Eric Dickerson has been called may things over the years. Being bashful isn’t one of them. Aways one to voice his opinions, Dickerson’s breathtaking runs during his college and pro careers were more jaw-dropping than some of his newsworthy headlines.
Part of SMU’s “Pony Express” backfield with Craig James, Dickerson didn’t share a backfield, or take a backseat, to any other back during the ’80s. One of the NFL’s best players during the 1980s, Dickerson dominated the gridiron while carving out a career that was ultimately immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dickerson was the focal point of John Robinson’s 47-Gap, one of the most devastating players in NFL history.
Here are five fast facts about Dickerson, who recently celebrated his 64th birthday.
1. Rookie record
Dickerson’s rookie season has stood the test of time. During the ’83 season, Dickerson rushed for a rookie record 1,808 yards while winning the first of his four rushing titles. He also ran for 18 scores while ripping off the season’s longest run, an 85-yard score against the New York Jets.
The only player that has come semi-close to matching Dickerson’s rookie record is Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who ran for 1,631 yards (third all-time) during the 2016 season.
2. Single-season rushing record
Dickerson didn’t only duplicate his rookie success in 1984, he exceeded it. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Dickerson rumbled for 2,105 yards, which continues to stand as the NFL’s single-season record. In the Rams’ second-to-last game of the season, Dickerson broke the mark currently held by O.J. Simpson, who ran for 2,003 yards in the 14-game 1973 season.
Five running backs have rushed for over 2,000 yards since Dickerson’s record-setting campaign, with Adrian Peterson coming the closest to passing his mark with his 2,097 yard season in 2012.
3. Playoff rushing record
A Texas native, Dickerson put on…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/eric-dickerson-turns-64-five-fast-facts-about-the-hall-of-fame-rb-and-owner-of-fabled-nfl-record/
Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2024-09-03 19:19:14
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