Highlighted Year: Johnny Hector, 1987

Running Back, New York Jets

Age: 27 (Nov. 26)

5^th season in pro football & with Jets

College: Texas A & M

Height: 5’11” Weight: 200

Prelude:

At Texas A & M Hector rushed for 2587 yards and 20 touchdowns and gained another 516 yards on 67 pass receptions. He was selected by the Jets in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft. Hector primarily returned kickoffs during an injury-marred rookie season and saw more action in the backfield in tandem with RB Freeman McNeil in ’84, rushing for 531 yards and catching 20 passes for 182 more yards. He gained another 572 yards on the ground in 1985. In 1986, he ran for 605 yards and showed off his ability near the goal line by scoring 8 TDs.

1987 Season Summary

Appeared in 11 of 15 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 111

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 104 yds.) at New England 12/13

Yards – 435

Most yards, game – 104 yards (on 22 carries) at New England 12/13

Average gain – 3.9

TDs – 11 [1, tied with Charles White]

100-yard rushing games – 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 32

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 34 yds.) at NY Giants 12/27

Yards – 249

Most yards, game – 51 (on 4 catches) at Buffalo 9/13

Average gain – 7.8

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 11 [2, tied with Mike Quick & Charles White, 1^st in AFC]

Points – 66

Jets went 6-9 in the strike-shortened season (three games were played with replacement players) to finish fifth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Hector spent another five seasons with the Jets performing as a capable backup and occasional starter. He rushed for 561 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1987 and gained a career-high 702 rushing yards in 1989.His overall rushing total was 4280 yards on 1051 attempts (4.1 avg.) with 41 TDs.He also caught 188 passes for 1661 additional yards and another three 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: 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: Cookie Gilchrist, 1963

Fullback, Buffalo Bills

Age: 28

8^th season in pro football, 2^nd in AFL & with Bills

College: None

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 250

Prelude:

Ever inclined to follow his own path, Gilchrist showed up at the Cleveland Browns’ training camp directly out of high school. He failed to make the team and, foregoing college, went to Canada instead where he played for seven years with three teams in the CFL. Big, fast, and multi-talented, Gilchrist excelled on both offense and defense, but also wore out his welcome with each club. He came to the Bills for the 1962 season and moved directly into the starting lineup at fullback as well as handling the team’s placekicking. Gilchrist led the AFL in rushing with 1096 yards and scored a total of 128 points on 15 touchdowns, 8 field goals, and 14 PATs. He was named AFL Player of the Year by the Associated Press and UPI and received consensus first-team All-AFL honors. Injuries hindered his performance in ’63, although he came on strong in the second half of the season.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 232 [1]

Most attempts, game – 36 (for 243 yds.) vs. NY Jets

Yards – 979 [3]

Most yards, game – 243 yards (on 36 carries) vs. NY Jets

Average gain – 4.2 [5]

TDs – 12 [1]

200-yard rushing games – 1

100-yard rushing games – 3

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 24      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 36 yds.) vs. San Diego 11/17

Yards – 211

Most yards, game – 58 (on 3 catches) vs. Denver 11/9

Average gain – 8.8

TDs – 2

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 1

Yards – 35 [19]

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 0

Scoring

TDs – 14 [2]

Points – 84 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (AFL Eastern Division playoff vs. Boston)

Rushing attempts – 8

Rushing yards – 7

Average gain rushing – 0.9

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 1

Pass receiving yards – 11

Average yards per reception – 11.0

Pass receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFL: NY Daily News

2^nd team All-AFL: AP, UPI

AFL All-Star Game

Bills went 7-6-1 to tie for first place in the AFL Eastern Division. Lost Divisional playoff to Boston Patriots (26-8).

