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. 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. There have been some running backs in Steelers history who had one or two good seasons in Pittsburgh, then went on their way. He also was a punt returner, bringing back 20 punts with a 14.0 average per return. 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. In an era that de-emphasizes the workhorse back, McCoy has nearly amassed 10,000 rushing yards and more than 13,000 yards from scrimmage this decade. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 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. If youve followed the Steelers, you've probably heard the term "Steelers Football." Harris was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Murray is another back who put together three strong seasons during his career and led the league in rushing once. 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. 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 led the Steelers in rushing from 1961 to 1964 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 1962 to '64. But Jackson was still one of the best runners of the 2010s. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. But it was his story of injury during the war that gave him notoriety at the start of his career. Player ratings with position rankings. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. 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. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. 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. Still, Johnson's All-Pro 2016 season was enough to land him on the list. 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. 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. Today, with the explosion of the passing game, a star running back is a helpful asset but no longer a requirement. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. Adrian Peterson is a running back with over thirteen years in the NFL. The role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. All Rights Reserved. In 2011 Jones-Drew led the league with 1,606 rushing yards and 386 touches. 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. Dudley also scored on a lateraled pass and has kicked point-after-touchdowns as well as making successful field goals. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Bell was a unique back in Steelers history due to both the wide-open offense he played in and his careful, patient running style. Vote below for who you think is the best Pittsburgh Steelers tight end of all time, then head over and check out the top Pittsburgh Steelers players ever. He lasted just five seasons but they were filled with success. Harris was a part of four championship team and would be named to the Pro Bowl nine times. 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. 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. Really, he will just be doing what teams like the Steelers did for decades. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. He is more famously known for his post-retirement with ESPN as an analyst which he has excelled at and has become one of that networks finest announcers. Since there are only 11 players on offense, the running backs have to be able to function as a unit, and Le'Veon Bell could play halfback to Bettis' fullback. Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports. 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. 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. Jerome Bettis (1996-2005). Fran Rogel was also a local product having grown up in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. The speedy running backs, the classic old power running back, and the mixed, well-rounded, good running back. It's hard to believe, but the second decade of the 21st century is nearly complete. 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. In 2012, he made the All-Pro team with 1,590 rushing yards and 1,786 yards from scrimmage. 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. Amos Zereoue: Another fan favorite was West Virginia University product, Famous Amos Zereoue. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . 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. Dave Holcomb began working as a sports writer in 2013 after graduating from Syracuse University. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. Barry Foster: Unfortunately for Barry Foster, his career was short in the Burgh. 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. Nick Chubb finished first the AFC North in 2021 with 1,259 rushing yards, despite finishing third with 228 carries. 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. Yes, that was his average. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. '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. A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL. Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. 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. As it is, he has 5,336 rushing yards and nearly 8,000 yards from scrimmage since coming into the league in 2013. He posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons in each of the first three years of the decade. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. He was also an excellent receiver, both out of the backfield and split out as a wide receiver. He's rushed for only 2,599 yards this decade, but everyone knows he's far more than just a running back. 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. In the end Rocky Bleier rushed for 3,865 yards, 1,294 yards receiving on 136 catches and scored 25 times. In addition, he got 52 receiving yards, with an average of 10.4. Anderson was traded mid-season in 1986; he played four games for the Cardinals and eight for the Giants. 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. 'Top 10, he would not get laughs' Thirty-five picks elapsed before a team drafted a running back last year. The power running back is a dying breed in football. 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. 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 first requirement is an intimidating defense that dominates opponents and makes it tough for them to put points on the board. 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. He will be called an innovator or maybe even a genius when his team wins a Super Bowl by smashing its way through flimsy NFL defenses that are designed to stop passing attacks. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. Seasons: 90 (1933 to 2022) Record (W-L-T): 666-585-23 Playoff Record: 36-27 Super Bowls Won: 6 (8 Appearances) Championships Won *: 6 . Pittsburgh Steelers Stats: The official source for Pittsburgh Steelers game statistics . Do you have a blog? In nine seasons all as a Steeler, Pollard scored 20 touchdowns. His 6-foot-2, 230 pound frame made it virtually impossible for one defender to take him down. Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. 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 All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players - 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. He is currently the third leading rusher in Steelers history. He posted more than 1,900 yards from scrimmage twice, in 2010 and 2013. Peterson then signed with the . OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. Pollard played most of his career at a time when the Steelers struggled. The stud running back finished with 3,943 yards which lands him seventh on Pittsburghs all-time list. does st martin parish have school tomorrow. Parker ran for 1,200 yards or better in three straight seasons and led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. Until recently, the fullback was an important player in the Steelers' offense. Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. The 30-year-old has failed to rush for 500 yards in four of his seven seasons in the NFL. 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. Jerome Bettis is the latest Steelers running back to become a member in Canton, Ohio. 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 . Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . 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. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. James Conner was thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when halfback LeVeon Bell held out for the entire season. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. He made nine straight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team and finished his career as the leading rusher in team history and No. (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. Pittsburgh Steelers player information and depth chart order. 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. Le'Veon Bell was one of the best Steelers running backs of all time. 1, Pittsburgh didn't have a top-25 running back. They will be joined by this year's selection, making six for the 2022 season. The only exception in madden 22 was a glitched out ray Lewis that was 97 at mlb but 99 at r/lolb. By, Tom Rothenberg/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 4M; . This was the age of the feature back, when one superstar halfback got most of the carries. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. But from 2015-16, he posted more than 1,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards from scrimmage and at least 13 touchdowns each season. Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. 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. 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 couldn't have been further from the truth. 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. Quite a contrast to kick off this list. Ibrahim, who . Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. Bleier was injured during his tour of duty and told he would never play football again, but he returned to the Steelers and fought his way back into football shape, eventually playing 10 more seasons in the NFL. 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. Sadly, the days of Steelers Football seem to have gone the way of the dropkick. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. TODAY: Running backs. Unfortunately for Johnson, his 2,000-yard season came in 2009, so it just missed the cut for counting on this list. If I were to ask you to name the sixth-leading rusher in Steelers history, I bet youd say a lot of names before you got to Frank Pollard. Matte took over for another fantastic white running back, former Heisman Trophy winner and 1958 NFL Championship Game hero Alan Ameche. Before Franco Harris, there was John Frenchy Fuqua. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. Players were considered based on having careers with the Steelers from 1992 until the present. Best: Franco Harris. All Rights Reserved. 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 . All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points He would retire with 3,965 yards on the ground, second best in history for the Steelers at that time. 1 1. The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. 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. Morris signed with Baltimore Ravens where he lasted just two seasons before the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs took a chance on him in 1998. With the Bears and Jets, Forte posted 7,629 rushing yards and 11,353 yards from scrimmage from 2010-17. Sowhos the greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history? Mendenhall is currently No. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. 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. John Fuqua: How could any Steelers fan in the Nation of Black and Gold not smile when speaking of John Frenchy Fuqua. As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one. Hunt only played eight games with the Browns last season after serving an eight-game suspension. During the 2021 offseason, Pittsburgh declined to re-sign Conner, making him a free agent and creating an opportunity for the Arizona Cardinals to scoop him up. 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. While Gore has never led the league in rushing or made All-Pro, his consistency lands him at No. Injuries hurt Foster later in his career, but he did record 1,246 rushing yards in 2014. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. Others were blocking fullbacks who spent their careers opening holes for star backs. The real results of who touched it first is still undetermined to this day. The move closes the latest chapter of Wentz's career after just one season in Washington. Fuqua to this day refuses to give his take on what actually took place. As a punter, he kicked the ball 18 times during his career and averaged 32 yards per punt. 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. His best season was in 1985 when he rushed for 991 yards. By 1995, Foster was out of Pittsburgh and out of the NFL, thus ending his short, dramatic, and bizarre pro football career. His 4.3 yards-per-carry average for his career is second only to John Henry Johnsons 4.4 and ties him with Wille Parker among Pittsburghs top ten rushers in history for yardage. The running back ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 307 carries, and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. Bam Morris: Morris story is a sad, tragic, and unfulfilled one. 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. 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. He holds the team record for most rushing yards in a career (11,950) as well as most rushing touchdowns (91) and total touchdowns (100). Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. Posted August 12, 2019 He returned to put . 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. 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. In 79 games with the Steelers, he carried the ball for 3,343 yards and 22 touchdowns. 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. 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. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . 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. Thornton was also a member of the Super Bowl winning teams for Pittsburgh in 1979 and 1980. 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. Not entirely. Read on to find out why. 9-Rocky Bleier. When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. 11 because of four straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin the decade. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain.