He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is the only player with over 17,000 regular season rushing yards. Another big bruising back that also has surprising quickness, Bell at 244 pounds is turning into a super star in the NFL. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2016, the last of which with the Titans. From 1974 to 1979, Harris topped the 1,000-yard milestone every season and carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. 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. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. 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. He had the highest usage rate among running backs at 35.8% and was third in red-zone touches with 61. Twenty-three slots went by before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Najee Harris in 2021. Today, with the explosion of the passing game, a star running back is a helpful asset but no longer a requirement. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. But during the Super Bowl seasons of 1978 and 1979, Sidney Thornton played a significant role in the Steelers' rushing attack. He made another Pro Bowl in 1993 but only rushed for half as many yards due to injuries. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. Still, I think he is deserving of the number 16 spot on this list of all-time great Steelers backs. 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. 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. 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. The 32-year-old has been a bit of a journeyman, playing for five different teams this decade. Last year's offensive rookie of the year award winner, Barkley was close to perfect for fantasy owners. He caught 57 passes for 338 yards as well. Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. The former Titan had only 28 catches for 294 yards last year . 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. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. 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. When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. 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. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one can only imagine what this list will look like in years down the road. Feeling he had to listen to his boss, Kiesling had quarterback Jack Scarbath toss the ball which resulted in a touchdown to Goose McClairen. Emailed daily. Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. Mendenhall is currently No. As a punter, he kicked the ball 18 times during his career and averaged 32 yards per punt. Quite a contrast to kick off this list. 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. Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. But from 2015-16, he posted more than 1,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards from scrimmage and at least 13 touchdowns each season. In 1979, he started 10 games in place of Bleier and ran for 585 yards and six touchdowns. 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. That's the equivalent of more than two seasons. Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! 12. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. 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. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. 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. In '94, he ran for 851 yards despite missing five games. Not entirely. Do you have a blog? 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. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. 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. He was also an excellent receiver, both out of the backfield and split out as a wide receiver. In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. 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. He would end up moving to the Dallas Cowboys where he would get a chance to face off against his former team in two more Super Bowls (X and XIII). Chances are it is an announcer who remembers some of the great backs in Steelers history and how they dominated the game. NAME GP RUSH YDS ATT YPC RUSH YDS/G RUSH TD REC YDS REC TRG AVG REC YDS/G REC TD; Felix Jones: 16: 184: 48: 3.8: 11.5: 0: 63: 9: 13: 7.0: 3.9: 0: Isaac Redman: 3: 12: 10: 1.2 . It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. During the decade, he has 8,834 rushing yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 71 touchdowns. In the end Rocky Bleier rushed for 3,865 yards, 1,294 yards receiving on 136 catches and scored 25 times. Bleier believed the doctors were wrong and reported to Steelers training camp a year after he left the war. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. When it comes to this room, the Steelers are indeed looking for them to step up. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. I could be wrong. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. He also posted at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage during 2013 and 2014 when the Seahawks went to two Super Bowls. Sproles has nearly as many receptions (460) as carries (516) since 2010, and he has 3,936 receiving yards. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. 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. But since then injuries have slowed him, and he's averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. 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 . Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. He is currently a free agent and the third oldest running back in the NFL, as well as the second oldest active running back. 6:02; See All. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. Current team members are listed in bold. Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. All Rights Reserved. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. John Fuqua ( 1970-76) Before Franco Harris, there was John "Frenchy" Fuqua. 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 lasted just five seasons but they were filled with success. Even putting a left end at right end can cause a drop. 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. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Fuqua led the Steelers in rushing in 1970 and 1971 and totaled 2,942 yards on the ground during his time in Pittsburgh. Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. 2. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. Los Angeles' running backs are in a bit of a limbo right . 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. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. Join our linker program. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. The 34-year-old made All-Pro twice, in 2008 and 2009, but he added two more All-Pro nominations during 2012 and 2015. 1. 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. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. While Gore has never led the league in rushing or made All-Pro, his consistency lands him at No. Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . He also was a punt returner, bringing back 20 punts with a 14.0 average per return. In the second concussion he encountered, it resulted in Hoge having to be resuscitated when he stopped breathing. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. 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. 4. 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. 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. 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. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Both backs had to run well with the ball and have the skills to block for the other. 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 33rd Team. He stepped in for a banged-up Willie Parker in 2009 and ran for 1,108 yards and seven touchdowns.