He has six 1,000-yard seasons and six Pro Bowl nominations with the Eagles and Bills during the 2010s. While one is considered a fullback and the other a halfback, they share more commonalities than differences in their duties. 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. Over the past six years, he has covered the NFL, NHL, MLB, fantasy sports, college football and basketball, and New Jersey high school sports for numerous print and online publications. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years.
Breaking down the 10 best running backs in Steelers' history 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. 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. 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. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. Only other is safeties at sub lb and doesn't change their ratings just where they are on the field. The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. In later years Bleier helped pen a book about himself and a movie was made about his story titled Fighting Back.. 4. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. He's been named All-Pro and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns during each of the last two years too.
16 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs of All Time 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. Teams run RPOs, or run-pass option plays, where the quarterback decides after the snap whether he will hand the ball off or throw a pass.
ALL-MODERN ERA: Running backs - Pittsburgh Steelers This decade, Sproles has also led the league in punt return yardage twice. Fuqua led the . Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. 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. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. 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 8 Best And 7 Worst Running Backs In Pittsburgh Steelers History 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. But from 2015-16, he posted more than 1,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards from scrimmage and at least 13 touchdowns each season. The role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! Despite suffering continuing pain and losing weight down to 180 pounds, Rocky spent the next two years putting on weight and fighting for a roster spot. 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. 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). Current team members are listed in bold. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD . 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.
Najee Harris Stats, News, Bio | ESPN With the 2019 season, there is still time to influence who lands where among a list of the best running backs of the decade. Not entirely. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12.
Top 10 All Time Steelers Running Backs - Pittsburgh Sporting News Every Tight End In Pittsburgh Steelers History, Ranked By Fans 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. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. 6:02; See All. LISTEN: Hounds, world soccer, PGA with Mike Grau, Steelers: Need for QB of the Future is More Apparent than Ever, Steelers: Defense Needs to Take Advantage of Inconsistent Bills Passing Attack, Steelers: Devlin Hodges Has Chance to Make Lasting Impression in Week 14, Steelers: James Washingtons Emergence Could Make Offense Dangerous. Unfortunately for Johnson, his 2,000-yard season came in 2009, so it just missed the cut for counting on this list. In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. It's hard to believe, but the second decade of the 21st century is nearly complete. CHARLESTON, W.Va. . The 30-year-old has failed to rush for 500 yards in four of his seven seasons in the NFL. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. 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. Sep 20, 1992; San Diego, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Barry Foster (29) in action against San Diego Chargers defenders Junior Seau (55) and George Thornton (93) at Jack . Last season he rushed for only 885 yards, but that came in 12 games. Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? 2013 Steelers 2014 Steelers 2015 Steelers 2016 Steelers 2017 Steelers 2018 Steelers 2019 Steelers 2020 Steelers 2021 Steelers 2022 Steelers 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 8-8 11-5 10-6 11-5 13-3 9-6-1 8-8 12-4 9-7-1 9-8.
Mapping out the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft: Sproles has nearly as many receptions (460) as carries (516) since 2010, and he has 3,936 receiving yards. 2. Jerome Bettis is the latest Steelers running back to become a member in Canton, Ohio. Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16.
Running Back Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. Merril Hoge: Lasting until the 10th round in the 1987 NFL draft, Merril Hoge was a tough as nails runner for the Steelers who suffered a rash of concussion injuries that would cost him his career.
Top-15 NFL Seasons by Running Backs in the 2010s If I were to ask you to name the sixth-leading rusher in Steelers history, I bet youd say a lot of names before you got to Frank Pollard. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. More like he will get exposed yet again as being the most overrated running back in the league . 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. 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 Pittsburgh Steelers Hall-of-Fame running back Franco Harris died Wednesday, just before the 50-year anniversary of his "Immaculate Reception" play.
8 Oldest Running Backs in NFL - Oldest.org In 79 games with the Steelers, he carried the ball for 3,343 yards and 22 touchdowns. 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.
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Roster | The Football Database 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. This was the age of the feature back, when one superstar halfback got most of the carries. He amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. 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. 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 spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. All Rights Reserved. 2022 AFC North Standings.
Peyton Hillis and the 15 Greatest White Running Backs of the Super Bowl 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. 9-Rocky Bleier. Really, he will just be doing what teams like the Steelers did for decades. Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. 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. In 1979, he started 10 games in place of Bleier and ran for 585 yards and six touchdowns.
2022 Offseason Positional Review - Running Back - Steelers Depot Do you have a sports website? Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. Included are player stats for the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1945-2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1940-1942 and the Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) from 1933-1939. 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 . Eight players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL. His career ended on a sad note in Minnesota, but Peterson regained his form with another 1,000-yard season with Washington in 2018. BARRY FOSTER set a Steelers single-season record with 1,690 rushing yards in 1992, and he got there with a 4.3 average while scoring 11 of the offense's 28 touchdowns.
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Zero Running Back Strategy 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. 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. Year Top Defense. But it was his story of injury during the war that gave him notoriety at the start of his career. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . 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. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. The Tigers picked up their sixth commitment for the 2024 recruiting cycle - and their first running back - Wednesday with the public . Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The Steelers will win 5 games this year, Canada will be fired, and Tomlin will "resign." . | Harris managed to get 691 rushing yards, with an average of five yards. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times during the 2010s, and he ended the decade with 4,246 rushing yards. 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. 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. John Fuqua ( 1970-76) Before Franco Harris, there was John "Frenchy" Fuqua. 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.
Steelers Great Franco Harris, In One Of His Last Interviews, Recalled Visit ESPN to view the Pittsburgh Steelers team depth chart for the current season The following is another in a series that picks a Steelers All-Modern Era Team.
List of Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterbacks - Wikipedia Touchdowns. However, from 2010-14 he was the best all-purpose back in the league. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. Dudley also found himself on kickoff returns where he fielded 11 of those for 298 yards (27.0 average).
Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? He was also an excellent receiver, both out of the backfield and split out as a wide receiver. 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. 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. LeVeon Bell made his mark with the Steelers running in this kind of offense. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. 11 because of four straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin the decade. 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. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE.