Flipper Anderson

Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. (born March 7, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams (1988–1994), the Indianapolis Colts (1995), the Washington Redskins (1996), and the Denver Broncos (1997). As a Bronco, he was part of their Super Bowl XXXII championship team over the Green Bay Packers. As a Ram, he set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game with 336 against the Saints on November 26, 1989.[1] In his record-breaking game, Anderson accumulated 40 of those yards in overtime.[2]

Flipper Anderson
No. 83, 84
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1965-03-07) March 7, 1965
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
High school:Paulsboro (Paulsboro, New Jersey)
College:UCLA
NFL Draft:1988 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46
Career history
Career highlights and awards
NFL record
  • Most receiving yards in a game (336)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:267
Receiving yards:5,357
Receiving touchdowns:28
Player stats at PFR

Early life

Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3] He played high school football at Paulsboro High School in southern New Jersey and was one of the nation's top high school football recruits of the Class of 1983.[4][5][6]

College career

Anderson played college football at UCLA, where he was a receiving target for quarterback Troy Aikman.[7][8]

In his time at UCLA, Anderson had eight games with at least 100 receiving yards. His eight games reaching the mark were the most in school history at the time of his departure to the NFL.[9]

Professional career

Los Angeles Rams

Anderson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round (46th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft. He was the seventh wide receiver to be selected that year.[10]

1988 season

In his rookie season, Anderson finished with 11 receptions for 319 receiving yards in 1988.[11] He was part of a crowded receiving unit that contained Pro Bowler Henry Ellard.[12]

1989 season

In Week 4, against the San Francisco 49ers, Anderson scored his first professional touchdown on a 65-yard reception in the 13–12 victory.[13] He finished the season with a career-high 1,146 yards off just 44 receptions, giving him an average of 26 yards per reception.[14] Anderson led the NFL in yards per reception in the 1989 season.[15] Anderson and Henry Ellard combined to be a 1,000-yard receiving duo for the Rams.[16]

Record-breaking game

Anderson set the National Football League record for most receiving yards and yards from scrimmage in a game, with 336 yards on 15 receptions with a 22.4 yards per reception average, during the 12th week of the 1989 season in a 20–17 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints.[17][18] He broke the previous mark of 309 yards, set by Stephone Paige of the Kansas City Chiefs, in 1985.[19] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his record-breaking game.[20]

1989 postseason

On January 7, 1990, during a Divisional Round game, the Rams won the coin toss after taking the New York Giants to overtime. The Rams drove 77 yards in four plays, the last being a 30-yard touchdown pass to Anderson, who caught the ball in the end zone and ran directly through the tunnel and into the locker room.[21] He caught two touchdown passes in that 19–13 win.[22]

1990 season

Anderson had four games with at least 100 receiving yards in the 1990 season. In the 1990 season, Anderson finished with 51 receptions for 1,097 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[23] For the second consecutive season, he led the NFL in yards per reception.[24] In addition, Anderson and Ellard gave the Rams' a 1,000-yard receiving duo for back-to-back seasons.[25]

1991 season

Anderson was inactive for four games with a back injury.[26] In the 1991 season, Anderson appeared in 12 games and finished with 32 receptions for 530 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[27]

1992 season

From Weeks 12–15, Anderson recorded a receiving touchdown in four consecutive games. In the 1992 season, Anderson appeared in 15 games and recorded 38 receptions for 657 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.[28] He led the Rams in receiving touchdowns.[29]

1993 season

In the 1993 season, Anderson finished with 37 receptions for 552 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 15 games.[30] He tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with Troy Drayton.[31]

1994 season

In Week 2, against the Atlanta Falcons, Anderson had five receptions for 154 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 31–13 loss.[32] In the 1994 season, Anderson finished with 46 receptions for 945 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[33] He led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.[34]

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts signed Anderson as a free agent before the 1995 season.[35]

1995 season

In the 1995 season opener for the Colts, Anderson scored two touchdowns in the 24–21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.[36] Anderson suffered a knee injury in Week 2, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.[37] The Colts later waived Anderson.

