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With teams shifting more to the passing game, these old-school running backs are becoming obsolete. 2023 NFL free agent running backs: Ranking top 10 seeking new deals Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. Others were blocking fullbacks who spent their careers opening holes for star backs. 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. He started alongside Franco Harris in four Super Bowl victories and both backs ran for over 1,000 yards in 1976. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. 12. Ranking the Top 10 Steelers running backs of the Mike Tomlin era Top 12 Fantasy Running Backs: Hall of Fame Week Edition Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! 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. . Merril Hoge was a versatile fullback who could carry the ball, catch passes, and block. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . Peterson missed all but one game in 2014 because of a child abuse case, but he returned to lead the NFL in rushing during 2015. Many argued that when Gore suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of December in 2010, his best days were behind him. Another big bruising back that also has surprising quickness, Bell at 244 pounds is turning into a super star in the NFL. Emailed daily. 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. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. 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. Steeler running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, Sidney Thornton and Rashard Mendenhall all helped bring Lombardi Trophies to Pittsburgh. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Anderson was traded mid-season in 1986; he played four games for the Cardinals and eight for the Giants. 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. In 1979, he started 10 games in place of Bleier and ran for 585 yards and six touchdowns. That's the equivalent of more than two seasons. 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. 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. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. Draft Henry with absolute confidence this season if you have a top-five pick. The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. 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. Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 best running backs in franchise history He amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. 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. 9, we . 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. Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times . Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. Bill Dudley also played with the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins after leaving the Steelers, and finished his career with 3,057 yards rushing, 1,383 yards receiving, punted the ball for a total of 7,304 yards, and on defense intercepted 23 passes. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. Meanwhile, Myles Jack's cap hit grows significantly from $4.75 million last year to $11.25 million in 2023. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. 2. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. February 27, 2023 3 min Watch. Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. What those teams dont have is a legacy of bullying and dominating opponents, and that is what brought the Steelers six Super Bowl championships. He's another back who never led the league in rushing and never made All-Pro. 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. 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. Picking Le'Veon Bell here might be one of those choices that spurs debate among fans, but it comes down to the belief he's going to become the Steelers' version of Marshall Faulk. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. James Conner is at the forefront . 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. He will be called an innovator or maybe even a genius when his team wins a Super Bowl by smashing its way through flimsy NFL defenses that are designed to stop passing attacks. 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). 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. Power Ranking AFC North Running Backs | Steelers Now Late-Round Running Back Lions Should Target in 2023 NFL Draft As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. He joins Franco Harris and John Henry Johnson. 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. But Harris and the Steelers' rushing attack were just getting started. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Roster | The Football Database The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. Fuqua will be forever remembered by Steelers fans as the intended receiver of Terry Bradshaws Immaculate Reception pass, which ricocheted into the arms of Franco Harris. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is . All rights reserved. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . Insider insists Tom Brady could sign with 49ers in 2023, The 'Most recent first-round NFL quarterbacks' quiz, Seven Cubs pitchers combine for spring no-hitter vs. Padres, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones comments on Tony Pollard rumor, Ben Simmons suffers back injury while rehabilitating, Insider: It's Packers, Jets 'or bust' for Aaron Rodgers, QB Anthony Richardson doesn't understand his 'project' label, Vikings HC reveals 'crazy' thoughts about star WR, XFL player released for giving another team plays from own playbook. Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. 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. Murray made the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl that year. NFL combine: How elite draft prospect Bijan Robinson represents league 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. As a rookie, on a terrible offense, he finished as a top 24 running back in 93% of his games last year. He was an example of how great players can not only break the rules and succeed, but sometimes even make up their own rules. In '94, he ran for 851 yards despite missing five games. Franco Harris is the Pittsburgh Steelers career leader in rushing yards with 11,950. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. W. Va. bill would give tax credits to ex-residents to move back NFL Top 10 Best Running Backs of the 2010s - SOG Sports Pittsburgh Steelers - Pro-Football-Reference.com In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. First running back gets drafted in the seventh round. