Highlighted Year: Roger Craig, 1985

Fullback, San Francisco 49ers

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with 49ers

College: Nebraska

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 222

Prelude:

Chosen by the 49ers in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft to address the unsettled situation at running back, and better known in college for his blocking ability, Craig teamed at fullback with veteran acquisition RB Wendell Tyler and gained 1152 yards from scrimmage (725 rushing, 427 receiving).

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 214 [19]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 117 yds.) at Denver 11/11

Yards – 1050 [13]

Most yards, game – 117 yards (on 22 carries) at Denver 11/11

Average gain – 4.9 [6]

TDs – 9 [8, tied with Walter Payton & Larry Kinnebrew]

100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 92 [1] 

Most receptions, game – 12 (for 167 yds.) at Atlanta 10/6

Yards – 1016 [11]

Most yards, game – 167 (on 12 catches) at Atlanta 10/6

Average gain – 11.0

TDs – 6 [20, tied with eight others]

100-yard receiving games – 2

Total Yards – 2066 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Scoring

TDs – 15 [2, tied with Louis Lipps]

Points – 90

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at NY Giants)

Rushing attempts – 9

Rushing yards – 23

Average gain rushing – 2.6

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 2

Pass receiving yards – 18

Average yards per reception – 9.0

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, NEA

2^nd team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

49ers went 10-6 to finish second in the NFC West and qualify for the postseason as a wild card entry, while leading the conference in total yards (5920) and touchdowns (53). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to New York Giants (17-3).

 

Aftermath:

Craig split time with HB Joe Cribbs in 1986 but had a second Pro Bowl year in ‘87 as he gained 1307 total yards in the strike-abbreviated season (815 rushing, 492 receiving). Craig received NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1988 while rushing for 1502 yards and catching 76 passes for 534 yards as the 49ers advanced to a Super Bowl victory. He had a fourth Pro Bowl year in 1989, gaining 1054 yards on the ground and 473 through catching passes as the 49ers won another championship, but, after absorbing seven years of punishment as a versatile all-purpose back, his productivity began to drop off thereafter. After one last year with the 49ers in ’90, he moved on to the Raiders and then two final years in Minnesota, never gaining more than 590 yards rushing in any of his last four seasons or catching more than 25 passes. He retired with totals of 8189 rushing yards and 4911 receiving yards on 566 receptions, a total of 13,100 yards from scrimmage.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Highlighted Year: Beattie Feathers, 1934

Halfback/Defensive Back, Chicago Bears

Age: 25

1^st season in pro football

College: Tennessee

Height: 5’10” Weight: 185

Prelude:

In college, Feathers starred as a halfback and punter, rushing for 1888 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns, and was a consensus first-team All-American selection in 1933. Both fast and elusive, he signed with the Bears in 1934 and had a sensational rookie season, benefiting from an outstanding supporting cast that notably included FB Bronko Nagurski, whose blocking often helped to spring Feathers on long gains.

1934 Season Summary

Appeared in 11 of 13 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 119 [9]

Yards – 1004 [1]

Yards per attempt – 8.4 [1]

TDs – 8 [1, tied with Dutch Clark]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 6

Yards – 174 [6]

Yards per catch – 29.0

TDs – 1 [14, tied with many others]

Passing

Attempts – 12

Completions – 4

Yards – 41

TD passes – 2 [6, tied with nine others]

Interceptions – 2

All-Purpose yards – 1178 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 9 [1]    

PATs – 1

Points – 55 [5]

Missed postseason game due to injury

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: League, UPI, Chicago Daily News, Collyers Eye, Green Bay Press-Gazette

Bears went 13-0 to finish first in the NFL Western Division while leading the league in total yards (3802), rushing yards (2847), touchdowns (37), and scoring (286 points). Lost NFL Championship to New York Giants (30-13).

