Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #31: Greg Pruitt

Greg Pruitt

Teams

Cleveland Browns (1973-1981)

Los Angeles Raiders (1982-1984)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (1980,1982,1983,1984)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (1983)

Super Bowls - 1 (1983)

Championships - 1 (1983)

Awards and Honors

Pro Bowl - 5 (1973,1974,1976,1977,1983)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #24

Yards per Touch - #90

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#6-1975, #7-1977)

Rushing Touchdowns (#10-1975)

Yards per Rush (#2-1978, #3-1975, #5-1976, #6-1977, #9-1974)

Rushing Yards per Game (#5-1978, #6-1975, #8-1977)

Scrimmage Yards (#3-1977, #7-1975, #9-1976)

Yards per Touch (#4-1974,1978, #5-1977, #10-1975)

After finishing #3 in the Heisman voting as a junior, then #2 as a senior, Greg Pruitt was drafted in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Pruitt was used mostly as a kick returner in his first two seasons, but took over as the starting running back for Cleveland midway through 1974. He made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner in each of his first two seasons, but in his first full season as a starter, he missed the Pro Bowl, even though he gained 1067 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground with 4.9 yards per carry.

Pruitt reached the 1000-yard mark in each of the next 2 seasons as well, and was also voted to the Pro Bowl in each. In 1977, he also gained 471 yards receiving, which put him at 1557 scrimmage yards, which put him at #3 in the entire NFL for that season. 

He remained the team's starter until 1979, when he started to miss more time due to injury, and he saw a reduced role in his final two seasons with Cleveland. After the 1981 season, he was traded to the Raiders in exchange for an 11th-round draft pick.

In Los Angeles, he was used mostly as a kick returner, and in 1983, he led the league in punt returns, punt return touchdowns, and punt return yards, in which he set a record with 666 on the season. He was named to his 5th Pro Bowl, and the Raiders reached the Super Bowl that season, the only time he would experience a deep playoff run in his career, and it resulted in a championship ring.

After the 1984 season, in which he didn't gain any rushing yards, he retired from the league. He made the Pro Bowl 5 times in his career, surpassed 1000 yards rushing 3 times, and is among the top 25 all-time in yards per carry. He is not remembered by many fans today, but he was a great player, and deserves his spot on this list.