John Jefferson John Jefferson ( born February 3 , 1956 ) is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was selected out of Arizona State University in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers . He played three seasons in San Diego , where he became the first NFL player to gain 1 , 000 receiving yards in his first three seasons . He was traded to the Green Bay Packers after a contract dispute with the Chargers , and later finished his playing career with the Cleveland Browns . College . Jefferson played at Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 . Jefferson ' s breakout year occurred in his sophomore season ( 1975 ) when he led the Sun Devils with 52 receptions and 921 yards receiving on the way to a perfect 12 - 0 season and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl , where he was also named Most Valuable Player . ASU finished second in the national polls , its highest ranking in history . A consensus All - America n selection in 1977 and two - time All - Western Athletic Conference pick , Jefferson concluded his career with an NCAA record 42 consecutive games with a reception . He remains the ASU leader in career receptions with 188 and career receiving yardage with 2 , 993 . Recognized as Arizona Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1977 , he was twice selected as the Sun Devils Most Valuable Player and led the team in receiving all four years . The 1977 campaign was the Sun Devils ' last in the WAC ; in 1978 , ASU and their in - state archrival , the Arizona Wildcats , joined the Pacific - 10 Conference . Professional . San Diego Chargers . After his senior year at Arizona State , Jefferson was drafted fourteenth overall in the 1978 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers . Jefferson made an immediate impact in the NFL , finishing his rookie season with 56 receptions for 1 , 001 yards and a league - leading 13 receiving touchdowns . He set the Chargers ' rookie record for yards receiving , which stood until Keenan Allen ' s 1 , 046 in 2013 . Jefferson appeared on the cover of the August 20 , 1979 issue of Sports Illustrated along with the heading " The Touchdown Man . " He was a consensus All - Pro in each of the next two seasons and led the NFL in receiving yards ( 1 , 340 ) and receiving touchdowns ( 13 ) in 1980 . Particularly of note , in a September 14 , 1980 Overtime game against the Oakland Raiders , played in San Diego , Jefferson out - leaped Lester Hayes for a throw from Dan Fouts . Jefferson landed at about the Oakland 3 - yard line . Hayes stood over Jefferson , stunned that Jefferson had taken the ball away . Jefferson had the presence of mind to roll on the ground into the end Zone , sealing a 30 - 24 San Diego Chargers ' overtime victory . He became the first receiver in league history to gain 1 , 000 yards in each of his first three seasons . While in San Diego , Jefferson also became known as the " Space - Age Receiver " due to the futuristic - looking goggles he wore . Green Bay Packers . Due to a contract dispute with the Chargers , Jefferson was traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1981 . With the Packers , Jefferson starred opposite future Pro Football Hall of Fame wideout James Lofton . Jefferson , Lofton , and tight end Paul Coffman teamed up with quarterback Lynn Dickey to give the Packers one of the most explosive passing attacks in the NFL at the time ; however , a defense which hovered near the bottom of the league relegated Green Bay to three 8 - 8 finishes and a second - round playoff appearance during the strike - shortened 1982 season . Jefferson completed his career with the Cleveland Browns in 1985 . Jefferson would appear in four Pro Bowl s during his career . He , along with Charlie Joiner , Kellen Winslow and Wes Chandler ( who replaced him on the Chargers ) represented one of the most potent receiving corps of the early 1980s , known as Air Coryell . Jefferson was known for making spectacular catches with his body control and great hands . Later years . After his retirement , Jefferson graduated from Arizona State in 1989 with a B . A . in History . He was inducted into the Arizona State Hall of Fame in 1979 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 . He has remained active in the football community ; after retiring , Jefferson became an assistant coach at the University of Kansas and was the director of player development for the Washington Redskins until the end of the 2008 - 2009 season . Statistics . Career Arizona State Statistics