Aftermath:

Gilchrist led the AFL in rushing for a second time in 1964 (981 yards) in a title-winning year for the Bills, but became embroiled in conflict with Coach Lou Saban, was briefly suspended from the team, and in the offseason was dealt to the Denver Broncos. He again led the AFL in rushing attempts (252) as he ran for 954 yards in 1965. However, there was more turmoil and Gilchrist was traded to the expansion Miami Dolphins during the ’66 season where, playing on bad knees, he gained 262 yards in eight games. He returned to Denver in 1967 but saw scant action and retired. Altogether, Gilchrist rushed for 9204 yards (4911 in the CFL, 4293 in the AFL), caught 196 passes for 2203 more yards (86 for 1068 yards in the CFL, 110 for 1135 yards in the AFL), and scored 78 TDs (35 in the CFL, 43 in the AFL). An outstanding blocker as well as runner from scrimmage, he received consensus first-team All-AFL honors three times and was selected to four AFL All-Star Games.

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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: James Stewart, 1999

Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 28 (Dec. 27)

5^th season in pro football & with Jaguars

College: Tennessee

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 224

Prelude:

Stewart rushed for 2890 yards in college, with 1028 as a senior in 1994, and also gained another 463 yards on 54 pass receptions while scoring a total of 39 touchdowns. He was chosen by the expansion Jaguars in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft (19^th overall), who were attracted by his ability to catch out of the backfield as well as his size and speed. Struggling early, he led the club with 525 rushing yards as a rookie. Stewart performed well in 1996 before a toe injury sidelined him late in the season, after gaining 723 yards on the ground, catching 30 passes, and scoring 10 touchdowns. He was primarily a backup to veteran RB Natrone Means in ’97, although he accumulated 555 rushing yards and 336 more on 41 catches, and had a five-touchdown performance against the Eagles. A knee injury cost him all but the first three games of the 1998 season and hastened the emergence of rookie RB Fred Taylor, which again put Stewart in a backup role heading into ’99, but an injury to Taylor put him back in the lineup.

1999 Season Summary

Appeared in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 249 [16]

Most attempts, game – 30 (for 145 yds.) vs. Pittsburgh 12/2

Yards – 931 [17]

Most yards, game – 145 yards (on 30 carries) vs. Pittsburgh 12/2

Average gain – 3.7

TDs – 13 [2, tied with Edgerrin James, 1^st in AFC]

100-yard rushing games – 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 21      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 53 yds.) vs. New Orleans 11/21

Yards – 108

Most yards, game – 53 (on 5 catches) vs. New Orleans 11/21

Average gain – 5.1

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 13 [3, tied with Cris Carter, Eddie George & Emmitt Smith]

Points – 78

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 14

Most rushing attempts, game – 11 vs. Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 97

Most rushing yards, game – 62 vs. Miami, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 6.9

Rushing TDs – 2

Jaguars went 14-2 to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the conference in rushing yards (2091). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Miami Dolphins (62-7). Lost AFC Championship to Tennessee Titans (33-14).

Aftermath:

With Fred Taylor expected to regain the starting job, Stewart signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 2000. He rushed for 1184 yards and 10 touchdowns, although averaging only 3.5 yards-per-carry. While the average improved to 4.8 yards in 2001, Stewart appeared in only 11 games due to ankle problems. In 2002, he gained 1021 yards and caught a career-high 46 passes for 333 yards, but a shoulder injury suffered during the ’03 preseason finished his career. Overall, Stewart rushed for 5841 yards on 1478 carries (4.0 avg.) and caught 220 passes for 1715 yards, scoring a total of 57 touchdowns. Of that, 2951 rushing yards and 853 receiving yards on 119 receptions came with the Jaguars, as well as 38 of the 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: Dutch Clark, 1931

Tailback/Defensive Back, Portsmouth Spartans

Age: 25 (Oct. 11)

1^st season in pro football

College: Colorado College

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 182

Prelude:

Clark started at quarterback for three years at Colorado College and received first-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press in 1928, a season in which he rushed for 1349 yards, despite playing for a small college. After spending a year as an assistant coach at the school, he joined the Spartans.

