The San Diego Chargers utilized their first-round pick (13th overall) in the 1979 NFL Draft to select Kellen Winslow, a towering tight end out of the University of Missouri. A severe knee injury limited the rookie to just seven games in his debut campaign, but once healthy, he exploded onto the national scene. Over the next four seasons, Winslow redefined the tight end position entirely, establishing himself as the indisputable gold standard of pass-catching threats across the National Football League.

From 1980 through 1983, Winslow embarked on an unprecedented run of dominance, earning four consecutive Pro Bowl honors and three straight First-Team AP All-Pro selections (1980–1982). He crossed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in three of those four campaigns, and undoubtedly would have cleared it in all four had the 1982 strike not shortened the regular season to nine games. Decades ahead of his era, Winslow set a single-season tight end receiving record with 1,290 yards in 1980—a benchmark that stood for 31 years until Rob Gronkowski surpassed it in 2011.

Head coach Don Coryell deployed Winslow as the ultimate weapon in his "Air Coryell" passing scheme, routinely lining him up in motion, in the slot, or wide on the boundary to create brutal schematic mismatches for opposing linebackers and safeties. That offensive wizardry peaked in January 1982 during the legendary "Epic in Miami" playoff clash against the Dolphins. Winslow delivered one of the most heroic postseason performances in NFL history, hauling in 13 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown, while also blocking a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime despite suffering from severe exhaustion and dehydration.

Devastating knee injuries began to take a heavy toll in 1984, severely limiting his availability over his final few campaigns. Nevertheless, Winslow persevered to earn a fifth and final Pro Bowl selection in 1987 before lingering knee complications ultimately forced him to retire. A two-time NFL receptions leader (1980, 1981), he concluded his playing days with 6,741 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns—phenomenal cumulative stats for a tight end in his era.

The Chargers inducted Winslow into their Hall of Fame in 1989 for his impact, and he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. His influence also earned him spots on the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

Over his career, Winslow had 541 receptions for 6,741 receiving yards and 45 receiving touchdowns.