Morris peaked as a rookie, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2012. Time to profile some of the outstanding and popular running backs to suit up for the Steelers. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Abercrombie played one more season in 1988 with the cross state Philadelphia Eagles before retiring. He posted more than 1,900 yards from scrimmage twice, in 2010 and 2013. Steelers Record By Season Over Last 10 Years | StatMuse Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Draft History - Pro-Football-Reference.com Fran Rogel was also a local product having grown up in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. The 8 Best And 7 Worst Running Backs In Pittsburgh Steelers History The last Steelers running back taken in the first round before Najee Harris, Mendenhall won a Super Bowl as a rookie despite spending most of the season on injured reserve. Twenty-three slots went by before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Najee Harris in 2021. 12. Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. That lands him in the top five during the decade. It wasn't too long ago that Freeman was regarded as a top-five back in the league. 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. In the following AFC title game against Miami, Pollard was held to just 48 yards rushing. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. 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 . In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. If youve followed the Steelers, you've probably heard the term "Steelers Football." He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. 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. However, from 2010-14 he was the best all-purpose back in the league. Rocky Bleier came to the Steelers in 1968. Rashard Mendenhall only played five seasons with the Steelers but rushed for a respectable 3,549 yards in 57 games. Well, he's worth a lot more now. DeAngelo Williams Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images. He started alongside Franco Harris in four Super Bowl victories and both backs ran for over 1,000 yards in 1976. The stud running back finished with 3,943 yards which lands him seventh on Pittsburghs all-time list. 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. James Conner was thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when halfback LeVeon Bell held out for the entire season. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. The running back ran for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on 307 carries, and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach 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. Pittsburgh Steelers Draft History. Postseason. But there were bright spots, and Walter Abercrombie was one of them. In 1999 the Chiefs cut him and his life spiraled out of control with drug problems and jail time. But he stayed. The 32-year-old has been a bit of a journeyman, playing for five different teams this decade. In addition, he got 52 receiving yards, with an average of 10.4. Despite the occurrences of injury, Hoge ran for 3,115 yards as a Steeler and rushed for 21 touchdowns. It's hard to believe, but the second decade of the 21st century is nearly complete. CHARLESTON, W.Va. . The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. Reports this off-season show he weighed in at 244 pounds from 232 last season. The days of Jim Brown or John Riggins getting 40 carries a game are gone. But twice he rushed for more than 1,400 yards, and as a rookie in 2012 Martin posted 1,926 yards from scrimmage. By his second season as a Steeler, he had become the heir apparent to Jerome Bettis. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. steelers running backs last 10 years Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Profiles: Running Backs - City of Champions ALL-MODERN ERA: Running backs - Pittsburgh Steelers To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position. Do you have a sports website? 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. 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. Jerome Bettis was a 250-pound battering ram with incredible quickness for a man his size. 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. 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. Bettis will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2015 in August, and the accomplishments to be praised that day are only part of why he was the man during his 10 seasons with the Steelers. The quick-footed big guy ran over, through and around defenders for nine years with the Steelers. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. He'll likely end up with a good chunk of dough in free agency, but it's hard to believe . This decade, Sproles has also led the league in punt return yardage twice. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments!For Business Inquiries: insid. Until recently, the fullback was an important player in the Steelers' offense. 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. In three of his four NFL seasons, Gurley has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and at least 10 touchdowns. They will be joined by this year's selection, making six for the 2022 season. In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. Mendenhall is currently No. Let's take a look back at the rest of the Steelers picks since the 2000 season. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. Franco Harris arrives during the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. 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. 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. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. If Lions general manager Brad Holmes follows that plan exactly, Minnesota Golden Gophers' Mohamed Ibrahim would be a great late-round running back prospect for Detroit to target. Switched Tyler Lockett the Running Back and it Jacked Him to 99 overall For his service in the war, Bleier received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. 3 in NFL history. Los Angeles' running backs are in a bit of a limbo right . Included are player stats for the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1945-2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) from 1940-1942 and the Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) from 1933-1939. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. 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 both seasons, he made All-Pro. Doctors had told him following the enemy attack that his football days were over. [5] Through 2021, eight Steeler first-round picks have gone on to have playing careers deemed worthy of enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Bill Dudley, Len Dawson, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Rod Woodson, Troy Polamalu, and Alan . Le'veon Bell also earned a reputation as one of the most patient RBs 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. 22. 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. In later years Bleier helped pen a book about himself and a movie was made about his story titled Fighting Back.. The 30-year-old has failed to rush for 500 yards in four of his seven seasons in the NFL. | The Steelers have had several players enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being a part of the Pittsburghs ground game for most of or all of their entire careers. Visit ESPN to view the Pittsburgh Steelers team depth chart for the current season Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Draft criticism still fuels Steelers' Najee Harris - New York Post He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is . The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . He led the Steelers in rushing in 1965, 1968, and 1969. DWTS Alum Shares Heartbreaking Posts Following Wife's Death His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. Bill Dudley: Bullet Bill was his nickname and a great running back he was. 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. He made nine straight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team and finished his career as the leading rusher in team history and No. Of course, we all know why. Sowhos the greatest tight end in Pittsburgh Steelers history? The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. Overall, he ran for 4,731 yards and 28 touchdowns playing for the Rams, Falcons and Patriots from 2010-15. Even putting a left end at right end can cause a drop. Myles Jack 61 Minkah Fitzpatrick . This means two backs in the backfield, usually lined up side by side. 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. Clemson running backs coach CJ Spiller got his man. 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. Unfortunately for Johnson, his 2,000-yard season came in 2009, so it just missed the cut for counting on this list. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years Teams run RPOs, or run-pass option plays, where the quarterback decides after the snap whether he will hand the ball off or throw a pass. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great tight ends throughout the franchises history. The role of the fullback changed dramatically when the I-formation came into vogue in the 1980s. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Every Steelers First-Round Draft Pick Since 2000 The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. Top-15 NFL Seasons by Running Backs in the 2010s Frank Pollard: In the mid-1980s, a stout Frank Pollard became the Steelers primary running back. NICK CHUBB, CLEVELAND BROWNS. Just look back to last year when he was able to make cuts and find holes. Harris was a part of four championship team and would be named to the Pro Bowl nine times. Pittsburgh Steelers Career Rushing Leaders | The Football Database
