In an era where fullbacks were viewed strictly as lead-blocking battering rams, a fifth-round pick out of Stephen F. Austin fundamentally changed how NFL offenses weaponized the backfield. Selected 115th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft, Larry Centers spent his first two seasons operating in near obscurity. Once the coaching staff recognized his elite hands and open-field route running, Centers transformed into a pass-catching machine who completely revolutionized his position.
Centers lacked the traditional, bone-crushing girth of classic 1990s fullbacks, but he possessed the movement skills and soft hands of a slot receiver. Operating out of the backfield as a primary check-down option, he excelled at finding soft spots in zone coverage, executing quick flat routes, and turning short dump-offs into first downs. His uncanny durability made him a security blanket for every quarterback who suited up for the franchise during his tenure.
After expanding his role with 50 catches in 1992 and 66 in 1993, Centers began posting receiving numbers that rivaled elite wideouts. With Buddy Ryan's arrival in 1994, his usage exploded. His historic peak arrived during the 1995 season, when he hauled in an unbelievable 101 receptions for 962 yards, becoming the first running back or fullback in NFL history to break the 100-catch threshold in a single campaign while earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
Centers followed up that landmark performance with another masterclass during the 1996 campaign, catching 99 passes for 766 yards and a career-high 7 receiving touchdowns while adding 425 yards on the ground to earn First-Team All-Pro honors and his second Pro Bowl invitation. He remained an essential offensive pillar for two more seasons, helping Arizona capture a famous playoff victory in 1998, before salary cap constraints led to his release prior to the 1999 season.
Centers continued his career with successful stops in Washington, Buffalo, and New England—winning Super Bowl XXXVIII with the Patriots in 2003 and retired with 827 career receptions, the most ever by a back at the time of his retirement. In nine seasons with the Cardinals, he accumulated 535 receptions, 4,617 receiving yards, 1,739 rushing yards, and 29 total touchdowns.
