Fansided

Every NFL team’s greatest rushing season of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Eric Dickerson #29 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the football during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals as rain falls at Riverfront Stadium on September 23, 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Rams defeated the Bengals 24-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Eric Dickerson #29 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the football during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals as rain falls at Riverfront Stadium on September 23, 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Rams defeated the Bengals 24-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 3: Running back Franco Harris #32 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets tackled by Bill Bergey #66 of the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game November 3, 1974 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Harris played for the Steelers from 1972-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 3: Running back Franco Harris #32 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets tackled by Bill Bergey #66 of the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game November 3, 1974 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Harris played for the Steelers from 1972-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Steelers: Franco Harris (1974)

From 1972-79, the Pittsburgh Steelers reached the playoffs in each of those seasons. There were four Super Bowl appearances, each resulting in victory.

Running back Franco Harris’ 1974 season didn’t start out well. In the first six weeks, he played in only four games and totaled 48 carries for just 206 yards and two scores. That changed on a Monday night against the visiting Falcons. The third-year pro ran 28 times for 141 yards and one touchdown in a 24-17 win. In the team’s last eight regular-season contests, he racked up 160 attempts for 800 yards and three TDs.

Then came the playoffs and Harris was the workhorse. There were a combined 87 carries for 343 yards and six scores. That included earning game MVP honors in Super Bowl IX thanks to 158 yards and one touchdown on 34 attempts in the Steelers’ 16-6 win over the Vikings.

It may surprise some to know that the single-season rushing yards record for the franchise does not belong to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That would be Barry Foster, who in 1992 (Bill Cowher’s debut season as head coach) ran for a robust 1,690 yards. However, Harris’ impact late in 1974 and especially in the postseason was the key to the franchise’s first NFL title.

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