Athletes - Chuck Muncie

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	Athletes - Chuck Muncie

Harry Vance "Chuck" Muncie (born March 17 1953 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania) is a former American football running back who played for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times (1979, 1981, 1982).

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Muncie was considered by many as one of the best running backs in the game until cocaine problems forced him into retirement. Eventually he went to prison where he turned his life around and now helps others through mentoring programs.

Early life and career

Muncie was born and raised in a rural, coal-mining Pennsylvania town, as one of six children in a football-playing family. Muncie played during his sophomore year in high school, before an injury halted his career and he turned to basketball. Muncie got a scholarship to Arizona Western Junior College. While there, the coach of the football team was sufficiently impressed by Muncie's talent that he convinced him to try out for football as well. Muncie did so, and made the team. He never played basketball for the school but was recruited by the University of California after one year.

Muncie was a star running back for California during the 1970s. He was big, fast and elusive, and was also a good receiver. Muncie set six school rushing records, including most touchdowns and most yards gained in a single season. He was instrumental in Cal's NCAA-leading offense which propelled the team to the co-championship of the Pac-8 in 1975, and he appeared for the first time on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Muncie was a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy and finished second in the voting in 1975. After graduating, the New Orleans Saints selected Muncie in the 1st round of the 1976 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall selection.

NFL career

Muncie went to the Pro Bowl and was named the game's MVP after the 1979 season with the Saints, and broke a couple of team rushing records in the process. Muncie became the first Saints player ever to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau when he ran for 1,198 yards in 1979. But playing for a team in the South, he was the target of racism and requested a trade after the 1979 season.

During the 1980 season, Muncie was traded to the San Diego Chargers, where he again was selected for the Pro Bowl twice, including 1981 when he ran for 1,144 yards and an NFL-high 19 touchdowns. Muncie also helped lead the team to two AFC West division championships and he twice appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He retired at the end of the 1984 season after he tested positive for cocaine. He finished his career with 6,702 rushing yards.

Addiction and recovery

But the end of his football career marked the beginning of Muncie's involvement with cocaine; the situation worsened after his bitter divorce with his wife. Only a few years after he retired from professional football, Muncie was in federal prison in California for 18 months on cocaine distribution charges.

After prison, Muncie committed himself to mentoring at-risk youth by creating his own non-profit organization called the Chuck Muncie Youth Foundation, which works to move youth and adolescents. Muncie also currently mentors University of California football players once a year.

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Athletes - Chuck Muncie

Early life and career

NFL career

Addiction and recovery

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