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. Franco Harris is the Pittsburgh Steelers career leader in rushing yards with 11,950. NFL Draft: 10 best running backs available in 2023 - Page 6 Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. 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. But since then he has a pair of 1,000-yard rushing years and 4,545 yards on the ground in five years. 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. In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Winning three Super Bowls helps earn you a spot on this list too. 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. 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. Rob Burns / AP Photo. This was the age of the feature back, when one superstar halfback got most of the carries. In 2012 he was just a mere few yards away from the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards. 12. 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. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. Bell was a unique back in Steelers history due to both the wide-open offense he played in and his careful, patient running style. 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. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. Keep in mind that accomplishments made only during this decade were considered for these rankings. Adrian Peterson is a running back with over thirteen years in the NFL. Drafted by the Steelers in 1942 and in his rookie season led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders 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. Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart | ESPN Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . 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. 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. During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. Dick Hoak: The running backs coach for the Steelers for an incredible 35 years, Hoak was also an excellent player at the position he would spend so many years coaching up. That meant Bell joined Marshall Faulk as the only players in NFL history with 1,350-plus yards rushing and 850-plus yards receiving in the same season. Regular season. Steelers honor Franco Harris by rallying past Raiders 13-10 Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have had three coaches, and each has used a different style of offense. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. Until recently, the fullback was an important player in the Steelers' offense. Franco Harris was a fullback, as was Merril Hoge and John Henry Johnson. He seemed to violate every rule young players are taught about playing running back, yet he thrived. If it was Fuqua who the ball last touched, it would not be a legal catch by Harris according to the rules in 1972. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. I want to travel the world and write. If that wasnt strange enough, Mendenhall got himself into hot water in 2011 as a Steeler when he tweeted a controversial reaction to the United States elimination of Osama bin Laden. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. That lands him in the top five during the decade. | In just a three-year period, from 2010-12, he posted 5,702 yards from scrimmage and 47 touchdowns. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. Across the decade, Martin has posted 5,356 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns. 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. 2022 Fantasy Football - Top 10 RBs - Faceoff Sports Network Gurley led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and won the Offensive Player of the Year award. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. Still, I think he is deserving of the number 16 spot on this list of all-time great Steelers backs. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Steelers had a reputation of big bruising backs but Parker spelled that philosophy with speed and elusiveness. Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. In the following AFC title game against Miami, Pollard was held to just 48 yards rushing. He posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons in each of the first three years of the decade. 2022 Offseason Positional Review - Running Back - Steelers Depot The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of smash-mouth football dating back to before they ever won their first Super Bowl. Willie Parker: Fast Willie Parker actually lands in third place all-time among Pittsburgh rushers. 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. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. 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. In 2006 he tried to make a comeback in the Arena Football League and the National Indoor Football League but that last just part of one season. Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. And that's with missing the 2016 season because of retirement. Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 best running backs in franchise history WILLIE PARKER had difference-making speed at the NFL level, but because he wasn't built physically to withstand the 913 carries he got from 2005-07, he got worn down and then his speed wasn't as difference-making at the NFL level. February 27, 2023 3 min Watch. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. He would play six seasons in Three Rivers Stadium when the Steelers were home and finish with 3,343 yards rushing. [5] Through 2021, eight Steeler first-round picks have gone on to have playing careers deemed worthy of enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Bill Dudley, Len Dawson, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Rod Woodson, Troy Polamalu, and Alan . He ran for 5,378 yards while playing at Heinz Field. But from 2015-16, he posted more than 1,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards from scrimmage and at least 13 touchdowns each season. During the decade, he has 8,834 rushing yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 71 touchdowns. March 1, 2023 2:19 pm PT. Fullback Franco Harris came to the Steelers in the 1972 draft and made an immediate impact. 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. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. He also posted at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage during 2013 and 2014 when the Seahawks went to two Super Bowls. Mapping out the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft: During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. 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. Gurley has rushed for 4,547 rushing yards and recorded 6,430 yards from scrimmage with 56 touchdowns. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. While one is considered a fullback and the other a halfback, they share more commonalities than differences in their duties. In later years Bleier helped pen a book about himself and a movie was made about his story titled Fighting Back.. Bill Dudley: Bullet Bill was his nickname and a great running back he was. Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. He also had three catches in that loss for 18 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 the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. 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. 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. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . 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. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . 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. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points 7. . 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 . In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. Ingram's best season came in 2017 when he posted 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dave Holcomb began working as a sports writer in 2013 after graduating from Syracuse University. Running Back Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. 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. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments!For Business Inquiries: insid. He amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. He sill holds the single season record for rushing for Pittsburgh with 1,690 yards gained in 1992. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. 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. 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. 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. Of course, we all know why. Who should be on top of the Steelers NFL Free Agency board? 