The 23-year-old was on his way to two straight special years to begin his NFL career before the Chiefs cut him following his involvement with a woman in a domestic dispute. The intent is to lean the offensive game plan toward the passing game and open up the defense with complex formations and plays. He's another back who never led the league in rushing and never made All-Pro. Doctors had told him following the enemy attack that his football days were over. During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. The controversy arose when the ball deflected off of Tatum or Frenchy. He'll likely end up with a good chunk of dough in free agency, but it's hard to believe . Hoak's record as the team's running backs coach was 149-90-1, making him the third-most successful running backs coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history. Some readers are probably going to argue this is too high for Forte. Players were considered based on having careers with the Steelers from 1992 until the present. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . During his career, he's averaged 128.9 yards from scrimmage per game. 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. Pittsburgh Steelers Draft History. Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. Visit ESPN to view the Pittsburgh Steelers team depth chart for the current season This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. In Super Bowl XXX when the Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys that many thought that Pittsburgh could have won if not for Neil ODonnells errant interceptions, Morris rushed for 73 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown. Jerome Bettis is the latest Steelers running back to become a member in Canton, Ohio. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. He posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons in each of the first three years of the decade. He also had three catches in that loss for 18 yards. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of smash-mouth football dating back to before they ever won their first Super Bowl. The 33rd Team. However, from 2010-14 he was the best all-purpose back in the league. Touchdowns. But since then injuries have slowed him, and he's averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. 2022 AFC North Standings. 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 It's a smaller sample size, but Elliott has also posted 131.2 yards from scrimmage per game in his three seasons. In the second concussion he encountered, it resulted in Hoge having to be resuscitated when he stopped breathing. In 2012, the Steelers found themselves with JONATHAN DWYER as their leading rusher, which is what led to the spending of a second-round pick in the following draft on Le'Veon Bell. MORE: 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings. Fuqua led the Steelers in rushing in 1970 and 1971 and totaled 2,942 yards on the ground during his time in Pittsburgh. He ranks fourth all-time in franchise history for rushing yards and eighth all-time in receptions. In three of his four NFL seasons, Gurley has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. Franco Harris gets most of the credit for that infamous incident, but Terry Bradshaws passing attempt on that play was originally intended for Fuqua who was decleated by Jack Tatum. The team has selected second overall once, and third overall four times. Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. As a Steeler, Famous Amos ran the ball 434 times for 1,698 yards and was a powerful running back at 205 pounds on a 58 frame. Draft Henry with absolute confidence this season if you have a top-five pick. Instagram Twitter Facebook Snapchat Shop Icon Profile Overlay Avatar Add Airplay Arrow Left Arrow Right Arrow Up Arrow Down Audio Back 5s Back 10s Back 30s Calendar Chart Check Down Left . He stepped in for a banged-up Willie Parker in 2009 and ran for 1,108 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. Bell made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a Steeler. 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. He posted more than 1,900 yards from scrimmage twice, in 2010 and 2013. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. His 6-foot-2, 230 pound frame made it virtually impossible for one defender to take him down. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Harris disputed that and said he was 240 pounds as a rookie. 4M; . Vote below for who you think is the best Pittsburgh Steelers tight end of all time, then head over and check out the top Pittsburgh Steelers players ever. In Pittsburgh, he was everything but. During the 2021 offseason, Pittsburgh declined to re-sign Conner, making him a free agent and creating an opportunity for the Arizona Cardinals to scoop him up. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. Reportedly, a local sportswriter told Rooney that Kiesling purposely made his lineman jump offsides so they could run their bread-and-butter Rogel running play first. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. He spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. It worked perfectly with the maulers he had in front of him in Pittsburgh as he has some Xbox like highlight reels to show for it. 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. 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. Another big bruising back that also has surprising quickness, Bell at 244 pounds is turning into a super star in the NFL. Current team members are listed in bold. There was a time when almost every NFL offense was predicated on a feature back that got most of the carries and earned a big paycheck. Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. 8. Parker never regained his starting job and was released only to make on attempt at staying in the NFL with the Washington Redskins in 2010 where he spent his time on the practice squad before retiring. Photos from the career of former Steelers running back and Hall of Fame finalist Jerome Bettis. 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. It's hard to rank Sproles. The Senate passed the bill . Time to profile some of the outstanding and popular running backs to suit up for the Steelers. But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. A bullet pierced his left thigh in Vietnam and further injuries occurred when a grenade exploded near him putting shrapnel in his lower right leg. In fact, no back has even finished top-two in consecutive years, and only Adrian Peterson (second in 2009 and 2015; first in 2012) and Le'Veon Bell (first in 2014; second in 2017) have even had more than one top-two year in a decade. In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. NFL Top 10 Best Running Backs of the 2010s - #8 Arian Foster. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. CHARLESTON, W.Va. . 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. 