The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. 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. Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. 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. James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. A good scoring drive based on running plays eats up the clock and keeps the ball out of the hands of the other team's offense. Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. 3 in NFL history. He came to the Steelers after three seasons with the Rams which had earned him a reputation as a problem player. 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 33rd Team. Drafted in the third round by the Steelers, Zereoue would play from 1999 to 2003 in Black and Gold before finishing his career in Oakland for one season and another in New England. The Steelers ran out the pro set for most of the 1970s and 1980s under head coach Chuck Noll. In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. Pittsburgh Steelers Draft History. For the purposes of this article, I will be considering the following: Its tricky to piece it all together, but I think these are the best Steelers running backs of all time. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. Hunt only played eight games with the Browns last season after serving an eight-game suspension. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . 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. PITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Tomlin wasn't ready to go there, with all due respect. In the following AFC title game against Miami, Pollard was held to just 48 yards rushing. 2. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. Including last season when Bell sat out because of a contract dispute, the two-time All-Pro has missed 34 games in his six-year career. (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. In '94, he ran for 851 yards despite missing five games. Damien Harris (New England Patriots) The 2021 season will only be Damien Harris' second full season with the Patriots as a running back, but he's shown his level of skill. 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. The 30-year-old has failed to rush for 500 yards in four of his seven seasons in the NFL. Eight players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL. Took pay cuts, and continued to stay. One of the best free agent signings of the Mike Tomlin era, DeAngelo Williams was never thought to be more than a top backup running back. Pollard played most of his career at a time when the Steelers struggled. He would play six seasons in Three Rivers Stadium when the Steelers were home and finish with 3,343 yards rushing. 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 he's rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season twice, and he led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2016. 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. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments!For Business Inquiries: insid. | From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. It's hard to believe, but the second decade of the 21st century is nearly complete. 11 because of four straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin the decade. He finished with 585 yards and scored six touchdowns including a 75-yard run. In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. 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. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. 7. Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. 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 . Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. He made another Pro Bowl in 1993 but only rushed for half as many yards due to injuries. Barry Foster: Unfortunately for Barry Foster, his career was short in the Burgh. It's an inspiring story, but if Bleier wasn't one of the best running backs in Steelers' history, he wouldn't have made this list. LeVeon Bell got off to a late start in his rookie season due to injuries but then proved he was worthy of his second round draft selection. 1. Jerome Bettis (1996-2005). Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? He ranks fourth all-time in franchise history for rushing yards and eighth all-time in receptions. Once the Steelers free up a considerable amount of cap space, are eight free agents who could reinvigorate the roster in the 2023 season. The number of games they started during the season is listed to the right of their name: These quarterbacks have the most starts for the Steelers in regular season games. Find out more. Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. His career ended on a sad note in Minnesota, but Peterson regained his form with another 1,000-yard season with Washington in 2018. 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. Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. In 1979, he started 10 games in place of Bleier and ran for 585 yards and six touchdowns. 'Top 10, he would not get laughs' Thirty-five picks elapsed before a team drafted a running back last year. Yes, that was his average. 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. But since then injuries have slowed him, and he's averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. His performance in the 1989 playoffs, when he turned in back-to-back 100-yard games against Houston and Denver, is the stuff of Steelers' legend. Merril Hoge was a versatile fullback who could carry the ball, catch passes, and block. 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. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. Willie Parker: Fast Willie Parker actually lands in third place all-time among Pittsburgh rushers. 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. Many NFL teams used a pro-style offense during the same period, and this was an age when the fullback was a vital ball carrier. Najee Harris warming to Steelers' running back-by-committee approach. 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.. Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. 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. From 1974 to 1979, Harris topped the 1,000-yard milestone every season and carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. He finished his career in Pittsburgh with 3,115 rushing yards, 241 receptions, and 34 total touchdowns. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years. does st martin parish have school tomorrow. 5. It was a hard task to actually rank all of the great running backs . LeVeon Bell made his mark with the Steelers running in this kind of offense. Ibrahim, who . John Fuqua ( 1970-76) Before Franco Harris, there was John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Since reliable yardage statistics were not recorded prior to 1932, the first NFL player recognized as the career leader in rushing yards was Cliff Battles, who played from 1932 to 1937 for the Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins. He returned to put . Bell was a unique back in Steelers history due to both the wide-open offense he played in and his careful, patient running style. Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. Sidney Thornton: Another stout running back for Pittsburgh was the bullish Thornton who weighed in at 230 pounds during his play days in Pittsburgh from 1977 to 1982. With the Redskins, Cowboys and 49ers, Morris has 5,931 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in the 2010s. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. Fuqua to this day refuses to give his take on what actually took place. Bettis was team-first through some questionable demotions and worse decisions as to the direction of the offense, and he welcomed Duce Staley and mentored Willie Parker along the way to a Super Bowl championship to complete a quest his teammates had dedicated to him. 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. Thornton was also a member of the Super Bowl winning teams for Pittsburgh in 1979 and 1980. Morris peaked as a rookie, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. 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. Draft Henry with absolute confidence this season if you have a top-five pick. He peculiarly retired after that one campaign with the Cardinals. But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. 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. 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. Do you have a blog? Murray rushed for 7,174 yards and 49 touchdowns with the Cowboys, Eagles and Titans in the 2010s. However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. 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 . 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. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. Rashard Mendenhall: Like Barry Foster before him, Rashard Mendenhall was done with professional football by the age of 26. Prior to being drafted by the Army for service, Bleier was a University of Notre Dame product graduating in 1968 earning a degree in Business Management. He signed as an undrafted free agent who had run a 4.23-second 40 at the Scouting Combine the previous spring. Bell rushed for 1,361 yards in 2014, but what turned that into first-team All-Pro recognition were his 83 catches for 854 yards. [2] He led the NFL with 576 yards in 1932 and held on to the record throughout his career. In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. 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. The Senate passed the bill . 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 2011 and 2013, he made All-Pro, and in 2013 he posted 2,146 yards from scrimmage. 22. He was Le'Veon Bell when Bell was at Michigan State. I could be wrong. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . Everything in the NFL goes in cycles. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. Players active with the Pittsburgh . LeVeon Bell: Finally we have our current star in the making. Follow Holcomb on Twitter at @dmholcomb. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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. Franco Harris is the Pittsburgh Steelers career leader in rushing yards with 11,950. Fuqua led the . All Rights Reserved. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. A fullback is not required in this type of offensive game plan. Fullback Franco Harris came to the Steelers in the 1972 draft and made an immediate impact. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. Of course, we all know why. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. Ranking the AFC North running backs. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. The only exception in madden 22 was a glitched out ray Lewis that was 97 at mlb but 99 at r/lolb. 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. With a 3.5 yards per carry average and zero touchdowns, his rookie season was a major disappointment, but Gordon has answered all his doubters since then. Franco Harris arrives during the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. 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 power running back is a dying breed in football. Others were blocking fullbacks who spent their careers opening holes for star backs. It has been said that Rooney responded with the declaration that he would never again attempt to call a play for his team. OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. 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. Players were considered based on having careers with the Steelers from 1992 until the present. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD . 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. Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. 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. Still, I think he is deserving of the number 16 spot on this list of all-time great Steelers backs. Franco Harris was the man during The Renaissance, and Jerome Bettis was the man in The Modern Era. He'll likely end up with a good chunk of dough in free agency, but it's hard to believe . 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. Across the decade, Martin has posted 5,356 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is . Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. 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. 12. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. He only spent six seasons with the Steelers, but it was enough to rack up 4,381 rushing yards and land him at number five for all-time leading rushers in Pittsburgh history. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. As an undrafted rookie in 2004, Bill Cowher took a chance on the 5-foot-10, 209-pound first-year player and Parker impressed sharing time with The Bus, Jerome Bettis. Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. With teams shifting more to the passing game, these old-school running backs are becoming obsolete. If he had played in those games, Bell is easily in the top five on this list and maybe close to the top. More like he will get exposed yet again as being the most overrated running back in the league . Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. Many argued that when Gore suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of December in 2010, his best days were behind him. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. 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. As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one. CHARLESTON, W.Va. . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. In nine seasons all as a Steeler, Pollard scored 20 touchdowns. Regular season. That's the equivalent of more than two seasons. And that's with missing the 2016 season because of retirement. He also earned the first of two consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections. Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? But twice he rushed for more than 1,400 yards, and as a rookie in 2012 Martin posted 1,926 yards from scrimmage. BAM MORRIS followed Foster, but after a couple of promising seasons, he was released after pleading guilty to felony possession of marijuana in June 1996. He started alongside Franco Harris in four Super Bowl victories and both backs ran for over 1,000 yards in 1976. But during the Super Bowl seasons of 1978 and 1979, Sidney Thornton played a significant role in the Steelers' rushing attack. He spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. His rookie contract was voided after his fourth season, after just one in Pittsburgh, and there were opportunities to leave. Read on to find out why. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. 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. 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. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. 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. Murray made the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl that year. 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. For his service in the war, Bleier received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. Despite the occurrences of injury, Hoge ran for 3,115 yards as a Steeler and rushed for 21 touchdowns. TODAY: Running backs Since the merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have rushed for more yards than any other team in the National Football League, and this commitment got two of their running backs elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. Join our linker program. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. Just look back to last year when he was able to make cuts and find holes. He made four Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team as a Steeler and inspired a Pittsburgh Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XLone of the greatest wins in Steelers history. . Dudley also found himself on kickoff returns where he fielded 11 of those for 298 yards (27.0 average). Well, he's worth a lot more now. Always free! He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. If youve followed the Steelers, you've probably heard the term "Steelers Football." Steelers running back James Conner (30) runs for a short gain past Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (26) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Bleier only ranks ninth in all-time rushing yards for the franchise, and he never made the Pro Bowl, but there is no denying the impact this gutsy running back had in winning four Steelers' Super Bowl championships. These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. That couldn't have been further from the truth. Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. Lucrative opportunities to leave. 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. It's a smaller sample size, but Elliott has also posted 131.2 yards from scrimmage per game in his three seasons. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. Bleier believed the doctors were wrong and reported to Steelers training camp a year after he left the war. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. 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. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. Landry Jones (2015-2017) Tommy Maddox (2002-2005) Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983) The number of games they started during the season is listed to the right of their name: Season. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points The quick-footed big guy ran over, through and around defenders for nine years with the Steelers. Gurley has rushed for 4,547 rushing yards and recorded 6,430 yards from scrimmage with 56 touchdowns. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. Abercrombie played one more season in 1988 with the cross state Philadelphia Eagles before retiring.
steelers running backs last 10 years
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