Age: 21 (Oct. 7)
College: Colorado
Height: 6’1” Weight: 226
Prelude:
Winner of the 1994 Heisman
Trophy after rushing for 2055 yards as a junior, Salaam chose to enter the ’95
NFL draft and was taken by the Bears in the first round (21st
overall). Slow to get on track after a contract holdout that extended into
training camp, he took over as the team’s feature back after RB Raymont Harris
was lost to a broken collarbone in the season-opening game.
1995 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate
league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 296 [10]
Most attempts, game - 30
(for 122 yds.) vs. Philadelphia
Yards – 1074 [13]
Most yards, game – 134 yards
(on 27 carries) vs. Tampa
Bay
Average gain – 3.6
TDs – 10 [8]
100-yard rushing games – 5
Pass Receiving
Receptions – 7
Most receptions, game – 2
(for 25 yds.) at Jacksonville
Yards – 56
Most yards, game - 25 (on 2
catches) at Jacksonville
Average gain – 8.0
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 10
Points – 60
Awards & Honors:
NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI
Bears went 9-7 to finish
third in the NFC Central.
Aftermath:
The solid rookie season
proved to be by far the best of Salaam’s career. He gained just 496 rushing
yards in an injury-plagued 1996 season and 112 yards in three games in ’97
before being cut by the Bears. He appeared in two games for the Cleveland
Browns in 1999 and also had a short stint with the Memphis Maniax of the XFL in
2001 (525 yards in 6 games). Overall, he gained just 610 more rushing yards and
scored four more TDs in his abbreviated NFL career after his rookie year, a
victim of injuries and poor work ethic.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in
the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization
(Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association,
United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL
Rookie of the Year).
[Updated 2/6/14]
[Updated 2/6/14]