Aftermath:

Feathers, who suffered a shoulder injury that affected the remainder of his career, never came close to duplicating the success of his rookie year. In his three remaining seasons with the Bears, he gained a total of 842 rushing yards. His best single season during that period came in 1936, when he totaled 350 yards on 97 carries (3.6 avg.) and scored two touchdowns. Feathers spent two years with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938 and ’39, running for 115 yards in a part-time role, and ended his career with Green Bay in 1940. Overall, Feathers rushed for 1980 yards on 378 attempts (5.2 avg.) and caught 15 passes for 243 yards, scoring a total of 17 touchdowns. He holds the distinction of being the NFL’s first thousand-yard rusher and his 1934 yardage total remained the league record until 1947. Feathers went on to become a college football head coach at Appalachian State and North Carolina State and was also a baseball coach at the collegiate level.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Billy Cannon, 1961

Halfback, Houston Oilers

Age: 24

2^nd season in pro football & with Oilers

College: LSU

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 212

Prelude:

Cannon was a star all-purpose halfback in college who rushed for 1867 yards while averaging 5.2 yards-per-carry, caught 31 passes for 522 yards, and scored 21 touchdowns. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and winner of the 1959 Heisman Trophy, following a season in which he also returned a punt 89 yards to key a LSU win against Mississippi. Cannon was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams as the first overall pick of the 1960 NFL draft, but signed with both the Rams and Oilers of the new AFL. A judge’s decision awarded him to the Oilers and he had a fair rookie season, rushing for a team-leading 644 yards and scoring a touchdown in the AFL Championship game on an 88-yard pass play. He was a second-team All-AFL selection by the league and UPI.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 200 [2]

Most attempts, game – 25 (for 216 yds.) at NY Titans 12/10

Yards – 948 [1]

Most yards, game – 216 yards (on 25 carries) at NY Titans 12/10

Average gain – 4.7 [1]

TDs – 6 [4, tied with Jack Kemp]

200-yard rushing games – 1

100-yard rushing games – 3

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 43 [11, tied with Don Maynard]

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 122 yds.) vs. NY Titans 11/19

Yards – 586 [15]

Most yards, game – 122 (on 7 catches) vs. NY Titans 11/19

Average gain – 13.6 [16]

TDs – 9 [3, tied with Jim Colclough]

100-yard receiving games – 2

Passing

Attempts – 5

Completions – 0

Yards – 0

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 1 [20, tied with seven others]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 18 [3, tied with Al Frazier]

Yards – 439 [5]

Most yards, game – 84 (on 3 ret.) vs. Boston 11/12

Average per return – 24.4 [6]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 47 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 9 [6]

Yards – 70 [9]

Most yards, game – 20 (on 1 ret.) vs. Buffalo 10/8

Average per return – 7.8

TDs – 0

Longest return – 20 yards

All-Purpose yards – 2043 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 15 [2]

Points – 90 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (AFL Championship at San Diego)

Rushing attempts – 15

Rushing yards – 48

Average gain rushing – 3.2

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 5

Pass receiving yards – 53

Average yards per reception – 10.6

Pass receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFL: League, AP, UPI, NY Daily News, Sporting News

AFL All-Star Game

Oilers went 10-3-1 to finish first in the AFL Eastern Division while leading the league in total yards (6288), passing yards (4392), touchdowns (66), and scoring (513 points). Won AFL Championship over San Diego Chargers (10-3).

Aftermath:

Cannon suffered a back injury that limited his effectiveness in 1962, holding him to 474 rushing yards although he still caught 32 passes for 451 yards and scored a total of 13 touchdowns. He saw little action in an injury-plagued 1963 season and was traded to the Oakland Raiders, where he was tried at fullback with some success before being shifted to tight end in 1965. While Cannon caught only 21 passes combined in his first two seasons at the new position, his production increased significantly in 1967, when he had 32 catches for 629 yards and 10 TDs and received first-team All-AFL honors from UPI and the Associated Press. He spent two more years with the Raiders and was an AFL All-Star in 1969. Cannon spent one last year with Kansas City as a backup in 1970. Altogether, he rushed for 2455 yards on 602 carries (4.1 avg.) with 17 TDs and caught 236 passes for 3656 yards (15.5 avg.) and 47 touchdowns. Cannon was a consensus first-team All-AFL selection after one season, received some first- or second-team recognition after three other seasons, and was chosen to two AFL All-Star Games. His son Billy Jr. played linebacker for the Cowboys for one year.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Percentage, Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Bruce Harper, 1977

Halfback, New York Jets

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Kutztown State

Height: 5’8”   Weight: 174

Prelude:

Playing at a small school, Harper rushed for 2169 yards in three varsity seasons and was an honorable mention Little All-American in 1976. He went undrafted by the NFL but signed with the Jets as a free agent in ’77. What Harper lacked in size, he made up for with speed and versatility and made the club as a backup halfback who primarily returned kicks.

