If Lions general manager Brad Holmes follows that plan exactly, Minnesota Golden Gophers' Mohamed Ibrahim would be a great late-round running back prospect for Detroit to target. Steeler running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, Sidney Thornton and Rashard Mendenhall all helped bring Lombardi Trophies to Pittsburgh. but every NFL team has talented players. It's hard to rank Sproles. Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Having gone through a tough contract negotiation in 1995, the Steelers instead of trying to settle traded Foster over to the Carolina Panthers who then cut the running back in training camp due to a failed physical. Many teams even rotate three or more backs throughout the game, with all getting an equal number of carries. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. All rights reserved. First running back gets drafted in the seventh round. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Johnson was a bruising fullback who spent time in San Francisco and Detroit before coming to Pittsburgh in 1960. 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. How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. It was a hard task to actually rank all of the great running backs . He started alongside Franco Harris in four Super Bowl victories and both backs ran for over 1,000 yards in 1976. 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. 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. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . Do you have a blog? Always free! Follow Holcomb on Twitter at @dmholcomb. Hoak's record as the team's running backs coach was 149-90-1, making him the third-most successful running backs coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. 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. 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. In fact, no back has even finished top-two in consecutive years, and only Adrian Peterson (second in 2009 and 2015; first in 2012) and Le'Veon Bell (first in 2014; second in 2017) have even had more than one top-two year in a decade. In the previous nine years, however, the Steelers had a top-15 player seven times. He was intensive care for 48 hours and this forced his retirement. What those teams dont have is a legacy of bullying and dominating opponents, and that is what brought the Steelers six Super Bowl championships. Touchdowns. Across the decade, Martin has posted 5,356 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns. Dudley also scored on a lateraled pass and has kicked point-after-touchdowns as well as making successful field goals. Even putting a left end at right end can cause a drop. Only stats for Regular Season Games have been included. In 1984 while beating the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, Pollard ran for 99 yards and two scores, a game won by Pittsburgh 24-17. It wasn't too long ago that Freeman was regarded as a top-five back in the league. The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. The following is the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time roster, browsable by last name or position. It has been said that Rooney responded with the declaration that he would never again attempt to call a play for his team. 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). As a Steelers, he was occasionally brilliant but more often disappointing. Great Pittsburgh Steelers players such as Heath Miller, Bennie Cunningham, and Eric Green, who could count among the best NFL players ever, have gone down as some of the best tight ends in Steelers franchise history. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. Dickerson was traded mid-season in 1987; he played three games for the Rams and nine for the Colts. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? At 244 pounds, Morris was a load running behind the offensive line and his numbers backed up his train rushing efforts. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. | The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 2022 AFC North Standings. In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. He returned to put . 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. Foster made one attempt to come out of retirement with the Cincinnati Bengals that same year but after just a few days with the club he decided on retirement at the tender age of 26. Join our linker program. In both seasons, he made All-Pro. Jerome "The Bus" Bettis tops our list as the Steelers best running back of all time. In 2012 he was just a mere few yards away from the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards. It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. Peterson then signed with the . Let's take a look back at the rest of the Steelers picks since the 2000 season. 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. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. That couldn't have been further from the truth. 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 But since then injuries have slowed him, and he's averaging 3.6 yards per attempt. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With the 2019 season, there is still time to influence who lands where among a list of the best running backs of the decade. The following is another in a series that picks a Steelers All-Modern Era Team. 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. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. John Fuqua ( 1970-76) Before Franco Harris, there was John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Sowhos the greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history? Took pay cuts, and continued to stay. But you cant throw just any ball carrier out there and hope to have success; it takes a certain kind of player to fit into a power running offensive scheme. Gurley has rushed for 4,547 rushing yards and recorded 6,430 yards from scrimmage with 56 touchdowns. Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. 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. From 1974 to 1979, Harris topped the 1,000-yard milestone every season and carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. A fullback is not required in this type of offensive game plan. The first requirement is an intimidating defense that dominates opponents and makes it tough for them to put points on the board. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. From 2010-13, Johnson rushed for 4,731 yards and 27 touchdowns. His best season was in 1985 when he rushed for 991 yards. But he stayed. The Best Pittsburgh Steelers Tight Ends Of All Time, Vote up the players who had the most success playing tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He ran for over 1,000 yards in his first season and scored 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. Beast Mode's freakish combination of power and finesse was unlike any running back that came before him. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. Read on to find out why. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. The Steelers will win 5 games this year, Canada will be fired, and Tomlin will "resign." . 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 role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. 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). Postseason. But since then he has a pair of 1,000-yard rushing years and 4,545 yards on the ground in five years. Winning three Super Bowls helps earn you a spot on this list too. 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. 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. In the end Rocky Bleier rushed for 3,865 yards, 1,294 yards receiving on 136 catches and scored 25 times. In 79 games with the Steelers, he carried the ball for 3,343 yards and 22 touchdowns. Watt is a fullback who saw a lot of snaps during his time with the Chargers.). If it was Fuqua who the ball last touched, it would not be a legal catch by Harris according to the rules in 1972. Former Steelers running back Willie Parker (39) acknowledges the crowd during a 2018 against the Chargers at Heinz Field. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. Well, he's worth a lot more now. Running backs are not the commodities they once were. He is currently the third leading rusher in Steelers history. LeVeon Bell: Finally we have our current star in the making. Pittsburgh has fielded plenty of those defensive units over the years, and there are more than a few Steelers defenders in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. Posted August 12, 2019 CHARLESTON, W.Va. . All Rights Reserved. James Conner was thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when halfback LeVeon Bell held out for the entire season. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Murray is another back who put together three strong seasons during his career and led the league in rushing once. Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments!For Business Inquiries: insid. Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. Players active with the Pittsburgh . In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. The 30-year-old has failed to rush for 500 yards in four of his seven seasons in the NFL. The Steelers won a lot of games in the late-90s to mid-2000s by lining up 250-pound running back Jerome Bettis behind 250-pound fullback Dan Kreider and bulldozing any defense that came before them. The last two seasons, with now-departed James Conner the No. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Ingram's best season came in 2017 when he posted 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Tigers picked up their sixth commitment for the 2024 recruiting cycle - and their first running back - Wednesday with the public . Player Team Age Total Value Avg./Year Total Guaranteed Fully Guaranteed Free Agency; Christian McCaffrey: 49ers: 27: $64,063,412: $16,015,853: $36,346,412: $30,062,500 In 2011 and 2013, he made All-Pro, and in 2013 he posted 2,146 yards from scrimmage. 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. Hoak made a Pro Bowl in 1968 and is currently ranked seventh in Steelers' history for all-time rushing yards with 3,965. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. 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. Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times . The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. 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 . Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. Pittsburgh Steelers Stats: The official source for Pittsburgh Steelers game statistics . 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. 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. As a rookie, on a terrible offense, he finished as a top 24 running back in 93% of his games last year. 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. 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. Eight players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. In an era that de-emphasizes the workhorse back, McCoy has nearly amassed 10,000 rushing yards and more than 13,000 yards from scrimmage this decade. Fullback Franco Harris came to the Steelers in the 1972 draft and made an immediate impact. 8. In three of his four NFL seasons, Gurley has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. Today, with the explosion of the passing game, a star running back is a helpful asset but no longer a requirement. Feeling he had to listen to his boss, Kiesling had quarterback Jack Scarbath toss the ball which resulted in a touchdown to Goose McClairen. does st martin parish have school tomorrow. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. Who should be on top of the Steelers NFL Free Agency board? Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. But twice he rushed for more than 1,400 yards, and as a rookie in 2012 Martin posted 1,926 yards from scrimmage. Emmitt Smith has held the record since surpassing Walter Payton's long-standing total in 2002. He finished with 585 yards and scored six touchdowns including a 75-yard run. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. He already has as many touchdowns rushing as Bam Morris Unfortunately, before the season began last year, Bell was arrested with LeGarrette Blount for a DWI and possession of marijuana. In 2012, he made the All-Pro team with 1,590 rushing yards and 1,786 yards from scrimmage. 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. . Lucrative opportunities to leave. Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. 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. The 2016 All-Pro had his own issue staying on the field because of a suspension in 2017, but despite that Elliott has 4,048 rushing yards and led the league in rushing twice in three years. In 2016 he had one of the best seasons for a running back in recent memory, accumulating a league-high 2,118 yards from scrimmage, including at least 100 yards in the first 15 games of the year. 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. Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. That's Steelers football. 1. Matte took over for another fantastic white running back, former Heisman Trophy winner and 1958 NFL Championship Game hero Alan Ameche. 6:02; See All. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. Only other is safeties at sub lb and doesn't change their ratings just where they are on the field. Players were considered based on having careers with the Steelers from 1992 until the present. Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 5. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Meanwhile, at No. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. Franco Harris was the man during The Renaissance, and Jerome Bettis was the man in The Modern Era. Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. Franco Harris arrives during the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. While one is considered a fullback and the other a halfback, they share more commonalities than differences in their duties. 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 . The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . Just look back to last year when he was able to make cuts and find holes. The Pittsburgh Steelers are loaded with high-end fantasy talent, and Mike Tomlin's team has been producing every week.The Steelers have scored 30 or more points in six straight games, and they are in a position to earn a spot in the AFC playoffs if they can win their final two games of the season.It's all lining up to be a happy holiday season in Pittsburgh because they close the year with . 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. 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. See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. 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. He caught 57 passes for 338 yards as well. The fullback might get the ball once or twice a game in short-yardage situations, but for the most part, he was turned into a blocking specialist. Rashard Mendenhall: Like Barry Foster before him, Rashard Mendenhall was done with professional football by the age of 26. He seemed to violate every rule young players are taught about playing running back, yet he thrived. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. We present them here for purely educational purposes. In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. 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. Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. 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 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. 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. But it was his story of injury during the war that gave him notoriety at the start of his career. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. In 1979, he started 10 games in place of Bleier and ran for 585 yards and six touchdowns. In later years Bleier helped pen a book about himself and a movie was made about his story titled Fighting Back.. In 1980, Thornton would average five yards-per-carry while carrying the rock 78 times. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. When it comes to this room, the Steelers are indeed looking for them to step up. During his career, he's averaged 128.9 yards from scrimmage per game. Overall, he ran for 4,731 yards and 28 touchdowns playing for the Rams, Falcons and Patriots from 2010-15. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. These honorable mentions may not have a place on this list of all-time best Steelers running backs, but if you are a Steelers fan, there is a good chance you'll remember them fondly.