In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. 2022 Fantasy Football - Top 10 RBs - Faceoff Sports Network He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. 9-Rocky Bleier. With the Redskins, Cowboys and 49ers, Morris has 5,931 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in the 2010s. Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. steelers running backs last 10 years The Steelers had a reputation of big bruising backs but Parker spelled that philosophy with speed and elusiveness. Today, Johnson is one of the former Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Posted August 12, 2019 By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. 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. To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position. The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. 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 . Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . 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. Gordon averaged a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2018. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Roster | The Football Database In 2011 Jones-Drew led the league with 1,606 rushing yards and 386 touches. The Steelers have always had great defensive playersand that hasn't changedbut the Steelers of today have fallen into the trendy traps of modern offenses with little use for a fullback. He made nine straight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team and finished his career as the leading rusher in team history and No. Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 best running backs in franchise history 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. Only stats for Regular Season Games have been included. Willie Parker: Fast Willie Parker actually lands in third place all-time among Pittsburgh rushers. Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Zero Running Back Strategy . Clemson gets its running back: 'Something very special at Clemson 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. 4. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. The days of Jim Brown or John Riggins getting 40 carries a game are gone. 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 disputed that and said he was 240 pounds as a rookie. From 2010-13, Johnson rushed for 4,731 yards and 27 touchdowns. Since missing the last five games of 2010, Gore has sat out just two games over the last eight years. 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 wasn't too long ago that Freeman was regarded as a top-five back in the league. In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? Even putting a left end at right end can cause a drop. Mapping out the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft: 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. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. Touchdowns. Ibrahim, who . The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. 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. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. A bullet pierced his left thigh in Vietnam and further injuries occurred when a grenade exploded near him putting shrapnel in his lower right leg. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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 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. 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. 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. In both seasons, he made All-Pro. '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. Quite a contrast to kick off this list. 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. Bell made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a Steeler. Murray made the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl that year. 25 Greatest Running Backs in NFL History - AthlonSports.com 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. Power Ranking AFC North Running Backs | Steelers Now Murray is another back who put together three strong seasons during his career and led the league in rushing once. Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times . With the 2019 season, there is still time to influence who lands where among a list of the best running backs of the decade. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. As an undrafted rookie in 2004, Bill Cowher took a chance on the 5-foot-10, 209-pound first-year player and Parker impressed sharing time with The Bus, Jerome Bettis. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. As it is, he has 5,336 rushing yards and nearly 8,000 yards from scrimmage since coming into the league in 2013. Could Steelers solve their LB problem with Trenton Simpson or Drew 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. 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. In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. 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. Steelers 2020 Training Camp Preview: Running Backs - Pro Football Network Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach history 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. But from 2015-16, he posted more than 1,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards from scrimmage and at least 13 touchdowns each season. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. 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. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. 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. The 33rd Team. Tackles. As a Steelers, he was occasionally brilliant but more often disappointing. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years Watt is a fullback who saw a lot of snaps during his time with the Chargers.). 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'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. But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. This decade, Sproles has also led the league in punt return yardage twice. 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. Fullback Franco Harris came to the Steelers in the 1972 draft and made an immediate impact. He's averaged 101.2 rushing yards per game during his career and led the NFL in that category each of the last three years. 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. PITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Tomlin wasn't ready to go there, with all due respect. 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. 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 Is the fullback truly gone, banished into the deep recesses of pro football history? 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. 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. 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 . Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. 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. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. 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. Hunt only played eight games with the Browns last season after serving an eight-game suspension. 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. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. As a punter, he kicked the ball 18 times during his career and averaged 32 yards per punt. All of that, plus the fact Bettis averaged over 1,000 yards per season with the Steelers (10,571) and scored 78 touchdowns, puts him on the All-Modern Era team, and his partner in the backfield is Le'Veon Bell. During recent years, he's become somewhat forgotten in Buffalo, but McCoy has both All-Pro seasons and multiple 1,000-yard campaigns to his credit this decade. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. 'Top 10, he would not get laughs' Thirty-five picks elapsed before a team drafted a running back last year. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . If he had played in those games, Bell is easily in the top five on this list and maybe close to the top. The 23-year-old was on his way to two straight special years to begin his NFL career before the Chiefs cut him following his involvement with a woman in a domestic dispute. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years. Steeler running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, Sidney Thornton and Rashard Mendenhall all helped bring Lombardi Trophies to Pittsburgh. Players were considered based on having careers with the Steelers from 1992 until the present. 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. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. Pittsburgh Steelers player information and depth chart order. 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. 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. Harris managed to get 691 rushing yards, with an average of five yards. Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. Not entirely. 8. In 2015 Williams rejuvenated his career with the Steelers, filling in for the suspended and injured Le'Veon Bell for 10 games. Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Both backs had to run well with the ball and have the skills to block for the other. Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! 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. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. Sidney Thornton: Another stout running back for Pittsburgh was the bullish Thornton who weighed in at 230 pounds during his play days in Pittsburgh from 1977 to 1982. 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. 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. 1 1. In Dick Hoak's 10 years as a Steeler, he only saw two winning seasons. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Stats | NFL.com The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. He led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. The Pittsburgh Steelers Hall-of-Fame running back Franco Harris died Wednesday, just before the 50-year anniversary of his "Immaculate Reception" play. 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. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. 1. He was intensive care for 48 hours and this forced his retirement. NFL combine: How elite draft prospect Bijan Robinson represents league Dudley owns 44 touchdowns to his credit. A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. 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. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. Matte took over for another fantastic white running back, former Heisman Trophy winner and 1958 NFL Championship Game hero Alan Ameche. 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. 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. During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. The move closes the latest chapter of Wentz's career after just one season in Washington. Best: Franco Harris. Ranking every NFL running back drafted in Round 1 since 2000: LaDainian Without further ado, here are the best 25 NFL running backs of this decade: It will be surprising to some that Johnson isn't a little higher on this list. Ranking the Top 10 Steelers running backs of the Mike Tomlin era 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. Rocky Bleier came to the Steelers in 1968. What those teams dont have is a legacy of bullying and dominating opponents, and that is what brought the Steelers six Super Bowl championships. That's Steelers football. 10 potential bargains NFL teams should target in free agency Harris is one of the main reasons the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. 3 in NFL history. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. 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. (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. Instagram Twitter Facebook Snapchat Shop Icon Profile Overlay Avatar Add Airplay Arrow Left Arrow Right Arrow Up Arrow Down Audio Back 5s Back 10s Back 30s Calendar Chart Check Down Left . 6:02; See All. Peterson then signed with the . This was the age of the feature back, when one superstar halfback got most of the carries. In his rookie season, Morris rushed for 836 yards and a 4.2 yards-per-carry average. 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. Insider insists Tom Brady could sign with 49ers in 2023, The 'Most recent first-round NFL quarterbacks' quiz, Seven Cubs pitchers combine for spring no-hitter vs. Padres, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones comments on Tony Pollard rumor, Ben Simmons suffers back injury while rehabilitating, Insider: It's Packers, Jets 'or bust' for Aaron Rodgers, QB Anthony Richardson doesn't understand his 'project' label, Vikings HC reveals 'crazy' thoughts about star WR, XFL player released for giving another team plays from own playbook. If youve followed the Steelers, you've probably heard the term "Steelers Football." Lucrative opportunities to leave. Allain died on February 21, 2023, following a . Franco Harris was the man during The Renaissance, and Jerome Bettis was the man in The Modern Era. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. That couldn't have been further from the truth. For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered a team that dominated with the run. From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. Thornton was also a member of the Super Bowl winning teams for Pittsburgh in 1979 and 1980. 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. Johnson was a bruising fullback who spent time in San Francisco and Detroit before coming to Pittsburgh in 1960. 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. 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 also posted at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage during 2013 and 2014 when the Seahawks went to two Super Bowls. He ranks fourth all-time in franchise history for rushing yards and eighth all-time in receptions. Draft criticism still fuels Steelers' Najee Harris - New York Post Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . 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 . From the time Fran Rogel became the teams starting running back in 1950 until his retirement in 1957, Pittsburghs first play from scrimmage in every game Rogel was in the backfield began with a handoff to the California State Teachers College and Penn State University product with a rush into the middle of the offensive line. Fran Rogel was also a local product having grown up in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. 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. 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. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. He stepped in for a banged-up Willie Parker in 2009 and ran for 1,108 yards and seven touchdowns. 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 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. Steelers running backs - Fantasy Index 12. Who Is The Best Running Back In The NFL Right Now? In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. But during the Super Bowl seasons of 1978 and 1979, Sidney Thornton played a significant role in the Steelers' rushing attack. Hoak retired from pro football in 1970 but stuck around to coach Steelers running backs from 1972 to 2007. They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. 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.
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