1931 Season Summary

Appeared in 11 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Scoring

Rushing TDs – 9 [1]

Receiving TDs – 0

Other TDs – 0

Total TDs – 9 [2]

Field Goals – 0

Extra Points – 6 [5]

Points – 60 [3]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: League, UPI, Collyers Eye

Spartans went 11-3 to finish second in the NFL.

Aftermath:

Clark had another outstanding year for the Spartans in 1932, rushing for 461 yards and leading the league in scoring with 55 points, and again receiving consensus first-team All-NFL recognition. He became head coach at the Colorado School of Mines in 1933 but returned to the team, which was now the Detroit Lions, in ’34 and continued from where he had left off, rushing for a career-high 763 yards, which ranked third in the NFL, and scoring 73 points, which placed second. An all-purpose tailback in a ground-oriented single-wing offense, Clark also excelled on defense and was a fine drop-kicker. In seven seasons with the Spartans/Lions, he led the league in rushing touchdowns and scoring three times, was part of a record-setting defense that had seven straight shutouts in 1934, and a key component in Detroit’s NFL Championship season in ’35. Overall, he rushed for 2772 yards while averaging 4.6 yards-per-carry, caught 28 passes for 341 yards, and passed for 1507 yards and 11 TDs. Clark scored 42 touchdowns and kicked 15 field goals and 72 PATs for a total of 369 points. He was a consensus first team All-NFL selection in six of his seven seasons, the Lions retired his number, and Clark was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Charter Member in 1963. An excellent leader, he also coached the Lions in 1937 and ’38 and, following his playing career, was head coach of the Rams for four seasons.  

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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: Ron Davenport, 1985

Fullback, Miami Dolphins

Age: 23 (Dec. 22)

1^st season in pro football

College: Louisville

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 225

Prelude:

In college, Davenport rushed for 1477 yards on 369 carries (4.0 avg.) and caught 55 passes for another 532 and scored a total of 18 touchdowns. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft and proved to be an outstanding short-yardage runner near the goal line and in third down situations.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 98

Most attempts, game – 12 (for 49 yds.) vs. Indianapolis 9/15, (for 55 yds.) vs. Kansas City 9/22

Yards – 370

Most yards, game – 57 yards (on 6 carries) vs. Buffalo 12/22

Average gain – 3.8

TDs – 11 [3, tied with Marcus Allen, 1^st in AFC]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 13      

Most receptions, game – 4 (for 23 yds.) at Buffalo 11/24

Yards – 74

Most yards, game – 23 (on 4 catches) at Buffalo 11/24

Average gain – 5.7

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 13 [5, tied with Daryl Turner]

Points – 78

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 9

Most rushing attempts, game – 6 vs. Cleveland, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 54

Most rushing yards, game – 48 vs. Cleveland, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 6.0

Rushing TDs – 2

Pass receptions – 3

Most pass receptions, game – 3 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Pass receiving yards – 23

Most pass receiving yards, game – 23 vs. New England, AFC Championship

Average yards per reception – 7.7

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Dolphins went 12-4 to finish first in the AFC East. Won AFC Divisional playoff over Cleveland Browns (24-21). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (31-14).

Aftermath:

Davenport spent another four seasons with the Dolphins, but his first remained his most productive. He ran for 314 yards in 1986 but with no rushing TDs and scored just two more in the remainder of his time with the club. He was utilized more as a receiver out of the backfield and achieved career highs with 30 receptions for 282 yards in 1988. Competing with FB Woody Bennett, a better pass blocker, and effective in spurts, Davenport was also inconsistent. Overall, he rushed for 1127 yards on 374 attempts (4.1 avg.), caught 93 passes for 801 yards, and scored 17 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: 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: Jimmy Conzelman, 1922

Back, Rock Island Independents/Milwaukee Badgers

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football, 2^nd with Independents

College: Washington (MO)

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 175

Prelude:

Conzelman spent two years in the Navy during World War I and was a member of the Great Lakes Navy team that won the 1919 Rose Bowl. He returned to Washington Univ. in St. Louis, where he had started out prior to the war, for the 1919 season and joined his Great Lakes teammate George Halas with his newly-organized Decatur Staleys team in the fledgling NFL (then the APFA) for 1920. A natural leader, Conzelman became player-coach of the Rock Island Independents during the 1921 season and, while he stayed on in ’22, he joined the Milwaukee Badgers after Rock Island had played out its schedule, also serving as player/coach.

