Top NFL Rookie in the Year You Were Born
Franco Harris became a legend with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Quarterbacks get all the love, but they rarely make an impact in the NFL right away. Even though a franchise quarterback can be the difference between championships and high draft picks, other positions on a football team often produce much better results in their rookie seasons.
We went through 70 years of the NFL and compiled a definitive list of the best first-year seasons in league history. Some seasons had stacked drafts — see 1983 or 1989. Others, like 1992, didn't feature a Hall of Famer.
From household names to comets, these players are the best NFL rookie in every year since 1950.
1950: Doak Walker, Halfback-Defensive Back
Doak Walker was a star with the Detroit Lions.
Team: Detroit Lions
NFL career: 6 seasons (1950-55)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 386 RUSH YDS, 5 RUSH TD, 534 REC YDS, 6 REC TD, 8-18 FGM, 38-41 XPM, 1 INT
Career stats: 67 G, 1,520 RUSH YD, 12 RUSH TD, 2,539 REC YDS, 21 REC TD, 49-87 FGM, 183-191 XPM, 3 FR, 2 INT
NFL titles: 2 (1952, 1953)
Bottom line: Doak Walker did it all in his rookie season for the Lions, playing both sides of the ball and even placekicking and earning first-team All-Pro honors in his first season.
Walker shined as one of the best players in football, leading Detroit to two NFL championships, until business interests pushed him to retire at age 28.
1951: John Dottley, Fullback
John Dottley made one Pro Bowl.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 3 seasons (1951-53)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 670 RUSH YDS, 3 RUSH TD, 225 REC YDS, 1 REC TD, 1 FR
Career stats: 27 G, 1,122 RUSH YDS, 7 RUSH TD, 359 REC YDS, 2 REC TD, 3 FR
NFL titles: 0
Bottom line: John Dottley was one of two rookie Pro Bowlers during the 1951 season, playing both sides of the ball for the Bears.
"Kayo," as he was known, still ranks 10th all-time on Chicago’s rushing list for rookies.
1952: Hugh McElhenny, Halfback
Hugh McElhenny, with ball, made the Hall of Fame.
Team: San Francisco 49ers
NFL career: 13 seasons (1952-64)
Other teams: Minnesota Vikings (1961-62), New York Giants (1963), Detroit Lions (1964)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 684 RUSH YDS, 6 RUSH TD, 387 REC YDS, 3 REC TD, 13 PASS YDS, 1 PASS TD
Career stats: 143 G, 5,281 RUSH YDS, 38 RUSH TD, 3,247 REC YDS, 20 REC TD, 19 FR
NFL titles: 0
Bottom line: Hugh McElhenny was an All-Pro his first season and topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage his rookie season.
He bounced between four teams during his Hall of Fame career, but his rookie season was one of his best.
1953: Marv Matuszak, Linebacker
Marv Matuszak, linebacker, No. 54, played 11 seasons in the NFL.
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL career: 11 seasons (1953-64)
Other teams: San Francisco 49ers (1957-58), Green Bay Packers (1958), Baltimore Colts (1959-61), Buffalo Bills (1962-63), Denver Broncos (1964)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 3 FR, 1 INT
Career stats: 126 G, 8 FR, 14 INT
NFL titles: 1 (1959)
Bottom line: Defensive stats were hard to come by in the early days, but Marv Matuszak was a Pro Bowler as a rookie for Pittsburgh playing arguably the most difficult position on the field, middle linebacker.
He later won the NFL championship with the Baltimore Colts then enjoyed a lengthy coaching career.
1954: Harlon Hill, End-Defensive Back
Harlon Hill was the NFL MVP in 1955.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 9 seasons (1954-62)
Other teams: Detroit Lions (1962), Pittsburgh Steelers (1962)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 1,124 REC YDS, 12 RED TD
Career stats: 103 G, 4,717 REC YDS, 40 REC TD
NFL titles: 0
Bottom line: Harlon Hill had one of the greatest rookie seasons for a receiver in NFL history, leading the NFL with 12 touchdowns and a 25 yards-per-catch average.
Hill earned the first of his three Pro Bowl honors that season, then later played both ways for Chicago later in his career.
1955: Alan Ameche, Fullback
Alan Ameche won two NFL titles with the Colts.
Team: Baltimore Colts
NFL career: 6 seasons (1955-60)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 961 RUSH YDS, 9 RUSH TD, 141 REC YDS, 1 FR
Career stats: 70 G, 4,045 RUSH YDS, 40 RUSH TD, 733 REC YDS, 4 REC TD, 1 FR
NFL titles: 2 (1958, 1959)
Bottom line: Alan Ameche led the NFL in rushing and rushing touchdowns his rookie season, a near-unheard-of feat even today.
He earned the first official NFL Rookie of the Year honor as well from UPI that season, too.
Ameche was the linchpin for two championship teams before an Achilles injury forced him to retire.
1956: J.C. Caroline, Defensive Back-Halfback
J.C. Caroline was an All-American at the University of Illinois before his NFL career.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 10 seasons (1956-65)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 1 FR, 6 INT, 2 DEF TD, 141 RUSH YDS, 2 RUSH TD
Career stats: 118 G, 6 FR, 24 INT, 2 DEF TD, 263 RUSH YDS, 2 RUSH TD, 111 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
NFL titles: 1 (1963)
Bottom line: J.C. Caroline had a dream rookie season, leading the NFL in defensive touchdowns and leading the Bears in interceptions as they went 9-2-1 and reached the NFL championship.
Caroline earned his lone Pro Bowl honor that season and was named rookie of the year.
1957: Jim Brown, Fullback
Jim Brown is one of the greatest NFL players of all time.
Team: Cleveland Browns
NFL career: 9 seasons (1957-65)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 942 RUSH YDS, 9 RUSH TD, 55 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Career stats: 118 G, 12,312 RUSH YDS, 106 RUSH TD, 2,499 REC YDS, 20 REC TD
NFL titles: 1 (1964)
Bottom line: Jim Brown led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in 1957, earning the rookie of the year honor and the first of his three MVP awards.
