Highlighted Year: Joe Cribbs, 1984

Running Back, Birmingham Stallions

 Age: 26

5^th season in pro football, 1^st in USFL & with Stallions

College: Auburn

Height: 5’11” Weight: 191

Prelude:

Buffalo’s running game had been subpar in 1979 with Terry Miller as the feature back, and the Bills took Cribbs in the second round of the ’80 NFL draft. Small but versatile – and having gained 4561 all-purpose yards and scored 34 touchdowns in college - it was anticipated that he would at least initially return kicks, but he quickly moved into the starting lineup, putting together a Pro Bowl season in which he rushed for 1185 yards and received Rookie of the Year recognition from UPI and Pro Football Weekly. Cribbs followed up his outstanding rookie season by gaining 1700 yards from scrimmage in 1981 (1097 rushing, 603 receiving) and was again selected to the Pro Bowl. Due to a contract holdout, he missed the first two games of the strike-shortened ’82 season but was effective upon the resumption of play with 633 rushing yards in seven games, although his productivity as a receiver out of the backfield dropped considerably. Cribbs rebounded in 1983 with 1131 rushing yards and 524 more yards on 57 pass receptions, garnering a third Pro Bowl selection. He jumped to the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL in 1984.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in 16 of 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 297 [1, tied with Kelvin Bryant]

Most attempts, game – 33 (for 191 yds.) at Pittsburgh 3/11

Yards – 1467 [1]

Most yards, game – 191 yards (on 33 carries) at Pittsburgh 3/11

Average gain – 4.9 [10]

TDs – 8 [13, tied with Buford Jordan, Greg Boone & John Williams

100-yard rushing games – 6

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 39      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 36 yds.) vs. New Jersey 2/26, (for 32 yds.) vs. New Orleans 4/2

Yards – 500

Most yards, game – 94 (on 3 catches) at Denver 4/29

Average gain – 12.8

TDs – 5 [20, tied with nine others]

Scoring

TDs – 13 [9, tied with four others]

Points – 78

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 39

Most rushing attempts, game – 21 at Philadelphia, USFL Eastern Conference Championship

Rushing yards – 184

Most rushing yards, game – 112 vs. Tampa Bay, USFL First Round playoff

Average gain rushing – 4.7

Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 9

Most pass receptions, game – 6 at Philadelphia, USFL Eastern Conference Championship

Pass receiving yards – 118

Most pass receiving yards, game – 63 at Philadelphia, USFL Eastern Conference Championship

Average yards per reception – 13.1

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st-team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly, Pro Football Weekly

Stallions went 14-4 to finish first in the USFL Southern Division while leading the league in rushing yards (3313). Won USFL First Round playoff over Tampa Bay Bandits (36-17) and lost Eastern Conference Championship to Philadelphia Stars (20-10).

Aftermath:

Cribbs followed up with 1047 rushing yards in 1985 and then returned to the Bills during the Autumn ‘85 season before moving on to San Francisco for two years in a part-time role. His career came to an end in a 1988 season split between the Colts and Dolphins. In the NFL, Cribbs rushed for 5356 yards and 27 TDs on 1309 carries (4.1 avg.) and caught 224 passes for 2199 yards and 15 touchdowns. With the USFL, he rushed for 2514 yards on 564 attempts (4.5 avg.) and 15 TDs and had 80 catches for 787 yards and six TDs.

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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: 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.

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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 Brown, 1970

Halfback, Washington Redskins

Age: 23 (Sept. 19)

2^nd season in pro football & with Redskins

College: Kansas State

Height: 5’11” Weight: 195

Prelude:

Brown played two seasons at Kansas State after transferring from Dodge City Junior College and had an undistinguished career, rushing for 684 yards and catching 13 passes. An eighth round pick by the Redskins in the 1969 NFL draft, Brown led the team in rushing as a rookie with 888 yards on 202 carries (4.4 avg.) and caught 34 passes for another 302 yards. He was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in 13 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 237 [2]

Most attempts, game – 27 (for 110 yds.) at Philadelphia 10/4

Yards – 1125 [1]

Most yards, game – 139 yards (on 17 carries) vs. NY Giants 11/29

Average gain – 4.7 [3]

TDs – 5 [13, tied with eleven others]

100-yard rushing games – 6

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 37      

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 76 yds.) at Oakland 10/19

Yards – 341

Most yards, game – 76 (on 9 catches) at Oakland 10/19

Average gain – 9.2

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 7 [18, tied with nine others]

Points – 42

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly

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

Pro Bowl

Redskins went 6-8 to finish fourth in the NFC East.

