Long Beach State was hardly known as a hotbed for NFL superstars, but when the St. Louis Cardinals selected Terry Metcalf in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft, they landed one of the most explosive, dynamic playmakers in football history. Nicknamed "The Franchise," Metcalf arrived in St. Louis and immediately revolutionized the all-purpose running back role under head coach Don Coryell.

Metcalf depended on his quick lateral movements, explosive speed, and a distinctive jump-cut running style that made him almost impossible to stop in the open field. He was a versatile threat before the term was even common, lining up in the backfield, playing wide receiver, and always poised to score on kickoff or punt returns.

After making brief appearances as a rookie in 1973, Metcalf dramatically improved in 1974, accumulating over 2,000 all-purpose yards. He averaged an impressive 31.2 yards per kickoff return and 13.1 yards per punt return. His outstanding performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection and a second-place finish for the NFL Most Valuable Player award.

His 1975 campaign was his masterpiece. Metcalf set an NFL single-season record with 2,462 all-purpose yards over a 14-game season, a remarkable achievement that included 816 rushing yards, 378 receiving yards, 960 kickoff return yards, and 285 punt return yards. He scored 13 total touchdowns, including a pass, a run, a catch, a punt return, and a kickoff return, finishing third in NFL MVP voting and earning his second Pro Bowl selection. His 2,462 all-purpose yards that year remained an NFL record for nearly a decade, highlighting an exceptional workload in rushing, receiving, and returning.

However, Metcalf’s dynamic playing style was marred by a significant weakness: ball security. His tendency to carry the ball loosely in the open field led to a high number of fumbles, with him leading the league twice: 14 fumbles in 1974 and 15 in 1976.

Following his third Pro Bowl selection in 1977, contractual disputes and frustration with the local fanbase led Metcalf to make a shockwave decision: he jumped to the Canadian Football League, signing a lucrative deal with the Toronto Argonauts in 1978. Though his NFL peak was brief, his five years in St. Louis produced 9,048 all-purpose yards and 36 total touchdowns.