List of the Day: Progression of Individual Season All-Purpose Yardage Record

Derrick Mason

NOTE: Information not available for the first three AFLs (1926, 1936-37, 1940-41), WFL (1974-75), and XFL (2001)

Key: rush = rushing, rec = pass receiving, int = interception returns, pr = punt returns, kr = kickoff returns, other = other or unknown, * = led league in category

NFL
709- Cliff Battles, Boston Braves, 1932
(576 rush*, 60 rec, 73 other)

922- Cliff Battles, Boston Redskins, 1933
(737 rush, 185 rec)

1181- Beattie Feathers, Chicago Bears, 1934
(1004 rush*, 174 rec, 3 other)

1236- Marshall Goldberg, Chicago Cardinals, 1941
(427 rush, 313 rec, 152 pr, 290 kr*, 54 int)

1349- Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1942
(696 rush*, 24 rec, 271 pr*, 298 kr, 60 int)

1607- Harry Clarke, Chicago Bears, 1943
(556 rush, 535 rec, 158 pr, 326 kr, 32 int)

1620- Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1946
(604 rush*, 109 rec, 385 pr*, 280 kr, 242 int*)

1846- Eddie Saenz, Washington Redskins, 1947
(143 rush, 598 rec, 308 pr, 797 kr*)

1896- Billy Grimes, Green Bay Packers, 1950
(480 rush, 261 rec, 555 pr*, 600 kr)

2306- Timmy Brown, Philadelphia Eagles, 1962
(545 rush, 849 rec, 81 pr, 831 kr)

2428- Timmy Brown, Philadelphia Eagles, 1963
(841 rush, 487 rec, 152 pr, 945 kr*, 3 other)

2440- Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears, 1966
(1231 rush*, 447 rec, 44 pr, 718 kr)

2444- Mack Herron, New England Patriots, 1974
(824 rush, 474 rec, 517 pr, 629 kr)

2462- Terry Metcalf, St. Louis Cardinals, 1975
(816 rush, 378 rec, 285 pr, 960 kr, 23 other)

2535- Lionel James, San Diego Chargers, 1985
(516 rush, 1027 rec, 213 pr, 779 kr)

2690- Derrick Mason, Tennessee Titans, 2000
(1 rush, 895 rec, 662 pr*, 1132 kr)


Cliff Battles



Timmy Brown



Mack Herron

AAFC (1946-49)
1691- Spec Sanders, New York Yankees, 1946
(709 rush*, 259 rec, 257 pr, 395 kr, 71 int)

2265- Spec Sanders, New York Yankees, 1947
(1432 rush*, 13 rec, 164 pr, 593 kr, 63 int)

2288- Chet Mutryn, Buffalo Bills, 1948
(823 rush, 794 rec, 171 pr, 500 kr)


AFL (1960-69)
2100- Abner Haynes, Dallas Texans, 1960
(875 rush*, 576 rec, 215 pr*, 434 kr)

2147- Dick Christy, New York Titans, 1962
(535 rush, 538 rec, 250 pr*, 824 kr*)


Dick Christy


USFL (1983-85)
2370- Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1983
(1812 rush*, 489 rec, 69 kr)

2878- Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1985
(2411 rush*, 467 rec)



"Bullet Bill" Dudley



Herschel Walker

List of the Day: Progression of Individual Season Rushing Record

Eric Dickerson

NOTE: The NFL first began tracking individual rushing yards in 1932. Information not available for the first three AFLs (1926, 1936-37, 1940-41)

NFL
576- Cliff Battles, Boston Braves, 1932
(148 att., 3.9 avg., 3 TD)

809- Jim Musick, Boston Redskins, 1933
(173 att., 4.7 avg., 5 TD)

1004- Beattie Feathers, Chicago Bears, 1934
(119 att., 8.4 avg., 8 TD)

1008- Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles, 1947
(217 att., 4.6 avg., 13 TD)

1146- Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles, 1949
(263 att., 4.4 avg., 11 TD)

1527- Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, 1958
(257 att., 5.9 avg., 17 TD)

1863- Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, 1963
(291 att., 6.4 avg., 12 TD)

2003- O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills, 1973
(332 att., 6.0 avg., 12 TD)

2105- Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams, 1984
(379 att., 5.6 avg., 14 TD)


Steve Van Buren



Jim Brown


AAFC (1946-49)
709- Spec Sanders, New York Yankees, 1946
(140 att., 5.1 avg., 6 TD)

1432- Spec Sanders, New York Yankees, 1947
(231 att., 6.2 avg., 18 TD)


AFL (1960-69)
875- Abner Haynes, Dallas Texans, 1960
(156 att., 5.6 avg., 9 TD)

948- Billy Cannon, Houston Oilers, 1961
(200 att., 4.7 avg., 6 TD)

1096- Cookie Gilchrist, Buffalo Bills, 1962
(214 att., 5.1 avg., 13 TD)

1099- Clem Daniels, Oakland Raiders, 1963
(215 att., 5.1 avg., 3 TD)

1121- Paul Lowe, San Diego Chargers, 1965
(222 att., 5.0 avg., 6 TD)

1458- Jim Nance, Boston Patriots, 1966
(299 att., 4.9 avg., 11 TD)





Jim Nance


WFL (1974-75)
1576- Tommy Reamon, Florida Blazers, 1974
(386 att., 4.1 avg., 11 TD)


USFL (1983-85)
1812- Herschal Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1983
(412 att., 4.4 avg., 17 TD)

2411- Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1985
(438 att., 5.5 avg., 21 TD)


XFL (2001)
800- John Avery, Chicago Enforcers
(150 att., 5.3 avg., 5 TD)


Herschel Walker

List of the Day: Just for Fun - Favorite Nicknames

Part 2


"Crazylegs" Hirsch

The second installment of favorite pro football player nicknames.

Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch
Hall of Fame end for the Rams who started out as a HB with the AAFC’s Rockets.

“The Mad Bomber”, Daryle Lamonica
Well-suited to Oakland’s downfield passing game after backing up at QB in Buffalo. His career ended in the WFL.

Joe “Turkey” Jones
DE with the Browns, Eagles, and Redskins from 1970-80.

Willie “Flipper” Anderson
WR with four teams from 1988-97, but had his best years early on with the Rams and gained a record 336 receiving yards in a 1989 game.

“Slingshot Davey” O’Brien
The first Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NFL, the 5’7”, 150-pound QB filled the air with passes for two seasons with the dreadful Eagles in 1939-40.

Dave “Deacon” Jones
Hall of Fame DE who had his best seasons with the Rams. The player who coined the term “sack” was one of the best at rushing the passer.

Tom “The Bomb” Tracy
5’9”, 205-pound HB for the Lions, Steelers, and Redskins from 1956-64.

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams
Broke in with a bang with the Bucs in 2005, and has suffered through an injury-plagued career since.

Alan “The Horse” Ameche
Colts FB from 1955-60 after Heisman-winning college career, he led the NFL in rushing as a rookie 1955, scored the sudden-death TD for the Colts in the 1958 title game.

“Automatic Jack” Manders
All-purpose back and premier placekicker of his era with the Bears from 1933-40.


Tom "The Bomb" Tracy



"Turkey" Jones



"Wild Man" Willey

“Bullet Bill” Dudley
Hall of Fame HB with the Steelers, Lions, and Redskins in 1942 and then ’45-53.

Carl “Spider” Lockhart
Spindly 6’2”, 175-pound FS for the Giants from 1965-75.

Bill “Earthquake” Enyart
Otherwise-unmemorable RB/LB with the Bills and Raiders, 1969-71.

Ed “Too Tall” Jones
6’9”, 271-pound DE for the Cowboys, 1974-89, with a year off in ’79 to try his hand at boxing.

“Pitchin’ Paul” Governali
QB with the Boston Yanks and NY Giants, 1946-48.

Norm “Wild Man” Willey
Star DE for the Eagles from 1950-57. The nickname says it all.

“Touchdown Tommy” Wilson
RB with the Rams, Browns, and Vikings from 1956-63 who once held the single-game rushing record.

“Deacon Dan” Towler
The first “Deacon” with the Rams, a FB from 1950-55 who led the NFL in rushing in ’52 and retired to church ministry.

Bob “The Boomer” Brown
6’4”, 280-pound Hall of Fame OT with the Eagles, Rams, and Raiders known as a punishing blocker.

“Mean Joe” Greene
Hall of Fame DT who earned four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers from 1969-81 and made a memorable soft drink commercial.


"Mean Joe" Greene



Bob "The Boomer" Brown



"Too Tall" Jones

List of the Day: Just for Fun - Favorite Nicknames

Part 1


Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd & Noland "Super Gnat" Smith

Just for something fun and a bit different, here is a list of twenty of my favorite pro football player nicknames – some have been favorites for many years, others I’ve discovered in the course of my researching. These are by-and-large not ranked, and another installment will follow later in the week.

Dick “Night Train” Lane
The Hall of Fame defensive back with the Rams, Cardinals, and Lions from 1952-65 had an all-time great nickname.

Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb
A memorable 6’6”, 284 pound defensive lineman for the Rams, Colts, and Steelers from 1953-62, was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times before coming to an untimely end.

Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds
Spent a decade at LB for the Rams, then helped the 49ers win two championships.

Noland “Super Gnat” Smith
The 5’5”, 154-pound WR/KR once returned a kickoff 106 yards for the Chiefs in his brief career.

“The Catawba Claw”, Bucky Pope
A one-year wonder with the Rams in 1964 with 25 catches for a 31.4-yard average gain and 10 TDs.

“Broadway Joe” Namath
No introduction necessary. The nickname fit the quarterback and the celebrity.

“Super Bill” Bradley
A free-spirited free safety for the Eagles who led the NFL in interceptions in 1971 and ’72 and went to three Pro Bowls.

L.G. “Long Gone” Dupre
HB with the Colts in their 50s championship years and then an original member of the Cowboys.

Ken “The Snake” Stabler
Daring and exciting quarterback for the Raiders, Oilers, and Saints

Ross “Timber Beast” Carter
Lineman for the Cardinals from 1936-39.


"Night Train" Lane



"Broadway Joe"



"The Catawba Claw"

John “Shipwreck” Kelly
All-purpose back who led the NFL in pass receiving with Brooklyn in 1933.

Clyde “Smackover” Scott
HB on both offense and defense, primarily with the Eagles from 1949-52.

Paul “Tank” Younger
A 6’3”, 225-pound FB/LB who played primarily with the Rams from 1949-58.

Jim “Cannonball” Butler
RB/KR, primarily with the Steelers and Falcons from 1965-72.

Danny “Lightning” Buggs
Played with the Giants and Redskins in the NFL, Edmonton in the CFL, but had his best season with Tampa Bay in the USFL.

Joe “Big Bird” Lavender
6’4”, 190-pound CB who started out with the Eagles in 1973 but had his best years in Washington.

Len “Bear Tracks”/“Feets” Barnum
Two great nicknames for the otherwise-forgettable all-purpose back and kicker for the Giants and Eagles from 1938-42.

Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd
6’9” and listed as high as 315 pounds, he was considered the biggest player in pro football with the Chargers, Oilers, and Chiefs from 1961-68.

“The Beast”, E.J. Holub
Played both center and linebacker during his AFL career with the Dallas Texans/KC Chiefs from 1961-70.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
Exciting kick returner as well as wide receiver, mostly with the Oilers and Falcons from 1974-87.


"Super Bill" Bradley



"Long Gone" Dupre



"Big Daddy" Lipscomb

List of the Day: Progression of Individual Season Interception Record

Dick "Night Train" Lane

NOTE: The NFL first began tracking individual interceptions in 1940. Information not available for the first three AFLs (1926, 1936-37, 1940-41)

NFL
6- Ace Parker, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1940
6- Kent Ryan, Detroit Lions, 1940
6- Don Hutson, Green Bay Packers, 1940

7- Marshall Goldberg, Chicago Cardinals, 1941
7- Art Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1941

8- Bulldog Turner, Chicago Bears, 1942

11- Sammy Baugh, Washington Redskins, 1943

13- Dan Sandifer, Washington Redskins, 1948
13- Spec Sanders, New York Yanks, 1950

14- Dick “Night Train” Lane, Los Angeles Rams, 1952


Sammy Baugh



Dan Sandifer

AAFC (1946-49)
10- Tom Colella, Cleveland Browns, 1946

11- Otto Schnellbacher, New York Yankees, 1948


AFL (1960-69)
11- Goose Gonsoulin, Denver Broncos, 1960
11- Lee Riley, New York Titans, 1962

12- Fred Glick, Houston Oilers, 1963
12- Dainard Paulson, New York Jets, 1964





WFL (1974-75)
10- David Thomas, Memphis Southmen, 1974


USFL (1983-85)
12- Luther Bradley, Chicago Blitz, 1983
12- Marcus Quinn, Oakland Invaders, 1984

16- Chuck Clanton, Birmingham Stallions, 1985


XFL (2001)
5- Corey Ivy, Chicago Enforcers


Luther Bradley

List of the Day: Progression of Individual Season TD Pass Record

Tom Brady

NOTE: While the NFL adopted AFL (1960-69) records retroactively at the time of the 1970 merger, I have chosen to treat the AFL as a separate entity. The NFL list reflects that distinction.

NFL
7- Elmer Oliphant, Buffalo All-Americans, 1921

9- Hoge Workman, Cleveland Bulldogs, 1924
9- Red Dunn, Chicago Cardinals, 1925

11- Benny Friedman, Cleveland Bulldogs, 1927

20- Benny Friedman, New York Giants, 1929

24- Cecil Isbell, Green Bay Packers, 1942

28- Sid Luckman, Chicago Bears, 1943

32- Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts, 1959
32- Sonny Jurgensen, Philadelphia Eagles, 1961

33- Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants, 1962

36- Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants, 1963

48- Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1984

49- Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, 2004

50- Tom Brady, New England Patriots, 2007


Benny Friedman



Dan Marino



Peyton Manning

AFL (1926)
9- George Pease, New York Yankees


AFL (1936-37)
9- Hank Soar, Boston Shamrocks, 1936


AFL (1940-41)
5- Bill Hutchinson, New York Yankees, 1940
5- Al Novakofski, Milwaukee Chiefs, 1940
5- Andy Karpus, New York/Buffalo, 1941


AAFC (1946-49)
17- Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns, 1946

25- Otto Graham, Cleveland Browns, 1947

29- Frankie Albert, San Francisco 49ers, 1948


Frankie Albert

AFL (1960-69)
26- Al Dorow, New York Titans, 1960

36- George Blanda, Houston Oilers, 1961


George Blanda

WFL (1974-75)
31- Jim Corcoran, Philadelphia Bell, 1974


USFL (1983-85)
27- Bobby Hebert, Michigan Panthers, 1983

44- Jim Kelly, Houston Gamblers, 1984


XFL (2001)
18- Tommy Maddox, Los Angeles Xtreme


Jim "King" Corcoran



Jim Kelly

List of the Day: Evolution of Individual Season FG Record

Neil Rackers

NOTE: While the NFL adopted AFL (1960-69) records retroactively at the time of the 1970 merger, I have chosen to treat the AFL as a separate entity. The NFL list reflects that distinction.

NFL
5- Dutch Sternaman, Chicago Staleys, 1921
5- Elmer Oliphant, Buffalo All-Americans, 1921

8- Paddy Driscoll, Chicago Cardinals, 1922

10- Paddy Driscoll, Chicago Cardinals, 1923

11- Paddy Driscoll, Chicago Cardinals, 1925

12- Paddy Driscoll, Chicago Bears, 1926

13- Lou Groza, Cleveland Browns, 1950
(19 att., 68.4 %)
13- Bob Waterfield, Los Angeles Rams, 1951
(23 att., 56.5 %)

19- Lou Groza, Cleveland Browns, 1952
(33 att., 57.6 %)

23- Lou Groza, Cleveland Browns, 1953
(26 att., 88.5 %)

26- Lou Michaels, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1962
(42 att., 61.9 %)

28- Bruce Gossett, Los Angeles Rams, 1966
(49 att., 57.1 %)

30- Fred Cox, Minnesota Vikings, 1970
(46 att., 65.2 %)
30- Jan Stenerud, Kansas City Chiefs, 1970
(42 att., 71.4 %)

33- Chester Marcol, Green Bay Packers, 1972
(48 att., 68.8 %)

35- Ali Haji-Sheikh, New York Giants, 1983
(42 att., 83.3 %)
35- Jeff Jaeger, Los Angeles Raiders, 1993
(44 att., 79.5 %)

37- John Kasay, Carolina Panthers, 1996
(45 att., 82.2 %)

39- Olindo Mare, Miami Dolphins, 1999
(46 att., 84.8 %)
39- Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis Rams, 2003
(42 att., 92.9 %)

40- Neil Rackers, Arizona Cardinals, 2005
(42 att., 95.2 %)


Paddy Driscoll


Lou Groza

AFL (1926)
9- Joey Sternaman, Chicago Bulls

AFL (1936-37)
6- Harry Newman, Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers, 1936

AFL (1940-41)
5- Bob Eckl, Milwaukee Chiefs, 1940

9- Phil Martinovich, New York Americans, 1941

AAFC (1946-49)
13- Lou Groza, Cleveland Browns, 1946
(29 att., 44.8 %)

15- Ben Agajanian, Los Angeles Dons, 1947
(24 att., 62.5 %)


Ben Agajanian

AFL (1960-69)
18- Gene Mingo, Denver Broncos, 1960
(28 att., 64.3 %)

