Thursday, June 13, 2024

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #58: Ahman Green


Ahman Green

Teams

Seattle Seahawks (1998-1999)

Green Bay Packers (2000-2006,2009)

Houston Texans (2007-2008)


Playoffs

Appearances - 5 (2001,2002,2003,2004,2009)

Conf Champ Games - 0

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0


Awards and Honors

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2001)

Pro Bowl - 4 (2001,2002,2003,2004)


All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards - #39

Yards per Rush - #49

Rushing Touchdowns - #54

Scrimmage Yards - #64

Rushing Yards per Game - #79

Total Touchdowns - #95


League Leads

Rushing Yards (#2-2003, #4-2001)

Rushing Touchdowns (#2-2003, #8-2000,2001)

Yards per Rush (#4-2003, #9-2000,2001)

Rushing Yards per Game (#3-2003, #7-2001,2002)

Total Touchdowns (#2-2003, #7-2001, #9-2000)

Scrimmage Yards (#3-2001,2003, #7-2000)


After gaining 1877 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns for Nebraska as a junior, as well as winning his second national championship in 3 seasons, Ahman Green was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft.

Green spent 2 seasons with the Seahawks backing up Ricky Watters, and wasn't able to get much time on the field, getting only 61 carries over 2 seasons, though he did average a very impressive 5.4 yards per carry in the opportunities he was given. After 2 frustrating seasons, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers.

He became the Packers' starter early in his first season with the team and never looked back. He finished that first season with 1175 yards and 10 touchdowns, then reeled off 4 Pro Bowl seasons in a row. He made his only All-Pro appearance in 2001, when he had 1981 scrimmage yards, third-best in the league.

His best overall season came in 2003, when he had 1883 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, both #2 in the league, and had 2250 total scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns. Even though he didn't lead the league in any category, he was in the top 4 in every category, making him the best back in the league that year.

He missed most of the 2005 season due to injury, but Green Bay still resigned him for another season, but his production dropped off, and he finished with only 1059 yards and 5 touchdowns, at only 4 yards per carry, his lowest in a full season with the Packers. 

He became a free agent after that season, signing with the Texans, but gained only 554 yards over 2 seasons before being released by the team. He went back to Green Bay for one final season, where he was able to gain just enough yardage to push him ahead of Jim Taylor to become the Packers all-time leading rusher before retiring from the NFL. He played one season each in the UFL and the CFL before retiring for good.

Ahman Green was a very good rusher for several seasons, and ascended to the top of the list for a season before his body wore out. He is among the top 40 in all-time rushing yards, and has the #10 rushing season of all time, despite not even having the greatest total that year. Even with no playoff success at all, Green has to be mentioned as one of the greats of all time.






No comments:

Post a Comment