1977 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 44

Most attempts, game – 8 (for 33 yds.) vs. New England 10/2

Yards – 198

Most yards, game – 33 yards (on 4 carries) at Houston 9/18, (on 8 carries) vs. New England 10/2

Average gain – 4.5

TDs – 0

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 21      

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 32 yds.) vs. Baltimore 9/25

Yards – 209

Most yards, game – 55 (on 1 catch) at Buffalo 10/9

Average gain – 10.0

TDs – 1

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 42 [1]

Yards – 1035 [1]

Most yards, game – 122 (on 3 ret.) at New Orleans 12/4

Average per return – 24.6 [8]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 60 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 34 [10, tied with Howard Stevens]

Yards – 425 [5]

Most yards, game – 66 (on 5 ret.) vs. Buffalo 12/11

Average per return – 12.5 [6]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 49 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1867 [3, 1^st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Jets went 3-11 to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Continuing to perform well as a utility player, Harper led the AFC in all-purpose yards in each of the next three seasons and the entire NFL in 1978 (2157) and ’80 (2072). He also topped the league in kickoff return yards in 1978 and ’79 and had his best year as a punt returner in 1978, averaging 12.6 yards on 30 returns that included a touchdown. Effective in a limited role out of the backfield, Harper’s top rushing season was 1981, when he carried 81 times for 393 yards (4.9 avg.) and four TDs. Used more as a pass receiver, he gained 634 yards on 50 catches in 1980 and topped out at 52 receptions for 459 yards in ’81. Harper spent his entire career with the Jets until suffering a career-ending ACL tear in 1984. Overall, he compiled 11,429 all-purpose yards, with 1829 on 374 rushing attempts (4.9 avg.), 2409 on 220 pass receptions (11.0 avg.), 1784 on 183 punt returns (9.7 avg.), and 5407 on 243 kickoff returns (22.3 avg.). He scored a total of 21 touchdowns.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Larry Garron, 1963

Fullback, Boston Patriots

Age: 26

4^th season in pro football & with Patriots

College: Western Illinois

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 215

Prelude:

Garron played at Western Illinois and followed his college coach, Lou Saban, to the Patriots of the new AFL in 1960. He appeared in only four games as a rookie and, suffering from tonsillitis, was cut. Garron returned in ’61 with added weight and split time at fullback with Billy Lott, rushing for 389 yards. His 5.6 yards-per-attempt included a team-record 85-yard run and he also caught 24 passes for 341 yards (14.2 avg.), averaged 27.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns, and scored a total of six touchdowns. Garron was a second-team All-AFL choice by the league and was selected for the AFL All-Star Game. Slowed by injuries in 1962, Garron still gained 1314 all-purpose yards, averaging 5.9 yards while rushing for 392 yards and 28.6 yards on 24 kickoff returns that included a TD.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 175 [5]

Most attempts, game – 23 (for 91 yds.) vs. San Diego 11/10

Yards – 750 [5]

Most yards, game – 107 yards (on 17 carries) at Houston 12/8

Average gain – 4.3 [4]

TDs – 2 [19, tied with five others]

100-yard rushing games – 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 26      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 45 yds.) at San Diego 9/14

Yards – 418

Most yards, game – 92 (on 2 catches) vs. Houston 11/1

Average gain – 16.1 [10]

TDs – 2

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 28 [4]

Yards – 693 [4]

Most yards, game – 131 (on 3 ret.) vs. Denver 10/18

Average per return – 24.8 [5]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 58 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 23

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1884 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 4

Points – 24

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 22

Most rushing attempts, game – 19 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Rushing yards – 59

Most rushing yards, game – 44 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Average gain rushing – 2.7

Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 6

Most pass receptions, game – 4 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Pass receiving yards – 126

Most pass receiving yards, game – 120 at Buffalo, Eastern Division playoff

Average yards per reception – 21.0

Pass Receiving TDs – 2

Kickoff returns – 2  

Kickoff return yards – 32

Average per return – 16.0

TDs – 0

Longest return – 17 yards

Awards & Honors:

AFL All-Star Game

Patriots went 7-6-1 to tie for first in the AFL Eastern Division. Won Divisional playoff over Buffalo Bills (26-8). Lost AFL Championship to San Diego Chargers (51-10).

