1959 Profile: Don Chandler

Punter
No. 34
Florida

"Chandler was the nation's leading punter in 1955 at Florida. A top-notch all-around halfback, he also won letters in basketball, baseball and track and won the Conference high jump championship with a leap of 6 feet 1.

Chandler's hometown is Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was drafted No. 5 in 1956."

-1956 Jay Publishing

"Chandler was the League's fourth best punter as a rookie in 1956. He booted 39 an average of 41.9 yards. He also kicked three of three extra points.

He should become one of the great punters and place kickers in the game. He has enormous power and loves to practice. Chandler is also a better than average running back and pass receiver. He was originally picked as a defensive back but has a bad shoulder which limits his tackling.

At Florida he was the leading collegiate punter in the nation in 1955. He also won letters in basketball, baseball and track, where he high jumped 6 feet 1.

Chandler's hometown is Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was drafted No. 5 in 1956."

-1957 Jay Publishing

"When the Giants are bogged down deep in their own territory, they call on Don. His accurate booming punts turn the tables on opponents, driving them back in their own territory. He boomed one punt of 63 yards last season!

Don was a top high jumper in college."

-1957 Topps No. 23

"Don Chandler (34) quickly made it clear last season as a rookie why he was the nation's leading collegiate punter of 1955 for the University of Florida. His towering boots, executed with a nonchalant grace that belies the results, are a valuable adjunct of the Giant attack.

Under Ben Agajanian's tutelage, Don also has extended his kick-off range. This season he has been dropping the ball into the end zone more often than not."

-1957 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium)

"After finishing fourth in punting in his rookie season with the Giants in 1956, Don took over as the top booter in the NFL last season. The former four-letter athlete from Florida had the best punting average in the league."

-1958 Topps No. 54

"Don must be tabbed as the NFL's top punter, leading the league in 1957, placing second in '58. He was the nation's No. 1 booter at the University of Florida and excelled in track, basketball and baseball. Don was an outstanding defensive star in the college ranks but a shoulder injury limits his pro action to kicking. Teammates call the balding booter 'Babe.'"

-Pro Football Handbook 1959

"Don Chandler's long punts keep Giant foes pinned in their own territory. 

Pro football is so intensely competitive that a team can't afford to have any chinks. To stay in the pennant fight it must be equipped to meet any contingency.

The Giants are fortunate in having two of the best contingency-meeters in football's vitally important phase of kicking. We're talking about Don Chandler, punter, and Pat Summerall, place-kicker- both extraordinary.

When the Giants drafted Chandler No. 5 in 1956, they were thinking in terms of an all-around player. Don had led the nation's varsity punters at Florida. But he also had been a strong runner, a passer of sorts, a sturdy defender and altogether a handy fellow.

As luck would have it, Chandler also had a bad shoulder. This chronic ailment has limited him to occasional emergency at offensive halfback, fullback and end. At the same time, it has provided him with ample opportunity to perfect his major specialty of punting.

The results have been sensational. In three seasons, he has successively averaged 41.9, 44.6 and 44.0 with his booming boots, winning the N.F.L. title as a sophomore. The last time we looked his 1959 average was about the 50-yard level.

A wiry 6-foot, 200-pounder whose dark hair is beginning to thin on top despite his tender age of 24, Don is one of the most graceful punters to show on the scene. He produces those far-flying, skyscraping spirals with the merest flick of his foot.

Don had perhaps his greatest game in the recent 10-6 victory over Cleveland. Despite storm-warning breezes that swirled into Municipal Stadium off Lake Erie, he averaged an outstanding 54 yards on eight punts.

Here's how they went: (1) A 53-yarder to Cleveland's 36; (2) a 47-yarder, out of bounds on the 4; (3) a 56-yarder to the 17; (4) a 62-yarder into the end zone; (5) a 59-yarder to the 17; (6) a 56-yarder that rolled dead on the 6; (7) a 43-yarder that went out on the 4; (8) a 58-yarder that carried out of the end zone.

This game ranks as Chandler's biggest thrill, although his favorite punt is one he got off against the Bears in a 1957 pre-season game. From his own 8, Don put one out on the Chicago 1, after an incredible flight of 90 yards!"

-1959 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium, November 1)

"Don Chandler (34), drafted No. 5 by the Giants in 1956, has provided yeoman service as a punter, kick-off man and occasional place kicker. He has averaged 41.9, 44.6 and 44.0 for his three seasons, winning the NFL punting title as a sophomore in 1957. As graceful a kicker as there ever has been, the Florida graduate gets off his skyscrapers with the merest flick of his foot."

-1959 New York Giants Official Program (Yankee Stadium, November 8)

"Punting, as handled by Dandy Don, was one of the Giants chief weapons during the 1959 campaign. Not only did the former University of Florida halfback boom 55 kicks for a 46.6 yard average, second best in the league, but he uncorked his strongest efforts when his team was backed deep in its own territory.

Drafted fifth in 1956, Don has been improving steadily. A shoulder injury has limited his defensive duty since reporting to the professionals."

-1959 Baltimore Colts Official Program (Memorial Stadium, NFL Championship Game)