Heisman Trophy Winners: Top 20 NFL careers of all time
As a four-year starting running back at Pittsburgh, Tony Dorsett was one of the scariest players defenders had to face off against in the mid-1970s. Dorsett finished with over 1,000 yards in each of those four seasons, racking up 6,526 yards and 59 touchdowns with the Panthers and taking home major hardware in 1976 as a senior.
During that senior year, Dorsett rushed for 2,150 yards and 20 touchdowns, making it obvious that he was worth one of the top picks in the 1977 NFL Draft. The Rochester, Penn., native was selected with the second-overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys where he played 11 of his 12 professional seasons.
Dorsett won Rookie of the Year honors in 1977 after he rushed for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns, really making his mark on the NFL at a young age. He then piled together seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons over the next eight years with the Cowboys before he saw a bit of a drop-off in 1986.
When you look at his list of accomplishments, it’s hard to argue against him being the best Heisman winner to make it in the NFL, but the guy ahead of him on the list is pretty darn good. Dorsett finished his career as a four-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time NFC champion and one-time Super Bowl winner. He is the league’s eighth-leading rusher of all time with 12,739 yards and has 92 total touchdowns.
Oh yeah, and the 1994 Hall of Fame inductee has the longest run play from scrimmage in league history that will stand forever (99 yards).
Next: 1. Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State