Rookie of the Year: Vince Young, 2006

Quarterback, Tennessee Titans

Age:  23

College: Texas

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 233

Prelude:

Effective both as a passer and runner in college, Young was a consensus first-team All-American in 2005 and capped his career at Texas with an upset win for the national championship over USC in the Rose Bowl in which he passed for 267 yards, ran for 200, and scored three TDs in a MVP performance. He was chosen by the Titans in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft (third overall) despite concerns that he was more effective running the ball than passing due to an unorthodox sidearm delivery that caused difficulties with his mechanics. Still, he took over as starting quarterback after three games and displayed great playmaking ability.   

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Passing

Attempts – 357

Most attempts, game – 36 at Jacksonville 11/5, vs. New England 12/31

Completions – 184

Most completions, game – 24 vs. NY Giants 11/26

Yards – 2199

Most yards, game – 249 vs. NY Giants 11/26

Completion percentage – 51.5

Yards per attempt – 6.2

TD passes – 12

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. NY Giants 11/26, vs. Indianapolis 12/3, at Buffalo 12/24

Interceptions – 13 (13, tied with five others)

Most interceptions, game – 3 at Jacksonville 11/5

Passer rating – 66.7

200-yard passing games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 83

Most attempts, game - 10 (for 69 yds.) vs. NY Giants 11/26

Yards – 552

Most yards, game – 86 yards (on 7 carries) at Houston 12/10

Yards per attempt – 6.7

TDs – 7 (14, tied with five others)

Scoring

TDs – 7

2-point PAT – 1

Points – 44

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Pro Bowl

Titans went 8-8 to finish second in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Young’s career took a decidedly up-and-down trajectory, starting with a disappointing season in 2007. While his completion percentage improved to 62.3, he threw nearly twice as many interceptions (17) as touchdowns (9), and was not as effective running the ball due to a quadriceps injury. He was benched in favor of Kerry Collins after being injured in the first game of the ’08 season but, when the team got off to a 0-6 start in 2009, Young was reinserted into the starting lineup. The Titans went 8-2 in his starts and he was named to the Pro Bowl for a second time. But a tirade following a thumb injury 11 games into the 2010 season effectively ended Young’s career in Tennessee. He was released and signed with Philadelphia for 2011, backing up Michael Vick and starting three games. Young failed to catch on in trials with other teams and announced his retirement in 2014. Overall, he passed for 8964 yards and 46 touchdowns, giving up 51 interceptions, and rushed for 1459 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with 12 TDs. While Young showed flashes of potential, he failed to develop into a franchise quarterback.   

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).

Rookie of the Year: Jonathan Vilma, 2004

Linebacker, New York Jets

Age: 22

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 223

Prelude:

Highly rated coming into the NFL draft despite some concern about his size, Vilma was chosen by the Jets in the first round (12^th overall). When starting MLB Sam Cowart was injured early in the season, Vilma took over and held onto the job thanks to his excellent speed and athleticism.

2004 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – 2

Most sacks, game – 1 vs. Buffalo 10/10, vs. New England 12/26

Interceptions – 3

Most interceptions, game – 1 vs. San Francisco 10/17, at Arizona 11/28, at St. Louis 1/2

Int. return yards – 58

Most int. return yards, game – 38 (on 1 int.) at St. Louis 1/2

Int. TDs – 1

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 0

Tackles – 77

Assists – 31

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP

Jets went 10-6 to finish second in the AFC East and qualify for the playoffs as a Wild Card. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over San Diego Chargers (20-17). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (20-17).

Aftermath:

Vilma followed up his outstanding rookie season by recording 128 tackles and gaining selection to the Pro Bowl in 2005. The shift by the Jets from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense in 2006, where he was not an ideal fit, was a setback and in ’07 he went down with a season-ending knee injury in the seventh game. Vilma was traded to the New Orleans Saints where he was able to thrive again in a 4-3 scheme. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2009 and ’10 seasons. However, he was initially suspended for the 2012 season for his alleged role in the Saints bounty scandal, but was reinstated by court decision and played in 11 games. A knee injury kept him off the field for virtually all of 2013 and he was not re-signed for 2014. Overall, Vilma played in 125 games and accumulated 10.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and over 600 tackles, scoring three TDs (two on interceptions, one on a fumble recovery). He was named to the Pro Bowl three times.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).

