Speedy Duncan obit

Former Chargers great Leslie ‘Speedy’ Duncan dies at 79

 

Defensive back and return specialist earned AFL All-Star honors three times for San Diego Chargers, also played for Washington Redskins.

He was not on the list.

Leslie “Speedy” Duncan, a standout defensive back and return specialist for the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s and a member of the club’s Hall of Fame, has died.

Duncan was 79. The Chargers announced his death but did not say where he died or the cause of death.

“Speedy Duncan was a walking highlight reel before there were highlights,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement.

Duncan was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and played collegiately at Jackson State. He played for the Chargers from 1964-70 and for Washington from 1971-74.

“I had the honor of meeting him several times over the years at our alumni events, and you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer person,” Spanos said. “He was the life of the party, always with a joke at the ready, and his smile was as welcoming as his talent was immense.

“Our hearts are with the entire Duncan family, his teammates and everyone who was touched by Speedy and his larger-than-life personality.”

Duncan had 21 interceptions in seven seasons with San Diego, tied for seventh in team history. He returned two for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder in 1967. That was the third straight season in which Duncan was an AFL All-Star. He earned a Pro Bowl spot in 1971, his first year with Washington. He led the NFL in average punt return that year, adding to the two seasons he did that in the AFL (1965-66).

Duncan averaged 12 yards per punt return with the Chargers and 10.9 over his career. He also averaged 25.2 yards returning kickoffs.

He is tied for the franchise record of most interceptions in one game (three), which he did in 1966 against the Raiders.

Duncan was inducted in the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1995 and was a member of the Chargers 40th and 50th Anniversary Teams.

His former football associates include: Edward Bennett Williams, George Allen, Billy Kilmer, Sonny Jurgensen, Roy Jefferson, Boyd Dowler, Charley Taylor, Larry Brown, Phil Hochberg, Ken Houston, Brig Owens, Jack Pardee, Rusty Tillman, Curt Knight, Richie Petitbon, Mike Bragg, Mike Bass, Roosevelt Rosey Taylor, Jerry Smith, Chris Hanburger, Sid Gillman, Barron Hilton, Kenny Graham, Keith Lincoln, Paul Lowe, John Hadl, Tobin Rote, Tom Bass, Joe Madro, Walt Hackett, Chuck Knoll, Lance Alworth, Jacque MacKinnon, Earl Faison, Ron Mix, Walt Sweeney, Ernie Ladd, Henry Schmidt, Sam Gruneisen, Ernie Wright, George Blair, Emil Karas, Don Norton, Dick Westmoreland, Bud Whitehead, Charlie McNeil, Dick Harris, Dick Van Raaphorst, Eugene V. Klein, Garry Garrison, Steve DeLong, Willie Frazier, Steve Tensi, Rick Redman, Joe Beauchamp, Dickie Post, Bob Howard, Larry Little, Russ Washington, Jim Hill, Terry Owens, Chuck Allen, Bob Mitinger, Tom Dempsey, Charlie Waller, Marty Domres, Brad Hubbert and Dennis Partee.