Brian Westbrook
Teams
Philadelphia Eagles (2002-2009)
San Francisco 49ers (2010)
Playoffs
Appearances - 6 (2002,2003,2004,2006,2008,2009)
Conf Champ Games - 4 (2002,2003,2004,2008)
Super Bowls - 1 (2004)
Championships - 0
Awards and Honors
All-Pro First Team - 1 (2007)
Pro Bowl - 2 (2004,2007)
All-Time Ranks
Yards per Rush - #35
Rushing Yards - #84
Yards per Touch - #96
League Leads
Rushing Yards (#3-2007, #8-2006)
Yards per Rush (#5-2006, #7-2003, #10-2007)
Rushing Yards per Game (#4-2007, #10-2006)
Total Touchdowns (#6-2008, #7-2007, #8-2003)
Scrimmage Yards (#1-2007, #6-2006)
Yards per Touch (#3-2004, #5-2006, #7-2003, #9-2005)
After setting the NCAA all-time record with 9512 all-purpose yards while at Villanova, Brian Westbrook was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 3rd round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
Westbrook didn't play much as a rookie, but started to gain more playing time in his second season, scoring 11 touchdowns on the season and gaining 5.2 yards per carry on an Eagles team that reached the NFC Title Game. He unfortunately did not participate in the playoff run, as he tore his triceps in the final game of the regular season.
Westbrook became the team's starter in 2004 after Duce Staley left the team, and he responded with his first Pro Bowl season. He gained 812 yards on the ground and another 703 through the air, and helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl for the first time in decades. He had 104 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in that game, but the Eagles lost to the Patriots 24-21.
He was having a good 2005 season, amassing over 1200 scrimmage yards on a team depleted by injuries, when he himself went down with a foot injury that ended his season in early December. He returned to full health in 2006, and showed it with his first 1000 yard rushing season, finishing with 1217 on the ground to go along with 699 receiving.
He kept up that level of production in 2007, when he led the league in scrimmage yards, finishing with 2104 and 12 touchdowns, which earned him a spot on the All-Pro First Team for the only time in his career. He set career highs in both rushing and receiving yards, but the Eagles failed to make the playoffs.
2008 is when the injuries finally started to slow him down. He suffered rib and ankle injuries that year, and multiple concussions the following year, stunting his production and leading to his release by the Eagles after the 2009 season. He joined the 49ers for the 2010 season, but rushed for only 340 yards on the season, with over a third of those coming in a single game where he started in place of Frank Gore, who was injured. After not finding a team for 2011, he retired in 2012.
Westbrook was a true dual threat running back. He had 4 straight seasons with at least 600 receiving yards, and 5 straight with over 1200 scrimmage yards. He also averaged over 4.5 yards per carry through most of his career, and ended with a career average of 4.6. He is often overlooked when discussing great running backs, but he deserves to be remembered as one of the greats.
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