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. Cameron Heyward (2011), T.J. Watt (2017), Terrell Edmunds (2018), Devin Bush Jr. (2019), and Najee Harris (2022) are the five remaining first-rounders still on the Steelers roster. For his service in the war, Bleier received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Rashard Mendenhall: Like Barry Foster before him, Rashard Mendenhall was done with professional football by the age of 26. Today, Johnson is one of the former Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drafted by the Steelers in 1942 and in his rookie season led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards. 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. In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. 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. 2022 AFC North Standings. MORE: 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings. Clemson gets its running back: 'Something very special at Clemson 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. The Steelers had a reputation of big bruising backs but Parker spelled that philosophy with speed and elusiveness. 10 Best Linebackers in Steelers History (+Honorable Mentions) 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. During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. 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. Switched Tyler Lockett the Running Back and it Jacked Him to 99 overall Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. Harris is one of the main reasons the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He would play six seasons in Three Rivers Stadium when the Steelers were home and finish with 3,343 yards rushing. Before Franco Harris, there was John Frenchy Fuqua. Najee Harris Stats, News, Bio | ESPN In a move many in the NFL community felt was inevitable, the Washington Commanders released quarterback Carson Wentz on Monday in a move that will save the team $26.12 million against their 2023 salary cap. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History | Stadium Talk The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . In his first three seasons, Ingram ran for more than 600 yards in a season just once. Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart | ESPN Adrian Peterson is a running back with over thirteen years in the NFL. In the following AFC title game against Miami, Pollard was held to just 48 yards rushing. 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. 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. steelers running backs last 10 years Regular season. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. Jerome "The Bus" Bettis tops our list as the Steelers best running back of all time. Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. 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. 22. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players - 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. Parker had a shot to lead the NFL in rushing in 2007, but he broke his leg in the regular season's penultimate game and finished with 1,316 yards. In his rookie season, Morris rushed for 836 yards and a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. 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. Bleier believed the doctors were wrong and reported to Steelers training camp a year after he left the war. Myles Jack 61 Minkah Fitzpatrick . Matte took over for another fantastic white running back, former Heisman Trophy winner and 1958 NFL Championship Game hero Alan Ameche. He spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. The 34-year-old made All-Pro twice, in 2008 and 2009, but he added two more All-Pro nominations during 2012 and 2015. Each offense makes its own set of demands on running backs, and every back mentioned in this article needed a specific set of attributes to succeed. From the time Fran Rogel became the teams starting running back in 1950 until his retirement in 1957, Pittsburghs first play from scrimmage in every game Rogel was in the backfield began with a handoff to the California State Teachers College and Penn State University product with a rush into the middle of the offensive line. Tracy ran for 2,717 yards and 15 touchdowns in his time with Pittsburgh and caught 96 passes for 1,322 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 8 Best And 7 Worst Running Backs In Pittsburgh Steelers History Preston Pearson: Pearson wore Rocky Bleiers college number of 26 and was a solid football player who was a member of the Steelers first Super Bowl winning team in 1975 when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 in Super Bowl IX. During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. He had the highest usage rate among running backs at 35.8% and was third in red-zone touches with 61. Barry Foster first came to the attention of Steeler Nation in 1990 when he treated a kickoff as a punt, stood aside, and watched the ball bounce along the ground until the opposing team recovered it. Meanwhile, at No. With the Bears and Jets, Forte posted 7,629 rushing yards and 11,353 yards from scrimmage from 2010-17. When a running back like Jerome Bettis, Franco Harris, or John Henry Johnson tramples linebackers and safeties all game, it grinds opponents down and destroys their will to compete. This decade, Sproles has also led the league in punt return yardage twice. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. Morris peaked as a rookie, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012. 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Player ratings with position rankings. 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. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. In Dick Hoak's 10 years as a Steeler, he only saw two winning seasons. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . 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. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Draft History - Pro-Football-Reference.com 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. He also earned the first of two consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections. He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. He seemed to violate every rule young players are taught about playing running back, yet he thrived. TEAM SEASON GP REC W% W L T TD PTS PPG OPP PTS OPP PPG 1DWN 3DWN% 4DWN% Pittsburgh Steelers: 2013: 16: 8-8.500: 8: 8: 0: 41: 379 . Find out more. 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.