Brown is arguably the greatest running back of all time, whose career was only cut short by the Browns' unwillingness to accommodate his budding acting career.
1958: Jimmy Orr, Wide Receiver
Jimmy Orr played most of the NFL career with the Baltimore Colts.
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL career: 13 seasons (1958-70)
Other teams: Baltimore Colts (1961-70)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 910 REC YDS, 7 REC TD
Career stats: 149 G, 7,914 REC YDS, 66 REC TD, 122 RUSH YDS
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1970)
Bottom line: Jimmy Orr finished third in the NFL in receiving yards in his rookie season and was tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns that season, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
He was traded to the Baltimore Colts after three seasons where he developed a rapport with Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas.
1959: Dave Baker, Defensive Back
Dave Baker had 21 interceptions in his career.
Team: San Francisco 49ers
NFL career: 3 seasons (1959-61)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 5 INT, 1 FR
Career stats: 38 G, 21 INT, 3 FR
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Probably the first true toss-up of this list, Dave Baker was the lone rookie to reach the Pro Bowl in 1959, which trumps both Rookies of the Year Boyd Dowler and Nick Pietrosante.
Baker only played three seasons because of a two-year tour in the Army that led to him becoming president of Southern Nazarene College.
But he still had 21 interceptions in 38 career games.
1960: Abner Haynes, Halfback
Abner Haynes was a two-time All-Pro.
Team: Dallas Texans
AFL/NFL career: 8 seasons (1960-67)
Other teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1963-64), Denver Broncos (1965-66), Miami Dolphins (1967), New York Jets (1967)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 875 RUSH YDS, 9 RUSH TD, 576 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Career stats: 112 G, 4,630 RUSH YDS, 46 RUSH TD, 3,535 REC YDS, 20 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Abner Haynes earned the first AFL Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the league’s inaugural season, leading the league in rushing, rushing touchdowns and generally outperforming any of the NFL’s rookie class that season.
He enjoyed a standout career for Dallas, then Kansas City when the Texans moved after the 1962 season.
1961: Mike Ditka, Tight End
Mike Ditka was one of the game's first great tight ends.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 12 seasons (1961-72)
Other teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1967-68), Dallas Cowboys (1969-72)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 1,076 REC YDS, 12 REC TD
Career stats: 158 G, 5,812 REC YDS, 43 REC TD
NFL/Super Bowl titles: 2 (1963, 1971)
Bottom line: Mike Ditka may have been a better tight end than coach, which is remarkable given his reputation as a coach.
Ditka was second in the NFL in touchdowns and third in receiving yards his rookie season, becoming a veritable weapon in Chicago’s offense.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
1962: Curtis McClinton, Fullback-Tight End
Curtis McClinton used some fancy footwork to avoid tacklers.
Team: Dallas Texans
NFL career: 8 seasons (1962-69)
Other teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1963-69)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 604 RUSH YDS, 2 RUSH TD, 333 REC YDS
Career stats: 107 G, 3,124 RUSH YDS, 18 RUSH TD, 1,945 REC YDS, 14 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1969)
Bottom line: Merlin Olsen has a claim, but we couldn’t put him on the list without adequate defensive stats. So Curtis McClinton, a running back for Dallas of the AFL, gets the nod.
McClinton was voted to the Pro Bowl his rookie season and won a ring with the Chiefs in 1969.
1963: Paul Flatley, Wide Receiver
Paul Flatley was a fourth-round pick in the 1963 NFL draft.
Team: Minnesota Vikings
NFL career: 8 seasons (1963-70)
Other teams: Atlanta Falcons (1968-70)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 867 REC YDS, 4 REC TD
Career stats: 106 G, 4,905 REC YDS, 24 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The fourth-round pick was overlooked for the Pro Bowl roster but still earned rookie of the year honors ahead of John Mackey and others.
Flatley led Minnesota in receiving yards three times in a four-season stretch before he was traded to Atlanta in 1968.
1964: Charley Taylor, Wide Receiver-Running Back
Charley Taylor played 13 seasons in the NFL.
Team: Washington Football Team (formerly the Redskins)
NFL career: 13 seasons (1964-77)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 814 REC YDS, 5 REC TD, 755 RUSH YDS, 5 RUSH TD
Career stats: 165 G, 9,110 REC YDS, 79 REC TD, 1,488 RUSH YDS, 11 RUSH TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Charley Taylor came out of Arizona State as a running back and had an incredible rookie season where he amassed more than 1,500 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.
He later became a full-time wide receiver, where he led the NFL in receptions twice and became a Hall of Famer.
1965: Gale Sayers, Running Back
Gale Sayers, center, scored 23 touchdowns in his rookie season.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 7 seasons (1965-71)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 867 RUSH YDS, 14 RUSH TD, 507 REC YDS, 6 REC TD, 53 PASS YDS, 1 PASS TD, 1 KR TD, 1 PR TD
Career stats: 68 G, 4,956 RUSH YDS, 39 RUSH TD, 1,307 REC YDS, 9 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: If Jim Brown had the best rookie season of all time, Gale Sayers is second.
Sayers accounted for 23 touchdowns in 1965, including a kick return and punt return for touchdowns, and he scored six touchdowns in Chicago's 61-20 win against the 49ers on Dec. 12.
Sayers was an All-Pro in each of his first five NFL seasons but unfortunately had his career cut short due to knee injuries.
1966: Tommy Nobis, Linebacker
Tommy Nobis was a hard-hitting linebacker who earned the nickname "Mr. Falcon."
Team: Atlanta Falcons
NFL career: 11 seasons (1966-76)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 296 TK, 1 FR
Career stats: 133 G, 12 INT, 13 FR
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Tackle stats weren’t officially kept at the time, but multiple accounts attribute nearly 300 tackles to Nobis in the 1966 season, by far the most in a single season in NFL history.
The first pick of the 1966 draft reached the Pro Bowl five times and probably should be in the Hall of Fame.
1967: Lem Barney, Defensive Back
Lem Barney was the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 1967.
