Earl Campbell Career NFL Stats 1978-1985 |
||||||||||
G |
RATT |
YARDS |
YPR |
RTD |
REC |
RECYARDS |
RECTD |
TOUCHES |
SCRIMMAGE |
TOTTD |
115 |
2,187 |
9,407 |
4.3 |
74 |
121 |
806 |
0 |
2,308 |
10,213 |
74 |
Earl Christian Campbell, nicknamed the Tyler Rose, was born on March 29, 1955 in Tyler, TX. He is the son of Ann and Bert Campbell. Raised in the rural town of Tyler, times were hard for the Campbell family. At the age of eleven, the family lost their patriarch as Mr. Campbell passed away. That left Earl’s mother to take care of the family on her own. Still, Earl didn’t let the tough times of his childhood affect his ability to strive for greatness. He started to play football when he was in grade school. Earl was big for his age and he kept growing becoming an unstoppable force running the ball.
Campbell attended Tyler High School. Although he would become a Hall of Fame running back, Earl’s passion for football started on the defensive side. He wanted to play linebacker but was asked to switch to running back by his coach. Initially he didn’t like the idea but went with it when he was told he would be a two-way player. Earl was a force in the backfield. So much so he led his high school team to an undefeated state championship season in 1973. He would accept a college scholarship to play for University of Texas.
Earl Campbell College Career Stats and Notes
Campbell played for Texas from 1974-77. He rushed for 4,443 yards and 40 TDs during his college career. He led the Longhorns to three bowl game appearances. In 1977, Campbell rushed for 1,744 yards and 18 TDs in his final season. His play earned him the Heisman Trophy. During his stellar Texas career, he was also named a two-time First Team All-American.
Awards and Achievements |
|
MVP
|
|
All-Pro
|
1st Team: 1978, 1979, 1980 |
Pro Bowl Selections |
1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983
|
Rushing Titles: |
1978, 1979, 1980
|
Achievements
|
1978 |
Earl Campbell NFL Career Stats and Notes
Campbell was selected number one overall in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. Lofty expectations came with the Tyler Rose. Playing in an era with running back greats such as Walter Payton, OJ Simpson, Tony Dorsett and Franco Harris, Campbell was able to outshine them all. In his first four seasons he racked up the yards and recognition. He won the three major awards as an offensive player: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP. He led the league in rushing each of his first three years and was the touchdown leader twice in that same timeframe. However the workload from the powerful Campbell began to catch up to him as injuries derailed him for rest of his career. In 1984, Campbell was traded to the New Orleans Saints. He played a season and a half in New Orleans before retiring after the 1985 season. Earl Campbell was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
Earl Campbell 1979 NFL MVP Season
In 1978, Earl Campbell burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie, out rushing some of the game’s legendary running backs. Campbell took it to another level in 1979.
In his second season, Campbell ran over and through opposing defenses. When the dust settled, the Tyler Rose rushed for 1,697 yards and tacked on a career high 19 rushing TDs. Campbell was voted the 1979 NFL MVP for his extraordinary season.