Beast Mode's freakish combination of power and finesse was unlike any running back that came before him. In the second concussion he encountered, it resulted in Hoge having to be resuscitated when he stopped breathing. If he had played in those games, Bell is easily in the top five on this list and maybe close to the top. Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. Jerome Bettis was a 250-pound battering ram with incredible quickness for a man his size. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. 16 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs of All Time Frank Pollard: In the mid-1980s, a stout Frank Pollard became the Steelers primary running back. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. Posted August 12, 2019 A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. As a rookie, on a terrible offense, he finished as a top 24 running back in 93% of his games last year. 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. He is currently the third leading rusher in Steelers history. 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. 3 in NFL history. 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. 2022 Offseason Positional Review - Running Back - Steelers Depot 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. His best season was in 1985 when he rushed for 991 yards. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . Rashard Mendenhall: Like Barry Foster before him, Rashard Mendenhall was done with professional football by the age of 26. But it was his story of injury during the war that gave him notoriety at the start of his career. Late-Round Running Back Lions Should Target in 2023 NFL Draft Many argued that when Gore suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of December in 2010, his best days were behind him. They will be joined by this year's selection, making six for the 2022 season. Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. Harris managed to get 691 rushing yards, with an average of five yards. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. The Greatest Running Backs In The NFL Right Now (2021) 9, we . Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. 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 . Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart | ESPN Today, with the explosion of the passing game, a star running back is a helpful asset but no longer a requirement. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. 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. but every NFL team has talented players. He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. In Pittsburgh, he was everything but. NFL Top 10 Best Running Backs of the 2010s - #8 Arian Foster. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points Read on to find out why. 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. He signed as an undrafted free agent who had run a 4.23-second 40 at the Scouting Combine the previous spring. He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. 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. Fuqua led the . 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. The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. Los Angeles' running backs are in a bit of a limbo right . The intent is to lean the offensive game plan toward the passing game and open up the defense with complex formations and plays. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. r/steelers on Reddit: Najee Harris will have a 100yd game against the The following is the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time roster, browsable by last name or position. All rights reserved. In the previous nine years, however, the Steelers had a top-15 player seven times. After a slow start (for a seventh overall draft pick from . LeVeon Bell: Finally we have our current star in the making. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. 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. 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. 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. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. 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. 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. Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. Bell made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a Steeler. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. Still, I think he is deserving of the number 16 spot on this list of all-time great Steelers backs. 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. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. 1, Pittsburgh didn't have a top-25 running back. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. In 2011 Jones-Drew led the league with 1,606 rushing yards and 386 touches. But Hoak is probably best remembered for his ever-so-long tenure as the Running Backs coach with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. 8. In 2012, he made the All-Pro team with 1,590 rushing yards and 1,786 yards from scrimmage. Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times . Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 16: Latest Fantasy Lock and Flop Predictions He is currently a free agent and the third oldest running back in the NFL, as well as the second oldest active running back. The Senate passed the bill . 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. 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. 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. Ranking the 6 best running backs in Steelers history Touchdowns. Really, he will just be doing what teams like the Steelers did for decades. His rookie contract was voided after his fourth season, after just one in Pittsburgh, and there were opportunities to leave. 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. 1. Keep in mind that accomplishments made only during this decade were considered for these rankings. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. As a punter, he kicked the ball 18 times during his career and averaged 32 yards per punt. Jerome Bettis (1996-2005). He'll likely end up with a good chunk of dough in free agency, but it's hard to believe . Despite the occurrences of injury, Hoge ran for 3,115 yards as a Steeler and rushed for 21 touchdowns. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. As a Steeler, Famous Amos ran the ball 434 times for 1,698 yards and was a powerful running back at 205 pounds on a 58 frame. 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. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. 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. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. He led the Steelers in rushing in 1965, 1968, and 1969. Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. For the purposes of this article, I will be considering the following: Its tricky to piece it all together, but I think these are the best Steelers running backs of all time. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . 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. However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. Pittsburgh Steelers Stats: The official source for Pittsburgh Steelers game statistics . That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . Find out more. 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. Rob Burns / AP Photo. 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. 