Team: Detroit Lions
NFL career: 11 seasons (1967-77)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 10 INT, 2 FF, 3 DEF TD
Career stats: 140 G, 56 INT, 25 FF, 17 FR, 7 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Lem Barney led the NFL in interceptions and defensive touchdowns his rookie season, earning defensive rookie of the year honors in 1967.
He reached the Pro Bowl seven times, was a two-time All-Pro and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
1968: Claude Humphrey, Defensive End
Claude Humphrey played 127 games with the Falcons.
Team: Atlanta Falcons
NFL career: 13 seasons (1968-81)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 11.5 SK, 3 FR
Career stats: 171 G, 2 INT, 11 FR
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Sacks weren’t officially kept as a stat until 1981, but Claude Humphrey was credited with nearly one per game for his rookie season, earning defensive rookie of the year honors.
Humphrey was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
1969: Joe Greene, Defensive Tackle
Joe Greene won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL career: 13 seasons (1969-81)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 14 GS
Career stats: 181 G, 172 GS, 1 INT, 16 FR
Super Bowl titles: 4 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Bottom line: Defensive stats were limited back then, but Joe Greene was a Pro Bowler and earned defensive rookie of the year honors for a team that won one game.
Greene then became the linchpin of four championship teams. The Steelers named their rookie of the year award after him.
Greene was a 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
1970: Duane Thomas, Running Back
Duane Thomas was a first-round pick in the 1970 NFL draft.
Team: Dallas Cowboys
NFL career: 4 seasons (1970-73)
Other teams: Washington Football Team (formerly Redskins)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 803 RUSH YDS, 5 RUSH TD, 73 REC YDS
Career stats: 49 G, 2,038 RUSH YDS, 21 RUSH TD, 297 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1971)
Bottom line: It wasn’t a great year for rookies in 1970, with Dennis Shaw and his 10-20 touchdown-interception ratio winning offensive rookie of the year. But Shaw thought Thomas deserved the honors, and we can see why.
Thomas led the Cowboys in rushing and rushing touchdowns for the NFC champs and helped them to consecutive Super Bowls, including a 24-3 win against the Dolphins in 1971.
1971: John Brockington, Running Back
John Brockington rushed for 5,185 yards in his career.
Team: Green Bay Packers
NFL career: 7 seasons (1971-77)
Other teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1977)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 1,105 RUSH YDS, 4 RUSH TD, 98 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Career stats: 95 G, 5,185 RUSH YDS, 30 RUSH TD, 1,297 REC YDS, 4 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: John Brockington earned All-Pro status and trumped John Riggins, Jim Plunkett and Archie Manning as the offensive rookie of the year.
Brockington rushed for 1,000-plus yards in his first three seasons, becoming the first back in NFL history to do so.
But his play fizzled after coach Dan Devine was fired in 1974.
1972: Franco Harris, Running Back
Franco Harris rushed for 91 yards in his career.
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL career: 13 seasons (1972-84)
Other teams: Seattle Seahawks (1984)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 1,055 RUSH YDS, 10 RUSH TD, 180 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Career stats: 173 G, 12,120 RUSH YDS, 91 RUSH TD, 2,287 REC YDS, 9 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 4 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Bottom line: Franco Harris' presence helped the Steelers end a 25-year postseason drought, and his awareness, to catch a pass off a redirection on a play famously dubbed "The Immaculate Reception" in Pittsburgh, boosted them to their first playoff win.
Harris became part of a legendary offense, with Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann, that made the Steelers the NFL’s team of the 1970s.
1973: Wally Chambers, Defensive Tackle/End
Wally Chambers was a three-time Pro Bowler.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 7 seasons (1973-79)
Other teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978-79)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 132 TK, 9 SK, 2 FR
Career stats: 88 G, 1 INT, 3 FR
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Stats above are unofficial, but Wally Chambers stalked offensive players in his rookie season and won the league's defensive rookie of the year award for the Bears.
Chambers had the misfortune of playing most of his career on bad teams with Chicago, but still received three Pro Bowl bids and a first-team All-Pro honor in 1976.
1974: Don Woods, Running Back
Don Woods played seven seasons in the NFL.
Team: San Diego Chargers
NFL career: 7 seasons (1974-80)
Other teams: San Francisco 49ers (1980)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 1,162 RUSH YDS, 7 RUSH TD, 349 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Career stats: 85 G, 3,087 RUSH YDS, 16 RUSH TD, 1,358 REC YDS, 5 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Don Woods was a college quarterback, then burst on the stage with a breakout rookie season as a running back.
But Woods was hampered by a knee injury the remainder of his career that kept him from duplicating the success of his rookie season.
1975: Mike Thomas, Running Back
Mike Thomas rushed for 3,359 yards over four seasons with the Redskins.
Team: Washington Redskins
NFL career: 6 seasons (1975-80)
Other teams: San Diego Chargers (1979-80)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 919 RUSH YDS, 4 RUSH TD, 483 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Career stats: 77 G, 4,196 RUSH YDS, 19 RUSH TD, 2,011 REC YDS, 11 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Mike Thomas' all-purpose yards peaked with his first season and dropped in each subsequent campaign, and he gained 48 percent of his career rushing yards in his first two seasons.
But Thomas' rookie season was spectacular, and it earned him offensive rookie of the year honors.
1976: Mike Haynes, Defensive Back
Mike Haynes had eight interceptions in his rookie season with the Patriots.
Team: New England Patriots
NFL career: 14 seasons (1976-89)
Other teams: Los Angeles Raiders (1983-89)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 8 INT, 3 FR, 2 PR TD
Career stats: 177 G, 46 INT, 14 FR, 2 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1983)
Bottom line: Mike Haynes, the fifth pick in the 1976 NFL draft, was dominant on defense for the Patriots and was a weapon in the punt return game, averaging 13 yards per return.
He helped New England reach the playoffs in his first two seasons.
He went to the Raiders and helped them win Super Bowl XVIII.
1977: Tony Dorsett, Running Back
Tony Dorsett was not easy to tackle.
