Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #60: Beattie Feathers

Beattie Feathers

Teams

Chicago Bears (1934-1937)

Brooklyn Dodgers (1938-1939)

Green Bay Packers (1940)

Playoffs

Appearances - 2 (1934,1937)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (1934,1937)

Champ Games - 2 (1934,1937)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 1 (1934)

All-Time Ranks

League Leads

Passing Touchdowns (#6-1934)

Rushing Yards (#1-1934)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1934, #7-1935)

Yards per Rush (#1-1934)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1934, #7-1935)

Receiving Yards (#6-1934)

Receiving Yards per Game (#6-1934)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1934)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1934)

Yards per Touch (#1-1934)

Beattie Feathers was an All-American as a senior at Tennessee, and won the SEC Player of the Year, then signed with the Chicago Bears to start playing in the 1934 season.

His rookie season was one of the best of all time. In just 11 games, he became the first player ever to rush for over 1000 yards, reaching 1004 on the season, which obviously led the league, and he also led the league in rushing touchdowns, scrimmage yards, total touchdowns, and yards per touch. In addition to all that, he averaged 8.4 yards per carry, which is still the best ever recorded in a season.

He led the Bears to a 13-0 record that season, but was injured at the end of the year and missed the championship game, which Chicago lost to the Giants 30-13. Unfortunately, he would never be the same player again, and his totals from the rest of his career combined were less than those of his rookie season alone.

He played 8 games in his second season, gaining only 281 rushing yards on 5 yards per carry, and it was just downhill from there. He left Chicago after the 1937 season, and played 2 years with Brooklyn followed by a final season with Green Bay before retiring.

Feathers played for 7 seasons, but he is really on this list on the strength of his rookie season. He led the league in every major rushing category, and was on the leaderboard for passing and receiving as well. Amazingly, his rookie rushing total was higher than any player's passing yardage that season, and it is the only time that has ever been accomplished. It's sad that he didn't get to play unhurt for longer, but he deserves mention among the greatest of all time.