gold star for USAHOF

9. Roger Craig

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9. Roger Craig

There have many Running Backs who were equally capable of the receiving game, but there can only be one groundbreaker.  That man was Roger Craig.

 

A Second Round Pick from Nebraska in 1983, Craig quickly became the Niners’ starting Running Back, and in his first two seasons, he recorded 1,000-yard plus seasons in Yards From Scrimmage.  Craig helped San Francisco win the Super Bowl in 1984, and in the first two seasons of his career, he had 119 Receptions, which was an echo of what was to come.

In 1985, Craig made history becoming the first player to have over 1,000 Yards Rushing and 1,000 Yards Receiving.  He led the NFL in Receptions (92), and he went to his first Pro Bowl, and while he wasn’t named a First Team All-Pro, he became a standard-bearer of what a dual-threat Running Back could become.

Craig continued to have good seasons in 1986 and 1987, where he was a Pro Bowler again, and in 1988, he had the best year of his career.  Craig had a career-high 1,502 Rushing Yards, and his 2,036 YFS led the NFL.  He was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year and the NEA MVP and helped lead the Niners to their third Super Bowl win.  Craig was a Pro Bowler again in 1989 and was also a vital cog in the San Francisco machine that won their fourth Super Bowl (third for Craig).   

Craig played one more year in San Francisco before he signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1990.  With the 49ers, Craig accumulated 7,064 Rushing Yards, 4,442 Receiving Yards, and 66 Touchdowns.  The 49ers inducted Craig into their Hall of Fame in 2011.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Running Back
  • Acquired: Selected in the 2nd Round, 49th Overall in the NFL Draft 4/26/83.
  • Departed: Signed with the Los Angeles Raiders after the 1990 Season.
  • Games Played: 121
  • Notable Statistics:

    116 Games Started
    1,686 Rushing Attempts
    7,064 Rushing Yards
    50 Rushing Touchdowns
    508 Receptions
    4,442 Receiving Yards
    16 Receiving Touchdowns
    2 Kick Returns
    32 Kick Return Yards
    102 Approximate Value

    16 Playoff Games
    202 Rushing Attempts
    817 Rushing Yards
    7 Rushing Touchdowns
    63 Receptions
    606 Receiving Yards
    2 Receiving Touchdowns
    4 Kick Returns
    48 Kick Return Yards

  • Played For: San Francisco 49ers
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (XIX, XXIII & XXIV)
    AP Offensive Player of the Year (1988)
    NEA MVP (1988)
    UPI Offensive Player of the Year (1988)
    First Team All-Pro (1988)
    Second Team All-Pro (1985)
    Pro Bowl (1985, 1987, 1988 & 1989)
    Most Receptions (1985)
    Most Yards From Scrimmage (1988)

Last modified on Monday, 12 September 2022 23:02

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