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. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. The Tigers picked up their sixth commitment for the 2024 recruiting cycle - and their first running back - Wednesday with the public . NFL combine: How elite draft prospect Bijan Robinson represents league does st martin parish have school tomorrow. He led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. 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. 7. Do you have a sports website? 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. He finished his career in Pittsburgh with 3,115 rushing yards, 241 receptions, and 34 total touchdowns. 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 . (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchise's history. 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. 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. 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. 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. 8 Oldest Running Backs in NFL - Oldest.org 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. Took pay cuts, and continued to stay. 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 list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. During his career, he's averaged 128.9 yards from scrimmage per game. It was a hard task to actually rank all of the great running backs . Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . That one instance came in 1956 when Art Rooney Sr. uncharacteristically was frustrated with a head coach and instructed the then Head Coach Walt Kiesling to negate the opening Rogel rush and throw the ball instead. 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. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. Drafted by the Steelers in 1942 and in his rookie season led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards. In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. 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. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is . Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. 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. 6:02; See All. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. The 34-year-old made All-Pro twice, in 2008 and 2009, but he added two more All-Pro nominations during 2012 and 2015. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. Before Franco Harris, there was John Frenchy Fuqua. And that's with missing the 2016 season because of retirement. steelers running backs last 10 years Player ratings with position rankings. The Steelers will win 5 games this year, Canada will be fired, and Tomlin will "resign." . Pollard played most of his career at a time when the Steelers struggled. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. He had the highest usage rate among running backs at 35.8% and was third in red-zone touches with 61. 11 because of four straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin the decade. Jerome Bettis is the latest Steelers running back to become a member in Canton, Ohio. But following the Super Bowl Morris was arrested for trafficking marijuana and the Steelers wanted nothing to do with his off-the-field problems and released him. Steelers Great Franco Harris, In One Of His Last Interviews, Recalled OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. 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. Johnson was a bruising fullback who spent time in San Francisco and Detroit before coming to Pittsburgh in 1960. All Rights Reserved. Bell rushed for 1,361 yards in 2014, but what turned that into first-team All-Pro recognition were his 83 catches for 854 yards. Of course, we all know why. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. Some readers are probably going to argue this is too high for Forte. Allain died on February 21, 2023, following a . In 1980, Thornton would average five yards-per-carry while carrying the rock 78 times. But from 2015-16, he posted more than 1,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards from scrimmage and at least 13 touchdowns each season. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. The Steelers had a reputation of big bruising backs but Parker spelled that philosophy with speed and elusiveness. 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. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Overall, he ran for 4,731 yards and 28 touchdowns playing for the Rams, Falcons and Patriots from 2010-15. Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 4M; . 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. Running Back Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap NFL Draft: 10 best running backs available in 2023 - Page 6 However, from 2010-14 he was the best all-purpose back in the league. 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 . 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Zero Running Back Strategy 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. His professional career started in 2007 when he decided to skip the last year of college and enter the NFL Draft. 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. Ranking every NFL running back drafted in Round 1 since 2000: LaDainian In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. Franco Harris arrives during the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Murray made the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl that year. 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. Fullback Franco Harris came to the Steelers in the 1972 draft and made an immediate impact. Steelers honor Franco Harris by rallying past Raiders 13-10 Pittsburgh Steelers Career Rushing Leaders. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. 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 . 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. 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. In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, his tenure with the Steelers came to a dramatic end with a contract dispute in 2018, but during his time with the team, he was one of the greatest. The Steelers have had several players enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being a part of the Pittsburghs ground game for most of or all of their entire careers. . Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. A fullback is not required in this type of offensive game plan. Le'veon Bell also earned a reputation as one of the most patient RBs in the NFL. 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. Ranking the AFC North running backs. Only stats for Regular Season Games have been included. Rocky Bleier came to the Steelers in 1968. He was Le'Veon Bell when Bell was at Michigan State. 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. Najee Harris warming to Steelers' running back-by-committee approach. Steelers running backs - Fantasy Index For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered a team that dominated with the run. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. 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. 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. By 1995, Foster was out of Pittsburgh and out of the NFL, thus ending his short, dramatic, and bizarre pro football career. He stepped in for a banged-up Willie Parker in 2009 and ran for 1,108 yards and seven touchdowns. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker.