It is Week 3 within the 2025 NFL season, which suggests it is time to return to the longer term.
“The NFL Right now” celebrates its fiftieth birthday on Sunday, and CBS Sports activities is ringing within the special day with an all-star affair: The Week 3 broadcast will characteristic Brent Musburger, “NFL Right now” host from 1975-1990, returning to co-host the present alongside James Brown, Nate Burleson, JJ Watt and Matt Ryan. The basic pregame present may even embody particular friends, classic graphics and music, plus a digital recreation of the 1975 “NFL Right now” set.
Prime 12 NFL QBs of 1975: The place do Cowboys’ Roger Staubach, Steelers’ Terry Bradshaw rank amongst all-timers?
Cody Benjamin
In celebration of the historic second, we regarded all the best way again to the 1975 season to evaluate the perfect operating backs of the time. We have already paid tribute this week to a number of the all-time video games, legendary coaches and extra from the period. Now, it is time to rank the perfect operating backs from the ’75 season, an inventory that features three backs who’re presently enshrined within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Corridor of Famer Walter Payton did not crack the listing, but it surely was simply his rookie season. He would go on to have among the finest careers for a operating again.
12. Robert Newhouse (Cowboys)
In his first yr as a featured again, Newhouse performed a key function within the Cowboys’ shock run to the Tremendous Bowl. Through the ultimate two weeks of the common season, Newhouse ran for 198 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry whereas serving to Dallas clinch a playoff berth.
11. Lawrence McCutchen (Rams)
One of many NFL’s premier backs throughout the Nineteen Seventies, McCutchen earned his third of 5 consecutive Professional Bowl nods in 1975. Whereas it wasn’t considered one of his higher common seasons, McCutchen made historical past within the playoffs by turning into the primary NFL participant to hurry for over 200 yards in a postseason recreation. His 202 yards powered the Rams to a 35-23 win over the Cardinals within the first spherical of the playoffs.
10. Terry Metcalf (Cardinals)
One of many NFL’s prime offensive weapons that season, Metcalf scored in each manner potential that season for an offensive participant. He additionally set a then-NFL single-season report with 2,462 yards of whole offense.
As a operating again, Metcalf ran for 816 yards and 9 touchdowns whereas averaging 4.9 yards per carry. In opposition to the Cowboys in Week 13, Metcalf ran for 86 yards (on simply 14 carries) and caught a 30-yard landing as Arizona defeated Dallas en path to profitable the NFC East title.
9. Mike Thomas (Washington)
The 1975 Offensive Rookie of the Yr, Thomas completed tenth within the league in dashing regardless of solely beginning in 10 video games. He additionally completed third on the group that season in receptions (40), receiving yards 483) and landing receptions (three).
8. Dave Hampton (Falcons)
It is laborious to think about a happier 1,000-yard rusher in NFL historical past than Hampton. In Week 14 of the 1972 season, Hampton obtained a standing ovation after turning into the primary Falcons participant to hurry for over 1,000 yards. He was then tackled for a six-yard loss and completed the season with 995 yards. Hampton then got here three yards in need of reaching 1,000 yards the next season.
After lacking 5 video games throughout the 1974 season on account of harm, Hampton bought his coveted 1,000-yard season in 1975, gaining 1,002 yards en path to profitable the NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr award.
7. John Riggins (Jets)
Consider it or not, the 1975 season was the one yr Riggins was named to the Professional Bowl. A future Corridor of Famer, Riggins broke the 1,000-yard dashing barrier for the primary time that season. He additionally caught 30 passes whereas averaging a formidable 12.1 yards per catch. Riggins did all this on a Jets group that went 3-11.
6. Jim Otis (Cardinals)
Otis added stability to St. Louis’ “Air Coryell” offense whereas serving to the Cardinals win their second straight division title over the Cowboys. He completed fourth within the NFL in dashing regardless of not having a run over 30 yards.
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5. Greg Pruitt (Browns)
Pruitt was named to the Professional Bowl the earlier two years for his prowess on particular groups. He made the Professional Bowl the next two seasons after establishing himself as one of many league’s premier backs. Pruitt didn’t, nonetheless, obtain a Professional Bowl nod in ’75 regardless of ending sixth within the NFL in dashing and averaging a really strong 4.9 yards-per-carry.
Pruitt’s breakout recreation as a operating again passed off in Week 13, when he rumbled for 214 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Chiefs. That efficiency preceded his virtuoso effort three weeks earlier in a win over the Bengals.
4. Chuck Foreman (Vikings)
Minnesota’s versatile again completed fourth within the league MVP voting. Along with being the league’s fifth-leading rusher that season, Foreman led all the NFL with 73 receptions. He additionally completed third within the NFL with 13 landing runs. He additionally led the league in fumbles, nonetheless, which is the primary cause why he wasn’t one spot greater on this listing.
3. Lydell Mitchell (Colts)
The ’75 season was a breakout one for each Mitchell and the Colts. That season noticed Mitchell end third within the NFL in dashing and second in receptions. Mitchell additionally scored a career-high 11 touchdowns on the bottom whereas serving to the Colts go from 2-12 in 1974 to 10-4 and a division title in ’75.
2. Franco Harris (Steelers)
Along with dashing for a career-high 1,246 yards, Harris additionally matched his career-high in common yards-per-carry (4.8) in ’75. He completed the common season with three consecutive 100-yard dashing performances earlier than rumbling for 153 yards and a rating in Pittsburgh’s divisional spherical playoff win over Baltimore. Harris had a giant landing throughout the next week’s win over Oakland and was the main rusher throughout the Steelers’ victory over the Cowboys in Tremendous Bowl X.
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1. O.J. Simpson (Payments)
Simpson’s 1,817 dashing yards have been almost 600 extra dashing yards than the league’s second-leading rusher. Together with profitable his fourth dashing title in 5 years, Simpson additionally led the NFL that season in landing runs (16) and yards-per-carry common (5.5). He additionally recorded the season’s longest run, an 88-yard rating towards the vaunted Steelers’ protection that was a part of a 227-yard day.
