Eric Dickerson
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Dickerson was a two-time All-America choice at Southern Methodist, was selected
in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. An immediate success,
he established rookie records for most rushing attempts (390), most rushing yards
gained (1,808) and most touchdowns rushing (18). His efforts earned him All-Pro,
Pro Bowl, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season,
Dickerson continued his onslaught of the NFL record book. Twelve times during that
season he gained more than 100 yards rushing, breaking the record of 100-yard games
in a season held by O. J. Simpson. His 2,105 total yards rushing in 1984 shattered
Simpson’s 1973 record of 2,003 yards rushing in a single season. A workhorse runner
with the Rams, Dickerson gained more than 1,000 yards each of his first four seasons
with the team. In three of those seasons he gained more than 1,800 yards. Although
he rushed for 1,234 yards in 1985, he missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his
short NFL career. He did, however, go on to rush for a playoff record 248 yards against
the Dallas Cowboys in post-season play. After playing just three games for the Rams
during the strike-shortened 1987 season, