Drafted by the Steelers in the first round with the 23rd pick in 2008, Mendenhall replaced Willie Parker and had successive years of 1,000 or more yards rushing in 2009 and 2010 with a high of 1,273 in 10. 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. There have been some running backs in Steelers history who had one or two good seasons in Pittsburgh, then went on their way. TEAM SEASON GP REC W% W L T TD PTS PPG OPP PTS OPP PPG 1DWN 3DWN% 4DWN% Pittsburgh Steelers: 2013: 16: 8-8.500: 8: 8: 0: 41: 379 . In two seasons, he is already 18th among all Steelers backs in rushing. Rocky Bleier came to the Steelers in 1968. And that's with missing the 2016 season because of retirement. Many teams even rotate three or more backs throughout the game, with all getting an equal number of carries. 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. 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 the I-formation, the fullback lines up behind the quarterback, and the halfback (tailback) lines up behind the fullback. Another big bruising back that also has surprising quickness, Bell at 244 pounds is turning into a super star in the NFL. 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. Harris is my fourth-ranked running back for the 2022 season. Playing players out of position in mut will make there overall go down now. Best: Franco Harris. That's Steelers football. Frank Pollard: In the mid-1980s, a stout Frank Pollard became the Steelers primary running back. He ran for over 1,000 yards in his first season and scored 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Parker had a shot to lead the NFL in rushing in 2007, but he broke his leg in the regular season's penultimate game and finished with 1,316 yards. 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. That changed over the last decade or so, due to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's emergence as an elite . When running the ball, they often do so out of one-back sets and shotgun and pistol formations. This was the age of the feature back, when one superstar halfback got most of the carries. 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. 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 . He lasted just five seasons but they were filled with success. 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. The controversy arose when the ball deflected off of Tatum or Frenchy. He signed as an undrafted free agent who had run a 4.23-second 40 at the Scouting Combine the previous spring. He peculiarly retired after that one campaign with the Cardinals. 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. 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. Barry Foster: Unfortunately for Barry Foster, his career was short in the Burgh. Steelers running back James Conner (30) runs for a short gain past Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (26) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. 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. 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. Bleier believed the doctors were wrong and reported to Steelers training camp a year after he left the war. He scored seven touchdowns and caught the ball 22 times for an additional 204 yards and a 9.3 yards-per-reception mark. name the pittsburgh steelers running back to the last 10 years. 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. It's a smaller sample size, but Elliott has also posted 131.2 yards from scrimmage per game in his three seasons. But Stewart posted 5,366 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns in the decade. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Standing 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds, Spears passes the . Not entirely. 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. 2. 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. All-time Receiving Leader: Hines Ward 1,000 rec, 12,083 yds, 85 TD . In Dick Hoak's 10 years as a Steeler, he only saw two winning seasons. Just look back to last year when he was able to make cuts and find holes. His rookie contract was voided after his fourth season, after just one in Pittsburgh, and there were opportunities to leave. It was thought by the Steelers coaching staff and fans alike that Pittsburgh had found their new star running back. Wanting the jersey number 26 which he wore at Notre Dame, Preston Pearson held those digits so Rocky settled for No. Hoak made a Pro Bowl in 1968 and is currently ranked seventh in Steelers' history for all-time rushing yards with 3,965. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments!For Business Inquiries: insid. Lists that rank the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NFL franchise. In the second concussion he encountered, it resulted in Hoge having to be resuscitated when he stopped breathing. 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 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. Last season he was in the top five among running backs in several categories. but every NFL team has talented players. Year Top Defense. He ended his career with only 1,512 rushing yards, but with two Super Bowl rings. The trend in the modern NFL is to run the ball out of single-back sets, often from a shotgun or pistol formation. Lucrative opportunities to leave. NAME GP RUSH YDS ATT YPC RUSH YDS/G RUSH TD REC YDS REC TRG AVG REC YDS/G REC TD; Felix Jones: 16: 184: 48: 3.8: 11.5: 0: 63: 9: 13: 7.0: 3.9: 0: Isaac Redman: 3: 12: 10: 1.2 . The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of smash-mouth football dating back to before they ever won their first Super Bowl. 