One NFL player you forgot played for your favorite team
By Randy Gurzi
Earl Campbell. player. New Orleans Saints. 1984-1985. RB. 15. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
New Orleans Saints – Earl Campbell
Running backs can be some of the most exciting players to watch on an NFL team but they also have a hard time staying with one team. This has a lot to do with how quickly the players can decline once they near 30 — especially when they take a lot of abuse throughout their career.
That was the case with Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell who was one of the best players in the NFL while with the Houston Oilers. The Texas Longhorns product was drafted first overall in 1978 by Houston and he ran all over the league as a rookie with 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns.
His next two campaigns were even better as he had 1,697 yards and 19 touchdowns in 1979 and a career-high 1,934 yards in 1980 with 13 more touchdowns. Campbell was even named the NFL MVP for the work he did in 1979 — although he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year (and rushing champion) for each of his first three NFL seasons.
During his seven seasons with the Oilers, Campbell was a monster but he was also hit an awful lot as he had 1,979 carries and there were five seasons where he had more than 300 carries. While that was taking its toll, even worse was the way the running back felt about his coaching staff and their struggles.
By midseason in 1984, Campbell was able to convince the team to trade him and they received a first-round pick for a 29-year-old running back. It was a smart move for them as Campbell played just the final eight games that season in New Orleans as well as the 1985 campaign before calling it a career.
Being reunited with his former coach Bum Phillps helped him personally, but on the field, he managed just 833 yards and one touchdown in the Big Easy.