7. 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. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . That's Steelers football. 4. In '94, he ran for 851 yards despite missing five games. Find out more. The 32-year-old has yet to post a 1,000-yard season this decade, and judging by the fact he had only six rushing attempt last season, he's probably going to end the 2010s without one. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Yes, that was his average. 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 . The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. The first requirement is an intimidating defense that dominates opponents and makes it tough for them to put points on the board. Just look back to last year when he was able to make cuts and find holes. He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. Of course, we all know why. 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. That couldn't have been further from the truth. Gurley led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and won the Offensive Player of the Year award. The quick-footed big guy ran over, through and around defenders for nine years with the Steelers. But Jackson was still one of the best runners of the 2010s. He caught 57 passes for 338 yards as well. By 1995, Foster was out of Pittsburgh and out of the NFL, thus ending his short, dramatic, and bizarre pro football career. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. But twice he rushed for more than 1,400 yards, and as a rookie in 2012 Martin posted 1,926 yards from scrimmage. Players active with the Pittsburgh . These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would play six seasons in Three Rivers Stadium when the Steelers were home and finish with 3,343 yards rushing. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . In nine seasons all as a Steeler, Pollard scored 20 touchdowns. Really, he will just be doing what teams like the Steelers did for decades. He was intensive care for 48 hours and this forced his retirement. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. Despite the occurrences of injury, Hoge ran for 3,115 yards as a Steeler and rushed for 21 touchdowns. Sadly, the days of Steelers Football seem to have gone the way of the dropkick. It's hard to believe, but the second decade of the 21st century is nearly complete. 10 on the Steelers' all-time rushing list with 3,549 yards. 1, Pittsburgh didn't have a top-25 running back. Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! All of that, plus the fact Bettis averaged over 1,000 yards per season with the Steelers (10,571) and scored 78 touchdowns, puts him on the All-Modern Era team, and his partner in the backfield is Le'Veon Bell. Fran Rogel: For Steelers fans who watched the team in the 1950s they would be familiar with a famous nursery rhyme with a Pittsburgh Steelers twist. That lands him in the top five during the decade. In one of his final interviews before his . In 79 games with the Steelers, he carried the ball for 3,343 yards and 22 touchdowns. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. During recent years, he's become somewhat forgotten in Buffalo, but McCoy has both All-Pro seasons and multiple 1,000-yard campaigns to his credit this decade. John Fuqua ( 1970-76) Before Franco Harris, there was John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Peterson then signed with the . 1. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. The former Titan had only 28 catches for 294 yards last year . He'll get the chance to continue his career with the Browns, but he'll miss the first eight games of 2019 because of a suspension. In 1992, we found out who the heck that guy was: the man who would run for more yards in one season than any Steelers running back in team history. It is unfortunate, and I would guess I am not alone in wishing the Steelers would return to their roots and play power football again. 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. The running back fell just short of 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season after finishing with 1,414 yards in his rookie campaign. To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position. He amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. Running backs are not the commodities they once were. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. He is more famously known for his post-retirement with ESPN as an analyst which he has excelled at and has become one of that networks finest announcers. Last year's offensive rookie of the year award winner, Barkley was close to perfect for fantasy owners. For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered a team that dominated with the run. Former Steelers running back Willie Parker (39) acknowledges the crowd during a 2018 against the Chargers at Heinz Field. Feeling he had to listen to his boss, Kiesling had quarterback Jack Scarbath toss the ball which resulted in a touchdown to Goose McClairen. Last season he rushed for only 885 yards, but that came in 12 games. 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. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2016, the last of which with the Titans. Drafted by the Steelers in the first round with the 23rd pick in 2008, Mendenhall replaced Willie Parker and had successive years of 1,000 or more yards rushing in 2009 and 2010 with a high of 1,273 in 10. Winning three Super Bowls helps earn you a spot on this list too. For his service in the war, Bleier received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Dudley owns 44 touchdowns to his credit. The Steelers won a lot of games in the late-90s to mid-2000s by lining up 250-pound running back Jerome Bettis behind 250-pound fullback Dan Kreider and bulldozing any defense that came before them. At the time of the second injury, he was no longer with the Steelers but playing for the Chicago Bears and sued that teams doctor resulting in a $1.55 million judgment in favor of Hoge. Sowhos the greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history? The Best Pittsburgh Steelers Tight Ends Of All Time, Vote up the players who had the most success playing tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. March 1, 2023 2:19 pm PT. 1. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? Dudley also found himself on kickoff returns where he fielded 11 of those for 298 yards (27.0 average). But Hoak is probably best remembered for his ever-so-long tenure as the Running Backs coach with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. 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. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. In the following AFC title game against Miami, Pollard was held to just 48 yards rushing. Emmitt Smith has held the record since surpassing Walter Payton's long-standing total in 2002. But Harris and the Steelers' rushing attack were just getting started. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. Murray is another back who put together three strong seasons during his career and led the league in rushing once. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. He came to the Steelers after three seasons with the Rams which had earned him a reputation as a problem player. Gordon averaged a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2018. 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. James Conner was thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when halfback LeVeon Bell held out for the entire season. The Steelers have always had great defensive playersand that hasn't changedbut the Steelers of today have fallen into the trendy traps of modern offenses with little use for a fullback. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. Myles Jack 61 Minkah Fitzpatrick . DeAngelo Williams Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images. Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. Offseason Strategy: Already having their starting running back for the immediate future, the offseason as it concerns the running back position will be dedicated solely toward seeking out quality . 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. Tackles. His rookie contract was voided after his fourth season, after just one in Pittsburgh, and there were opportunities to leave. 3 in NFL history. His best season came in 2015, which was the year after Williams departed, when he rushed for 989 yards and six touchdowns for the 15-1 Panthers. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. One return went to the house. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. But he's rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season twice, and he led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2016. James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. Franco Harris was the man during The Renaissance, and Jerome Bettis was the man in The Modern Era. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is . The 34-year-old made All-Pro twice, in 2008 and 2009, but he added two more All-Pro nominations during 2012 and 2015. (Fullback Roosevelt Nix spent most of 2019 injured and did not appear to have a viable replacement.) The Steelers haven't shied away from targeting lesser-valued positions by the modern standard early in recent drafts, such as running back, linebacker and maybe to a lesser degree, safety. This is a list of National Football League running backs by total career rushing yards, and includes the 31 running backs who have rushed for at least 10,000 yards, for which sixteen of them have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 32-year-old has been a bit of a journeyman, playing for five different teams this decade. 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. Franco Harris is the Pittsburgh Steelers career leader in rushing yards with 11,950. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . He led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. LeVeon Bell: Finally we have our current star in the making. He peculiarly retired after that one campaign with the Cardinals. Today's NFL teams do not use fullbacks as often as they once did, instead favoring spread offenses and dynamic passing attacks featuring three or more wide receivers and multiple tight ends. While the team continued to utilize the same rushing attack that had earned them four Lombardi Trophies in the '70s, the cast of characters and the results were not the same. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points PITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Tomlin wasn't ready to go there, with all due respect. Barry Foster: Unfortunately for Barry Foster, his career was short in the Burgh. 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. Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. I could be wrong. 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. Some teams also used them as receivers, and fullbacks like Larry Centers made a living catching passes out of the backfield. They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. Ranking the AFC North running backs. The on-field portion of the NFL Combine begins on Thursday, marking the start of the testing circuit that propels some prospects into the stratosphere while ruining the stock of others. Read on to find out why. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. Eight players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Well, he's worth a lot more now. His best season was in 1985 when he rushed for 991 yards. Franco Harris was a fullback, as was Merril Hoge and John Henry Johnson. Is the fullback truly gone, banished into the deep recesses of pro football history? 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 . The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The last two seasons, with now-departed James Conner the No. Jerome "The Bus" Bettis tops our list as the Steelers best running back of all time. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. Emailed daily. The 2016 All-Pro had his own issue staying on the field because of a suspension in 2017, but despite that Elliott has 4,048 rushing yards and led the league in rushing twice in three years. Morris signed with Baltimore Ravens where he lasted just two seasons before the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs took a chance on him in 1998. He was Le'Veon Bell when Bell was at Michigan State. 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. His professional career started in 2007 when he decided to skip the last year of college and enter the NFL Draft. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In his rookie season, Morris rushed for 836 yards and a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. Harris was a part of four championship team and would be named to the Pro Bowl nine times. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. 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. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have had three coaches, and each has used a different style of offense. While that trio may be the best-best-of-the best to run behind Pittsburghs all-time offensive lines, there have been more than a handful of outstanding running backs for Pittsburgh since they began play in 1933. 2. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. 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. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. They will be joined by this year's selection, making six for the 2022 season. but every NFL team has talented players. Sproles has nearly as many receptions (460) as carries (516) since 2010, and he has 3,936 receiving yards. He has six 1,000-yard seasons and six Pro Bowl nominations with the Eagles and Bills during the 2010s. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so.

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