Team: Dallas Cowboys
NFL career: 12 seasons (1977-88)
Other teams: Denver Broncos (1988)
Rookie stats: 14 G, 1,007 RUSH YDS, 12 RUSH TD, 273 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Career stats: 173 G, 12,739 RUSH YDS, 77 RUSH TD, 3,554 REC YDS, 13 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1977)
Bottom line: Tony Dorsett was the offensive rookie of the year with his 12 touchdowns trailing only MVP Walter Payton’s 14 that season.
Dorsett added 222 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Dallas’ run to the Super Bowl, the only championship of his Hall of Fame career.
1978: Al Baker, Defensive End
Al Baker was second-round pick (40th overall) of the Detroit Lions in the 1978 NFL draft.
Team: Detroit Lions
NFL career: 13 seasons (1978-90)
Other teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1983-86), Cleveland Browns (1987, 1989-90), Minnesota Vikings (1988)
Rookie stats: 16 games, 23 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
Career stats: 181 games, 65.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 8 fumble recoveries
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Al Baker’s rookie sack stat line is unofficial, but even if it is a little off, it would be one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NFL history — likely the most impressive by a defensive player.
Baker was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection as a rookie and an elite pass rusher throughout his four-team career.
1979: Ottis Anderson, Running Back
Ottis Anderson rushed 331 times for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979.
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
NFL career: 14 seasons (1979-92)
Other teams: New York Giants (1986-92)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,605 RUSH YDS, 8 RUSH TD, 308 REC YDS, 2 REC TD
Career stats: 182 G, 10,273 RUSH YDS, 81 RUSH TD, 3,062 REC YDS, 5 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 2 (1986, 1990)
Bottom line: Ottis Anderson set the rookie rushing record and neared 2,000 all-purpose yards in his rookie campaign.
He later was traded to the New York Giants, where he helped them win a pair of championships.
Anderson has a compelling Hall of Fame case, but hasn’t been inducted yet.
1980: Billy Sims, Running Back
Billy Sims rushed for 13 touchdowns in his rookie season, tied for the most in the NFL with Earl Campbell.
Team: Detroit Lions
NFL career: 5 seasons (1980-84)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,303 RUSH YDS, 13 RUSH TD, 621 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Career stats: 60 G, 5,106 RUSH YDS, 42 RUSH TD, 2,072 REC YDS, 5 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Billy Sims career was like a comet, flashing across the sky before a knee injury ultimately ended it.
But Sims had nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards in his first two NFL seasons, amassing 13 touchdowns in each.
Sims also was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons and helped Detroit reach the playoffs in 1982 and 1983.
1981: Lawrence Taylor, Linebacker
Lawrence Taylor, No. 56 with the ball, was a feared playmaker.
Team: New York Giants
NFL career: 13 seasons (1981-93)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 133 TK, 9.5 SK, 8 PD, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT
Career stats: 184 G, 1,089 TK, 142 SK, 2 FF, 11 FR, 9 INT, 2 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 2 (1986, 1990)
Bottom line: George Rogers, the offensive rookie of the year, had an incredible 1981 season with an NFL-best 1,674 rushing yards, but Lawrence Taylor was the game's top rookie.
Taylor was the NFL defensive player of the year as a rookie and earned the first of his eight All-Pro honors and 10 Pro Bowl games.
One of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, Taylor was the NFL MVP in 1986 and helped the Giants to the Super Bowl that season and to another in 1990.
1982: Marcus Allen, Running Back
Marcus Allen could do it all on the football field.
Team: Los Angeles Raiders
NFL career: 16 seasons (1982-97)
Other teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1993-97)
Rookie stats: 9 G, 697 RUSH YDS, 11 RUSH TD, 401 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Career stats: 222 G, 12,243 RUSH YDS, 123 RUSH TD, 5,411 REC YDS, 21 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1983)
Bottom line: The NFL season was shortened due to a strike in 1982, and we wonder what Marcus Allen would’ve done if not for the shortened campaign.
He’d project for 1,952 yards and 25 touchdowns over a 16-game season, which would’ve put him in the mix for greatest seasons ever.
Allen still is the Raiders' all-time rushing leader and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.
1983: Eric Dickerson, Running Back
Eric Dickerson owns the NFL record for most rushing yards by a rookie in a season.
Team: Los Angeles Rams
NFL career: 11 seasons (1983-93)
Other teams: Indianapolis Colts (1987-91), Los Angeles Raiders (1992), Atlanta Falcons (1993)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,808 RUSH YDS, 18 RUSH TD, 404 REC YDS, 2 REC TD
Career stats: 146 G, 13,259 RUSH YDS, 90 RUSH TD, 2,137 REC YDS, 6 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The 1983 draft was the best ever, and Eric Dickerson’s rookie season was the best ever. He surpassed 2,200 total yards, and his 1,808 rushing yards are still the most by a rookie in NFL history.
A year later, he became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, setting a single-season record that still stands today (2,105 yards).
Dickerson only played five seasons for the Rams but still ranks second on their all-time rushing list.
1984: Kevin Ross, Defensive Back
Kevin Ross was a seventh-round draft pick, 173rd overall, in 1984.
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
NFL career: 14 seasons (1984-97)
Other teams: Atlanta Falcons (1994-95), San Diego Chargers (1996)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 98 TK, 6 INT, 1 FR, 1 DEF TD
Career stats: 204 G, 1,099 TK, 38 INT, 5 SK, 15 FR, 3 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The seventh-round draft pick had a standout rookie season, earning All-Rookie Team honors, and we preferred his robust stat line to that of defensive rookie of the year Bill Maas.
Ross was second on the Chiefs, and tied for 11th in the NFL, in interceptions in 1984. He enjoyed a nice career, spent mostly with the Chiefs, and was voted to two Pro Bowl teams.
1985: Duane Bickett, Linebacker
Duane Bickett was a tough linebacker.
Team: Indianapolis Colts
NFL career: 12 seasons (1985-96)
Other teams: Seattle Seahawks (1994-95), Carolina Panthers (1996)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 141 TK, 6 SK, 1 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR
Career stats: 175 G, 1,079 TK, 53 SK, 9 FF, 14 FR, 9 INT
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Duane Bickett finished second in the NFL in tackles his rookie season and was named defensive rookie of the year for the Colts.