Aftermath:

Brown’s production dropped off to 948 yards in 1971 as defenses keyed on him, but he was selected to a third Pro Bowl and received consensus first-team All-NFC recognition. He was the consensus league MVP in ’72 as he led the NFC in rushing with 1216 yards and the Redskins reached the Super Bowl. Brown ran for 860 yards and caught 40 passes in 1973, but the workhorse runner began to show signs of wear in ’74 and totaled just 838 yards over the last three seasons of a career spent entirely with Washington that ended in 1976. Overall, he rushed for 5875 yards on 1530 attempts (3.8 avg.) and caught 238 passes for 2485 yards (10.4 avg.) while scoring a total of 55 touchdowns. Brown was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection twice, received first-team All-NFC honors after one other season, and was selected to four Pro Bowls.

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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: 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: Earl Campbell, 1981

Running Back, Houston Oilers

Age: 26

4^th season in pro football & with Oilers

College: Texas

Height: 5’11” Weight: 237

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. It was more of the same in ’80 as the power-running Campbell rushed for a career-high 1934 yards that included a record four 200-yard performances.

1981 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 361 [2]

Most attempts, game – 39 (for 186 yds.) vs. Seattle 10/11

Yards – 1376 [5, tied with Ottis Anderson, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 186 yards (on 39 carries) vs. Seattle 10/11

Average gain – 3.8

TDs – 10 [7, tied with William Andrews, Ron Springs & Billy Jackson]

100-yard rushing games – 3

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 36

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 25 yds.) vs. Atlanta 11/29

Yards – 156

Most yards, game – 40 (on 4 catches) vs. Oakland 11/8

Average gain – 4.3

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 10 [12, tied with five others]

Points – 60

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Oilers went 7-9 to finish third in the AFC Central.

Aftermath:

Campbell ran for 538 yards in the strike-shortened 1982 season, in which the team crashed to 1-8, and 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. Campbell was traded to New Orleans during the ’84 season and he finished his career in 1985, rushing for 643 yards and a 4.1-yard average for the Saints. He retired with 9407 rushing yards, which ranked seventh in NFL history at the time, on 2187 carries and 81 touchdowns. Campbell received at least some MVP recognition and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection three times and was named to four Pro Bowls. His #34 was retired by the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1991.

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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.

--

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: Cliff Battles, 1932

Tailback/Defensive Back, Boston Braves

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: West Virginia Wesleyan

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 198

Prelude:

A multi-sport star in college who was also a Phi Beta Kappa student, Battles put up significant numbers playing football for a small school. In 1930, he rushed for 354 yards, totaled 469 all-purpose yards, and scored seven touchdowns in a game against Salem College, and in another contest had three scoring runs of over 80 yards. While the team didn’t do so well when taking on stronger competition, Battles drew interest from several NFL teams and signed with the first-year Braves.

1932 Season Summary

Appeared in 8 of 10 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 148 [1]

Yards – 576 [1]

Yards per attempt – 3.9 [5]

TDs – 3 [2, tied with five others]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 4

Yards – 60

Yards per catch – 15.0

TDs – 1 [10, tied with fourteen others]

Passing

Attempts – 20 [16, tied with Bob Campiglio & Hap Moran]

Completions – 2

Yards – 42

Completion percentage – 10.0

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 2 [13, tied with eight others]

All-Purpose yards – 636 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 4 [5, tied with five others]   

Points – 24 [6, tied with four others]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: Collyers Eye

Braves went 4-4-2 to finish fourth in the NFL.

Aftermath:

Battles ranked second in rushing to teammate FB Jim Musick with the re-named Redskins in 1933, gaining 737 yards that included 215 in a single game, making him the first NFL player to reach the 200-yard rushing threshold in a single contest. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for his efforts. Running with a long stride, Battles had excellent cutting ability as well as speed, and was adept at returning kicks. He received primarily second-team All-NFL honors in 1934 and ’35 but was a consensus first-team selection in 1936 as he rushed for 614 yards and the Redskins finished first in the Eastern Division, although he was injured early in the NFL Championship loss to Green Bay. The franchise was shifted to Washington for 1937 and Battles set a league rushing record with 874 yards. The Redskins won the NFL title but, when owner George Preston Marshall refused to give his star runner a raise, Battles retired. Overall, he rushed for 3511 yards on 839 carries (4.2 avg.), caught 38 passes for 546 yards (14.4 avg.), and scored a total of 31 touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors three times and at least some first-team or second-team recognition after three other seasons. Battles, who initially became an assistant coach at Columbia, was later head coach of the AAFC’s Brooklyn Dodgers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1968.

