9. Ken Anderson

Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense is currently a popular football strategy. Despite its name, it was first executed by Ken Anderson in Cincinnati. Anderson spent his entire career with the Bengals, where he set passing records for the franchise. He was known for his incredible accuracy and mastery of the short-yardage pass. Anderson led the league in Quarterback Rating four times and in 1982, he set a season record (which he still holds) with a 70.6% highest completion percentage. Although he made it to the Super Bowl, his team lost, but he still played brilliantly.

Unfortunately, Anderson played during a time when flashy quarterbacks were more highly regarded, and despite his skills, he did not receive the recognition he deserved. He has only been a finalist for the Hall of Fame twice, which further illustrates this point. Considering that Anderson did not have the same calibre of weapons as other quarterbacks of his era, his stats are even more impressive than they might initially seem.

Should Ken Anderson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 86.3%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 6.4%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 4.6%

No opinion. - 0.5%

No way! - 2.2%

The Bullet Points

Country of Origin: Batavia, Illinois, U.S.A.
Eligible Since: Monday, 01 January 1990
Position: Quarterback
Games Played: 192
Notable Statistics: 2,654 Pass Completions
4,475 Pass Atempts
32,838 Passing Yards
59.3 Pass Completion Percentage
197 Touchdown Passes
160 Interceptions
81.9 Passer Rating
397 Rushing Attempts
2,220 Rushing Yards
20 Rushing Touchdowns
160 Approximate Value

6 Playoff Games
110 Pass Completions
166 Pass Atempts
1,321 Passing Yards
66.3 Pass Completion Percentage
9 Touchdown Passes
6 Interceptions
93.5 Passer Rating
19 Rushing Attempts
112 Rushing Yards
1 Rushing Touchdown
Played For: Cincinnati Bengals
College: Augustana
Drafted: 3rd Round, 67th Overall in 1971
Major Accolades and Awards: Super Bowl Rings (None)
AP MVP (1) (1981)
Bert Bell Award (1) (1981)
PFWA MVP (1) (1981)
NEA MVP (1) (1981)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1) (1981)
Walter Payton Man of the Year (1975)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1) (1981)
First Team All-Pro Selection (1) (1981)
Second Team All-Pro Selection (2) (1974 & 1975)
Pro Bowl Selections (4) (1975, 1976, 1981 &, 1982)
Most Pass Completions (2) (1974 & 1982)
Most Passing Yards (2) (1974 & 1975)
Most Passing Yards per Game (1) (1974)
Highest Passer Rating (4) (1974, 1975, 1981 & 1982)
Highest Yards per Passing Attempt (2) (1974 & 1975)
Most Completions per Game (1) (1982)
Highest Pass Completion Percentage (3) (1974, 1982 & 1983)
Other Points of Note: Top Ten Finishes: Appoximate Value (4) (1974, 1975, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Passes Completed (8) (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Passes Attempted (7) (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards (7) (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Touchdowns (5) (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 & 1981)
Top Ten Finishes: Passer Rating (9) (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Passing Yards per Game (7) (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Yards per Pass Attempt (7) (1973, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984)
Top Ten Finishes: Yards per Pass Completion (3) (1973, 1975 & 1976)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Completions per Game (8) (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981 & 1982)
Top Ten Finishes: Pass Completion Percentage (9) (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984)
Notable All Time Rankings: 45. Passing Yards: 32,838
47. Pass Attempts: 4,475
47. Approximate Value: 161
48. Pass Completons: 2,654
52. Yards per Pass Attempt: 7.3
53. Touchdown Passes: 197
72. Yards per Pass Completion: 12.4
76. Passer Rating: 81.9
81. Pass Completion Percentage: 59.3
Years Nominated for the Hall of Fame: Finalist: 1996 & 1998