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. Johnson was a bruising fullback who spent time in San Francisco and Detroit before coming to Pittsburgh in 1960. Peterson then signed with the . For the Steelers he would rush for 2,243 yards five seasons. Both men had the unfortunate circumstance of being behind other great players on the roster, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. For the purposes of this article, I will be considering the following: Its tricky to piece it all together, but I think these are the best Steelers running backs of all time. Overall, Charles recorded 8,110 yards from scrimmage during the decade with the Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars from 2010-18. The mid-'80s were a tough time for Steeler Nation. The stud running back finished with 3,943 yards which lands him seventh on Pittsburghs all-time list. He was intensive care for 48 hours and this forced his retirement. As it is, he has 5,336 rushing yards and nearly 8,000 yards from scrimmage since coming into the league in 2013. In the end Rocky Bleier rushed for 3,865 yards, 1,294 yards receiving on 136 catches and scored 25 times. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. 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. 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. Hoak retired from pro football in 1970 but stuck around to coach Steelers running backs from 1972 to 2007. 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. 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. Harris is one of the main reasons the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Even putting a left end at right end can cause a drop. The All-Modern Era team is made up of 26 players 11 on offense, 11 on defense, and four specialists. Lynch was an underrated pass-catcher in his prime too. He made nine straight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team and finished his career as the leading rusher in team history and No. Most Steelers fans think of Rocky Bleier as Franco Harris running mate throughout the 70s, and rightly so. Across the decade, Martin has posted 5,356 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns. With teams shifting more to the passing game, these old-school running backs are becoming obsolete. 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 amassed an incredible 449 touches in 2014 on his way to 1,845 rushing yards and 2,261 yards from scrimmage. Bell was a unique back in Steelers history due to both the wide-open offense he played in and his careful, patient running style. Including last season when Bell sat out because of a contract dispute, the two-time All-Pro has missed 34 games in his six-year career. Harris was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. '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. Since missing the last five games of 2010, Gore has sat out just two games over the last eight years. He has six 1,000-yard seasons and six Pro Bowl nominations with the Eagles and Bills during the 2010s. Well, he's worth a lot more now. Bleier starred in Super Bowl XIII with a touchdown reception and a recovered onside kick to seal Pittsburghs third NFL title. The only exception in madden 22 was a glitched out ray Lewis that was 97 at mlb but 99 at r/lolb. With the Redskins, Cowboys and 49ers, Morris has 5,931 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in the 2010s. does st martin parish have school tomorrow. Harris played 980 offensive snaps during the regular season . Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? To no ones surprise, Art Rooney Sr. mailed a post card to his running back while in recovery that said, Rock We need you. That was the kind of man The Chief was. The days of Jim Brown or John Riggins getting 40 carries a game are gone. Find out more. The top photos of RB Le'Veon Bell throughout 2014 season. Fran Rogel: For Steelers fans who watched the team in the 1950s they would be familiar with a famous nursery rhyme with a Pittsburgh Steelers twist. Foster's 1,690 yards set a team record that season and earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro nominations. He ran for 5,378 yards while playing at Heinz Field. 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. He was cut twice but kept up his persistence. Meanwhile, at No. Jerome Bettis (1996-2005). James Conner was thrust into the spotlight in 2018 when halfback LeVeon Bell held out for the entire season. In 1992, we found out who the heck that guy was: the man who would run for more yards in one season than any Steelers running back in team history. The next season, he racked up 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the way to an AFC Championship win. In addition, he got 52 receiving yards, with an average of 10.4. The Steelers won a lot of games in the late-90s to mid-2000s by lining up 250-pound running back Jerome Bettis behind 250-pound fullback Dan Kreider and bulldozing any defense that came before them. While Gore has never led the league in rushing or made All-Pro, his consistency lands him at No. 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. Still, "CJ2K" comes in at No. Cameron Heyward (2011), T.J. Watt (2017), Terrell Edmunds (2018), Devin Bush Jr. (2019), and Najee Harris (2022) are the five remaining first-rounders still on the Steelers roster. The team made it to the playoffs ten times ( 1992-1997 , 2001-2002 , 2004-2005 ) and had a 12-9 record under Coach Hoak in playoff games. However, from 2010-14 he was the best all-purpose back in the league. Bell will pay the price this season with a three-game suspension to start the 2015 season. Took pay cuts, and continued to stay. 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. Hunt offers some stability in the pass-game as he had 44 . Emailed daily. Dave Holcomb began working as a sports writer in 2013 after graduating from Syracuse University. Instagram Twitter Facebook Snapchat Shop Icon Profile Overlay Avatar Add Airplay Arrow Left Arrow Right Arrow Up Arrow Down Audio Back 5s Back 10s Back 30s Calendar Chart Check Down Left . In his first three seasons, Ingram ran for more than 600 yards in a season just once. In 2011 and 2013, he made All-Pro, and in 2013 he posted 2,146 yards from scrimmage. Over the entire decade, he posted 6,417 rushing yards and 7,909 yards from scrimmage with the Titans, Jets and Cardinals from 2010-17. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. This means two backs in the backfield, usually lined up side by side.