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. The 8 Best And 7 Worst Running Backs In Pittsburgh Steelers History While Gore has never led the league in rushing or made All-Pro, his consistency lands him at No. He made another Pro Bowl in 1993 but only rushed for half as many yards due to injuries. He joins Franco Harris and John Henry Johnson. However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. There have been some running backs in Steelers history who had one or two good seasons in Pittsburgh, then went on their way. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. The running back ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 307 carries, and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. By his second season as a Steeler, he had become the heir apparent to Jerome Bettis. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. They will be joined by this year's selection, making six for the 2022 season. When it comes to this room, the Steelers are indeed looking for them to step up. Year Top Defense. 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. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? 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. 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. 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). 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. In the previous nine years, however, the Steelers had a top-15 player seven times. 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. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Daily Fantasy Football Week 16: Predicting DraftKings Top Performers Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. Murray is another back who put together three strong seasons during his career and led the league in rushing once. 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. Peterson then signed with the . Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. 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. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. He was Le'Veon Bell when Bell was at Michigan State. John Fuqua ( 1970-76) Before Franco Harris, there was John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Current team members are listed in bold. 'We'll probably move a little slower than most of our peers, but we don't worry about the Jonses', 28-14 victory caps 7-2 finish, but season ends because Miami's win claims final playoff spot, 'He drinks the Kool-Aid that is Pittsburgh, Pa., he's a Steeler, he teaches it to the young guys', His 111 yards rushing, 10-yard catch for a TD, and physical presence throughout keyed 16-13 win, 'His versatility, his experience allows us to move him and Minkah to diversify our attack', 'The most challenging component of the weather, man, are the poor fans sitting in the stands', Dan Rooney: 'One of the finest, most thoughtful human beings I have ever known', 'I wanted to see Mitch's ability to bounce back from the last game relative to taking care of the ball', Three interceptions, blocked FG prove to be insurmountable mistakes in 16-14 defeat, 'You can take the energy out of an arena on the road when you do some of the things he does', The 19-16 victory represents first winning streak of season and is the third in last four games, The defense made some plays, such as Heyward's sack, but also allowed two 90-yard TD drives, 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers. The controversy arose when the ball deflected off of Tatum or Frenchy. That's the equivalent of more than two seasons. Clemson gets its running back: 'Something very special at Clemson In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. 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. Sowhos the greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history? Rashard Mendenhall: Like Barry Foster before him, Rashard Mendenhall was done with professional football by the age of 26. Everything in the NFL goes in cycles. The first requirement is an intimidating defense that dominates opponents and makes it tough for them to put points on the board. 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. Since missing the last five games of 2010, Gore has sat out just two games over the last eight years. 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. 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 intent is to lean the offensive game plan toward the passing game and open up the defense with complex formations and plays. Meanwhile, Myles Jack's cap hit grows significantly from $4.75 million last year to $11.25 million in 2023. Anderson was traded mid-season in 1986; he played four games for the Cardinals and eight for the Giants. In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. 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. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. Feeling he had to listen to his boss, Kiesling had quarterback Jack Scarbath toss the ball which resulted in a touchdown to Goose McClairen. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . List of Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterbacks - Wikipedia The 25 best running backs of the 2010s | Yardbarker Merril Hoge was a versatile fullback who could carry the ball, catch passes, and block. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. Jackson never led the league in rushing and never made the All-Pro team. As it is, he has 5,336 rushing yards and nearly 8,000 yards from scrimmage since coming into the league in 2013. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. 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 . By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. 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's been named All-Pro and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns during each of the last two years too. 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. 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. 8 Oldest Running Backs in NFL - Oldest.org In his first three seasons, Ingram ran for more than 600 yards in a season just once. But Hoak is probably best remembered for his ever-so-long tenure as the Running Backs coach with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. Fran Rogel was also a local product having grown up in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. The Senate passed the bill . He was also an excellent receiver, both out of the backfield and split out as a wide receiver. That's Steelers football. Late-Round Running Back Lions Should Target in 2023 NFL Draft With the 2019 season, there is still time to influence who lands where among a list of the best running backs of the decade. r/steelers on Reddit: Najee Harris will have a 100yd game against the Breaking down the 10 best running backs in Steelers' history Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. Or write about sports? 2023 NFL draft: 4 running backs for Chargers to watch at Combine Harris managed to get 691 rushing yards, with an average of five yards. All Rights Reserved. As a Steelers, he was occasionally brilliant but more often disappointing. Clemson running backs coach CJ Spiller got his man. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. [2] He led the NFL with 576 yards in 1932 and held on to the record throughout his career. Franco Harris is not only the best Steelers running back in franchise history, but one of the greatest Steelers of all time. 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. Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. Le'veon Bell also earned a reputation as one of the most patient RBs in the NFL. Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Jamaal Williams Dynasty Profile: Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections Wanting the jersey number 26 which he wore at Notre Dame, Preston Pearson held those digits so Rocky settled for No. Last year's offensive rookie of the year award winner, Barkley was close to perfect for fantasy owners. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. He has six 1,000-yard seasons and six Pro Bowl nominations with the Eagles and Bills during the 2010s. Trump can be sued by cops United States 11:10 am - 10,090 views; Train crash toll now 57 Greece 9:38 am - 3,746 views; Snow, rain end drought California 9:32 am - 1,290 views; More World News 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. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. 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. 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. Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? 22. Najee Harris Stats, News, Bio | ESPN When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. 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. 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 addition, he got 52 receiving yards, with an average of 10.4. Dudley also scored on a lateraled pass and has kicked point-after-touchdowns as well as making successful field goals. Every Steelers First-Round Draft Pick Since 2000