Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #63: Todd Gurley

Todd Gurley

Teams

Saint Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2015-2019)

Atlanta Falcons (2020)

Playoffs

Appearances - 2 (2017,2018)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (2018)

Super Bowls - 1 (2018)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Offensive Rookie of the Year - 2015

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (2017)

All-Pro First Team - 2 (2017,2018)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2015)

Pro Bowl - 3 (2015,2017,2018)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Touchdowns - #41

Rushing Yards per Game - #46

Total Touchdowns - #72

Rushing Yards - #99

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#2-2017, #3-2015,2018)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2017,2018, #5-2015,2019)

Yards per Rush (#8-2015,2017)

Rushing Yards per Game (#2-2017,2018, #3-2015)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2017,2018, #5-2019)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-2017, #4-2018)

Yards per Touch (#9-2017)

Todd Gurley had a great freshman year at Georgia, picking up 1385 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, then had a bit of a down year as a sophomore, followed by a strong junior year that ended early due to an ACL tear, but he was still drafted by the Saint Louis Rams with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft despite the injury.

He returned from his injury faster than expected, and made his debut in the 3rd week of the season. He played in 13 games and gained 1106 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, earning him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.

He started every game of his second season, but had his worst season as a pro, gaining only 885 yards on the season on 3.2 yards per carry during the team's first season back in Los Angeles. The team had a disappointing season as well, leading to a change at head coach, which changed Gurley's trajectory immediately.

In 2017, Gurley led the league with 2093 scrimmage yards, 1305 on the ground and 788 through the air, both of which are still his career highs. He also led the league with 13 rushing touchdowns and 19 total touchdowns, won the Offensive Player of the Year award, and came in second to Tom Brady in the MVP vote. 

He was nearly as good again in 2018. He ended up with only 1831 scrimmage yards, but led the league in rushing and total touchdowns again, this time increasing those totals to 17 and 21, and led the Rams to the Super Bowl. He missed the final 2 games of the regular season due to knee soreness, then returned for the playoffs, but after a solid first game, his knee started giving him trouble again, and he gained only 45 yards in the final 2 playoff games, and the Rams lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots 13-3.

Gurley never fully recovered from his knee issues. In his final season with the Rams, he gained only 857 yards on the ground, though he did score 12 touchdowns, but the Rams released him after that year. He joined the Falcons for the 2020 season, and after gaining only 678 yards that year, was once again let go, and after a year with no contract offer, he retired officially in 2022.

Gurley is still only 29 years old, but wear and tear on his knee felled him at his peak. He was the best back in the league for 2 straight years, but it all ended as quickly as it started. Even though his career was extremely short, Gurley was so dominant in those two seasons, and so good in his rookie year as well, that he must be remembered as one of the best to play the game.