Bickett topped 100 tackles in each of his first seven NFL seasons and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1987.
1986: Leslie O’Neal, Defensive End-Linebacker
Leslie O'Neal was the eighth pick in the 1986 NFL draft.
Team: San Diego Chargers
NFL career: 13 seasons (1986-99)
Other teams: St. Louis Rams (1996-97), Kansas City Chiefs (1998-99)
Rookie stats: 13 G, 82 TK, 12.5 SK, 3 FF, 2 FR, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
Career stats: 196 G, 767 TK, 132.5 SK, 21 FF, 16 FR, 3 INT, 2 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: This was difficult, but Leslie O’Neal gets the nod over Charles Haley. O'Neal posted a higher sack total and recorded more tackles than Haley in three fewer games.
Haley won more in his career and got more adoration by virtue of his two first-team All-Pro honors, but O’Neal had the better overall career, topping Haley in sacks, tackles, games and touchdowns.
1987: Shane Conlan, Linebacker
Shane Conlan made a lot of tackles.
Team: Buffalo Bills
NFL career: 9 seasons (1987-95)
Other teams: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1993-95)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 114 TK, 0.5 SK, 1 FF
Career stats: 120 G, 783 TK, 7 SK, 6 FF, 5 FR, 5 INT
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Like 1982, the NFL players had a strike in 1987. Unlike 1982, the NFL used replacement players for three games.
Shane Conlan’s numbers may not look particularly impressive, but he was a leader on the Bills' underrated defense that won four straight AFC championships between 1990 and 1993.
1988: Ickey Woods, Running Back
Ickey Woods was the definition of a power back.
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
NFL career: 4 seasons (1988-91)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,066 RUSH YDS, 15 RUSH TD, 199 REC YDS
Career stats: 37 G, 1,525 RUSH YDS, 27 RUSH TD, 397 REC YDS
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Ickey Woods' career was doomed by an ACL injury his third season, but it’d be near impossible to forget his impact and now-legendary "Ickey Shuffle" touchdown dance.
Opposing players and fans saw it a ton his rookie season, as Woods finished ninth in the NFL in rushing and second in rushing touchdowns but somehow didn’t win offensive rookie of the year.
He still led the Bengals to the Super Bowl that season but lost to Joe Montana and the dynastic 49ers.
1989: Barry Sanders, Running Back
Barry Sanders was the ultimate highlight machine.
Team: Detroit Lions
NFL career: 10 seasons (1989-98)
Rookie stats: 15 G, 1,470 RUSH YDS, 14 RUSH TDS, 282 REC YDS
Career stats: 153 G, 15,269 RUSH YDS, 99 RUSH TD, 2,921 REC YDS, 10 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The 1989 rookie class produced five Hall of Famers, including Deion Sanders, Troy Aikman and Derrick Thomas, but no player had a better rookie campaign — or career — than Barry Sanders.
The Lions running back only played 15 games his rookie season and fell just 10 yards shy of the rushing title. He also achieved first-team All-Pro status for the first of his six times.
Sanders is in the Hall of Fame despite a premature retirement at age 30 that kept him from chasing the all-time NFL rushing record.
1990: Mark Carrier, Defensive Back
Mark Carrier was a ballhawk.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 10 seasons (1990-2000)
Other teams: Detroit Lions (1997-99), Washington Football Team/Redskins (2000)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 122 TK, 10 INT, 2 FR
Career stats: 168 G, 863 TK, 32 INT, 16 FF, 4 FR, 1 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Mark Carrier tops Emmitt Smith for this honor, so the longtime Bears defensive back must’ve had a heck of a season — which he did.
Carrier led the NFL in interceptions and was 13th in tackles in his rookie season, earning a Pro Bowl nod and defensive rookie of the year.
1991: Mike Croel, Linebacker-Defensive End
Mike Croel, right, had 24 career sacks.
Team: Denver Broncos
NFL career: 6 seasons (1991-98)
Other teams: New York Giants (1995), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Seattle Seahawks (1998)
Rookie stats: 13 G, 84 TK, 10 SK
Career stats: 102 G, 448 TK, 24 SK, 6 FF, 3 FR, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Mike Croel led all rookies in tackles and sacks, earning defensive rookie of the year honors.
He certainly didn’t have the best career of anyone in the 1991 draft — that would be Brett Favre or Aeneas Williams.
But the fourth overall pick played like a regular despite missing three games due to injuries.
1992: Darren Perry, Defensive Back
Darren Perry went to Penn St.
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL career: 8 seasons (1992-98, 2000)
Other teams: New Orleans Saints (2000)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 61 TK, 6 INT, 1 FR
Career stats: 126 G, 599 TK, 35 INT, 4 FF, 8 FR, 2.5 SK, 1 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Darren Perry was an eighth-round draft pick in a weak draft but evolved into a regular in Pittsburgh’s defensive backfield.
He didn’t win defensive rookie of the year, but we prefer his loaded stat line over Dale Carter, who was chosen mostly because of seven interceptions and two punt return touchdowns.
1993: Jerome Bettis, Running Back
Jerome Bettis was a battering ram running the ball.
Team: Los Angeles Rams
NFL career: 13 seasons (1993-2005)
Other teams: St. Louis Rams (1995), Pittsburgh Steelers (1996-2005)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,429 RUSH YDS, 7 RUSH TD, 244 REC YDS
Career stats: 192 G, 13,662 RUSH YDS, 91 RUSH TD, 1,449 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (2005)
Bottom line: Jerome Bettis was an All-Pro and the offensive rookie of the year and only trailed NFL MVP Emmitt Smith for rushing yards in 1993.
Bettis, known as "The Bus," was traded to Pittsburgh after his third season with the Rams and became a beloved player in the Steel City, helping the Steelers win Super Bowl XL in his home city, Detroit.
