Portal:Oregon/Selected biography/23
Daniel Francis Fouts (born June 10, 1951) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987. A native of San Francisco, California, he would play college football at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Fouts' father Bob was a long-time announcer for the San Francisco 49ers, and Dan was a ball boy for the team while growing up. Fouts was drafted into the NFL by the Chargers in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft. In the NFL, he led the league four times in passing yards and was a 6-time Pro Bowl selection (1979-1983 & 1985), ending his career with over 40,000, the third player to surpass that landmark. Dan Fouts is one of only seven quarterbacks in NFL history who have achieved two consecutive (back-to-back) 30-touchdown passing seasons. His number 14 jersey is one of only two numbers retired by the San Diego Chargers. In 1999, he was ranked number 92 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Fouts was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Fouts' post-NFL career included a well-received commentator role on ABC's Monday Night Football, alongside famed MNF anchor Al Michaels and comedian Dennis Miller. He also served as a college football analyst alongside Brent Musberger and Keith Jackson.