Rookie of the Year: Bryant Young, 1994

Defensive Tackle, San Francisco 49ers

Age: 22

College: Notre Dame

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 276

Prelude:

Young played in 41 games at Notre Dame, started 30 of them, and was credited with 176 tackles and 18 sacks. He received first-team All-American recognition in 1993 from the American Football Coaches Assn. and was chosen by the 49ers in the first round of the ’94 NFL draft (seventh overall). Young moved directly into the starting lineup and teamed well with second-year DT Dana Stubblefield to solidify the middle of the defensive line.

1994 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 6

Most sacks, game – 1 on six occasions

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 45

Assists – 4

Postseason: 3 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI

49ers went 13-3 to finish first in the NFC West with the conference’s best record. Won NFC Divisional playoff over Chicago Bears (44-15), NFC Championship over Dallas Cowboys (38-28), and Super Bowl over San Diego Chargers (49-26).

Aftermath:

Young lost four games to an ankle injury in 1995, but bounced back in ’96 to record a career-high 11.5 sacks and receive consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition. Fast, strong, and with great skill, he went on to become a fixture on San Francisco’s defensive line for a total of 14 seasons. Injuries cost Young time in 1997 and ’98, including a broken leg that required the insertion of a metal rod, but he bounced back in 1999 to return to the Pro Bowl and received NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors as well as 2^nd-team All-NFL recognition from the Associated Press. He was selected to the Pro Bowl again in 2001 and ’02. Young was an outstanding team leader who was recognized for his professionalism and sportsmanship. He was shifted to defensive end in 2005, where he remained for his last three seasons. Upon his retirement following the ’07 season, he had played in 208 games, all with San Francisco, and recorded 89.5 sacks, making him the franchise’s career leader. He received first- or second-team All-NFL recognition after four seasons and was chosen to the Pro Bowl four times as well.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).

Rookie of the Year: Sammy White, 1976

Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings

Age: 22

College: Grambling

Height: 5’11” Weight: 189

Prelude:

White was a wingback in college who scored 43 touchdowns overall and was Southwestern Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 1975. He was chosen by the Vikings in the second round of the ’76 NFL draft and he moved into the starting role vacated by John Gilliam, who had departed for the Falcons.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 51 [11, tied with Ken Burrough]   

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 139 yds.) vs. LA Rams 9/19, (for 120 yds.) at Miami 12/11

Yards – 906 [5, 1st in NFC]

Most yards, game – 210 (on 7 catches) vs. Detroit 11/7

Average gain – 17.8 [15]

TDs – 10 [3, tied with Bob Chandler & Dave Casper, 1st in NFC]

200-yard receiving games – 1

100-yard receiving games – 3

Rushing

Attempts – 5

Yards – -10

Average gain – -2.0

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 9

Yards – 173

Average per return – 19.2

TDs – 0

Longest return – 36 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 3

Yards – 45

Average per return – 15.0

TDs – 0

Longest return – 31 yards

Scoring

TDs – 10 [9, tied with Bob Chandler, Dave Casper & Andy Johnson]

Points – 60

Postseason: 3 G

Pass receptions – 9

Most pass receptions, game – 5 vs. Oakland, Super Bowl

Pass receiving yards – 141

Most pass receiving yards, game – 77 vs. Oakland, Super Bowl

Average yards per reception – 15.7

Pass Receiving TDs – 3

Rushing attempts – 1

Rushing yards – 7

Rushing TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 4

Kickoff return yards – 79

Kickoff return avg. – 19.8

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI, NEA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Vikings went 11-2-1 to finish first in the NFC Central while leading the conference in passing yards (2855). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Washington Redskins (35-20) and NFC Championship over Los Angeles Rams (24-13). Lost Super Bowl to Oakland Raiders (32-14).

Aftermath:

Fast and a potent deep receiver, and benefiting from the presence of Ahmad Rashad on the other side, White had another Pro Bowl year in 1977 as he caught 41 passes for 760 yards (18.5 avg.) and nine touchdowns. While he was not chosen to the Pro Bowl again, he remained a consistent and productive receiver, peaking with a 1981 season in which he achieved career highs in receptions (66) and yards (1001). White missed five games due to a muscle pull in 1983 and further injuries limited his effectiveness in his last two seasons of 1984 and ’85. Over the course of ten seasons that were all with the Vikings, White caught 393 passes for 6400 yards (16.3 avg.) and 50 touchdowns, and he had another 17 catches for 313 yards (18.4 avg.) and five TDs in the postseason.

