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Green Bay wide receiver James Lofton in action in the '80s. Source: https://www.packers.com/history/hof/james-lofton (May be subject to copyright) |
When the Indianapolis Colts were breaking my heart on national television on Sunday, I was comforted by the calm tones of one of the announcers.
He was much older and very wise in the broadcast booth, but the James Lofton I remember was a deadly receiver breaking into the NFL in the ‘80s.
He would be paired with one of the best, setting the stage for an outstanding career.
In the beginning
James Lofton played his college football at Stanford and was drafted sixth overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1978 NFL Draft.
James Lofton played his college football at Stanford and was drafted sixth overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1978 NFL Draft.
His rookie season was 1978, where he appeared in 16 games, catching 46 passes for 818 yards, a 17.8-yard average, and six touchdowns. For his efforts he was named to his first of what would be eight Pro Bowls in his 16 seasons.
In 1979, he caught 54 passes for 968 yards and four touchdowns, with an average of 17.9 yards per reception.
With two seasons under his belt, he was poised to break out as one of the best receivers in the game at the dawn of the ‘80s.
High-powered offence
James Lofton recorded his first 1,000-yard season in 1980, making 71 receptions for 1,226 yards and four touchdowns, for a 17.3-yard average. He was also named to his second Pro Bowl.
James Lofton recorded his first 1,000-yard season in 1980, making 71 receptions for 1,226 yards and four touchdowns, for a 17.3-yard average. He was also named to his second Pro Bowl.
Then, just before the 1981 season, everything changed.
John Jefferson was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, lighting it up with that patented offence in San Diego led by quarterback Dan Fouts and coach Don Coryell. However, by 1981 Jefferson went to renegotiate his contract because he said there were several receivers who made more than him.
Ultimately, the Chargers traded Jefferson to Green Bay where he teamed up with Lofton, tight end Paul Koffman and quarterback Lynn Dickey to have one of the most lethal passing games in the league.
In 1981, Lofton had 71 receptions for 1,294 yards, eight touchdowns and an average of 18.2 yards. He was named to his third Pro Bowl and was named an All-Pro for the only time in his career.
The 1982 season was shortened by a labour dispute. Lofton played in nine games, catching 35 passes for 696 yards and four touchdowns with an average of 19.9 yards per reception. He was again named to the Pro Bowl, his fourth time.
His production kept increasing. In the 1983 season, Lofton caught 58 passes for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the league with a 22.4-yard average on his way to his fifth Pro Bowl.
In 1984, Lofton caught 62 passes for a career-high 1,361 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the league with a 22-yard average for the second straight season, and was named to his fifth straight Pro Bowl, and sixth overall in seven seasons.
In 1985, he had 69 receptions for 1,153 yards and four touchdowns, with an average of 16.7 yards per catch. He was named to his sixth straight Pro Bowl, and seventh overall.
Then his production began to decline, ever so slightly initially.
In 1986, he caught 64 passes for 840 yards and four touchdowns with a 13.1-yard average.
That would be his last year in Green Bay.
Bouncing around
James Lofton joined the Los Angeles Raiders for 1987, another season shortened by a labour stoppage. This time, he appeared in 12 games, catching 41 passes for 880 yards, five touchdowns and a 21.5-yard average. The next season, 1988, he had 28 receptions in 16 games for 549 yards, and a 19.6-yard average. He had no touchdowns for the only time in his career, other than his very last season where he saw spot duty.
James Lofton joined the Los Angeles Raiders for 1987, another season shortened by a labour stoppage. This time, he appeared in 12 games, catching 41 passes for 880 yards, five touchdowns and a 21.5-yard average. The next season, 1988, he had 28 receptions in 16 games for 549 yards, and a 19.6-yard average. He had no touchdowns for the only time in his career, other than his very last season where he saw spot duty.
He closed out the decade in 1989 by joining the Buffalo Bills, where he appeared in 12 games and started just two. Lofton had eight receptions for 166 yards, three touchdowns and a 20.8-yard average. I suspect he was injured that year.
As the 1980s ended, it seemed James Lofton’s career was ebbing away.
The years after
Nothing could have been further from the truth. After a better 1990 season, where the Bills went to their first of four straight Super Bowls and Lofton caught 35 passes for 712 yards, and four touchdowns, he turned in another Pro Bowl season in 1991. He caught 57 passes for 1,072 yards, making it the final 1,000-yard season of his career, and scored eight touchdowns as the Bills again advanced to the Super Bowl. It was a true comeback season for Lofton. He became the oldest player in history to that point, to have a 1,000-yard receiving season. That year, he also became the oldest player in history to have 200 receiving yards in a game.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. After a better 1990 season, where the Bills went to their first of four straight Super Bowls and Lofton caught 35 passes for 712 yards, and four touchdowns, he turned in another Pro Bowl season in 1991. He caught 57 passes for 1,072 yards, making it the final 1,000-yard season of his career, and scored eight touchdowns as the Bills again advanced to the Super Bowl. It was a true comeback season for Lofton. He became the oldest player in history to that point, to have a 1,000-yard receiving season. That year, he also became the oldest player in history to have 200 receiving yards in a game.
He would play one more season for the Bills in 1992, then split the 1993 season between Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Rams. He retired after the 1993 season.
His career totals were 764 receptions for 14,004 yards, 75 touchdowns and an 18.3-yard average. He was the first player in history to pass 14,000 yards receiving, and the second player ever, after Drew Hill, to score a touchdown in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
Parting thoughts
What I will always remember about James Lofton was how smooth he was on the field. He caught everything, was always a threat to break every play for long yardage, and was durable long past when his peers had retired.
What I will always remember about James Lofton was how smooth he was on the field. He caught everything, was always a threat to break every play for long yardage, and was durable long past when his peers had retired.
I find it poetic that he had his best years in the 1980s as part of a tandem with John Jefferson, then had his best year in the 1990s, near the very end of his career, as part of a tandem with Andre Reed.
When I listen to him call football games on TV, his voice and style are smooth, just like he played.
That helps make the hall-of-fame player into a great broadcaster.
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