Washington Redskins

During the 1996 season, the Redskins signed Anderson.[38] He only appeared in two games and recorded no statistics.[39]

Denver Broncos

Anderson joined the Broncos for the 1997 season. He appeared in four games and recorded no statistics.[40] He won a Super Bowl title when the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.[41]

Anderson finished his career with 267 receptions for 5,357 yards and 28 touchdowns, giving him a 20.1 career yards per catch average.[42]

Personal life

Anderson lives in Suwanee, Georgia and is a high school basketball referee.[43] His son, Dres Anderson, played wide receiver for the Utah Utes.[44] His other son, Seth, plays wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

References
  1. Siegel, Alan (December 9, 2014). "The Time A Guy Named Flipper Set The Single-Game NFL Receiving Record". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. Kacsmar, Scott (October 29, 2013). "Clutch Encounters: Week 8". Football Outsiders. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  3. McQuade, Dan (April 19, 2021). "A Visit To The N.J. Deli Worth $100 Million". Defector.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  4. Carchidi, Sam (October 28, 2007). "Hodges leads Raiders over injury-riddled Herd". Inquirer.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  5. "Letter: In Paulsboro, unity overcomes a wrestling photo". NJ.com. February 20, 2014. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  6. "Paulsboro (Paulsboro, NJ) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  7. "Flipper Anderson College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  8. Dodds, Tracy (October 16, 1985). "He Sounds Like Good Catch for Dolphins : Flipper Anderson Has a Name for the Pros and the Speed for UCLA". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  9. "2022 UCLA Bruins Football Media Guide" (PDF). UCLA Bruins Athletics. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  10. "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  11. "Flipper Anderson 1988 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  12. "1988 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  13. "Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers - October 1st, 1989". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  14. "Flipper Anderson 1989 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  15. "1989 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  16. "1989 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  17. "Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints – November 26th, 1989". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  18. Dufresne, Chris (November 27, 1989). "Flipper Saves Rams From a Flop : Pro Football: Anderson catches 15 passes for an NFL-record 336 yards. L.A. still almost self-destructs, but Lansford's kick beats Saints in overtime, 20-17". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. Florio, Mike (October 27, 2013). "Calvin Johnson has first 300-yard receiving day since 1989". ProFootballTalk. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. "1989 NFL Week 12 Leaders & Scores". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  21. Fennelly, John (October 14, 2021). "Throwback Thursday: Rams, Flipper Anderson stun Giants in 1989 playoffs". Giants Wire. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  22. "Divisional Round – Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants – January 7th, 1990". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  23. "Flipper Anderson 1990 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  24. "1990 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  25. "1990 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  26. "Rams bring back Ron Brown to pick up slack of injured Anderson". Tampa Bay Times. September 26, 1991. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  27. "Flipper Anderson 1991 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  28. "Flipper Anderson 1992 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  29. "1992 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  30. "Flipper Anderson 1993 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  31. "1993 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  32. "Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons - September 11th, 1994". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  33. "Flipper Anderson 1994 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  34. "1994 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  35. "Colts sign Flipper Anderson - UPI Archives". UPI. March 7, 1995. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  36. "Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts - September 3rd, 1995". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  37. "Anderson faces knee surgery - UPI Archives". UPI. September 13, 1995. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  38. "Flipper Anderson Goes to Redskins". Los Angeles Times. October 8, 1996. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  39. "Flipper Anderson 1996 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  40. "Flipper Anderson 1997 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  41. "Super Bowl XXXII - Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos - January 25th, 1998". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  42. "Flipper Anderson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  43. Salvador, Joseph (November 17, 2022). "The Night Flipper Anderson Set the NFL's Single-Game Receiving Record". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  44. Cook, Everett (October 3, 2014). "Dres Anderson is more than Flipper's kid at Utah". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
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