2023 NFL free agent running backs: Ranking top 10 seeking new deals 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? Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Everything in the NFL goes in cycles. Hopefully the Christmas edition of DraftKings top performers and busts finds you warm among family and friends as we unwrap the matchups in daily fantasy football for Week 16.The difficulty and uneasiness of lineup construction is increasing as more and more players we havent heard of become viable DFS starters in 2015s closing act.Use the list below to fill your roster with glad tidings while . W. Va. bill would give tax credits to ex-residents to move back Sidney Thornton: Another stout running back for Pittsburgh was the bullish Thornton who weighed in at 230 pounds during his play days in Pittsburgh from 1977 to 1982. Hoak made a Pro Bowl in 1968 and is currently ranked seventh in Steelers' history for all-time rushing yards with 3,965. 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. It has been said that Rooney responded with the declaration that he would never again attempt to call a play for his team. We present them here for purely educational purposes. But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. Mapping out the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft: but every NFL team has talented players. Emmitt Smith leads with 18,365 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . Foster timed his career perfectly for this list, breaking out with 1,616 yards, leading the league in rushing, in 2010. Players active with the Pittsburgh . Fuqua led the Steelers in rushing in 1970 and 1971 and totaled 2,942 yards on the ground during his time in Pittsburgh. 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. The move closes the latest chapter of Wentz's career after just one season in Washington. Of course we are talking about the Immaculate Reception. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. 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. 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. Mendenhall provided the following reason for retiring so young: Football was pretty cool, but I dont want to play anymore. The following is the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time roster, browsable by last name or position. Before Franco Harris, there was John Frenchy Fuqua. 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. 7. 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. Rocky Bleier came to the Steelers in 1968. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in offensive schemes , one can only imagine what this list will look like in years down the road. Dudley also found himself on kickoff returns where he fielded 11 of those for 298 yards (27.0 average). (Fullback Roosevelt Nix spent most of 2019 injured and did not appear to have a viable replacement.) 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. 16 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs of All Time Unfortunately, injuries have slowed him over the last couple of years and prevented him from running for more than 865 yards in a season. Best: Franco Harris. The next ingredient is a tough, hard-nosed rushing attack that controls the ball and methodically plows through opposing defenses. And that's with missing the 2016 season because of retirement. After five seasons of never finishing higher than RB34, Williams had a career year in 2022, finishing as the overall RB18. These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 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. His 6-foot-2, 230 pound frame made it virtually impossible for one defender to take him down. 2. Only stats for Regular Season Games have been included. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Near the end of an uneventful rookie season, he was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Since missing the last five games of 2010, Gore has sat out just two games over the last eight years. March 1, 2023 2:19 pm PT. 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. Steelers running back James Conner (30) runs for a short gain past Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (26) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. 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. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Barry Foster first came to the attention of Steeler Nation in 1990 when he treated a kickoff as a punt, stood aside, and watched the ball bounce along the ground until the opposing team recovered it. Daily Fantasy Football Week 16: Predicting DraftKings Top Performers But Jackson was still one of the best runners of the 2010s. Hunt only played eight games with the Browns last season after serving an eight-game suspension. Is the fullback truly gone, banished into the deep recesses of pro football history? Top 10 All Time Steelers Running Backs - Pittsburgh Sporting News 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. Mendenhall spent five seasons in Pittsburgh and was a member of two Super Bowl teams. The power running back is a dying breed in football. 1 1. It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. With the Redskins, Cowboys and 49ers, Morris has 5,931 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in the 2010s. Players were considered based on having careers with the Steelers from 1992 until the present. Preston Pearson: Pearson wore Rocky Bleiers college number of 26 and was a solid football player who was a member of the Steelers first Super Bowl winning team in 1975 when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 in Super Bowl IX. The former Heisman Trophy winner is another example of a highly regarded college back getting off to a slow start in the NFL. 12. . 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. For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. In 2012 he was just a mere few yards away from the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards. 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. 