Bob Chandler Robert Donald Chandler ( April 24 , 1949 - January 27 , 1995 ) was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League . Professional career . Chandler played in the National Football League between 1971 and 1982 for the Buffalo Bills ( 1971 – 1979 ) and the Oakland Raiders ( 1980 – 1982 ) . He led the NFL in receptions from 1975 - 1977 with 176 , and was named Second - Team All - Pro in 1975 and 1977 . He also caught four passes for 77 yards in the Raiders 27 - 10 Super Bowl XV victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in January 1981 . In the first game of the 1981 season against the Denver Broncos , Chandler stretched out for a pass and took a hit so severe it ruptured his spleen . Chandler was rushed to a Denver hospital where doctors saved his life . Chandler made a miraculous recovery and returned to the field later in the season . Chandler finished his career with 370 receptions for 5 , 243 yards and 48 touchdowns , along with 11 carries for 18 yards . College career . Chandler played college football at the University of Southern California , he was a captain and the team ' s leading receiver during his senior year . He played in two Rose Bowl games , and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1970 Rose Bowl when Trojan quarterback Jimmy Jones hit Chandler for a 33 yard touchdown . Chandler broke several Wolverine tackles , and gave USC its margin of victory . In 1996 , The University of Southern California established the Annual Bob Chandler Award , given to an underclassman based on his athletic ability , academic scholarship as well as character on and off the field . The award funds a scholarship for the player ' s full tuition , room and board for the following year . Chandler was inducted into the USC Hall of Fame in November 1999 . Highlights of his USC athletic career are on permanent display in USC ' s Hermitage Hall lobby . Broadcasting career . Chandler served as a color analyst for NFL games on NBC in 1983 , hosted " 2 On The Town " for KCBS - TV in Los Angeles from 1984 – 1987 , was a sports reporter for KABC - TV in the late 1980s and hosted " Amazing Games " ( a global documentary series about the world ' s most exotic sports ) for ESPN in 1989 . He also served as a " Technical Advisor " for the humor book " The Unofficial NFL Players Handbook " . Personal life . Chandler was born in Long Beach , California and was raised in Whittier , California and graduated from Whittier High School in 1967 . Chandler was considered one of the best all - around high school athletes to play in Southern California . At Whittier High in the late 1960s , he was All - CIF in football and basketball and was one of the country ' s top high school decathletes , high - jumping 6 feet 7 inches , pole - vaulted more than 13 feet , while putting the 12 - pound shot 57 feet . Chandler ' s father Gene Chandler was the mayor of Whittier , California in 1987 - 1988 . Chandler eventually married his college sweetheart Marilyn and had three children , Marisa , Justin and Emma . Chandler earned a law degree from Western State University College of Law . In 1994 , Chandler , though a nonsmoker , began experiencing a nagging cough . A rare strain of lung cancer was discovered in his lungs in September 1994 . He continued to work on Raider broadcasts while undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the USC Norris Center , but died on Friday , January 27 , 1995 , at the age of 45 , after a four - month battle with cancer .