He was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Bears in the 1973 NFL draft out of Eastern Kentucky University, and played previous to that for Mount Clemens High School, where he graduated in 1969.

In addition to being a first-team All-OVC selection in 1972, his number 78 jersey was retired to go along with being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

Defensive line coach Brad Ecklund once called him "the best player on the field" at times and thought he could be a superstar provided he stayed in the league.

He played just four games in the 1977 season that saw discontent grow between him and management (leading to him filing a grievance to the Player‐Club Relations Committee due to the refusal rights the Bears had on him) that would see him traded to Tampa Bay on April 12, 1978 for a first round draft pick.

Chambers had trouble standing up during the last 10 years of his life due to knee and back problems and spent a great deal of his time in a wheel chair or using a walker.