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. He spent much of 2019 injured, and team injuries across the board made it difficult to judge his performance fairly. Bleier was an outstanding lead blocker as well as being able to run the ball well and also had solid hands as a receiver. Last year's offensive rookie of the year award winner, Barkley was close to perfect for fantasy owners. There have been some running backs in Steelers history who had one or two good seasons in Pittsburgh, then went on their way. This list of past Steelers tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars. Power Ranking AFC North Running Backs | Steelers Now Barkley was a huge reason why the Giants returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. Starters per season [ edit] These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Pittsburgh Steelers . Steelers all-time 53-man roster: '70s legends, 'Killer Bs' headline 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 . Overall contributions to the Steelers franchise. Parker was perhaps the fastest running back ever to play for the Steelers. After a slow start (for a seventh overall draft pick from . Pittsburgh Steelers - Pro-Football-Reference.com He ranks 23rd all-time among Pittsburgh rushers having gained 1,504 yards as a Steeler. The 33rd Team. Fuqua to this day refuses to give his take on what actually took place. Some teams also used them as receivers, and fullbacks like Larry Centers made a living catching passes out of the backfield. As an undrafted rookie in 2004, Bill Cowher took a chance on the 5-foot-10, 209-pound first-year player and Parker impressed sharing time with The Bus, Jerome Bettis. 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Fuqua would have to be the most colorful player in Steelers history as well as the most controversial. Ingram's best season came in 2017 when he posted 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. 20 and retired with that number despite the departure of Pearson to Dallas. Overall, he ran for 4,731 yards and 28 touchdowns playing for the Rams, Falcons and Patriots from 2010-15. In the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. With the Bears and Jets, Forte posted 7,629 rushing yards and 11,353 yards from scrimmage from 2010-17. Steelers GM confirms extension negotiations with key defender have started During that year, Peterson won league MVP the last running back to do so. 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. He made the Pro Bowl three times, from 2014-16. 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. Najee Harris Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Christian McCaffrey (2019) This past season, McCaffrey became the third running back in NFL history to generate over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. DWTS Alum Shares Heartbreaking Posts Following Wife's Death Others were blocking fullbacks who spent their careers opening holes for star backs. 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. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Top 12 Fantasy Running Backs: Hall of Fame Week Edition Hoak retired from pro football in 1970 but stuck around to coach Steelers running backs from 1972 to 2007. He ranks fourth all-time in franchise history for rushing yards and eighth all-time in receptions. Walter Abercrombie: To this day, Abercrombie is Baylor Universitys all-time leading rusher with 3,674 yards while scoring 22 touchdowns. Frank Pollard: In the mid-1980s, a stout Frank Pollard became the Steelers primary running back. Fuqua led the . Really, he will just be doing what teams like the Steelers did for decades. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award after running for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX. It's Le'Veon Bell because there is thought given to picking players who could function as a unit if the position require that. Pittsburgh Steelers Career Rushing Leaders | The Football Database Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Pro Football Reference Database. The top photos of RB Le'Veon Bell throughout 2014 season. Fuqua was not an original Steelers having been drafted by the New York Giants and then traded to Pittsburgh. 1. Here's the final tally of Steelers Now's consensus preseason 2022 power rankings of AFC North running backs. 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. From 2010-13, Johnson rushed for 4,731 yards and 27 touchdowns. Today he is 68 and still colorful. Ranking every player on the Steelers free agency board Overall, Foster registered 6,270 rushing yards and 8,523 yards from scrimmage playing for the Texans and Dolphins from 2010-16. Jerome Bettis (1996-2005). The quick-footed big guy ran over, through and around defenders for nine years with the Steelers. 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 . When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. He led the Steelers in rushing in 1965, 1968, and 1969. The 8 Best And 7 Worst Running Backs In Pittsburgh Steelers History Visit ESPN to view the Pittsburgh Steelers team depth chart for the current season Jerome Bettis is the latest Steelers running back to become a member in Canton, Ohio. 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. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. 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. The Greatest Running Backs In The NFL Right Now (2021) 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. 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. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. Running Back Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap If youve followed the Steelers, you've probably heard the term "Steelers Football." To prepare, we at Chargers Wire are previewing players from every position. They got a lot of carries in an era when both the fullback and halfback needed to contribute to the running game. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . Both backs had to run well with the ball and have the skills to block for the other. 1, Pittsburgh didn't have a top-25 running back. Let's take a look back at the rest of the Steelers picks since the 2000 season. Harris is one of the main reasons the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He caught 57 passes for 338 yards as well. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. 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. As a Steeler, Bettis crashed his way for 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns, both second-best in team history. Lucrative opportunities to leave. James Conner finished his career in Pittsburgh as the #17 ranked rusher in Steelers history. But from 2010-17, Forte averaged 1,419 yards from scrimmage per season. Buffalo 2007-10; Seattle 2010-15, '19; Oakland 2017-18. 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. TODAY: Running backs 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. I enjoy the passing game, and I love that Ben Roethlisberger has matured into an elite quarterback, but it is hard for me to imagine there is a better way to play football than Steelers Football. Greatest Power Backs in NFL History. Watt is a fullback who saw a lot of snaps during his time with the Chargers.). Every Tight End In Pittsburgh Steelers History, Ranked By Fans 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. 4M; . 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Who should be on top of the Steelers NFL Free Agency board? It was a hard task to actually rank all of the great running backs .