Bettis announced his retirement holding the Lombardi Trophy and remains one of the best power backs in NFL history. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
1994: Marshall Faulk, Running Back
Marshall Faulk ran a 4.35 40-yard dash.
Team: Indianapolis Colts
NFL career: 12 seasons (1994-2005)
Other teams: St. Louis Rams (1999-2005)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,282 RUSH YDS, 11 RUSH TD, 522 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
Career stats: 176 G, 12,279 RUSH YDS, 100 RUSH TD, 6,875 REC YDS, 36 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (1999)
Bottom line: Marshall Faulk developed into a Hall of Famer in St. Louis after the Colts traded Faulk to the Rams in 1998.
But he had 1,804 scrimmage yards his rookie season, fourth-most in the NFL and by far the most of any rookie.
He was named to the Pro Bowl and won offensive rookie of the year.
1995: Curtis Martin, Running Back
Curtis Martin rushed for 1,487 yards in his career.
Team: New England Patriots
NFL career: 11 seasons (1995-2005)
Other teams: New York Jets (1998-2005)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,487 RUSH YDS, 14 RUSH TD, 261 REC YDS, 1 RUSH TD
Career stats: 168 G, 14,101 RUSH YDS, 90 RUSH TD, 3,329 REC YDS, 10 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Curtis Martin finished third in the NFL in rushing in his rookie season, behind only Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders. Martin also had the third-most touchdowns and earned offensive rookie of the year honors.
Martin made the Pro Bowl, the first of his two honors with the Patriots before he signed with the Jets after the 1997 season.
1996: Zach Thomas, Linebacker
Zach Thomas was the leader of the Dolphins' defense for many seasons.
Team: Miami Dolphins
NFL career: 13 seasons (1996-2008)
Other teams: Dallas Cowboys (2008)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 154 TK, 2 SK, 2 FF, 2 FR, 3 INT, 1 DEF TD
Career stats: 184 G, 1,734 TK, 20.5 sacks, 16 FF, 8 FR, 17 INT, 4 DEF TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Consider this the worst rookie of the year snub in NFL history.
Zach Thomas finished second in the NFL in solo tackles yet somehow didn’t make the Pro Bowl, All-Pro or Defensive Rookie of the Year — Simeon Rice and his 12.5 sacks earned that honor.
Still, Thomas reached All-Pro five times and the Pro Bowl seven times in his stalwart career.
1997: Corey Dillon, Running Back
Corey Dillon was nicknamed "Clock-Killin' Dillon."
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
NFL career: 10 seasons (1997-2006)
Other teams: New England Patriots (2004-06)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,129 RUSH YDS, 10 RUSH TD, 259 REC YDS
Career stats: 150 G, 11,241 RUSH YDS, 82 RUSH TD, 1,913 REC YDS, 7 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (2004)
Bottom line: Corey Dillon was the face of some sorry Bengals teams but lost out on offensive rookie of the Year honors to Warrick Dunn of the Buccaneers.
Still, Dillon trumped Dunn in attempts, rushing yards and touchdowns and trailed the all-purpose back by just 52 yards from scrimmage.
1998: Randy Moss, Wide Receiver
Randy Moss had some of the best hands in NFL history.
Team: Minnesota Vikings
NFL career: 13 seasons (1998-2010, 2012)
Other teams: Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010), Minnestoa Vikings (2010), San Francisco 49ers (2012)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 69 REC, 1,313 REC YDS, 17 REC TD
Career stats: 218 G, 982 REC, 15,292 REC YDS, 156 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Remember when Randy Moss fell to 21st overall in the 1998 draft? Yeah, so does he, and he spent his rookie season making every last team pay for passing on him.
Moss' 17 touchdowns were a rookie record, and he helped the Vikings' explosive offense set an NFL record with 556 points.
The only thing missing from Moss' resume is a ring since he somehow didn’t win the Super Bowl in his Hall of Fame career.
1999: Edgerrin James, Running Back
Edgerrin James ran for over 12,000 yards in his career.
Team: Indianapolis Colts
NFL career: 11 seasons (1999-2009)
Other teams: Arizona Cardinals (2006-08), Seattle Seahawks (2009)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,553 RUSH YDS, 13 RUSH TD, 586 REC YDS, 4 REC TD
Career stats: 148 G, 12,246 RUSH YDS, 80 RUSH TD, 3,364 REC TD, 11 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Remember Marshall Faulk’s trade to the Rams? That was made possible by Indianapolis' decision to take Edgerrin James with the fourth pick in the 1999 draft.
James' 2,100-plus scrimmage yards that season somehow softened the blow as he, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison made up one of the highest-flying threesomes in NFL history.
Each is in the Hall of Fame, and James was inducted in 2020.
2000: Brian Urlacher, Linebacker
Brian Urlacher was one of the NFL's all-time great linebackers.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 13 seasons (2000-12)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 124 TK, 8 SK, 5 PD, 1 FR, 2 INT
Career stats: 182 G, 1,361 TK, 41.5 SK, 90 PD, 11 FF, 15 FR, 22 INT, 4 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The 2000s were the decade of the middle linebacker (more on that later), and no middle linebacker had more of an impact than Brian Urlacher, who played wide receiver and punt returner his senior season at New Mexico.
Broncos running back Mike Anderson has a case here, but Urlacher’s rookie season was just a little better.
2001: LaDainian Tomlinson, Running Back
LaDainian Tomlinson is a Hall of Famer.
Team: San Diego Chargers
NFL career: 11 seasons (2001-11)
Other teams: New York Jets (2010-11)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,236 RUSH YDS, 10 RUSH TD, 367 REC YDS
Career stats: 170 G, 13,684 RUSH YDS, 145 RUSH TD, 4,772 REC YDS, 17 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: LaDanian Tomlinson somehow didn’t win rookie of the year honors, despite ranking ninth in the NFL in rushing yards and tied for fourth in touchdowns. Hello, Anthony Thomas.
But Tomlinson got the last laugh during his Hall of Fame career that included three All-Pro honors and the 2006 NFL MVP honor.
2002: Clinton Portis, Running Back
Clinton Portis ran for 9,923 yards in his career.
