During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. Last season he rushed for only 885 yards, but that came in 12 games. His best season was in 1985 when he rushed for 991 yards. It's hard to rank Sproles. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. 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. DeAngelo Williams Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images. He also posted at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage during 2013 and 2014 when the Seahawks went to two Super Bowls. With a 3.5 yards per carry average and zero touchdowns, his rookie season was a major disappointment, but Gordon has answered all his doubters since then. He'll likely end up with a good chunk of dough in free agency, but it's hard to believe . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Allain died on February 21, 2023, following a . Both backs had to run well with the ball and have the skills to block for the other. | As a rookie, on a terrible offense, he finished as a top 24 running back in 93% of his games last year. 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. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. In his rookie season, Morris rushed for 836 yards and a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. 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. 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. Dudley also scored on a lateraled pass and has kicked point-after-touchdowns as well as making successful field goals. When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Myles Jack's cap hit grows significantly from $4.75 million last year to $11.25 million in 2023. Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. The first requirement is an intimidating defense that dominates opponents and makes it tough for them to put points on the board. Peterson then signed with the . Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. Today he is 68 and still colorful. If it was Fuqua who the ball last touched, it would not be a legal catch by Harris according to the rules in 1972. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. It wasn't too long ago that Freeman was regarded as a top-five back in the league. 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 . 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. It has been said that Rooney responded with the declaration that he would never again attempt to call a play for his team. Dudley owns 44 touchdowns to his credit. Beast Mode's freakish combination of power and finesse was unlike any running back that came before him. Rob Burns / AP Photo. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. Morris peaked as a rookie, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012. The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. 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. He ranks fourth all-time in franchise history for rushing yards and eighth all-time in receptions. In '94, he ran for 851 yards despite missing five games. LeVeon Bell made his mark with the Steelers running in this kind of offense. Clemson running backs coach CJ Spiller got his man. In three of his four NFL seasons, Gurley has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. He had the highest usage rate among running backs at 35.8% and was third in red-zone touches with 61. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. 2. Franco Harris is the Pittsburgh Steelers career leader in rushing yards with 11,950. Parker ran for 1,200 yards or better in three straight seasons and led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins. But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. Pollard played most of his career at a time when the Steelers struggled. In 2011 Jones-Drew led the league with 1,606 rushing yards and 386 touches. 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. 1, Pittsburgh didn't have a top-25 running back. 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. Fran Rogel was also a local product having grown up in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. Thornton was also a member of the Super Bowl winning teams for Pittsburgh in 1979 and 1980. This means two backs in the backfield, usually lined up side by side. By, Tom Rothenberg/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. I enjoy the passing game, and I love that Ben Roethlisberger has matured into an elite quarterback, but it is hard for me to imagine there is a better way to play football than Steelers Football. 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. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. Emmitt Smith has held the record since surpassing Walter Payton's long-standing total in 2002. That's Steelers football. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . Abercrombie played one more season in 1988 with the cross state Philadelphia Eagles before retiring. 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. Today, Abercrombie spends his days atsthe Executive Director for his alma mater leading the Baylor B Association which is an organization of previous letter winners for the university. The intent is to lean the offensive game plan toward the passing game and open up the defense with complex formations and plays. 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. With teams shifting more to the passing game, these old-school running backs are becoming obsolete. 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. 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. James Conner is at the forefront . 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. Pittsburgh Steelers Stats: The official source for Pittsburgh Steelers game statistics . Pittsburgh Steelers Career Rushing Leaders. 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. From 1974 to 1979, Harris topped the 1,000-yard milestone every season and carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. 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. 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. Adrian Peterson is a running back with over thirteen years in the NFL. His professional career started in 2007 when he decided to skip the last year of college and enter the NFL Draft. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. March 1, 2023 2:19 pm PT. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. He'll get the chance to continue his career with the Browns, but he'll miss the first eight games of 2019 because of a suspension. 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 Regular season. 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). The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. 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. 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. Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. 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. 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. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. The move closes the latest chapter of Wentz's career after just one season in Washington. From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. 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. Harris was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Bill Dudley: Bullet Bill was his nickname and a great running back he was. Many argued that when Gore suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of December in 2010, his best days were behind him. Draft Henry with absolute confidence this season if you have a top-five pick. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. 4M; . Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. He posted more than 1,900 yards from scrimmage twice, in 2010 and 2013. He returned to put . Who should be on top of the Steelers NFL Free Agency board? Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? Sowhos the greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history? He also made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2016, the last of which with the Titans. Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. The Steelers will win 5 games this year, Canada will be fired, and Tomlin will "resign." . 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 . Since reliable yardage statistics were not recorded prior to 1932, the first NFL player recognized as the career leader in rushing yards was Cliff Battles, who played from 1932 to 1937 for the Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins. Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. In Pittsburgh, he was everything but. Murray made the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl that year. He was an example of how great players can not only break the rules and succeed, but sometimes even make up their own rules. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. Steelers running back James Conner (30) runs for a short gain past Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (26) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Ingram's best season came in 2017 when he posted 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. 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. Teams like the 49ers, Packers, and Chargers still have plenty of use for thembut many organizations dont carry a fullback on their roster at all. Took pay cuts, and continued to stay. However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. does st martin parish have school tomorrow. The running back fell just short of 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season after finishing with 1,414 yards in his rookie campaign. Jerome "The Bus" Bettis tops our list as the Steelers best running back of all time. Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. Until recently, the fullback was an important player in the Steelers' offense. Dickerson was traded mid-season in 1987; he played three games for the Rams and nine for the Colts. Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. Or write about sports? He tailed off to 928 the following season and then suffered injuries in 2012 playing in just six games before the Steelers cut him loose where he signed with the Arizona Cardinals lasting just one season after 687 yards on the ground. BAM MORRIS followed Foster, but after a couple of promising seasons, he was released after pleading guilty to felony possession of marijuana in June 1996. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players - 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. Feeling he had to listen to his boss, Kiesling had quarterback Jack Scarbath toss the ball which resulted in a touchdown to Goose McClairen. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. He stepped in for a banged-up Willie Parker in 2009 and ran for 1,108 yards and seven touchdowns. He joins Franco Harris and John Henry Johnson. With the Bears and Jets, Forte posted 7,629 rushing yards and 11,353 yards from scrimmage from 2010-17. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . Read on to find out why. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. Merril Hoge was a versatile fullback who could carry the ball, catch passes, and block. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. 1. Year Top Defense. While Gore has never led the league in rushing or made All-Pro, his consistency lands him at No. Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have had three coaches, and each has used a different style of offense. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. Matte took over for another fantastic white running back, former Heisman Trophy winner and 1958 NFL Championship Game hero Alan Ameche. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . He peculiarly retired after that one campaign with the Cardinals. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. During the decade, he has 8,834 rushing yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 71 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. Player ratings with position rankings. 1. 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. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. Including last season when Bell sat out because of a contract dispute, the two-time All-Pro has missed 34 games in his six-year career. 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 Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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 running back said that he was only trying to stimulate conversation about the topic but because of it he lost an endorsement deal with Champion Sports. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. 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. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. He'll continue to split time with Nick Chubb in the backfield, but the Browns are a run-first team that will use the talents of both. They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. The speedy running backs, the classic old power running back, and the mixed, well-rounded, good running back. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Bell made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a Steeler. 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. What those teams dont have is a legacy of bullying and dominating opponents, and that is what brought the Steelers six Super Bowl championships. He also earned the first of two consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections. In the previous nine years, however, the Steelers had a top-15 player seven times. 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. See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. 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. Included are players that played for the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1945-2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1940-1942 and the Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) from 1933-1939. Dudley also found himself on kickoff returns where he fielded 11 of those for 298 yards (27.0 average). Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. The last two seasons, with now-departed James Conner the No. [3], List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders, Players with at least 10,000 rushing yards, Players with at least 1,000 postseason rushing yards. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. 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. All Rights Reserved. Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. As a Steeler running back, Hoak would spend his entire career with Pittsburgh that began in 1961 as a seventh round draft pick after running for the Penn State Nittany Lions. In Dick Hoak's 10 years as a Steeler, he only saw two winning seasons. Hoak retired from pro football in 1970 but stuck around to coach Steelers running backs from 1972 to 2007. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. 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. If he had played in those games, Bell is easily in the top five on this list and maybe close to the top. 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. Always free! Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. 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. The Steelers had jumped offsides on the play and it was called back. In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. He made another Pro Bowl in 1993 but only rushed for half as many yards due to injuries. The running back ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 307 carries, and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. To no ones surprise, Art Rooney Sr. mailed a post card to his running back while in recovery that said, Rock We need you. That was the kind of man The Chief was.