1922 Season Summary

Appeared in 7 games with Rock Island, 3 with Milwaukee

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

TDs – 3 [1]

Scoring

Rushing TDs – 7 [1]

Receiving TDs – 0

Other TDs – 0

Total TDs – 7 [1, tied with Guy Chamberlin]

Field Goals – 2 [6, tied with four others]

Extra Points – 0

Points – 48 [2]

Independents went 4-2-1 to finish fifth in the NFL while leading the league in rushing TDs (19, tied with Canton) and ranking second in total TDs (22) and scoring (154 points).

Badgers went 2-4-3 to finish eleventh in the NFL.

Aftermath:

Conzelman spent another season with the Badgers in 1923, who finished in fourth place. He received first-team All-NFL honors from the Canton Daily News and was a second-team choice of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Conzelman was a player only in ’24 and became owner of his own franchise, the Detroit Panthers, in 1925. Conzelman sold the Panthers and became player/coach of the Providence Steam Roller in ’27, leading them to the NFL Championship in 1928. A knee injury curtailed his playing time and his playing career ended in 1929. As a player, he appeared in 104 games, scored 26 touchdowns, and kicked three field goals and four PATs for a total of 169 points. Conzelman coached at the minor league and college level until returning to the NFL as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1940. He left after three seasons to work for major league baseball’s St. Louis Browns, but returned to the Cards and led them to two Western Division titles and the 1947 NFL Championship. His NFL coaching record was 87-63-17 and his teams won two league titles. Conzelman was a multi-talented individual who at various times was an actor, author, songwriter, sportswriter, playwright, orator, and baseball player and executive. For his pro football exploits, most notably his coaching, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1964.

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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: Maurice Jones-Drew, 2009

Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 24

4^th season in pro football & with Jaguars

College: UCLA

Height: 5’7”   Weight: 208

Prelude:

The undersized Jones-Drew displayed outstanding all-purpose skill in college, receiving consensus All-American honors for his kick returning and earning second-team Pac-10 recognition as a running back. He was chosen by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft and, splitting time with veteran RB Fred Taylor, rushed for 941 yards and 13 TDs as a rookie. Jones-Drew also caught 46 passes for 436 yards and two more scores and returned 31 kickoffs for a 27.7-yard average and another touchdown, to give him a total of 16 TDs in addition to 2250 total yards. Expected to be more of a third-down back, he proved tough enough to run between the tackles and had the speed to be a breakaway threat. Jones-Drew gained another 2014 yards in much the same fashion in ’07. He saw his kick returns decrease but rushing attempts increase in 2008 and he gained 824 yards on the ground and caught a career-high 62 passes for 565 yards to total 1389 yards from scrimmage and score 14 TDs. Taylor was released and Jones-Drew, who was signed to a contract extension, became the starting running back, although there were concerns about his ability to withstand injury in an increased role.

