15 Greatest NFL Draft Steals of All-Time
By Daniel Tran
15. Jamal Anderson
Back in 1994, it was hard to miss Jamal Anderson. The 5’11, 237-pound running back that smashed his way through college with the Utah Utes was a walking mound of muscle waiting to be unleashed on the NFL field. However, the NFL wasn’t so sure.
Anderson was big and powerful, but it was his speed, and lack of experience against top competition in college had many teams hesitating to take him in the NFL Draft. He would fall into the seventh round before the Atlanta Falcons would take him with the 201st pick.
Even though the Falcons made him a part of their season roster, Anderson was unable to crack into the starting lineup in his first two years in the NFL, being used mostly in short yardage situations. In his third year, however, Anderson was given the reigns in the backfield and never looked back.
Anderson reeled off three consecutive 1000-yard rushing seasons, culminating in a 1,846-yard effort in 1998 where he carried the ball 410 times and scored 14 touchdowns on the ground. He was the catalyst for a Falcons team that reached the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
Knee injuries derailed his career, but Anderson’s legacy on the field has been solidified. Plus he gave us this incredible celebration.
Next: Russell Wilson