Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #94: Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs

Teams

New York Giants (2005-2011, 2013)

San Francisco 49ers (2012)

Playoffs

Appearances - 5 (2005,2006,2007,2008,2011)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (2007,2011)

Super Bowls - 2 (2007,2011)

Championships - 2 (2007,2011)

Awards and Honors

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #49

Rushing Touchdowns - #54

 

League Leads

Rushing Touchdowns (#3-2008, #9-2010, #10-2006)

Yards per Rush (#3-2008,2010, #8-2007)

Rushing Yards per Game (#3-2007, #6-2008)

Total Touchdowns (#3-2008)

Yards per Touch (#10-2010)

After 2 years in junior college and one year as a third-string running back at Auburn, Brandon Jacobs transferred to Southern Illinois, where he ran for 992 yards and 19 touchdowns, which put him on the national radar and enabled him to be selected by the New York Giants in the 4th round of the NFL Draft, with the 110th overall pick.

Jacobs served as backup to Tiki Barber in his first two seasons, getting most of his carries near the goal line, which resulted in him scoring 7 touchdowns as a rookie despite logging only 38 carries, and 9 more carries the next year.

With Barber's retirement, Jacobs became the team's starter in 2007, and he racked up 1009 yards on 5.0 yards per carry. He scored the winning touchdown for New York in the divisional round of the playoffs, and was the starting back as the Giants upset the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl.

He was even better the next season, finishing with a few more yards at the same rate per carry, but increasing his touchdown tally from 4 to 15, a major improvement. Though the team won their division that year, they were upset in their first playoff game, ending their bid for a repeat title.

The next year was a down year for Jacobs, as his average carry dropped to only 3.7 yards, and he lost his starting role after the season as a result. He had a very strong season in 2010 out of the backup spot, getting nearly the same number of yards as the season before on 77 fewer carries.

He remained as a backup in 2011, but couldn't duplicate his previous season's production, but he was able to help the Giants reach another Super Bowl, once again facing the Patriots. He picked up 37 yards in a limited role in that game, and came away with a second championship ring.

He was released after that season, signing as a free agent with San Francisco, but he injured his knee in the preseason, and ended up missing the first two months of the season. Once he returned, he was rarely used, getting only 5 carries in 2 games before being suspended by the team for complaining about his role. He was released by the 49ers right before the playoffs.

He returned to the Giants for the 2013 season, playing in 7 games before suffering another injury, which put him out for the season and ended his career. He is the Giants all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, and has the fourth-most rushing yards of any Giant.

His career, like that of many running backs, was cut short by injuries, but he was a very solid running back at his peak, and was a big part of 2 championship teams, and he is ranked here as one of the best to play the position.