Team: Denver Broncos
NFL career: 9 seasons (2002-10)
Other teams: Washington Redskins (2004-10)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,508 RUSH YDS, 15 RUSH TD, 364 REC YDS, 2 REC TD
Career stats: 113 G, 9,923 RUSH YDS, 75 RUSH TD, 2,018 REC YDS, 5 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Clinton Portis went from winning the national championship at Miami in 2001 to finishing fourth in the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in his rookie year.
Playing for the run-heavy Broncos that season helped, but Portis topped 1,200 rushing yards six times in his nine-year career that included two Pro Bowl appearances.
2003: Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver
Anquan Boldin scored 82 receiving touchdowns in his career.
Team: Arizona Coyotes
NFL career: 14 seasons (2003-16)
Other teams: Baltimore Ravens (2010-12), San Francisco 49ers (2013-15), Detroit Lions (2016)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 101 REC, 1,377 REC YDS, 8 TD
Career stats: 202 G, 1,076 REC, 13,779 REC YD, 82 TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (2012)
Bottom line: Anquan Boldin was the sixth receiver drafted in 2003 but broke through as the offensive rookie of the year that season.
He finished third in the NFL in catches and receiving yards and led the Cardinals in touchdowns.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame might be calling him soon.
2004: Dunta Robinson, Defensive Back
Dunta Robinson was the 10th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft.
Team: Houston Texans
NFL career: 10 seasons (2004-13)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 88 TK, 3 SK, 19 PD, 3 FF, 6 INT
Career stats: 139 G, 594 TK, 5.5 SK, 91 PD, 7 FF, 17 INT, 1 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The 10th pick in the 2004 draft is remembered for quarterbacks, but Dunta Robinson was a veritable stat-padder in his rookie campaign.
The cornerback led the Texans in passes defended, interceptions and forced fumbles and was second in tackles and third in sacks.
While Robinson never had a better season, he still enjoyed a productive, 10-season career.
2005: Lofa Tatupu, Linebacker
Lofa Tatupu played 84 career NFL games.
Team: Seattle Seahawks
NFL career: 6 seasons (2005-10)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 105 TK, 4 SK, 10 PD, 1 FR, 3 INT, 1 TD
Career stats: 84 G, 552 TK, 8.5 SK, 41 PD, 7 FF, 2 FR, 10 INT, 2 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Lofa Tatupu came right out of USC after winning consecutive national championships and played middle linebacker for the NFC champion Seahawks in 2005.
He led Seattle in tackles while also reaching the Pro Bowl in his rookie campaign, the first of three straight appearances.
2006: DeMeco Ryans, Linebacker
DeMeco Ryans recorded 126 solo tackles his rookie season.
Team: Houston Texans
NFL career: 10 seasons (2006-15)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 156 TK, 3.5 SK, 7 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT
Career stats: 140 G, 970 TK, 13.5 SK, 46 PD, 7 FF, 10 FR, 7 INT, 1 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: DeMeco Ryans isn’t remembered as one of the best middle linebackers of his day, largely because the bulk of his career came in Houston.
But his rookie season was one of the best in NFL history for a linebacker, with an NFL-best 126 solo tackles.
Ryans topped 100 total tackles six times in his career, with his 156 in his rookie season serving as a career high.
2007: Patrick Willis, Linebacker
Patrick Willis was born in Tennessee.
Team: San Francisco 49ers
NFL career: 8 seasons (2007-14)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 174 TK, 4 SK, 5 PD, 2 FF, 1 FR
Career stats: 112 G, 950 TK, 20.5 SK, 53 PD, 16 FF, 5 FR, 8 INT
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: The 11th pick of the 2007 draft led the NFL in tackles twice but never had more than the 174 tackles (136 solo) of his rookie season.
Willis was the middle linebacker for an era of dominant defenses in San Francisco, reaching the Super Bowl in 2013 and seven Pro Bowls in eight seasons.
He retired in 2015 after struggling with a toe injury for most of 2014.
2008: Matt Forte, Running Back
Matt Forte had speed and toughness.
Team: Chicago Bears
NFL career: 10 seasons (2008-17)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,238 RUSH YDS, 8 RUSH TD, 477 REC YDS, 4 REC TD
Career stats: 146 G, 9,796 RUSH YDS, 54 RUSH TD, 4,672 REC YDS, 21 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Matt Forte was the 44th pick in the 2008 draft but topped 1,700 yards of total offense in his rookie season and led the Bears in touchdowns.
Forte quickly became one of the most dynamic backs in football, earning two Pro Bowl appearances and helping Chicago win the AFC North in 2010.
2009: Brian Cushing, Linebacker
Brian Cushing was the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2009.
Team: Houston Texans
NFL career: 9 seasons (2009-17)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 133 TK, 4 SK, 4 INT, 10 PD, 2 FF, 1 S
Career stats: 104 G, 664 TK, 13.5 SK, 8 INT, 30 PD, 9 FF, 1 TD, 1 S
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Brian Cushing came out of USC and had the best season of his career, leading the Texans in tackles and finishing tied for the team lead in sacks and forced fumbles.
Cushing is Houston’s all-time leader in tackles, but his career was cut short due to knee and leg injuries and two PED-related suspensions.
2010: Eric Berry, Defensive Back
Eric Berry played his entire career with the Chiefs.
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
NFL career: 9 seasons (2010-18)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 92 TK, 2 SK, 4 INT, 9 PD, 1 FF, 1 TD
Career stats: 89 G, 445 TK, 5.5 SK, 14 INT, 51 PD, 4 FF, 2 FR, 5 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Eric Berry led the Chiefs in interceptions and was second on the team in tackles his rookie season, helping them surprisingly win the AFC West.
He was a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and even beat cancer during his football career.
2011: Von Miller, Linebacker
Von Miller is one of the NFL's best linebackers.
