Home / Hall of Fame / Hall of Fame Inductees / Hall of Fame Athletes / Jeff Chaffin

Jeff Chaffin

Jeff Chaffin, Hall of Fame Athlete
Jeff Chaffin, Hall of Fame Athlete
A 1979 graduate of Dos Pueblos, Jeff Chaffin was a standout in Charger football, basketball and baseball. Earning starting positions in football in his junior and senior years, Chaffin was the team MVP and a First Team All-Channel League selection in his senior year, while also garnering a First Team nod in baseball after a two-year stint as a varsity pitcher. Honored as the Outstanding Male Athlete at Dos Pueblos in 1979, Chaffin also represented the South in the Santa Barbara County All-Star Football game that same year.

From Dos Pueblos, Chaffin went on to play football at Santa Barbara City College. He was a First Team All-WSC selection both years and earned JC All-American honors in 1980 while leading the Vaqueros with 13 sacks. Named the SBART Athlete of the Year in football that year, he also received a scholarship to UCLA.

Chaffin played defensive tackle for the 1982 and 1983 Pac-l0 Champion Bruins, who also notched 1983 and 1984 Rose Bowl championships. He led the team in sacks in 1983 and was named to the All-Pac-l0 team that same year.

After UCLA, Chaffin saw short stints in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders, Los Ange­ les Rams and Philadelphia Eagles in 1984 and the Green Bay Packers in 1986. In 1985 he was a starting defensive line man for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL. It was with the Gun­ slingers that Chaffin sacked Arizona quarterback, and former Super Bowl MVP, Doug Williams as he attempted a pass from his own end zone with the game tied and under a minute left. The two points won the game and made national news.

Currently, Chaffin lives in Santa Barbara and works with local athletes and sports teams as an athletic perfonnance trainer. He recently started a clinic for offensive and defensive lineman, sharing the knowledge he learned as a collegiate and professional athlete with young players in town.