2022.08.24 WednesdayRocky 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. But twice he rushed for more than 1,400 yards, and as a rookie in 2012 Martin posted 1,926 yards from scrimmage. Top-15 NFL Seasons by Running Backs in the 2010s List of Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterbacks - Wikipedia CHARLESTON, W.Va. . The Greatest Running Backs In The NFL Right Now (2021) He led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. Steeler running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, Sidney Thornton and Rashard Mendenhall all helped bring Lombardi Trophies to Pittsburgh. 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. Franco Harris arrives during the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. r/steelers on Reddit: Najee Harris will have a 100yd game against the Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 best running backs in franchise history Morris peaked as a rookie, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012. He posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons in each of the first three years of the decade. 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. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12. In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. Jerome Bettis was a 250-pound battering ram with incredible quickness for a man his size. Abercrombie played one more season in 1988 with the cross state Philadelphia Eagles before retiring. Every Tight End In Pittsburgh Steelers History, Ranked By Fans See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. At the time of the second injury, he was no longer with the Steelers but playing for the Chicago Bears and sued that teams doctor resulting in a $1.55 million judgment in favor of Hoge. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach understands the symmetry between Saturday night's 13-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and a playoff victory over the same franchise 50 years ago, the one that ended with Steelers running back Franco Harris snagging a deflected . Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. Myles Jack 61 Minkah Fitzpatrick . 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 . Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four 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. The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. 2. Regular season. Today's NFL teams do not use fullbacks as often as they once did, instead favoring spread offenses and dynamic passing attacks featuring three or more wide receivers and multiple tight ends. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . Late-Round Running Back Lions Should Target in 2023 NFL Draft name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. He had the highest usage rate among running backs at 35.8% and was third in red-zone touches with 61. 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. Some readers are probably going to argue this is too high for Forte. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Draft History - Pro-Football-Reference.com In 2011 and 2013, he made All-Pro, and in 2013 he posted 2,146 yards from scrimmage. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. He seemed to violate every rule young players are taught about playing running back, yet he thrived. Parker ran for 1,200 yards or better in three straight seasons and led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins. Steelers 2020 Training Camp Preview: Running Backs - Pro Football Network But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? He signed as an undrafted free agent who had run a 4.23-second 40 at the Scouting Combine the previous spring. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. Those three men will be bypassed for this article despite Johnson ranking third in the all-time rushing yardage for the Black and Gold. Lucrative opportunities to leave. (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. 4. While those numbers may not seem impressive by todays standards, they were good enough to earn Tracy Pro Bowl appearances with the Steelers in 1958 and 1960. Meanwhile, at No. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. Year Top Defense. 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. He's been named All-Pro and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns during each of the last two years too. Pittsburgh Steelers Stats: The official source for Pittsburgh Steelers game statistics . 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. He finished with 585 yards and scored six touchdowns including a 75-yard run. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years. One return went to the house. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Still, Bleier became a starter in the backfield with Harris and shined. Still young at 38 years of age, Zereoue stays in shape these days by playing soccer for a New York amateur club called the Central Park Rangers FC. Steelers honor Franco Harris by rallying past Raiders 13-10 2023 NFL free agent running backs: Ranking top 10 seeking new deals Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. BARRY FOSTER set a Steelers single-season record with 1,690 rushing yards in 1992, and he got there with a 4.3 average while scoring 11 of the offense's 28 touchdowns. 2022 Fantasy Football - Top 10 RBs - Faceoff Sports Network 1. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . 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 . 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. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is the only player with over 17,000 regular season rushing yards. Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. The role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. Rashard Mendenhall: Like Barry Foster before him, Rashard Mendenhall was done with professional football by the age of 26. 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. Player ratings with position rankings. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . 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. But since then he has a pair of 1,000-yard rushing years and 4,545 yards on the ground in five years. Clemson running backs coach CJ Spiller got his man. Winning three Super Bowls helps earn you a spot on this list too. Harris was a part of four championship team and would be named to the Pro Bowl nine times. He ran for over 1,000 yards in his first season and scored 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He sill holds the single season record for rushing for Pittsburgh with 1,690 yards gained in 1992. That's Steelers football. Daily Fantasy Football Week 16: Predicting DraftKings Top Performers All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD . Anderson was traded mid-season in 1986; he played four games for the Cardinals and eight for the Giants. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. 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. Photos from the career of former Steelers running back and Hall of Fame finalist Jerome Bettis. does st martin parish have school tomorrow. Last season he rushed for only 885 yards, but that came in 12 games. 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. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of smash-mouth football dating back to before they ever won their first Super Bowl. 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 . 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. During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. 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. Charles also ran for 1,509 yards in 2012 and 1,033 yards in 2014. Overall, he ran for 4,731 yards and 28 touchdowns playing for the Rams, Falcons and Patriots from 2010-15. He ran for 5,378 yards while playing at Heinz Field. 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. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 2022 AFC North Standings. 16 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs of All Time Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. 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. In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. 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. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . The on-field portion of the NFL Combine begins on Thursday, marking the start of the testing circuit that propels some prospects into the stratosphere while ruining the stock of others. 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. 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. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. He made another Pro Bowl in 1993 but only rushed for half as many yards due to injuries. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. Sproles has nearly as many receptions (460) as carries (516) since 2010, and he has 3,936 receiving yards. 