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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).

Rookie of the Year: Brian Urlacher, 2000

Linebacker, Chicago Bears

Age:  22

College: New Mexico

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 249

Prelude:

Converted to linebacker as a freshman in college, Urlacher had two nondescript seasons before Rocky Long became head coach at New Mexico and gave him an enhanced role in which he acted as a defensive back as well as linebacker. The versatile Urlacher also saw action as a kick returner and wide receiver, the latter role in which he caught six touchdown passes. As a junior, he led the team with 178 tackles and received All-Mountain West Conference honors and in 1999 he was credited with 148 tackles and five forced fumbles. He received All-America recognition from several sources and was the first round draft choice of the Bears in 2000. Urlacher had an immediate impact as he proved to be ideally suited to playing middle linebacker with his speed and tackling ability in the open field, as well as excellent instincts.

2000 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 8

Most sacks, game – 2 vs. Minnesota 10/15

Interceptions – 2

Most interceptions, game – 1 vs. Detroit 9/24, vs. Tampa Bay 11/19

Int. return yards – 19

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 0

Tackles – 101

Assists – 24

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: AP, PFWA

Pro Bowl

Bears went 5-11 to finish fifth in the NFC Central.

Aftermath:

Urlacher was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the next three seasons and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 2001 and ’02. After being limited to nine games in an injury-plagued 2004 season, in ’05 he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in addition to receiving All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors. Urlacher was again a consensus first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2006 as the Bears won the NFC Championship. He began to show signs of wear later in the decade and, after typically being a durable player, missed all but one game in 2009 due to a wrist injury in the opening contest. But Urlacher returned to Pro Bowl form in 2010 and ’11 before finishing his career in 2012. Overall, over the course of 13 seasons and 182 games, he accumulated 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 15 fumble recoveries, and over a thousand tackles. He scored five touchdowns, one of which came on his only pass reception. Urlacher was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection four times and was chosen to eight Pro Bowls.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).

Rookie of the Year: Charley Taylor, 1964

Halfback, Washington Redskins

Age: 23 (Sept. 28)

College: Arizona State

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 215

Prelude:

Taylor’s college career (and, potentially, life) nearly came to an end when he broke four vertebrae in his neck while making a tackle during Spring scrimmage in 1961, but following several months of recovery, he returned to star in the backfield for three years. Highly versatile, he played at running back, wide receiver, and defensive back and also returned kicks. Taylor led the team with four interceptions in 1962 and in ’63 rushed for 595 yards (averaging 6.8 yards-per-carry) and also gained 217 pass receiving and 308 kick return yards. He received All-Western Athletic Conference honors after both seasons. The Redskins, winning a coin flip to choose ahead of the Cowboys (who were also interested in the native Texan) chose Taylor in the first round of the 1964 NFL draft (third overall; he was also chosen by the Houston Oilers in the second round in the AFL) and he quickly moved into the lineup at halfback with his speed and ability as a pass receiver as well as runner from scrimmage.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 199 [5]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 61 yds.) vs. Philadelphia 10/11

Yards – 755 [6]

Most yards, game – 85 yards (on 17 carries) vs. NY Giants 11/29

Average gain – 3.8 [18]

TDs – 5 [10, tied with four others]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 53 [8] 

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 88 yds.) vs. Cleveland 9/13

Yards – 814 [10]

Most yards, game – 94 (on 4 catches) at Baltimore 12/13

Average gain – 15.4 [16]

TDs – 5 [17, tied with seven others]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 20

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1589 [3]

Passing

Attempts – 10

Completions – 2

Yards – 54

TDs – 0

INT – 1

Scoring

TDs – 10 [4, tied with five others]

Points – 60 [15, tied with five others]

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: UPI, NEA, Sporting News

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, NY Daily News

1^st team All-Eastern Conference: Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Redskins went 6-8 to finish tied for third with Philadelphia in the NFL Eastern Conference.

