Former Chargers RB Lincoln dies at 80

Chargers great Keith Lincoln died Saturday at the age of 80. Lincoln was a star running back for the Chargers and carried the team to the AFL championship in 1963.

In 1961, Lincoln was drafted by the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the AFL's Chargers. He elected to sign with the Chargers and spent his first six seasons in San Diego. He made the Pro Bowl in his second season but truly came into his own the next season. In 1963, he racked up 826 yards rushing at 6.5 yards per carry, 325 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. In the championship game against the Boston Patriots, he had 329 yards on 20 total touches as the Chargers rolled to a 51-10 rout.

The following season, the Chargers made it back to the championship game, this time against the Buffalo Bills. Lincoln had 58 yards on the opening drive, but on the Chargers' second possession he had his ribs broken on a hit by linebacker Mike Stratton and did not return. The Chargers lost 20-7 and Lincoln's production dwindled in the following years.

For his career, Lincoln played in 99 games and finished with 5,633 total yards and 38 touchdowns. He made five AFL All-Star teams and was inducted into the Chargers' Hall of Fame in 1980. After his playing career ended in 1968, Lincoln went on to be an assistant coach at Idaho and Washington State, where he played his college ball. He then spent many years as the director of alumni relations at Washington State.