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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: Rick Casares, 1956

Fullback, Chicago Bears

Age: 25

2^nd season in pro football & with Bears

College: Florida

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 225

Prelude:

Casares was an All-SEC selection in both football and basketball in college and scored the first touchdown in Florida’s 14-13 Gator Bowl win following the 1952 season. He was chosen by the Bears in the second round of the 1954 NFL draft but spent a year in the Army before joining the club for the ’55 season. While there were concerns as to his having enough speed for the NFL, Casares rushed for 672 yards, including an 81-yard TD carry, and averaged a league-high 5.4 yards per carry. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-NFL selection by the New York Daily News.

1956 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 234 [1]
Most attempts, game - 27 (for 104 yds.) vs. LARams 11/18

Yards – 1126 [1]

Most yards, game – 190 yards (on 17 carries) vs. Detroit 12/16

Average gain – 4.8 [7]

TDs – 12 [1]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 23

Yards – 203

Average gain – 8.8

TDs – 2

Passing

Pass attempts – 3

Pass completions – 0

Passing yardage – 0

Interceptions – 1

Punting

Punts – 1

Yards – 51

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 3

Yards – 95

Average per return – 31.7

TDs – 0

Longest return – 49 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1424 [4]

Scoring

TDs – 14 [1]

Points – 84 [2]

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at NY Giants)

Rushing attempts – 14

Rushing yards – 43

Average gain rushing – 3.1

Rushing TDs – 1

Pass receptions – 4

Pass receiving yards – 41

Average yards per reception – 10.3

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, NEA, NY Daily News, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Bears went 9-2-1 to finish first in the NFL Western Conference while leading the league in total yards (4537), rushing yards (2468), touchdowns (47), and scoring (363 points). Lost NFL Championship to New York Giants (47-7).

Aftermath:

Casares rushed for 700 yards on a NFL-high 204 carries in 1957 and received consensus second-team All-NFL honors in addition to being a first-team selection by The Sporting News. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl for the third of an eventual five straight seasons. Casares, who was valued for his blocking as well as power-running, went on to play a total of ten seasons for Chicago, although he never had 100 carries or gained 500 yards in a season after 1961 as assorted injuries slowed him down and Joe Marconi became the starting fullback. He departed the Bears following the 1964 season and was the franchise’s all-time rushing leader at the time with 5657 yards. Casares saw limited action with Washington in 1965 and the AFL expansion Miami Dolphins in ’66, his last season. Overall, he ran for 5797 yards on 1431 carries (4.1 avg.) and caught 191 passes for 1588 yards (8.3 avg.), scoring a total of 60 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

[Updated 2/21/17]

Highlighted Year: John Brockington, 1973

Fullback, Green Bay Packers

Age: 25 (Sept. 7)

3^rd season in pro football & with Packers

College: Ohio State

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 225

Prelude:

Brockington started at halfback as a sophomore in college, backed up FB Jim Otis for a year, and then started at fullback as a senior and rushed for a team-record 1142 yards and scored 17 TDs in 1970. He was chosen by the Packers in the first round (ninth overall) of the ’71 NFL draft and moved directly into the starting lineup in combination with HB Donny Anderson. Brockington led the NFC with 1105 rushing yards and received consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Rookie of the Year honors. In 1972 he had a new backfield mate in HB MacArthur Lane and ran for 1027 yards as the Packers won the NFC Central, achieving All-NFC honors and again being selected to the Pro Bowl.

1973 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 265 [4]

Most attempts, game – 28 (for 137 yds.) vs. St. Louis 11/11

Yards – 1144 [2, 1^st in NFC]

Most yards, game – 142 yards (on 22 carries) at Chicago 12/16

Average gain – 4.3 [19]

TDs – 3

100-yard rushing games – 5

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 16

Most receptions, game – 3 (for 17 yds.) vs. New Orleans 12/2

Yards – 128

Most yards, game – 45 (on 2 catches) at New England 11/18

Average gain – 8.0

TDs – 0

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 0

TDs – 0

INT – 0

Scoring

TDs – 3

Points – 18

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: NEA

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, PFWA

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

Pro Bowl

Packers went 5-7-2 to finish third in the NFC Central.

Aftermath:

After having become the first player in NFL history to reach a thousand rushing yards in each of his first three years, Brockington found the going more difficult over time as the team’s lack of a credible passing attack had defenses keying on stopping the ground game. After gaining 883 yards rushing in 1974, in addition to catching a career-high 43 passes, his production dropped sharply as the wear and tear of his punishing, straight-ahead running style began to take its toll and he never again gained as many as 500 yards in a season. Released by the Packers early in the 1977 season, he finished up with the Kansas City Chiefs. Overall, Brockington rushed for 5185 yards on 1347 carries (all but 161 yards and 54 carries coming with Green Bay) and caught 157 passes for 1297 yards (19 for 222 yards with the Chiefs), scoring a total of 34 touchdowns (30 rushing, four receiving). He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once, received first- or second-team All-NFL and All-NFC honors after two other seasons, and was a three-time Pro Bowl choice.

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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