Aftermath:

Taylor had a lesser year in 1965, nagged by a foot injury and the lack of an effective fullback to pair up with him – he averaged only 2.8 yards in compiling 402 rushing yards but still caught 40 passes for 577 yards (14.4 avg.) and was again named to the Pro Bowl. During the ’66 season, new Head Coach Otto Graham shifted him to split end and, while initially reluctant toward making the switch, he led the NFL with 72 catches, for 1119 yards and 12 touchdowns. His size and skill made for favorable matchups, and he again topped the league with 70 catches in 1967, gaining 990 yards and scoring 9 TDs while receiving consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl honors. Taylor went on to consistently star at wide receiver with only one significant injury, a broken leg in the sixth game of the ’71 season, until he missed all of 1976 and came back at reduced form to catch 14 passes in ’77, his last year. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once, received at least second-team recognition on five more occasions, all-conference honors yet four more times, and was chosen to the Pro Bowl after eight seasons. At the time of his retirement, his 649 catches ranked first all-time in NFL history, as did his seven seasons with 50 or more catches, and he gained 9110 yards (14.0 avg.) with 79 TDs. His rushing totaled 1488 yards and, adding in another 11 touchdowns, he scored 90 overall, which tied with Leroy Kelly for sixth place at the time. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1984.

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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).

Rookie of the Year: Troy Stradford, 1987

Running Back, Miami Dolphins

Age: 23 (Sept. 11)

College: Boston College

Height: 5’9”   Weight: 191

Prelude:

Stradford set a school career rushing record with 3504 yards at Boston College and scored 36 touchdowns. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL draft. A classic scatback who was fast and elusive, Stradford beat out Lorenzo Hampton for a spot in the starting lineup.

1987 Season Summary

Appeared in 12 of 15 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 145 [19, tied with Larry Kinnebrew]

Most attempts, game – 30 (for 120 yds.) vs. NY Jets 12/7

Yards – 619 [18]

Most yards, game – 169 yards (on 17 carries) at Dallas 11/22

Average gain – 4.3 [13]

TDs – 6 [10, tied with Eric Dickerson, Sammy Winder & George Rogers]

100-yard rushing games – 3

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 48      

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 46 yds.) vs. Pittsburgh 11/1

Yards – 457

Most yards, game – 83 (on 6 catches) at Dallas 11/22

Average gain – 9.5

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 14

Yards – 258

Average per return – 18.4

TDs – 0

Longest return – 32 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1334 [5]

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 1

Yards – 6

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 7 [16, tied with twelve others]

Points – 42

Awards & Honors:

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Dolphins went 8-7 to finish third in the AFC East in the strike-shortened season (three games were played with replacement players) while leading the NFL in passing yards (3876) and the conference in touchdowns (47, tied with the Cleveland Browns).

Aftermath:

After setting a franchise record for yards from scrimmage by a rookie, Stradford suffered through an injury-plagued 1988 season and his rushing output dropped to 335 yards, although he caught 56 passes for 426 yards. A major knee injury limited him to seven games and 473 yards from scrimmage in ’89 and, following a lesser season in 1990, he signed with Kansas City as a Plan B free agent in 1991. The Chiefs used him almost exclusively as a kick returner with unspectacular results as he averaged 6.8 yards on 22 punt returns and 20.9 running back kickoffs in a season in which he missed the first few weeks due to a broken arm. Waived during the ’92 preseason, Stradford was picked up by the Rams and also played for Detroit in what was his last NFL season. He played for the Amsterdam Admirals of the WLAF in 1995 with modest results. Overall, Stradford rushed for 1380 yards on 356 carries (3.9 avg.) and caught 170 passes for 1479 yards (8.7 avg.), scoring a total of 12 touchdowns.

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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).

Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Shockey, 2002

Tight End, New York Giants

Age: 22

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 252

Prelude:

After performing well in junior college at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M, Shockey moved on to the Univ. of Miami where he starred on the 2001 national championship team, catching 40 passes for 519 yards and seven touchdowns, and received first-team All-Big East honors. The Giants chose him in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. Lively and demonstrative, as well as talented, Shockey drew attention almost immediately and was productive despite a foot injury.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 74      

Most receptions, game – 11 (for 111 yds.) vs. Washington 11/17

Yards – 894

Most yards, game – 116 (on 7 catches) at Indianapolis 12/22

Average gain – 12.1

TDs – 2

100-yard receiving games – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at San Francisco)

Pass receptions – 7

Pass receiving yards – 68

Average yards per reception – 9.7

Pass Receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: League/Pepsi

1^st team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Giants went 10-6 to finish second in the NFC East and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entry. Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to San Francisco 49ers (39-38).  