Team: Denver Broncos
NFL career: 9 seasons (2011-present)
Rookie stats: 15 G, 64 TK, 11.5 SK, 4 PD, 3 FF
Career stats: 135 G, 490 TK, 106 SK, 26 FF, 9 FR, 2 INT, 1 TD
Super Bowl titles: 1 (2015)
Bottom line: The Broncos won the AFC West and one playoff game in a season that gets remembered mostly for Tim Tebow’s heroics.
But it was Von Miller, the second overall pick, who boosted the Broncos’ meteoric rise that season by leading Denver in sacks and forced fumbles and posting 64 tackles.
2012: Robert Griffin III, Quarterback
Robert Griffin III was the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Team: Washington Redskins
NFL career: 6 seasons (2012-14, 2016, 2018-present)
Other teams: Cleveland Browns (2016), Baltimore Ravens (2018-present)
Rookie stats: 15 G, 9-6 record, 65.6 CMP%, 3,200 PASS YDS, 20 PASS TD, 5 INT, 815 RUSH YDS, 7 RUSH TD
Career stats: 55 games, 16-25 record, 63.1 CMP%, 9,238 PASS YDS, 43 PASS TD, 28 INT, 1,740 RUSH YDS, 10 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Mike Shanahan tailored his offense around Robert Griffin and running back Alfred Morris, and the result was a surprising NFC East championship for the Skins.
But Griffin sustained a brutal knee injury in their playoff loss to the Seahawks and hasn’t been the same player since.
2013: Eddie Lacy, Running Back
Eddie Lacy played his college ball at Alabama.
Team: Green Bay Packers
NFL career: 5 seasons (2013-17)
Other teams: Seattle Seahawks (2017)
Rookie stats: 15 G, 1,178 RUSH YDS, 11 RUSH TD, 257 REC YDS
Career stats: 60 G, 3,614 RUSH YDS, 23 RUSH TD, 947 REC YDS, 6 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Eddie Lacy’s career fizzled out due mostly to weight issues, but his rookie season was one of the best for a running back ever.
He posted nearly 1,500 yards from scrimmage and was named to the Pro Bowl while helping the Packers win the NFC North.
2014: Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver
Odell Beckham Jr. was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 2014.
Team: New York Giants
NFL career: 7 seasons (2014-present)
Other teams: Cleveland Browns (2019-20)
Rookie stats: 12 G, 91 REC, 1,305 YDS, 12 TD
Career stats: 82 G, 487 REC, 6,830 YDS, 51 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Odell Beckham’s rookie season is that much more impressive given he missed a quarter of it with a hamstring injury.
He burst on the national radar with an eye-popping one-handed touchdown against Dallas in November.
And by then, he was well on his way to NFL offensive rookie of the year honors.
2015: Marcus Peters, Cornerback
Marcus Peters played 45 games with the Chiefs.
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
NFL career: 6 seasons (2015-present)
Other teams: Los Angeles Rams (2018-19), Baltimore Ravens (2018-present)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 60 TK, 8 INT, 2 TD
Career stats: 87 G, 282 TK, 30 INT, 6 TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Todd Gurley’s rookie season may have been more memorable, but Marcu Peters’ year was flat-out better.
The Chiefs defensive back was picked behind 17 players in his year’s draft, but quickly made rivals rue that decision by leading the NFL in passes defended, interceptions and defensive touchdowns in his first pro season.
2016: Dak Prescott, Quarterback
Dak Prescott has made over $35 million in his career.
Team: Dallas Cowboys
NFL career: 5 seasons (2016-present)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 13-3 record, 67.8 CMP%, 3,667 PASS YDS, 23 TD, 4 INT, 282 RUSH YDS, 6 RUSH TD
Career stats: 69 games, 42-27 record, 66.0 CMP%, 17,634 PASS YDS, 106 TDs, 40 INTs
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Robert Griffin and Dak Prescott are the only two quarterbacks on this list because quarterbacks generally take longer to make an impact.
But Prescott’s rookie campaign was one for the ages, with an eye-popping 23-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 104.9 quarterback rating while leading Dallas to the top seed in the NFC that season.
2017: Alvin Kamara, Running Back
Alvin Kamara is a dangerous offensive weapon for the Saints.
Team: New Orleans Saints
NFL career: 4 seasons (2017-present)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 728 RUSH YDS, 8 RUSH TD, 826 REC YDS, 5 REC TD
Career stats: 56 G, 2993 RUSH YDS, 35 RUSH TD, 2,714 REC YDS, 14 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Alvin Kamara was overlooked a bit coming out of Tennessee and ended up being a third-round pick of the Saints in the 2017 draft. But Kamara didn't stay overlooked for long.
He became the NFL’s breakout star in his rookie year with his hard-nosed running and big-play capabilities in the passing game.
And Kamara made Adrian Peterson expendable in New Orleans.
2018: Saquon Barkley, Running Back
Saquon Barkley rushed for 1,307 yards in his rookie season.
Team: New York Giants
NFL career: 3 seasons (2018-present),
Rookie stats: 16 G, 1,307 RUSH YDS, 11 RUSH TD, 721 REC YDS, 4 REC TD
Career stats: 31 G, 2,344 RUSH YDS, 17 RUSH TD, 1,219 REC YDS, 6 REC TD
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Saquon Barkley had arguably the greatest rookie season in NFL history, with 15 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
Unfortunately for fellow Giants fans, he couldn’t help them finish better than 5-11 that year.
Barkley followed it up with a another 1,000-yard rushing season in 2019, then got hurt in 2020.
2019: Nick Bosa, Defensive End
Nick Bosa had a monster rookie season for the 49ers in 2019.
Team: San Francisco 49ers
NFL career: 2 seasons (2019-present)
Rookie stats: 16 G, 47 TK, 9 SK, 2 FR, 1 INT
Career stats: 18 G, 53 TK, 9 SK, 2 FR, 1 INT
Super Bowl titles: 0
Bottom line: Nick Bosa came out of Ohio State and immediately made an impact, winning defensive rookie of the year and finishing second on the 49ers in sacks.
He also helped San Francisco go from 4-12 in 2018 to 13-3 and the Super Bowl in 2019.
He suffered a torn ACL in 2020 but is expected to return in 2021.
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