Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #100: Tony Nathan

Tony Nathan

Teams

Miami Dolphins (1979-1987)

Playoffs

Appearances - 6 (1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985)

Conf Champ Games - 3 (1982, 1984, 1985)

Super Bowls - 2 (1982, 1984)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 1 (1979)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Touch - #66

League Leads

Yards per Rush (#1-1981, #7-1984)

All-Purpose Yards (#8-1979)

Yards per Touch (#1-1980, #2-1981, #4-1984, #5-1985, #7-1983)

Tony Nathan played 4 full seasons for the Alabama Crimson Tide, highlighted by his junior season, when he rushed for 642 yards and 15 touchdowns, and a national championship during his senior season. Afterward he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 3rd round of the 1979 draft with the 61st overall pick. He caught only 22 passes in college, but that would become a bigger part of his game in the NFL.

As a rookie, he was primarily used as a kick returner, and he led the league in yards per punt return, which earned him All-Pro First Team honors. The following year he became a full-time running back, which is where he spent the remainder of his career.

In his first season as a running back, he led the league in yards per touch, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and 10.3 yards per reception, which worked out to an average of 7.8 for each time he touched the ball. The next season he became the Dolphins' starting running back, and he led the league in yards per carry that season, while averaging 95 total yards per game, the highest of his career. 

Nathan was the Dolphins' starting running back in two Super Bowl appearances, first in Super Bowl XVII, then again two years later in Super Bowl XIX. In the latter game, he finished with 101 total yards, including 10 receptions, which was the second-most of any player in history at the time. The Dolphins lost both games, and haven't reached another Super Bowl since.

After 5 seasons as the team's starting running back, 4 of which ended with him totaling over 1100 yards from scrimmage, he returned to a backup role, mostly catching passes out of the backfield in 1986, but doing so at a good rate, then finally hardly being used in his final season. He went on to become an assistant coach for the team, and has been a running backs coach for 4 NFL teams and 1 college team since his retirement.

Nathan may not be a big name today, but he had several years as a very good running back who was skilled at receiving as well, and he deserves to be remembered as one of the best at what he did.