Aftermath:

A knee injury limited Shockey to nine games in 2003, but he caught 48 passes and was named to the Pro Bowl. Injuries would continue to be an issue, and he was also held in to block more in ’04, but Shockey remained an outstanding pass receiving tight end. He had productive seasons in 2005 and ’06, catching 65 passes for 891 yards and 66 for 623, respectively, and was named to the Pro Bowl after each. A broken leg kept Shockey out of the playoffs during the 2007 NFL Championship season for the Giants and he was dealt to New Orleans, where he continued to battle injuries for the next three years. He was still productive when healthy, catching 139 passes in 38 games for 1460 yards, and had a TD reception in the Super Bowl win over the Colts following the 2009 season. Shockey was released following the 2010 season and played one last year with the Carolina Panthers in 2011, where he split time with Greg Olsen. Overall, Shockey caught 547 passes for 6143 yards (11.2 avg.) and 37 touchdowns, with 371 receptions, 4228 yards, and 27 TDs coming with the Giants. He was selected to the Pro bowl four times, all with New York. Highly competitive, outspoken, and prone to controversy, he was also a talented receiver when healthy, but injuries ultimately curtailed his career.

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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).

Rookie of the Year: DeMeco Ryans, 2006

Linebacker, Houston Texans

Age: 22

College: Alabama

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 229

Prelude:

Ryans was a consensus first-team All-American in 2005 and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was chosen by the Texans in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. An outside linebacker in college, he was moved to middle linebacker by Houston where he became an immediate contributor and outshone first overall pick DE Mario Williams. What Ryans lacked in size and speed he made up with excellent instincts and technique.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 3.5

Most sacks, game – 1 at Dallas 10/15, at NY Giants 11/5, at Oakland 12/3

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 16

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 126

Assists – 30

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Texans went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Ryans followed up with a Pro Bowl season in 2007 and established himself as a top player at his position and a leader on the Houston defense. He was a Pro Bowl selection again in 2009 but went down with an Achilles tendon injury six games into the 2010 season and the defense suffered in his absence. Ryans returned to play in every game in 2011 but was less successful playing in a 3-4 defense and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. He continued to be a solid starter in Philadelphia, and while less effective in pass coverage than earlier in his career, Ryans brought savvy and leadership. Through 2013, he had accumulated 13.5 sacks, five interceptions, 667 tackles and 209 assists.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).

Rookie of the Year: Ben Roethlisberger, 2004

Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Age:  22

College: Miami (OH)

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 242

Prelude:

Roethlisberger passed for 10,829 yards and 80 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons and Miami reached the Mid-American Conference Championship in his junior year. He entered the NFL draft and was chosen by the Steelers in the first round (11^th overall, and the third quarterback) and, when QB Tommy Maddox went down with an injury in the second game, “Big Ben” moved into the lineup.

2004 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 295

Most attempts, game – 28 at NY Giants 12/18

Completions – 196

Most completions, game – 21 at Dallas 10/17

Yards – 2621

Most yards, game – 316 at NY Giants 12/18

Completion percentage – 66.4 [4]

Yards per attempt – 8.9 [2]

TD passes – 17 [19, tied with Vinny Testaverde]

Most TD passes, game – 2 on six occasions

Interceptions – 11 [18, tied with Daunte Culpepper, Kyle Boller & Patrick Ramsey]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Baltimore 9/19, vs. NY Jets 12/12, at NY Giants 12/18

Passer rating – 98.1 [5]

300-yard passing games – 1

200-yard passing games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 56

Most attempts, game – 9 (for 16 yds.) at Cincinnati 11/21

Yards – 144

Most yards, game – 40 yards (on 3 carries) at Jacksonville 12/5

Yards per attempt – 2.6

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 2 G

Pass attempts – 54

Most attempts, game – 30 vs. NY Jets, AFC Divisional playoff

Pass completions – 31

Most completions, game - 17 vs. NY Jets, AFC Divisional playoff

Passing yardage – 407

Most yards, game – 226 vs. New England, AFC Championship

TD passes – 3

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Interceptions – 5

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Rushing attempts – 9

Most rushing attempts, game – 5 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Rushing yards – 75

Most rushing yards, game – 45 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Average gain rushing – 8.3

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: League/Pepsi, Sporting News

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

AFC Rookie of the Year: UPI, NEA, Sporting News

Steelers went 15-1 to place first in the AFC North with the conference’s best record while leading the AFC in rushing yards (2464). Won AFC Divisional playoff over New York Jets (20-17). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (41-27).

