(Fullback Roosevelt Nix spent most of 2019 injured and did not appear to have a viable replacement.) Fuqua led the Steelers in rushing in 1970 and 1971 and totaled 2,942 yards on the ground during his time in Pittsburgh. He led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. 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. The power running back is a dying breed in football. He's another back who never led the league in rushing and never made All-Pro. 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. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. As a Steelers, he was occasionally brilliant but more often disappointing. Pittsburgh Steelers Career Rushing Leaders. Fullback Franco Harris came to the Steelers in the 1972 draft and made an immediate impact. 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. 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. Merril Hoge was a versatile fullback who could carry the ball, catch passes, and block. 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. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. He has six 1,000-yard seasons and six Pro Bowl nominations with the Eagles and Bills during the 2010s. 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. 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. The Steelers had a reputation of big bruising backs but Parker spelled that philosophy with speed and elusiveness. Read on to find out why. He would eventually become the feature back, but in 2009 he suffered Jack Lamberts injury, turf toe and was replaced by Rashard Mendenhall in the process. 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. During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. 9, we . He was Le'Veon Bell when Bell was at Michigan State. Franco Harris arrives during the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of smash-mouth football dating back to before they ever won their first Super Bowl. Emmitt Smith has held the record since surpassing Walter Payton's long-standing total in 2002. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. He returned to put . Hunt only played eight games with the Browns last season after serving an eight-game suspension. '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. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. Unfortunately for Johnson, his 2,000-yard season came in 2009, so it just missed the cut for counting on this list. Many argued that when Gore suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of December in 2010, his best days were behind him. 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 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. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. 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. Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. TODAY: Running backs. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is . In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. He is currently a free agent and the third oldest running back in the NFL, as well as the second oldest active running back. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Meanwhile, at No. Perhaps one of the most popular and beloved Steelers players of all-time, Bleier became famous before he ever established himself as Franco Harriss partner in crime based on his experiences in the Vietnam War. steelers running backs last 10 years The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. 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. 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. 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? James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. 8. Franco Harris is the Pittsburgh Steelers career leader in rushing yards with 11,950. 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 . During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. The role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Barry Foster: Unfortunately for Barry Foster, his career was short in the Burgh. 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. Harris is one of the main reasons the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He was an example of how great players can not only break the rules and succeed, but sometimes even make up their own rules. 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. This decade, Sproles has also led the league in punt return yardage twice. What those teams dont have is a legacy of bullying and dominating opponents, and that is what brought the Steelers six Super Bowl championships. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. On a better team, Jones-Drew may have been able to flourish for longer than three seasons, but from 2009-11, he was one of the best backs in the league. Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times . 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. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. 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. He never made a Pro Bowl and never had a 1,000-yard season, but he appeared in 111 games over nine seasons and managed to rack up 3,989 career rushing yards. Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 18:43, Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins, List of National Football League records (individual), List of National Football League rushing champions, List of National Football League career rushing touchdowns leaders, List of National Football League annual rushing touchdowns leaders, "NFL Rushing Yards Career Playoffs Leaders", "History of the Career Rushing Yards Record", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_National_Football_League_career_rushing_yards_leaders&oldid=1140354500, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 18:43. 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. Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . 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. . 'Top 10, he would not get laughs' Thirty-five picks elapsed before a team drafted a running back last year. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. 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. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. He posted more than 1,900 yards from scrimmage twice, in 2010 and 2013. 10 on the Steelers' all-time rushing list with 3,549 yards. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD . In 1980, Thornton would average five yards-per-carry while carrying the rock 78 times. In the second concussion he encountered, it resulted in Hoge having to be resuscitated when he stopped breathing. 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. From 1974 to 1979, Harris topped the 1,000-yard milestone every season and carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. Harris managed to get 691 rushing yards, with an average of five yards. Time to profile some of the outstanding and popular running backs to suit up for the Steelers. The 32-year-old has been a bit of a journeyman, playing for five different teams this decade. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Winning three Super Bowls helps earn you a spot on this list too. Drafted by the Steelers in 1942 and in his rookie season led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. 1 1. 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. The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. Still, Johnson's All-Pro 2016 season was enough to land him on the list. Some readers are probably going to argue this is too high for Forte. As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one. Landry Jones (2015-2017) Tommy Maddox (2002-2005) Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983) The number of games they started during the season is listed to the right of their name: Season. 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. A bruising Hall of Famer running back, Franco Harris was the perfect embodiment of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during their championship runs in the 1970s. 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. He started alongside Franco Harris in four Super Bowl victories and both backs ran for over 1,000 yards in 1976. 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. Jerome Bettis was a 250-pound battering ram with incredible quickness for a man his size. From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. The stud running back finished with 3,943 yards which lands him seventh on Pittsburghs all-time list. Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. Dudley owns 44 touchdowns to his credit. All rights reserved. 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 mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. MORE: 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings. Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. In nine seasons all as a Steeler, Pollard scored 20 touchdowns. Peterson then signed with the . 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one can only imagine what this list will look like in years down the road. From 2010-13, Johnson rushed for 4,731 yards and 27 touchdowns. Really, he will just be doing what teams like the Steelers did for decades. 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. In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh Steelers player information and depth chart order. 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. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. For his service in the war, Bleier received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . 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. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. 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. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. Feeling he had to listen to his boss, Kiesling had quarterback Jack Scarbath toss the ball which resulted in a touchdown to Goose McClairen. The only exception in madden 22 was a glitched out ray Lewis that was 97 at mlb but 99 at r/lolb. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. 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. Preston Pearson: Pearson wore Rocky Bleiers college number of 26 and was a solid football player who was a member of the Steelers first Super Bowl winning team in 1975 when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 in Super Bowl IX. 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. Ranking the AFC North running backs. Parker never regained his starting job and was released only to make on attempt at staying in the NFL with the Washington Redskins in 2010 where he spent his time on the practice squad before retiring. 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. 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. Adrian Peterson is a running back with over thirteen years in the NFL. He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. 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. 9-Rocky Bleier. Peterson missed all but one game in 2014 because of a child abuse case, but he returned to lead the NFL in rushing during 2015. 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. In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. 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. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. 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. How an 8-year-old inspired Najee Harris' 5-TD performance vs. Ole Miss. 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. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. He finished with 585 yards and scored six touchdowns including a 75-yard run. 3 in NFL history. 1, Pittsburgh didn't have a top-25 running back. But Hoak is probably best remembered for his ever-so-long tenure as the Running Backs coach with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. 22. 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. Others were blocking fullbacks who spent their careers opening holes for star backs. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . The number of games they started during the season is listed to the right of their name: These quarterbacks have the most starts for the Steelers in regular season games. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. Player ratings with position rankings. He lasted just five seasons but they were filled with success. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. Bill Dudley also played with the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins after leaving the Steelers, and finished his career with 3,057 yards rushing, 1,383 yards receiving, punted the ball for a total of 7,304 yards, and on defense intercepted 23 passes. But he stayed. 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 . See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. He'll go down as one of the best power backs in history, and in this decade Lynch has carried the ball 1,791 times for 7,778 yards. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. Some teams also used them as receivers, and fullbacks like Larry Centers made a living catching passes out of the backfield. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. He signed as an undrafted free agent who had run a 4.23-second 40 at the Scouting Combine the previous spring. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have had three coaches, and each has used a different style of offense. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years. Always free! 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. Even putting a left end at right end can cause a drop. The Tigers picked up their sixth commitment for the 2024 recruiting cycle - and their first running back - Wednesday with the public . 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. But during the Super Bowl seasons of 1978 and 1979, Sidney Thornton played a significant role in the Steelers' rushing attack. 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.