Don Chandler

• New York Giants (1956-1964)
• Green Bay Packers (1965-1967)

Donald "Don" Gene Chandler ( born September 5, 1934 in Council Bluffs, Iowa; † August 11, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) was an US- American football player. He played as a punter and kicker in the National Football League ( NFL) for the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers.

Playing career

College career

Born in Iowa in 1934 Chandler grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended high school there. After his graduation, he studied at Bacone College, but later switched to the University of Florida for their football team, the "Florida Gators " he in the years 1954 and 1955 as a halfback, punter and kicker played. In 1955, he was the nation's best player at this position with an average room gain of 43.6 yards per punt.

Professional career

After graduating in 1956 was drafted in the fifth round to 57th place Don Chandler of the New York Giants. The Giants put a Chandler as a punter. In his first game year he won with his team the NFL Championship. The Giants beat the NFL playoff the Chicago Bears with 47:7. In 1958, he presented with 65 punts with which he was able to achieve space savings of 2859 yards on the season best. His team went again this year in the NFL playoff is a failed there, but the Baltimore Colts with 23:17. The game was the first meeting in the NFL, which was decided in extra time. After the regular season in 1959 and 1961 Chandler moved to the third and fourth time in the championship game, again subject to the Giants in 1959 the Colts, this time with 31:16, 1961, she had to admit defeat to the Green Bay Packers with 37:0.

Starting in 1962, the Giants put a Chandler as a kicker. In the same year he played in his fifth NFL playoff. Once again, the Giants lost to the Packers. When 16:7 defeat his team Chandler was able to turn a point after touchdown (PAT ). 1963 Chandler was the statistically best kicker in the NFL and achieved 106 points. He helped his team to the next entry into the NFL playoff. Again, you failed there to the Packers, who could prevail with 14:10. With a field goal and a PAT Don Chandler could not prevent the defeat of his team.

Before the Game Round 1965 Chandler moved to the trained by Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers. He should stay extremely successful with the Packers. In his first game year he moved immediately into the play-offs, where his new team had to play against the Baltimore Colts. Until shortly before the end of the game led the Colts with 10:7. Chandler was able to offset with a field goal the game, but he kicked the ball next to the gate post, which has been overlooked by the referees. The Packers were able to win in extra time with a second field goal by Chandler 13-10 the game. The wrong decision of the arbitrators have prompted a rule change in the NFL. From the season 1966 two referees were standing next to the goal posts. Both must decide if the field goal was achieved regularly. In the NFL playoff Chandler scored then two field goals in the 23:12 win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Packers also won in the next two years, the NFL Championship games. 1966, met in the play-offs on the Dallas Cowboys and won with 34:27. Chandler scored in the game four PAT. The victory meant a place in the AFL- NFL Championship Game, later renamed Super Bowl. The Packers were able to achieve I five touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the associated PAT of Chandler were all turned and left the Packers with a 35:10 win the game field. Even the Super Bowl II Chandler should win with the team from Green Bay. In the NFL playoff they met again on the managed by Tom Landry Cowboys after the team had previously defeated the Los Angeles Rams with 28:7 in the play-offs. The match against the team from Dallas was held in Green Bay at -25 degrees Celsius and should be received as the Ice Bowl in the history of the NFL. The Cowboys were in the game for a long time an equal opponent, only a few seconds left in the game the quarterback of the Packers Bart Starr could decide the game with a touchdown. The Packers were able to achieve a total of three touchdowns in the game, Chandler transformed the corresponding PAT. Opponent in the upcoming Super Bowl II were the Oakland Raiders. Chandler had a very good day in his last professional game. He succeeded in attaining four field goals and three PAT, which he contributed a total of 15 points for his team 33:14. Immediately after the game ended his career Chandler. Don Chandler is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.

Honors

Don Chandler played in a Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. He was elected three times to the All-Pro and is a member of the NFL 1960s All- Decade Team, in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and in the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.