Aftermath:

Roethlisberger missed time with a knee injury in 2005 but led the league in yards per attempt (8.9), yards per completion (14.2), and TD percentage (6.3 on his 17 TD passes), and the Steelers won the Super Bowl. In so doing, he became the youngest Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Big and mobile with a strong arm, Roethlisberger also benefited from having a solid running attack and defense as he developed his considerable skills. It was tougher going in 2006 as he was injured in an offseason motorcycle accident and also suffered from appendicitis. The result was 3513 passing yards and 18 TDs, but also a league-leading 23 interceptions and the Steelers dropped to 8-8. He bounced back with a Pro Bowl year in ’07 in which he threw for 32 touchdowns and a 104.1 rating, and showed great toughness as he also took many hits – often due to his penchant for holding the ball until the last possible moment. Roethlisberger led the Steelers to another NFL Championship in 2008 as he showed outstanding late-game clutch ability and achieved career highs (thus far) with 4328 passing yards and a 66.6 completion percentage in ’09, although off-field issues caused him to be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season. He played well upon his return, giving up just five interceptions while once again leading the NFL in yards per completion (13.3) and the Steelers won the AFC title. Roethlisberger was chosen to the Pro Bowl for a second time in 2011 after passing for 4077 yards but a high ankle sprain limited his mobility in a losing postseason game and a shoulder injury hindered his play in 2012 as he was also asked to refine his style of play with a rebuilding team. He stayed healthy for the full year in ’13 and passed for 4261 yards and 28 TDs. Overall, through the 2013 season Roethlisberger has thrown for 34,105 yards and 219 touchdowns with a 92.6 rating. The Steelers have been 98-50 during his regular season starts and 10-4 in the playoffs, with two NFL titles.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).

Rookie of the Year: Jerry Rice, 1985

Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers

Age: 23 (Oct. 13)

College: Mississippi Valley State

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 200

Prelude:

Playing in a small college program, Rice attracted attention while teaming with QB Willie Totten in a spread offense. He caught 102 passes for 1450 yards in 1983 and 112 for 1845 yards and 27 touchdowns in ’84. Along the way, he had a 24-catch performance against Southern University. Drafted by the 49ers in the first round in 1985, Rice moved into the starting lineup as a rookie and, despite a slow start, diverted coverage from veteran WR Dwight Clark and showed flashes of future greatness.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 49      

Most receptions, game – 10 (for 241 yds.) vs. LA Rams 12/9

Yards – 927 [19]

Most yards, game – 241 (on 10 catches) vs. LA Rams 12/9

Average gain – 18.9 [10]

TDs – 3

200-yard receiving games – 1

100-yard receiving games – 2

Rushing

Attempts – 6

Yards – 26

Average gain – 4.3

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 6

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 4

Points – 24

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

Pass receptions – 4

Pass receiving yards – 45

Average yards per reception – 11.3

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Pass attempts – 1

Pass completions – 0

Interceptions – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI

49ers went 10-6 to finish second in the NFC West while qualifying for the playoffs as a Wild Card entry. Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to New York Giants (17-3).

Aftermath:

Following his promising rookie season, Rice broke out with 86 receptions and led the NFL in receiving yards (1570) and TD catches (15) in 1986. He was a consensus first-team All-Pro selection for the first of five straight years (and ten overall) and was chosen for the Pro Bowl, an honor he would receive on 13 occasions. Rice went on to play 20 seasons in the NFL and re-wrote the record book by the time he was done. The 1986 season was the first of 11 straight thousand-yard receiving seasons and 14 overall. He led the league in that category five more times, including a then-record 1848 in 1995. Rice also had four 100-catch seasons and was the NFL leader twice. A prolific scorer, he had a total of nine years in which he reached double figures in receiving TDs and paced the league six times. After 16 years with San Francisco, Rice moved on to the Raiders for three full seasons plus part of his last year, in 2004, in which he finished up with Seattle. Overall, he retired as career leader in pass receptions (1549), receiving yards (22,895), receiving touchdowns (197), and total TDs (208). He gained the most total yards (23,546) of any player in NFL history. Rice was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2010.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), 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).