2009 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 312 [5]

Most attempts, game – 33 (for 133 yds.) vs. St. Louis 10/18

Yards – 1391 [4]

Most yards, game – 177 yards (on 8 carries) at Tennessee 11/1

Average gain – 4.5 [18]

TDs – 15 [2, 1^st in AFC]

100-yard rushing games – 5

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 53      

Most receptions, game – 5 on five occasions

Yards – 374

Most yards, game – 45 (on 5 catches) vs. St. Louis 10/18

Average gain – 7.1

TDs – 1

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 4  

Yards – 102

Average per return – 25.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 30 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 19

Average per return – 9.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 12 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1886 [9]

Scoring

TDs – 16 [2, tied with Chris Johnson, 1^st in AFC]

Points – 96

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: Pro Football Focus, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Jaguars went 7-9 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

“MJD” went to the Pro Bowl following each of the next two seasons. He gained 1641 yards from scrimmage in 2010 and led the NFL in rushing with 1606 yards in 2011, when he was also a consensus first-team All-NFL selection. But after three years of impressive durability in which he missed just two games due to injury, Jones-Drew was sidelined by a foot injury that cost him most of the 2012 season. He came back in 2013 to play in 15 games but averaged only 3.4 yards per carry in rushing for 803 yards and was allowed to depart to Oakland as a free agent in ’14, where he saw scant action after breaking his hand in the first week and retired in the offseason. Overall, Jones-Drew rushed for 8167 yards on 1847 attempts (4.4 avg.) and 68 touchdowns, caught 346 passes for 2944 yards (8.5 avg.) and 11 TDs, returned 79 kickoffs for a 26.0 avg. and another two TDs and averaged 8.9 on 15 punt returns. All but 167 of his yards from scrimmage came with Jacksonville, and he gained 13,277 total yards and scored 81 touchdowns, all with the Jaguars, making him the franchise’s career leader. Jones-Drew was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection once, received other first- or second-team honors after two other seasons, and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.

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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: Ernie Caddel, 1935

Wingback, Detroit Lions

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Spartans/Lions

College: Stanford

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 198

Prelude:

Caddel went to Stanford on a baseball scholarship but was recruited to the football team by legendary Head Coach Glenn “Pop” Warner. Noted for his spectacular running ability, he pioneered in the use of playing while wearing a flak jacket after suffering two broken ribs. Caddel signed with the Portsmouth Spartans in 1933 and “The Blond Antelope” gained 393 yards from scrimmage (282 rushing, 107 receiving) and followed up with 655 total yards in 1934, the franchise’s first season as the Detroit Lions. His 528 rushing yards ranked fifth in the NFL.

1935 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 87 [12]

Yards – 450 [2]

Yards per attempt – 5.2 [1]

TDs – 6 [1]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 10 [11, tied with Wayland Becker & Flavio Tosi]

Yards – 171 [12]

Yards per catch – 17.1 [5]

TDs – 0

Passing

Attempts – 6

Completions – 4

Yards – 169 [16, tied with Doug Nott]

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

Interceptions – 1

All-Purpose yards – 621 [1]

Scoring

TDs – 6 [2, tied with Dutch Clark, Dale Burnett & Bill Karr]     

Points – 36 [3, tied with Dale Burnett & Bill Karr]

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship vs. NY Giants)

Rushing attempts – 16

Rushing yards – 62

Average gain rushing – 3.9

Rushing TDs – 1

Kickoff returns – 2

Kickoff return yards – 25

Average yards per reception – 12.5

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Longest return – 25 yards

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: League, Chicago Daily News

2^nd team All-NFL: UPI

Lions went 7-3-2 to finish first in the NFL Western Division while ranking second in the league in rushing yards (1773), touchdowns (25), and scoring (191 points). Won NFL Championship over New York Giants (26-7).

Aftermath:

Caddel achieved career highs for rushing (580 yards), pass receptions (19), and total yards (730) in 1936. He also led the league in yards per carry (6.4) for the second straight season. Caddel received second-team All-NFL recognition from the league and the Chicago Daily News in both 1936 and ’37, a year in which he again had the NFL’s best yards per carry average (5.6) while rushing for 429 yards. He retired following an injury-plagued season in 1938. Overall, Caddel rushed for 2311 yards on 443 carries (5.2 avg.) and caught 54 passes for 641 yards (11.9 avg.), totaling 2952 combined yards and scoring 26 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