27- Gene Mingo, Denver Broncos, 1962
(39 att., 69.2 %)

28- Pete Gogolak, Buffalo Bills, 1965
(46 att., 60.9 %)

34- Jim Turner, New York Jets, 1968
(46 att., 73.9 %)


Jim Turner

WFL (1974-75)
18- Grant Guthrie, Jacksonville/Birmingham, 1974

USFL (1983-85)
28- David Trout, Philadelphia Stars, 1983
(42 att., 66.7 %)

XFL (2001)
20- Jose Cortez, Los Angeles Xtreme
(25 att., 80.0 %)

List of the Day: Evolution of Individual Season TD Record

LaDainian Tomlinson

NFL
7- Ookie Anderson, Buffalo All-Americans, 1921
(5 rush, 1 rec, 1 pr)
7- Fritz Pollard, Akron Pros, 1921
(6 rush, 1 rec)
7- Jimmy Conzelman, Rock Island/Milwaukee, 1922
(7 rush)
7- Guy Chamberlin, Canton Bulldogs, 1922
(3 rush, 1 rec, 2 int, 1 other)
7- Paddy Driscoll, Chicago Cardinals, 1923
(6 rush, 1 rec)
7- Lou Smyth, Canton Bulldogs, 1923
(7 rush)

12- Tex Hamer, Frankford Yellow Jackets, 1924
(12 rush)
12- Ernie Nevers, Chicago Cardinals, 1929
(12 rush)

14- Johnny (Blood) McNally, Green Bay Packers, 1931
(2 rush, 11 rec, 1 int)

17- Don Hutson, Green Bay Packers, 1942
(17 rec)

18- Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles, 1945
(15 rush, 2 rec, 1 kr)
18- Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns, 1958
(17 rush, 1 rec)

19- Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers, 1962
(19 rush)

20- Lenny Moore, Baltimore Colts, 1964
(16 rush, 3 rec, 1 other)

22- Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears, 1965
(14 rush, 6 rec, 1 pr, 1 kr)

23- O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills, 1975
(16 rush, 7 rec)

24- John Riggins, Washington Redskins, 1983
(24 rush)

25- Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys, 1995
(25 rush)

26- Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams, 2000
(18 rush, 8 rec)

27- Priest Holmes, Kansas City Chiefs, 2003
(27 rush)

28- Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks, 2005
(27 rush, 1 rec)

31- LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, 2006
(28 rush, 3 rec)

AFL (1926)
9- Eddie Tryon, New York Yankees
(5 rush, 3 rec, 1 int)

AFL (1936-37)
4- Earl Bartlett, Boston Shamrocks, 1936
(3 rec, 1 other)
4- Don Elser, Boston Shamrocks, 1936
(3 rec, 1 other)
4- Sid Gillman, Cleveland Rams, 1936
(4 rec)

5- Earl Bartlett, Boston Shamrocks, 1937
(4 rush, 1 other)
5- Bill Howard, Los Angeles Bulldogs, 1937
(5 rush)
5- Bill Moore, Los Angeles Bulldogs, 1937
(3 rec, 2 other)

AFL (1940-41)
6- Al Novakofski, Milwaukee Chiefs, 1940
(3 rush, 3 other)

8- Bob Davis, Columbus Bullies, 1941
(7 rush, 1 other)

AAFC (1946-49)
12- Spec Sanders, New York Yankees, 1946
(6 rush, 3 rec, 1 int, 1 pr, 1 kr)

19- Spec Sanders, New York Yankees, 1947
(18 rush, 1 kr)


Spec Sanders

AFL (1960-69)
14- Art Powell, New York Titans, 1960
(14 rec)

18- Bill Groman, Houston Oilers, 1961
(1 rush, 17 rec)

19- Abner Haynes, Dallas Texans, 1962
(13 rush, 6 rec)


Abner Haynes

WFL (1974-75)
19- Ed Marshall, Memphis Southmen, 1974
(19 rec)

USFL (1983-85)
18- Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1983
(17 rush, 1 rec)

21- Gary Anderson, Tampa Bay Bandits, 1984
(19 rush, 2 rec)
21- Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1984
(16 rush, 5 rec)

22- Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals, 1985
(21 rush, 1 rec)

XFL (2001)
8- Darnell McDonald, Los Angeles Xtreme
(8 rec)

Key: rush = rushing, rec = pass receiving, int = interception returns, pr = punt returns, kr = kickoff returns, other = other or unknown


Herschel Walker