Most rushing yards per game. As usual Herschel is the outlier, with so many receiving yards on his resume. Of the backs on this list, only Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith played in more NFL games than Walker's 187. Herschel’s 240 games played as a pro are among the most ever for a RB.
Backs earn Pro Bowl and All Pro status because of their high rushing totals (especially back in the late 80’s & early 90’s), yet every year Herschel was gaining similar numbers rushing and receiving. As one of the first prolific pass-catching running backs, only later did PFHOF electors begin to take notice, enshrining Faulk and Tomlinson. Roger Craig has been shut out as well.
When Herschel retired, only Brown, Payton, Sims, and Dickerson had averaged more combined yards per NFL game. Only Walter had played in more NFL games.
avg.games.year.combined yards
134. 053 1985 07115 134 Herschel USFL (comb yds)
104. 118 1965 15459 131 Jim Brown = 131 yd/game
85.1 060 1984 07178 120 Billy Sims = 119.6 yd/game
88.0 190 1987 21803 115 Walter Payton = 114.8 yd/game
90.8 146 1993 15396 105 Eric Dickerson = 105.5 yd/game
105. 240 1997 25283 105 Herschel NFL+USFL 105.3 comb yd/gm
105. 053 1985 05562 105 Herschel USFL rushing only 104.9
97.2 187 1997 18168 Herschel Walker NFL (comb yd)
83.2 135 1979 13378 OJ Simpson
81.8 115 1985 10213 Earl Campbell
78.0 092 1987 07544 George Rogers
Of those who retired after Herschel, several averaged more combined yards per game, but only Emmitt played in more games. Tomlinson came close to Walker’s number of games played.
99.8 153 1998 18308 119.7 Barry Sanders
97.5 078 2001 08887 113.9 Terrell Davis
87.8 113 2010 11941 105.7 Clinton Portis
83.9 168 2005 17430 103.8 Curtis Martin
82.7 148 2009 15610 105.5 Edgerrin James
81.6 080 2016 08873 110.9 Adrian Foster
81.2 226 2004 21579 099.5 Emmitt Smith
81.0 131 2009 12486 095.3 Jamal Lewis
80.2 170 2011 18456 108.6 Ladainian Tomlinson
76.9 123 2008 10973 Shaun Alexander
76.4 153 2010 14079 Fred Taylor
74.9 150 2006 13154 Corey Dillon
74.2 130 2017 11923 Chris Johnson
74.0 141 2004 12668 Eddie George
Several active players are starting to compile impressive numbers. Adrian Peterson has numbers comparable to Herschel, and will probably receive much more consideration from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
93.1 032 2021 03639 Jonathan Taylor
86.1 056 2021 06319 Dalvin Cook
83.9 088 2021 09630 Ezekiel Elliott
83.0 056 2021 05567 Nick Chubb
81.1 184 2021 17808 96.8 Adrian Peterson
79.0 086 2021 07643 Derrick Henry
Herschel’s USFL numbers are off the charts. I usually don’t include them, but it’s fun to see how much higher they are than everyone else’s.
Finished a short book by Reese Witherspoon “Whiskey in a Teacup” about her childhood in the South, which included recipes and entertaining tips. I’m always up for a good book about the South, though this one didn’t quite hit it out of the park for me.
Listened to Chipper’s outspoken interview on 680 the Fan. Interesting and educational. Said a player has to make sure his agent is working for the player, not vice versa. Too many agents just want to land the most money. Chipper’s first concern was staying in Atlanta, even if it meant taking less money. Last July Jones told Freddie that if Freeman if he didn’t sign before becoming a free agent, teams with the most money would come calling with the most money, and the Braves would have to do what was in their own best interest – and that’s exactly what happened.
Friday I worked late, finishing a report. Saturday morning I played golf. One of the two regulars had an early t-ball game, and had to miss. Drove straight home.
Worked around the house on Saturday, unpacking and reselving books. Also got all my scrapbook calendars together in one place, every year back to 1984. Since 2000 I’ve used the same style black calendar. Did some laundry. Later I drove Ceil around on various errands. Homemade pizza for supper. M joined us.
Watched UNC beat Baylor, an outcome I had picked. My two finalists have been knocked out: Auburn and Kentucky. But supposedly I still have the second-best chance of winning the office pool.
M has an upstart cake baking business. This weekend he baked a strawberry cake for someone is knew. Plain cakes are $35. Fancier cakes, like with fruit, cost $45.00.
Sunday school and worship. Chicken salad sandwich for lunch. Nap. Laundry. Cut the grass.
JOE TINKER [SABR Bio] hit an inside-the-park home run off Christy Mathewson, in the game with the mental error that came to be known as Merkle's Boner, Tinker hit a game-tying HR against NYG’s Mathewson just prior to Fred Merkle's baserunning gaff. Tinker is one of a few major leaguers with a twin. She died at a very young age. Famous major leaguers with twins: Jose Canseco and Richie Ashburn. After twelve very successful seasons with the Cubs (1902-1913), Tinker joined the Federal League as a player/manager with the Chicago Chi-Feds. They changed their name to the Whales for the 1916 season & won the league’s pennant. He returned briefly to CHC after the Federal League folded. An enormous metal baseball has been erected in his honor in his hometown. Muscotah, Kansas now houses this giant curiosity.
Interview with Bill Murray.
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