Aftermath:

Garron was an AFL All-Star again in 1964, although showing signs of wear. He rushed for 585 yards but averaged only 3.2 yards on a career-high 183 carries with two TDs; he also caught 40 passes for another 350 yards and seven touchdowns. Garron was shifted to halfback and became more productive as a pass receiver, especially with FB Jim Nance emerging as the primary runner. He played until 1968, a total of nine seasons (all with the Patriots), and rushed for 2981 yards on 759 carries (3.9 avg.) with 14 touchdowns and caught 185 passes for 2502 yards (13.5 avg.) and 26 TDs. He averaged 25.8 yards on 89 kickoff returns that included two more touchdowns, giving him 42 TDs in all. Garron was selected to four AFL All-Star Games.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders (NFC/AFC since 1970) in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Carl Garrett, 1971

Halfback, New England Patriots

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Patriots

College: New Mexico Highlands

Height: 5’11” Weight: 210

Prelude:

In college, Garrett set school career records with 3862 rushing yards (averaging 7.4 yards-per-carry), 69 touchdowns, and 418 points scored. He received first-team NAIA All-American honors in 1966 and was a second-team choice in ’67. Garrett was chosen by the Patriots in the third round of the 1969 AFL/NFL draft and, with his great speed, had an immediate impact, rushing for 691 yards, catching 29 passes for another 267 yards, averaging 28.3 yards on 28 kickoff returns and 13.3 yards returning 12 punts, for a total of 1909 combined yards, second-best in the league. He was a second-team All-AFL selection by the NEA and was named to the AFL All-Star Game. Garrett missed time during training camp due to military service and then suffered through an injury-plagued season in 1970, rushing for only 272 yards and accumulating an all-purpose total of 1167.

1971 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 181 [15, tied with Marv Hubbard]

Most attempts, game – 21 (for 127 yds.) at Buffalo 11/28

Yards – 784 [12]

Most yards, game – 127 yards (on 21 carries) at Buffalo 11/28

Average gain – 4.3 [16]

TDs – 1

100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 22

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 13 yds.) vs. Baltimore 10/3

Yards – 265

Most yards, game – 97 (on 2 catches) vs. Buffalo 11/14

Average gain – 12.0

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 24 [15, tied with Jerry LeVias & Charlie West]

Yards – 538 [17]

Most yards, game – 172 (on 6 ret.) at Dallas 10/24

Average per return – 22.4

TDs – 0

Longest return – 37 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 8

Yards – 124 [16]

Average per return – 15.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 50 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1711 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Patriots went 6-8 to finish third in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Garrett had a lesser rushing year in 1972, although he achieved career highs with 30 pass receptions for 410 yards. Traded to the Chicago Bears in ’73, he led the club in rushing with 655 yards and also averaged a league-leading 30.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns. On the downside, he also fumbled 13 times. Following an injury-interrupted year in 1974 in which he appeared in just seven games, he moved on to the New York Jets in ’75, rushed for 566 yards, but had disciplinary issues and spent 1976 and ’77, his last two seasons, as a reserve with the Raiders. Overall, Garrett rushed for 4197 yards on 1031 attempts (4.1 avg.), caught 182 passes for 1931 yards (10.6 avg.), returned 154 kickoffs for a 24.1-yard average and 43 punts at an 11.3-yard clip, gaining 10,319 total yards and scoring 35 touchdowns. Of those totals, 2235 rushing yards, 1158 yards on 107 pass receptions, 92 punt returns for a 24.5 average, all of the punt returns, and 18 TDs came with the Patriots.  

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Terrell Davis, 1997

Running Back, Denver Broncos

Age: 25 (Oct. 28)

3^rd season in pro football & with Broncos

College: Georgia

Height: 5’11” Weight: 200

Prelude:

Unheralded coming out of college, Davis was taken by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft and emerged to rush for 1117 yards and catch 49 passes. In 1996 he ran for 1538 yards to lead the AFC and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press as well as being a consensus first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl.

1997 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 369 [2]

Most attempts, game – 42 (for 207 yds.) at Buffalo 10/26

Yards – 1750 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 215 yards (on 27 carries) vs. Cincinnati 9/21

Average gain – 4.7 [7]

TDs – 15 [1, tied with Karim Abdul-Jabbar]

200-yard rushing games – 2

100-yard rushing games – 10

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 42      

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 70 yds.) at Oakland 10/19

Yards – 287

Most yards, game – 70 (on 7 catches) at Oakland 10/19

Average gain – 6.8

TDs – 0

All-purpose yards – 2030 [4, 1^st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 15 [2]

2-pt conversions – 3 [1, tied with Cris Carter]

Points – 96 [20, tied with Karim Abdul-Jabbar]

