Earl Campbell

Earl Christian Campbell (born March 29, 1955), nicknamed "the Tyler Rose", is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers and the New Orleans Saints. Known for his aggressive, punishing running style and ability to break tackles, Campbell gained recognition as one of the best power running backs in NFL history.

This article is about the American football player. For the Canadian hockey player, see Earl Campbell (ice hockey).

Earl Campbell
Campbell signing autographs in 2009
No. 34, 35
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1955-03-29) March 29, 1955
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:John Tyler
(Tyler, Texas)
College:Texas (1974–1977)
NFL draft:1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • NFL Most Valuable Player (1979)
  • 3× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1978–1980)
  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1978)
  • 3× First-team All-Pro (1978–1980)
  • 5× Pro Bowl (1978–1981, 1983)
  • Bert Bell Award (1979)
  • 3× NFL rushing yards leader (1978–1980)
  • 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1979, 1980)
  • NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (1978)
  • Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor
  • Tennessee Titans No. 34 retired
  • Heisman Trophy (1977)
  • Davey O'Brien Memorial Trophy (1977)
  • SN Player of the Year (1977)
  • Unanimous All-American (1977)
  • First-team All-American (1975)
  • 2× First-team All-SWC (1975, 1977)
  • Texas Longhorns No. 20 retired
  • Texas Sports Hall of Fame
  • Houston Sports Hall of Fame
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame (1991)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:9,407
Rushing average:4.3
Rushing touchdowns:74
Receptions:121
Receiving yards:806
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Campbell played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he won the Heisman Trophy and earned unanimous All-American honors in his senior season, as well as numerous other accolades. Campbell was selected first overall by the Oilers in the 1978 NFL draft, and had an immediate impact in the league, earning NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Campbell was also named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in each of his first three seasons, during which he averaged nearly 1,700 rushing yards per season. Campbell won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1979 after leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns.

With head coach Bum Phillips, Campbell's emergence in Houston coincided with the Luv Ya Blue era, a period of sustained success in which the Oilers made three straight playoff appearances. Campbell became the centerpiece of Houston's offense during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was traded to the Saints six games into the 1984 season, where he spent his final season and a half before retiring. Campbell was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame (1990) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1991). In 2019, he was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Campbell's jersey number is retired by the University of Texas and the Tennessee Titans.

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