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. Steelers Great Franco Harris, In One Of His Last Interviews, Recalled Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. 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 . Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. The only exception in madden 22 was a glitched out ray Lewis that was 97 at mlb but 99 at r/lolb. In three of his four NFL seasons, Gurley has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. Reportedly, a local sportswriter told Rooney that Kiesling purposely made his lineman jump offsides so they could run their bread-and-butter Rogel running play first. Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Player Roster | NFL.com It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. Top 10 All Time Steelers Running Backs - Pittsburgh Sporting News The team has selected second overall once, and third overall four times. 1. NFL Top 10 Best Running Backs of the 2010s - #8 Arian Foster. The running back ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 307 carries, and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. While Gore has never led the league in rushing or made All-Pro, his consistency lands him at No. 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. 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. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. All Rights Reserved. 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. Quite a contrast to kick off this list. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. 10 on the Steelers' all-time rushing list with 3,549 yards. He made nine straight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team and finished his career as the leading rusher in team history and No. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. Ranking every NFL running back drafted in Round 1 since 2000: LaDainian 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. Matte took over for another fantastic white running back, former Heisman Trophy winner and 1958 NFL Championship Game hero Alan Ameche. 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. Williams had his first 1,000-yard season and averaged 13.3 ppg. Twenty-three slots went by before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Najee Harris in 2021. Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. The Tigers picked up their sixth commitment for the 2024 recruiting cycle - and their first running back - Wednesday with the public . He started alongside Franco Harris in four Super Bowl victories and both backs ran for over 1,000 yards in 1976. 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. Of course, we all know why. 1 1. 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. 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. All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD . Not entirely. In 1979, he started 10 games in place of Bleier and ran for 585 yards and six touchdowns. Join our linker program. He spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. Harris is one of the main reasons the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years Murray rushed for 7,174 yards and 49 touchdowns with the Cowboys, Eagles and Titans in the 2010s. 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. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. Najee Harris warming to Steelers' running back-by-committee approach. MORE: 2023 Dynasty Rookie Rankings. Barkley reminded the NFL world this past season that he's one of the best running backs in the league by rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. 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. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. With the Bears and Jets, Forte posted 7,629 rushing yards and 11,353 yards from scrimmage from 2010-17. 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. Gordon averaged a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2018. 2. As a rookie, on a terrible offense, he finished as a top 24 running back in 93% of his games last year. 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. Peterson then signed with the . The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. With teams shifting more to the passing game, these old-school running backs are becoming obsolete. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. Eight players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. Allain died on February 21, 2023, following a . Wanting the jersey number 26 which he wore at Notre Dame, Preston Pearson held those digits so Rocky settled for No. Draft criticism still fuels Steelers' Najee Harris - New York Post Still, Johnson's All-Pro 2016 season was enough to land him on the list. Dudley also scored on a lateraled pass and has kicked point-after-touchdowns as well as making successful field goals. 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. To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position. 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. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2016, the last of which with the Titans. 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. Only stats for Regular Season Games have been included. The 33rd Team. He finished his career in Pittsburgh with 3,115 rushing yards, 241 receptions, and 34 total touchdowns. . That couldn't have been further from the truth. As a Steelers, he was occasionally brilliant but more often disappointing. During his career, he's averaged 128.9 yards from scrimmage per game. The last two seasons, with now-departed James Conner the No. James Conner is at the forefront . He also posted at least 1,500 yards from scrimmage during 2013 and 2014 when the Seahawks went to two Super Bowls. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. In the previous nine years, however, the Steelers had a top-15 player seven times. 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. In just a three-year period, from 2010-12, he posted 5,702 yards from scrimmage and 47 touchdowns. 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. 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. In 2012, the Steelers found themselves with JONATHAN DWYER as their leading rusher, which is what led to the spending of a second-round pick in the following draft on Le'Veon Bell. 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 from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. Le'veon Bell also earned a reputation as one of the most patient RBs in the NFL. Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the city of Pittsburgh? Harris disputed that and said he was 240 pounds as a rookie. February 27, 2023 3 min Watch. 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. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . 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. Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered a team that dominated with the run. The first requirement is an intimidating defense that dominates opponents and makes it tough for them to put points on the board. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. Williams recorded at least 730 rushing yards in a season four times during the 2010s, and he ended the decade with 4,246 rushing yards. For his service in the war, Bleier received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Both backs had to run well with the ball and have the skills to block for the other. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Steelers will win 5 games this year, Canada will be fired, and Tomlin will "resign." . 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. First running back gets drafted in the seventh round. Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. By the time the fourth quarter rolls around, it is easy to see why opposing defenses would wish they were somewhere else. Do you have a blog? 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 . Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. Power Ranking AFC North Running Backs | Steelers Now He is currently the third leading rusher in Steelers history. Pollard played most of his career at a time when the Steelers struggled. However, it's not too early to break down the best from the 2010s either. The Steelers had a reputation of big bruising backs but Parker spelled that philosophy with speed and elusiveness. 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. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. Rocky Bleier came to the Steelers in 1968. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. 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. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchise's history. TODAY: Running backs. 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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited.
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