Chuck Muncie has died of a heart attack at the age of 60.
In 1975, the University of California had a terrific offense led by quarterback Joe Roth, receiver Wesley Walker and running back Chuck Muncie. Few college teams have ever fielded such a talented offensive trio. Cal certainly never has. Muncie was an absurdly talented back. Big, fast, was a receiving threat out of the backfield. He could do it all. He was the runner-up to Ohio St.'s Archie Griffin in the 1975 Heisman voting. Some say that Muncie was robbed of that trophy. The NFL saw the Cal back's unique talent. The New Orleans Saints selected him with the third pick of the 1976 NFL Draft. In 1979, he was the first Saints player to rush for 1,000 yards, finishing with 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns. He earned first Pro Bowl nod that season. In 1980, he requested a trade. The Saints obliged and sent him to the supremely explosive San Diego Chargers at midseason. He earned two more trips to the Pro Bowl with the Chargers.
Muncie's demons kept him from being one of the great running backs then and in history. He had that kind of talent. He also had a cocaine addiction. Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended him in 1984 after a positive drug test. The suspension and the drug issues essentially ended Muncie's career. In 1989, he was sentenced to 18 months for selling cocaine. After he was released, he turned his life around. Rid himself of the drugs and started helping others avoid the mistakes that he had made.
The last half of Chuck Muncie's life was better than the first. He may have strayed a bit but he found his way.
RIP Chuck...
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