Postseason: 4 G

Rushing attempts – 112

Most rushing attempts, game – 31 vs. Jacksonville, AFC Wild Card playoff

Rushing yards – 581

Most rushing yards, game – 184 vs. Jacksonville, AFC Wild Card playoff

Average gain rushing – 5.2

Rushing TDs – 8

100-yard rushing games – 4

Pass receptions – 8

Most pass receptions, game – 4 vs. Jacksonville, AFC Wild Card playoff

Pass receiving yards – 38

Most pass receiving yards, game – 17 at Kansas City, AFC Divisional playoff

Average yards per reception – 4.8

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Broncos went 12-4 to finish second in the AFC West and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card while leading the NFL in total yards (5872), touchdowns (55), and scoring (472 points). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Jacksonville Jaguars (42-17), AFC Divisional playoff over Kansas City Chiefs (14-10), AFC Championship over Pittsburgh Steelers (24-21) & Super Bowl over Green Bay Packers (31-24).

Aftermath:

Davis rushed for 2008 yards and 21 touchdowns in 1998 and received consensus league MVP honors while the Broncos repeated as NFL Champions. But after rushing for 6413 yards in four years, Davis gained just 211 yards on the ground in ‘99 as he sustained a major knee injury in the fourth game. Returning in 2000, he struggled, appearing in only five contests and rushing for 282 yards. Davis ran for 701 yards in one last injury-riddled season in 2001. For his career, he gained 7607 yards on 1655 carries and added another 1280 yards on 169 pass receptions. Davis was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection three times and was selected to as many Pro Bowls in his short but productive career.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Tim Brown, 1988

Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Raiders

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Notre Dame

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

The versatile Brown was utilized primarily as a flanker in college and also as a runner from scrimmage and kick returner. He ended up as Notre Dame’s all-time pass receiving yardage leader (2493 on 137 catches), returned six kicks (three punts and three kickoffs) for touchdowns, and won the 1987 Heisman Trophy as well as receiving consensus All-American honors. Brown was chosen by the Raiders in the first round of the 1988 NFL draft (sixth overall) and had an impact both as a pass receiver and kick returner.

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 43      

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 95 yds.) vs. Kansas City 10/30

Yards – 725

Most yards, game – 114 (on 4 catches) at Seattle 11/28

Average gain – 16.9 [15]

TDs – 5

100-yard receiving games – 1

Rushing

Attempts – 14

Most attempts, game – 3 (for 17 yds.) at Denver 9/26, (for 13 yds.) vs. Miami 10/9, (for 17 yds.) vs. Atlanta 11/20

Yards – 50

Most yards, game – 17 yards (on 3 carries) at Denver 9/26, (on 3 carries) vs. Atlanta 11/20

Average gain – 3.6

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 41 [1, tied with Joe Cribbs]

Yards – 1098 [1]

Most yards, game – 178 (on 5 ret.) at Seattle 11/28

Average per return – 26.8 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with seven others]

Longest return – 97 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 49 [2]

Yards – 444 [3]

Most yards, game – 102 (on 7 ret.) at San Diego 11/6

Average per return – 9.1 [14]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 36 yards

All-Purpose yards – 2317 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 7

Points – 42

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: PFWA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Raiders went 7-9 to finish third in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Brown’s 1989 season ended with torn knee ligaments in the opening game and he was slow to come back, following up with a mediocre year in ’90. He began to return to form in 1991 and ’92, catching 36 and 49 passes, respectively, before breaking out with 80 receptions for 1180 yards and seven TDs in 1993. It was the first of seven straight seasons in which he had at least 80 catches and nine consecutive thousand-yard receiving totals, with highs of 104 receptions and 1408 yards in 1997. While lacking his former speed, Brown remained a dangerous runner after the catch. He stayed with the Raiders, who returned to Oakland in 1995, through the 2003 season, a total of 16 years, and caught 1070 passes for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns, all franchise records, as well as his 104 total TDs. He finished up with Tampa Bay in 2004, bringing his career totals to 1094 pass receptions, which ranked third in NFL history at the time, for a second-ranked 14,934 yards and 100 TDs. He added another 45 catches for 581 yards and three TDs in 12 postseason games. As a kick returner, he averaged 25.2 yards on 49 kickoff returns with one TD and 10.2 yards on 326 punt returns, scoring three touchdowns. In all, he compiled 19,682 all-purpose yards, the league’s fifth highest total at the time. Brown received consensus first-team All-NFL honors once, at least some first-team recognition after one other season, was first- or second-team All-AFC seven times, and was selected to nine Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970