steelers running backs last 10 years

| He led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. It wasn't too long ago that Freeman was regarded as a top-five back in the league. He holds the team record for most rushing yards in a career (11,950) as well as most rushing touchdowns (91) and total touchdowns (100). Franco Harris is not only the best Steelers running back in franchise history, but one of the greatest Steelers of all time. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. The 30-year-old has failed to rush for 500 yards in four of his seven seasons in the NFL. Bill Dudley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and 10 year prior was inducted into College Footballs Hall of Fame. Visit ESPN to view the Pittsburgh Steelers team depth chart for the current season Quite a contrast to kick off this list. He tailed off to 928 the following season and then suffered injuries in 2012 playing in just six games before the Steelers cut him loose where he signed with the Arizona Cardinals lasting just one season after 687 yards on the ground. Los Angeles' running backs are in a bit of a limbo right . He'll continue to split time with Nick Chubb in the backfield, but the Browns are a run-first team that will use the talents of both. Former Tulane Green Wave running back Tyjae Spears made a big splash at the Senior Bowl, but that was hardly the first time he put on a show. Just look back to last year when he was able to make cuts and find holes. But you cant throw just any ball carrier out there and hope to have success; it takes a certain kind of player to fit into a power running offensive scheme. Christian McCaffrey (2019) This past season, McCaffrey became the third running back in NFL history to generate over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season. Since there are only 11 players on offense, the running backs have to be able to function as a unit, and Le'Veon Bell could play halfback to Bettis' fullback. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. From 2010-13, Johnson rushed for 4,731 yards and 27 touchdowns. That's Steelers football. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchise's history. Franco Harris was a fullback, as was Merril Hoge and John Henry Johnson. The former Titan had only 28 catches for 294 yards last year . Last year's offensive rookie of the year award winner, Barkley was close to perfect for fantasy owners. Player Team Age Total Value Avg./Year Total Guaranteed Fully Guaranteed Free Agency; Christian McCaffrey: 49ers: 27: $64,063,412: $16,015,853: $36,346,412: $30,062,500 The days of Jim Brown or John Riggins getting 40 carries a game are gone. Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach understands the symmetry between Saturday night's 13-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and a playoff victory over the same franchise 50 years ago, the one that ended with Steelers running back Franco Harris snagging a deflected . Some readers are probably going to argue this is too high for Forte. Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. Today, Johnson is one of the former Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 12. [2] He led the NFL with 576 yards in 1932 and held on to the record throughout his career. In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. In the second concussion he encountered, it resulted in Hoge having to be resuscitated when he stopped breathing. Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. Bell made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a Steeler. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. A fullback is not required in this type of offensive game plan. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. RASHARD MENDENHALL came to the Steelers as a first-round pick in 2008, and after spending the bulk of his rookie season on the injured reserve list, he rushed for 3,309 yards on 812 carries (4.1 average) and 29 touchdowns from 2009-11. The running back ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 307 carries, and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. Seasons: 90 (1933 to 2022) Record (W-L-T): 666-585-23 Playoff Record: 36-27 Super Bowls Won: 6 (8 Appearances) Championships Won *: 6 . Bettis will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2015 in August, and the accomplishments to be praised that day are only part of why he was the man during his 10 seasons with the Steelers. Despite the occurrences of injury, Hoge ran for 3,115 yards as a Steeler and rushed for 21 touchdowns. Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. Fran Rogel was also a local product having grown up in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. The role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. The intent is to lean the offensive game plan toward the passing game and open up the defense with complex formations and plays. . Rocky Bleier: For some Steelers fans it might be hard to believe that Robert Patrick Bleier, known best in Steelers Nation as Rocky turned 69 years of age this year. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. First running back gets drafted in the seventh round. The 34-year-old made All-Pro twice, in 2008 and 2009, but he added two more All-Pro nominations during 2012 and 2015. With the Bears and Jets, Forte posted 7,629 rushing yards and 11,353 yards from scrimmage from 2010-17. I predict that sometime in the next decade, an offensive coordinator will go back to power football and line up with a tight end, a fullback, and a tailback in an I-formation for most of the game. How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. Weve reviewed the most popular quarterbacks to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but among those signal callers, who are some of the players they were handing the ball off to when not throwing the rock? These honorable mentions may not have a place on this list of all-time best Steelers running backs, but if you are a Steelers fan, there is a good chance you'll remember them fondly. Born Byron Morris, drafted in the third round of the 1994 draft, Morris immediately made an impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to them from Texas Tech University. Still, I think he is deserving of the number 16 spot on this list of all-time great Steelers backs. Barkley reminded the NFL world this past season that he's one of the best running backs in the league by rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . Bleier was injured during his tour of duty and told he would never play football again, but he returned to the Steelers and fought his way back into football shape, eventually playing 10 more seasons in the NFL. Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. Unfortunately, his tenure with the Steelers came to a dramatic end with a contract dispute in 2018, but during his time with the team, he was one of the greatest. In the following AFC title game against Miami, Pollard was held to just 48 yards rushing. Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. He caught 57 passes for 338 yards as well. 4M; . Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. Follow Holcomb on Twitter at @dmholcomb. Harris managed to get 691 rushing yards, with an average of five yards. Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . Four of those were LeVeon Bell, but three were different players who stepped up in those seasons: Mendenhall (Pittsburgh's last first-round running back), Williams, Conner. The running back fell just short of 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season after finishing with 1,414 yards in his rookie campaign. James Conner was thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when halfback LeVeon Bell held out for the entire season. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. The top photos of RB Le'Veon Bell throughout 2014 season. CHARLESTON, W.Va. . Included are player stats for the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1945-2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1940-1942 and the Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) from 1933-1939. The speedy running backs, the classic old power running back, and the mixed, well-rounded, good running back. Pollard played most of his career at a time when the Steelers struggled. The Senate passed the bill . In his rookie season, Morris rushed for 836 yards and a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. The Steelers have had several players enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being a part of the Pittsburghs ground game for most of or all of their entire careers. Included are players that played for the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1945-2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1940-1942 and the Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) from 1933-1939. Chances are it is an announcer who remembers some of the great backs in Steelers history and how they dominated the game. The Steelers will win 5 games this year, Canada will be fired, and Tomlin will "resign." . Foster made one attempt to come out of retirement with the Cincinnati Bengals that same year but after just a few days with the club he decided on retirement at the tender age of 26. [3], List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders, Players with at least 10,000 rushing yards, Players with at least 1,000 postseason rushing yards. Maybe I am just nostalgic for the days when Steelers backs carried the ball 30 times and took total control over a game by the fourth quarter. Gurley has rushed for 4,547 rushing yards and recorded 6,430 yards from scrimmage with 56 touchdowns. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . Merril Hoge: Lasting until the 10th round in the 1987 NFL draft, Merril Hoge was a tough as nails runner for the Steelers who suffered a rash of concussion injuries that would cost him his career. OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. NFL Top 10 Best Running Backs of the 2010s - #8 Arian Foster. But Jackson was still one of the best runners of the 2010s. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. But Foster ended up as a one-hit wonder because when he was at peak ability he really didn't love the game, and then it became too late. Having gone through a tough contract negotiation in 1995, the Steelers instead of trying to settle traded Foster over to the Carolina Panthers who then cut the running back in training camp due to a failed physical. During his career, he's averaged 128.9 yards from scrimmage per game. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. The team has selected second overall once, and third overall four times. With the Redskins, Cowboys and 49ers, Morris has 5,931 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in the 2010s. Mendenhall is currently No. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. Do you have a blog? He also earned the first of two consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections. Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! PITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Tomlin wasn't ready to go there, with all due respect. West Virginia's Senate passed a bill Monday that would give $25,000 in tax credits to former residents who move back to the state to work. As a Steeler running back, Hoak would spend his entire career with Pittsburgh that began in 1961 as a seventh round draft pick after running for the Penn State Nittany Lions. A bruising Hall of Famer running back, Franco Harris was the perfect embodiment of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during their championship runs in the 1970s. Jerome Bettis was a 250-pound battering ram with incredible quickness for a man his size. His 4.3 yards-per-carry average for his career is second only to John Henry Johnsons 4.4 and ties him with Wille Parker among Pittsburghs top ten rushers in history for yardage. In Dick Hoak's 10 years as a Steeler, he only saw two winning seasons. On a better team, Jones-Drew may have been able to flourish for longer than three seasons, but from 2009-11, he was one of the best backs in the league. While those numbers may not seem impressive by todays standards, they were good enough to earn Tracy Pro Bowl appearances with the Steelers in 1958 and 1960. He'll likely end up with a good chunk of dough in free agency, but it's hard to believe . The last Steelers running back taken in the first round before Najee Harris, Mendenhall won a Super Bowl as a rookie despite spending most of the season on injured reserve. With the 2019 season, there is still time to influence who lands where among a list of the best running backs of the decade. Today, with the explosion of the passing game, a star running back is a helpful asset but no longer a requirement. Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. The 33rd Team. He would eventually become the feature back, but in 2009 he suffered Jack Lamberts injury, turf toe and was replaced by Rashard Mendenhall in the process. When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. It's a smaller sample size, but Elliott has also posted 131.2 yards from scrimmage per game in his three seasons. Najee Harris warming to Steelers' running back-by-committee approach. The controversy arose when the ball deflected off of Tatum or Frenchy. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. In later years Bleier helped pen a book about himself and a movie was made about his story titled Fighting Back.. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, injured during his tour of duty and told he would never play football again. If it was Fuqua who the ball last touched, it would not be a legal catch by Harris according to the rules in 1972. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. In three of his four NFL seasons, Gurley has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. More like he will get exposed yet again as being the most overrated running back in the league . But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. Abercrombie played one more season in 1988 with the cross state Philadelphia Eagles before retiring. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. Emailed daily. It's hard to rank Sproles. This led to fans chanting Hey Diddle Diddle, Rogel Up the Middle. There was just one occasion that the Steelers failed to use Rogel on the games first play. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is the only player with over 17,000 regular season rushing yards. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Today he is 68 and still colorful. In 2011 and 2013, he made All-Pro, and in 2013 he posted 2,146 yards from scrimmage. He's averaged 101.2 rushing yards per game during his career and led the NFL in that category each of the last three years. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. No matter what happens with the evolution of this position, these Pittsburgh tight ends have left a legacy for this that cant be taken away. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. Pittsburgh has fielded plenty of those defensive units over the years, and there are more than a few Steelers defenders in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. They will be joined by this year's selection, making six for the 2022 season. He ran for over 1,000 yards in his first season and scored 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The concussion was so bad that Hoge had to learn to read again and suffered from memory loss as well as encountering headaches and confusion. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. The controversy surrounds what is called by many as the Greatest play in NFL history. Hoak retired from pro football in 1970 but stuck around to coach Steelers running backs from 1972 to 2007. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. All-time Passing Leader: Ben Roethlisberger 5,440/8,443, 64,088 yds, 418 TD, All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD, All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD, All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points, All-time AV Leader: Ben Roethlisberger 208 AV, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. Running backs are not the commodities they once were. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. All rights reserved. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. Parker set the record for longest rushing touchdown from scrimmage in a Super Bowl (XL) with a romp of 75 yards which still stands today. But it was his story of injury during the war that gave him notoriety at the start of his career. Today, Abercrombie spends his days atsthe Executive Director for his alma mater leading the Baylor B Association which is an organization of previous letter winners for the university. The Pittsburgh Steelers Hall-of-Fame running back Franco Harris died Wednesday, just before the 50-year anniversary of his "Immaculate Reception" play. Before Franco Harris, there was John Frenchy Fuqua. Over the entire decade, he posted 6,417 rushing yards and 7,909 yards from scrimmage with the Titans, Jets and Cardinals from 2010-17. Clemson running backs coach CJ Spiller got his man. Posted August 12, 2019 Born in the Ivory Coast, Zereoue played his high school football in Long Island, New York and then went on to be a star running back for the Mountaineers. 6:02; See All. Bell was a unique back in Steelers history due to both the wide-open offense he played in and his careful, patient running style. Or write about sports? All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . He also posted many of his best seasons in the previous decade, which robbed him of a chance at the top 10 on this list. Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. The running back said that he was only trying to stimulate conversation about the topic but because of it he lost an endorsement deal with Champion Sports. Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? Join our linker program. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed him over the last couple of years and prevented him from running for more than 865 yards in a season. He is currently a free agent and the third oldest running back in the NFL, as well as the second oldest active running back. Not entirely. Others were blocking fullbacks who spent their careers opening holes for star backs. Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. Since missing the last five games of 2010, Gore has sat out just two games over the last eight years. 2. Dudley also served his country during World War II as a member of the Army and played for that team while away from the NFL. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. Players active with the Pittsburgh . Meanwhile, at No. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. He joins Franco Harris and John Henry Johnson. Former Steelers running back Willie Parker (39) acknowledges the crowd during a 2018 against the Chargers at Heinz Field. In 2012 he was just a mere few yards away from the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards. A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. Still, Johnson's All-Pro 2016 season was enough to land him on the list. Bullet Bill Dudley is also in the record books for the National Football League as the only man to run for a touchdown, catch a touchdown pass, return a punt for a score, run to the end zone on a kickoff return, intercept a pass for a pick-six, pick up a fumble and reach pay dirt, and throw a touchdown pass. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 18:43, Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins, List of National Football League records (individual), List of National Football League rushing champions, List of National Football League career rushing touchdowns leaders, List of National Football League annual rushing touchdowns leaders, "NFL Rushing Yards Career Playoffs Leaders", "History of the Career Rushing Yards Record", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_National_Football_League_career_rushing_yards_leaders&oldid=1140354500, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 18:43. But Harris and the Steelers' rushing attack were just getting started. Myles Jack 61 Minkah Fitzpatrick . Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. Beast Mode's freakish combination of power and finesse was unlike any running back that came before him. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . He was Le'Veon Bell when Bell was at Michigan State. Williams didn't post a 1,000-yard season in this decade mostly due to the fact he shared the backfield with another player on our list. I enjoy the passing game, and I love that Ben Roethlisberger has matured into an elite quarterback, but it is hard for me to imagine there is a better way to play football than Steelers Football. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. Bettis came to the team at a time of free agency where the franchise didn't have the financial wherewithal that since has been created by Heinz Field, and yet he stayed. Pittsburgh Steelers Stats: The official source for Pittsburgh Steelers game statistics . His rookie contract was voided after his fourth season, after just one in Pittsburgh, and there were opportunities to leave. Without further ado, here are the best 25 NFL running backs of this decade: It will be surprising to some that Johnson isn't a little higher on this list. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. Murray rushed for 7,174 yards and 49 touchdowns with the Cowboys, Eagles and Titans in the 2010s. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. Over the past six years, he has covered the NFL, NHL, MLB, fantasy sports, college football and basketball, and New Jersey high school sports for numerous print and online publications. In an era that de-emphasizes the workhorse back, McCoy has nearly amassed 10,000 rushing yards and more than 13,000 yards from scrimmage this decade. 9-Rocky Bleier. They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. By, Tom Rothenberg/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered a team that dominated with the run. In 2007, Fuqua created a candy and marketed it as The Immaculate Confection. But aside from that 1972 playoff game with the Oakland Raiders, Fuqua could be seen off the field wearing the flashiest of clothes that included shoes with see-through heals and live fish in them. 2. Twenty-three slots went by before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Najee Harris in 2021. The last two seasons, with now-departed James Conner the No. Sep 20, 1992; San Diego, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Barry Foster (29) in action against San Diego Chargers defenders Junior Seau (55) and George Thornton (93) at Jack . If he had played in those games, Bell is easily in the top five on this list and maybe close to the top. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. The team made it to the playoffs ten times ( 1992-1997 , 2001-2002 , 2004-2005 ) and had a 12-9 record under Coach Hoak in playoff games. In 2016 he had one of the best seasons for a running back in recent memory, accumulating a league-high 2,118 yards from scrimmage, including at least 100 yards in the first 15 games of the year. He amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. Do you have a sports website? Hopefully the Christmas edition of DraftKings top performers and busts finds you warm among family and friends as we unwrap the matchups in daily fantasy football for Week 16.The difficulty and uneasiness of lineup construction is increasing as more and more players we havent heard of become viable DFS starters in 2015s closing act.Use the list below to fill your roster with glad tidings while . Everything in the NFL goes in cycles. He already has as many touchdowns rushing as Bam Morris Unfortunately, before the season began last year, Bell was arrested with LeGarrette Blount for a DWI and possession of marijuana. He spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. Perhaps one of the most popular and beloved Steelers players of all-time, Bleier became famous before he ever established himself as Franco Harriss partner in crime based on his experiences in the Vietnam War. 7. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. However, from 2010-14 he was the best all-purpose back in the league. The stud running back finished with 3,943 yards which lands him seventh on Pittsburghs all-time list.

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