In his time at UCLA, Anderson had eight games with at least 100 receiving yards. His eight games reaching the mark were the most in school history at the time of his departure to the NFL.[8]
Anderson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round (46th overall) of the1988 NFL draft. He was the seventh wide receiver to be selected that year.[9]
In his rookie season, Anderson finished with 11 receptions for 319 receiving yards in 1988.[10] He was part of a crowded receiving unit that contained Pro BowlerHenry Ellard.[11]
In Week 4, against theSan Francisco 49ers, Anderson scored his first professional touchdown on a 65-yard reception in the 13–12 victory.[12] He finished the season with a career-high 1,146 yards off just 44 receptions, giving him an average of 26 yards per reception.[13] Anderson led the NFL in yards per reception in the 1989 season.[14] Anderson and Henry Ellard combined to be a 1,000-yard receiving duo for the Rams.[15]
Anderson set theNational Football League record for most receiving yards and yards from scrimmage in a game, with 336 yards on 15 receptions with a 22.4 yards per reception average, during the 12th week of the1989 season in a 20–17 overtime victory over theNew Orleans Saints.[16][17] Forty of those yards came in overtime.[18] He broke the previous mark of 309 yards, set byStephone Paige of the Kansas City Chiefs, in 1985.[19] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his record-breaking game.[20]
On January 7, 1990, during aDivisional Round game, the Rams won thecoin toss after taking theNew York Giants toovertime. The Rams drove 77 yards in four plays, the last being a 30-yard touchdown pass to Anderson, who caught the ball in theend zone and ran directly through the tunnel and into the locker room.[21] He caught two touchdown passes in that 19–13 win.[22]
Anderson had four games with at least 100 receiving yards in the 1990 season. In the 1990 season, Anderson finished with 51 receptions for 1,097 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[23] For the second consecutive season, he led the NFL in yards per reception.[24] In addition, Anderson and Ellard gave the Rams' a 1,000-yard receiving duo for back-to-back seasons.[25]
Anderson was inactive for four games with a back injury.[26] In the 1991 season, Anderson appeared in 12 games and finished with 32 receptions for 530 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[27]
From Weeks 12–15, Anderson recorded a receiving touchdown in four consecutive games. In the 1992 season, Anderson appeared in 15 games and recorded 38 receptions for 657 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.[28] He led the Rams in receiving touchdowns.[29]
In the 1993 season, Anderson finished with 37 receptions for 552 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in 15 games.[30] He tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns withTroy Drayton.[31]
In Week 2, against theAtlanta Falcons, Anderson had five receptions for 154 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 31–13 loss.[32] In the 1994 season, Anderson finished with 46 receptions for 945 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[33] He led the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.[34]
In the 1995 season opener for the Colts, Anderson scored two touchdowns in the 24–21 loss to theCincinnati Bengals.[36] Anderson suffered a knee injury in Week 2, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.[37] The Colts later waived Anderson.
Anderson joined the Broncos for the 1997 season. He appeared in four games and recorded no statistics.[40] He won a Super Bowl title when the Broncos defeated theGreen Bay Packers inSuper Bowl XXXII.[41]
Anderson finished his career with 267 receptions for 5,357 yards and 28 touchdowns, giving him a 20.1 career yards per catch average.[42]
Anderson lives inSuwanee, Georgia and is a high school basketball referee.[43] His son,Dres Anderson, played wide receiver for theUtah Utes.[44] His other son, Seth, plays wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
^Kacsmar, Scott (October 29, 2013)."Clutch Encounters: Week 8".Football Outsiders.Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. RetrievedApril 17, 2023.
