his coach in Cincinnati. Joiner had 50 receptions for 1,056 yards, averaging 21.1 yards per reception in 1976, when he was named second-team All-Pro by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). The trade for Joiner was the rare swap that benefited both teams, as both he and Bacon were named to the Pro Bowl that year. In 1977, Joiner was often double covered, as newly acquired receiver Johnny Rodgers was injured, and their No. 1 draft pick from the year before, Joe Washington, was recovering from knee issues. Joiner had just 35 catches, which still led all Chargers wide receivers. Ray Perkins became the Chargers' offensive coordinator in 1978, their third offensive coordinator in three years. He emphasized running back Lydell Mitchell as a possession receiver and rookie No. 1 pick John Jefferson as the deep threat. He phased out Joiner, who finished with 33 receptions. Don Coryell had become San Diego's head coach in 1978, replacing Tommy Prothro midseason. The Chargers bolstered their receiving corps, using their first-round draft pick to select Kellen Winslow in 1979. Coryell also hired Joe Gibbs as the new offensive coordinator that season. They noticed that Joiner had been getting open the year before, and envisioned him as a key to their offense. It was with the Chargers' high-flying "Air Coryell" offense that Joiner had his most productive years, exceeding 1,000 yards receiving in a season three times and being selected for the Pro Bowl twice. Although he never played in a Super Bowl, Joiner, quarterback Dan Fouts, tight end Winslow, and fellow receivers Jefferson and later Wes Chandler helped the Chargers reach consecutive American Football Conference (AFC) championship games in the 1980 and 1981 seasons. In 1979, Joiner helped San Diego earn their first divisional title in 14 years with a 17–7 win over Denver in the regular-season finale. He was forced back to the locker room twice during the game with injuries, but returned to the field bandaged both times. It was an inspirational performance with Jefferson unable to play and John Floyd, the Chargers only other receiver, being just a rookie. He finished second in the AFC in receptions to Baltimore's Joe Washington, his former Chargers teammate, with a career-high 72 catches for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns. At 32 years old, Joiner was the third player in NFL history to catch 70 or more passes after age 30, joining Don Maynard