Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. He made another Pro Bowl in 1993 but only rushed for half as many yards due to injuries. More like he will get exposed yet again as being the most overrated running back in the league . In 2012 he was just a mere few yards away from the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Only stats for Regular Season Games have been included. He posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons in each of the first three years of the decade. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. One return went to the house. Advertisement In some form or fashion, the Steelers will need to add quality depth to . In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Drafted by the Steelers in 1942 and in his rookie season led the NFL in rushing with 696 yards. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of smash-mouth football dating back to before they ever won their first Super Bowl. Touchdowns. 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. Williams led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 17. He was an example of how great players can not only break the rules and succeed, but sometimes even make up their own rules. 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. 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. In 27 games Hunt has 2,151 rushing yards, 2,984 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns. All Rights Reserved. Charles may have to wait awhile to get into the Hall of Fame because despite an 11-year career, his prime was rather short. 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. Draft Henry with absolute confidence this season if you have a top-five pick. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. Weve reviewed the most popular quarterbacks to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but among those signal callers, who are some of the players they were handing the ball off to when not throwing the rock? Join our linker program. Rob Burns / AP Photo. That's the equivalent of more than two seasons. 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. During this decade, he earned two Pro Bowl nominations and an All-Pro bid. Peterson then signed with the . [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 . 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 . But during the Super Bowl seasons of 1978 and 1979, Sidney Thornton played a significant role in the Steelers' rushing attack. Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. 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. In both seasons, he made All-Pro. Gordon averaged a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2018. Anderson was traded mid-season in 1986; he played four games for the Cardinals and eight for the Giants. 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. DeAngelo Williams Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images. All Rights Reserved. Tackles. Clemson running backs coach CJ Spiller got his man. Still, I think he is deserving of the number 16 spot on this list of all-time great Steelers backs. The quick-footed big guy ran over, through and around defenders for nine years with the Steelers. 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. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. 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. Do you have a sports website? In just a three-year period, from 2010-12, he posted 5,702 yards from scrimmage and 47 touchdowns. His entire career was with the Steelers and he would finish those six seasons with 1,512 yards and 18 touchdowns. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. If youve followed the Steelers, you've probably heard the term "Steelers Football." 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. 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. A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. 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. Is the fullback truly gone, banished into the deep recesses of pro football history? 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's another back who never led the league in rushing and never made All-Pro. In '94, he ran for 851 yards despite missing five games. Dudley could do it all on the field as he was just not a back but a defensive back, punter, and place kicker. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. 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. Not entirely. 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. From '61 to '64, he was part of a powerful rushing attack along with Hall of Famer John Henry Johnson. Bell made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a Steeler. The phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . Sutton not only enjoyed the best year of his career, but he also arguably played like a top-10 cornerback. In Pittsburgh, he was everything but. He finished his career in Pittsburgh with 3,115 rushing yards, 241 receptions, and 34 total touchdowns. Who the heck is this guy, we all wondered aloud, but in much more colorful language. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . Today we ranked the Pittsburgh Steeler Running Backs throughout their franchise! 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. Read on to find out why. 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. But he still turned in two more 1,000-yard seasons and recorded at least 800 yards from scrimmage in four seasons this decade. 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. Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. Ranking the AFC North running backs. See the full player roster for the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have had three coaches, and each has used a different style of offense. Until recently, the fullback was an important player in the Steelers' offense. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Maybe I am just nostalgic for the days when Steelers backs carried the ball 30 times and took total control over a game by the fourth quarter. The controversy arose when the ball deflected off of Tatum or Frenchy. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. All-time Scoring Leader: Gary Anderson 1,343 points 6:02; See All. 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 . 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. Beast Mode's freakish combination of power and finesse was unlike any running back that came before him. The Tigers picked up their sixth commitment for the 2024 recruiting cycle - and their first running back - Wednesday with the public . Regular season. All rights reserved. Parker ran for 1,200 yards or better in three straight seasons and led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins. 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. Running backs are not the commodities they once were. 2022 AFC North Standings. In 2015 he finished second in the league in rushing and earned a spot on the All-Pro Team. He would play six seasons in Three Rivers Stadium when the Steelers were home and finish with 3,343 yards rushing. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. The following is another in a series that picks a Steelers All-Modern Era Team. Chubb is not the most dangerous or highly . Conner responded with a Pro Bowl performance and gave Steeler Nation hope that hed become the next great Pittsburgh running back. 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. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players - 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. Hoak retired from pro football in 1970 but stuck around to coach Steelers running backs from 1972 to 2007. 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. Still, Johnson's All-Pro 2016 season was enough to land him on the list. The power running back is a dying breed in football. He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . Year Top Defense. Other teams (like the Steelers) have one but rarely use him. The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. (Note: The Steelers signed Derek Watt during the 2020 offseason and released Nix, who signed with Indianapolis. By 1974, Bleier was weighing in at 212 pounds and he made the team to stay. 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 Career Rushing Leaders. 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. 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. That meant Bell joined Marshall Faulk as the only players in NFL history with 1,350-plus yards rushing and 850-plus yards receiving in the same season. 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. It is unfortunate, and I would guess I am not alone in wishing the Steelers would return to their roots and play power football again. Gurley has rushed for 4,547 rushing yards and recorded 6,430 yards from scrimmage with 56 touchdowns. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. 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. During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. 9-Rocky Bleier. Franco Harris gets most of the credit for that infamous incident, but Terry Bradshaws passing attempt on that play was originally intended for Fuqua who was decleated by Jack Tatum. 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. Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. 2. In 1982, he was Pittsburghs first overall pick in the draft coming in at number 12. Posted August 12, 2019 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. By Ross Kelly and Tony Adame, updated on October 18, 2022. 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). Today he is 68 and still colorful. 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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. 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. 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. Still, Bleier became a starter in the backfield with Harris and shined. He returned to put . Picking Le'Veon Bell here might be one of those choices that spurs debate among fans, but it comes down to the belief he's going to become the Steelers' version of Marshall Faulk. 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. Pittsburgh Steelers player information and depth chart order.