He is currently a free agent and the third oldest running back in the NFL, as well as the second oldest active running back. This means two backs in the backfield, usually lined up side by side. More like he will get exposed yet again as being the most overrated running back in the league . Jerome Bettis (1996-2005). The move closes the latest chapter of Wentz's career after just one season in Washington. 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. After a slow start (for a seventh overall draft pick from . The running back fell just short of 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season after finishing with 1,414 yards in his rookie campaign. Ibrahim, who . 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. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. Jerome Bettis was a 250-pound battering ram with incredible quickness for a man his size. After five seasons of never finishing higher than RB34, Williams had a career year in 2022, finishing as the overall RB18. Thornton was also a member of the Super Bowl winning teams for Pittsburgh in 1979 and 1980. Parker ran for 1,200 yards or better in three straight seasons and led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins. Still, Johnson's All-Pro 2016 season was enough to land him on the list. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. 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. 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. 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. . From 1974 to 1979, Harris topped the 1,000-yard milestone every season and carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. 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. In the last 10 years, 10 different backs have led the league in PPR scoring. 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. In 2005, speedy Willie Parker took advantage of paths cleared by Kreider, and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. 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. It's a smaller sample size, but Elliott has also posted 131.2 yards from scrimmage per game in his three seasons. 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. OTHERS TO CONSIDER Starting this list chronologically is as good a way as any. Najee Harris warming to Steelers' running back-by-committee approach. In the end Rocky Bleier rushed for 3,865 yards, 1,294 yards receiving on 136 catches and scored 25 times. 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. 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. 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.. Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. The controversy arose when the ball deflected off of Tatum or Frenchy. The 33rd Team. 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. 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. 9, we . But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. He lasted just five seasons but they were filled with success. 1. A dominant defense and an unstoppable running gamethats Steelers Football. Barry Foster: Unfortunately for Barry Foster, his career was short in the Burgh. 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. 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. His teammate Terry Hanratty, the QB at Notre Dame during that tenure became a Steeler as well. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, injured during his tour of duty and told he would never play football again. It is tough to guess what the future holds for Connor in the NFL. But Hoak is probably best remembered for his ever-so-long tenure as the Running Backs coach with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. In nine seasons all as a Steeler, Pollard scored 20 touchdowns. When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. As a punter, he kicked the ball 18 times during his career and averaged 32 yards per punt. The following is the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time roster, browsable by last name or position. 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. The stud running back finished with 3,943 yards which lands him seventh on Pittsburghs all-time list. All Rights Reserved. Ranking the AFC North running backs. 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 List of Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterbacks, "1933 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1934 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1935 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1936 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1937 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1938 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1939 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1940 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1941 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1942 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1943 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1944 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1945 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1946 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1947 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1948 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1949 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1950 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1951 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1952 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1953 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1954 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1955 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1956 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1957 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1958 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1959 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1960 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1961 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1962 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1963 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1964 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1965 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1966 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1967 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1968 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1969 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1970 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1971 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1972 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1973 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1975 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1976 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1977 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1980 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1981 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1982 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1984 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1985 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1986 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1987 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1988 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1989 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1990 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1991 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1992 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1993 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1994 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1995 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1996 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1997 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1998 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "1999 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2000 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2002 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2005 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2006 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2007 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2008 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2009 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2011 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2013 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2014 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2015 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2017 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2018 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2019 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2021 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", "2022 Pittsburgh Steelers Statistics & Players", Pittsburgh Steelers Franchise Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Pittsburgh_Steelers_starting_quarterbacks&oldid=1132399114, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 18:18. Well, he's worth a lot more now. Sadly, the days of Steelers Football seem to have gone the way of the dropkick. 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. In fact, no back has even finished top-two in consecutive years, and only Adrian Peterson (second in 2009 and 2015; first in 2012) and Le'Veon Bell (first in 2014; second in 2017) have even had more than one top-two year in a decade. As a Steelers, he was occasionally brilliant but more often disappointing. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. Some readers are probably going to argue this is too high for Forte. 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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. He's posted 2,987 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns over the last three years. The Steelers have had some incredibly talented players over the years . In 1966 when the Fighting Irish won the national title, Rocky was a member of that team. At 244 pounds, Morris was a load running behind the offensive line and his numbers backed up his train rushing efforts. What those teams dont have is a legacy of bullying and dominating opponents, and that is what brought the Steelers six Super Bowl championships. And that's with missing the 2016 season because of retirement. In 1944 he led Army to an undefeated record with 12 victories and was named the teams Most Valuable Player. West Virginia's Senate passed a bill Monday that would give $25,000 in tax credits to former residents who move back to the state to work. Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. 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. 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. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. 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. 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 Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bell was a unique back in Steelers history due to both the wide-open offense he played in and his careful, patient running style. 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. Gurley led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and won the Offensive Player of the Year award. Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . He made four Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team as a Steeler and inspired a Pittsburgh Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XLone of the greatest wins in Steelers history. . Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. 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. Steeler running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, Sidney Thornton and Rashard Mendenhall all helped bring Lombardi Trophies to Pittsburgh. 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. He spent his first year in the NFL with the Giants before coming to the Steelers in 1970. It has been said that Rooney responded with the declaration that he would never again attempt to call a play for his team. Meanwhile, Myles Jack's cap hit grows significantly from $4.75 million last year to $11.25 million in 2023. In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. 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 phrase is often proclaimed by an announcer after a Steelers running back plows over a few unlucky defenders. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. But Jackson was still one of the best runners of the 2010s. Former season 27 " Dancing With the Stars " competitor John Schneider has returned to social media following the death of his wife, Alicia Allain. His professional career started in 2007 when he decided to skip the last year of college and enter the NFL Draft. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. 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. 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. 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. In many ways, this style of offense is the polar opposite of the methods the Steelers used to win six Super Bowls. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. 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. All-time Rushing Leader: Franco Harris 2,881 att, 11,950 yds, 91 TD . Draft Henry with absolute confidence this season if you have a top-five pick. 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. 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. Both backs had to run well with the ball and have the skills to block for the other. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. 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. Doctors had told him following the enemy attack that his football days were over. He would eventually become the feature back, but in 2009 he suffered Jack Lamberts injury, turf toe and was replaced by Rashard Mendenhall in the process. Dudley also found himself on kickoff returns where he fielded 11 of those for 298 yards (27.0 average). Looking at an NFL game today, something seems to be missing. 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. In 2012 he was just a mere few yards away from the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards. The only exception in madden 22 was a glitched out ray Lewis that was 97 at mlb but 99 at r/lolb. By 1995, Foster was out of Pittsburgh and out of the NFL, thus ending his short, dramatic, and bizarre pro football career. That's the equivalent of more than two seasons. Some teams also used them as receivers, and fullbacks like Larry Centers made a living catching passes out of the backfield. During the decade, he has posted 9,187 yards five 1,000-yard seasons and 56 touchdowns. The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2020 running back room has the assortments of all the skillsets you could find around the NFL.