Former Saints Running Back Chuck Muncie Dies At Age 60

Today's article is a guest piece from Dan Delaney at Saints Stuff. We touched on the passing of Chuck Muncie earlier this week at the Hat Trick.

I know most of you reading this are too young to remember Saints running back Chuck Muncie, but at the time he played for the Saints he was the leading rusher in Franchise history. Not only could he run the ball, but he could catch the ball, and pass the ball too.

“Sadly, we have learned of the untimely passing of Chuck Muncie,” Saints owner Tom Benson said in a statement on the team’s website. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and other loved ones at this difficult time.”

Williamson: Memorable Charger

The high-flying Chargers of the early 1980s were known as Air Coryell but one of the most memorable and recognizable figures on those teams was a hard-charging running back named Chuck Muncie, Bill Williamson writes. 

Muncie, who also played for the San Diego Chargers, was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 6,702 yards and 71 rushing touchdowns in 110 career games.

“Everyone at the Chargers is deeply saddened by the passing of Chuck Muncie, one of the greatest running backs in Chargers history,” the team said in a statement. “We will remember him as a tremendous athlete with a larger-than-life personality. It’s a sad day for all of us and all Chargers fans.”

Here are some of the things that made Muncie special.

Muncie had Deuce’s size, Reggie Bush’s speed and Dalton Hilliard’s hands. He could go over you or through you, depending on his mood.

“Chuck was one of those backs who come along every eight or 10 years,” Archie Manning told me for my book, “Tales from the Saints Sideline.” “He could have been one of the all-time greats. He was that big and that fast.”

He was a part of the 1st Saints team to not have a losing season. Some of his team mates included Archie Manning (Peyton, and Eli’s father), Wes Chandler, Tony Galbreath, and Henry Childs. The offense was high powered, but the defense of that team was poor against the run. Muncie played for the Saints from 1976 through the first 4 games of 1980 before he was traded to the San Diego Chargers. With the Chargers Muncie’s career took off. NFL.com says;

"Muncie went on to earn two more Pro Bowl nods with the Chargers. His best season with the Chargers came in 1981 when he rushed for 1,144 yards and 19 touchdowns, which tied the then-NFL season record for rushing touchdowns. Muncie etched his name in Chargers lore when he rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown, guiding the Chargers over the Miami Dolphins 41-38, a game simply known as The Epic in Miami. The Chargers went on to lose to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, or the Freezer Bowl."

All in all Muncie was a great player whose play on the field will be missed. It is a sad day in football news.