AFC Offensive Player of Week after catching GW TD pass with six seconds left in 4Q of 24-23 win over Buffalo Dec. 4...set team records with 15 catches for 238 yards and became first Dolphins WR POW since 1994...catch and yard totals were most in NFL in ’05 and most by NFL receiver since ’02...marked fifth 200-yard game in team history and first since ’94…had 121 yards and two TDs following week vs. Chargers...third-straight 100-yard game tied second-longest streak in team history...became only fourth Dolphin player with three-straight 100-yard games… went over 1,000-yard mark for first time in career vs. Tennessee Dec. 24…game also marked career-best fourth straight with TD catch…capped off season with 16-yard TD pass from Peyton Manning in Pro Bowl.

 2004: INA for Jets game Oct. 3 (knee)…Nov. 7 & 21, became first Dolphin with consecutive 100-yard games since 1999…then career-long 76-yard TD catch on first play of Baltimore game Jan. 2.

 2003: Shared Phil Simms’ CBS Ironman of Game Award with QB Jay Fiedler after career-high three TDs in Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas for Miami’s first three-TD performance since ’98.

 2002: INA vs. Buffalo Oct. 20 (concussion)...inj. week before at Denver…season-high seven catches and 138 yards vs. Oakland Dec. 15, including 117 in first half alone. 2001: Consensus All-Rookie and NFL Offensive ROY by Football News and Football Digest…Dolphins’ Newcomer of Year…NFL Offensive ROM for November after 14-293-4 month…third team rookie to win ROM honors…Offensive Game Ball from coaches after 113-yard, two TD game at Indy Nov. 11…set team rookie record with 37.7-ypc avg. (min. 3 rec.)…first 100-yard game by Dolphins rookie since 1993 and first by rookie WR since ’89…74-yard TD vs. Colts was longest by Dolphins rookie since ’96 and second-longest by rookie in team history…scored game-winning TD (29 yards) with 7:44 to play in 4Q for 27-24 win…only second Dolphins rookie with two TD catches in game (Mel Baker, 1974)…led 4Q 34-27 comeback win at Buffalo Nov. 25 with pair of 4Q TDs …32-yard TD with 0:48 remaining was GW...TD catch vs. Denver Dec. 2 was fifth of season, tying Dolphins’ rookie record…inj. in Jan. 6 season finale vs. Buffalo (ankle) INA for Jan. 13 playoff game vs. Baltimore due to injury.

  COLLEGE: Second-team All-Big Ten as senior...honorable mention as junior…left as school’s third all-time leading receiver with 127 catches for 2,004 yards and 16 TDs…started final 33 games and played on Rose Bowl winning teams following soph (1998) and junior (1999) seasons…G on Badgers’ basketball team as frosh…played football at Wisconsin from 1997-00…majored in sociology and law.

  PERSONAL: Born Cleveland, Ohio…All-America and two-time all-state performer at Bedford (Ohio) HS…third-team all-state in basketball as senior…state champion in 400 meters as senior…married, Christina, and couple has son, Chaz.