Running Back,
Houston
Age: 25
3rd
season in pro football & with Oilers
College: Texas
Height: 5’11” Weight: 224
Prelude:
Following an
outstanding college career that was capped by rushing for 1744 yards and winning
the Heisman Trophy, Campbell was the first overall pick by the Oilers in the
1978 NFL draft (Houston traded with Tampa Bay for the top choice). He moved
directly into the starting lineup with outstanding results, leading the league
in rushing (1450 yards), gaining consensus first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl
honors, as well as Rookie of the Year and MVP recognition (Pro Football
Writers, NEA). Campbell followed up in 1979 by again topping the NFL in rushing
(1697 yards) and touchdowns (19) to again receive consensus MVP, first-team
All-Pro, and Pro Bowl honors.
1980 Season Summary
Appeared in 15
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 373
[1]
Most
attempts, game - 38 (for 178 yds.) at Kansas City 10/12
Yards – 1934 [1]
Most yards,
game – 206 yards (on 31 carries) at Chicago 11/16
Average gain
– 5.2 [1]
TDs – 13 [1,
tied with Billy Sims]
200-yard
rushing games – 4
100-yard
rushing games – 10
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 11
Most
receptions, game – 4 (for 24 yds.) at Pittsburgh 9/7
Yards – 47
Most yards,
game - 24 (on 4 catches) at Pittsburgh 9/7
Average gain
– 4.3
TDs – 0
Passing
Pass attempts
– 2
Pass
completions – 1
Passing
yardage – 57
TD passes – 1
Interceptions
– 0
All-Purpose
yards – 1981 [2]
Scoring
TDs – 13 [2,
tied with Curtis Dickey & John Jefferson, 1st in AFC]
Points – 78
[20, tied with four others]
Postseason: 1
G (AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Oakland)
Rushing
attempts – 27
Rushing yards
– 91
Average gain
rushing – 3.4
Rushing TDs –
1
Pass attempts
– 1
Pass
completions – 0
Interceptions
– 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL MVP: NEA
NFL Offensive
Player of the Year: AP
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
1st
team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Oilers went 11-5
to finish second in the AFC Central and qualifying for a Wild Card playoff spot
while leading the conference in rushing (2635 yards). Lost AFC Wild Card
playoff to Oakland Raiders (27-7).
Aftermath:
Campbell was
named to a fourth straight Pro Bowl in 1981 as he led the AFC with 1376 rushing
yards. After one more 1000-yard rushing season in 1983 (1301 yards), his heavy
workload and physically-punishing running style caused his performance to drop
significantly in ’84 and Campbell was traded to New Orleans during the season.
He finished his career in 1985, rushing for 643 yards and a 4.1-yard average
for the Saints. Campbell retired with 9407 rushing yards on 2187 carries and 81
touchdowns. His #34 was retired by the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and he
was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1991.
--
MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league
itself).
[Updated 11/30/14]
[Updated 11/30/14]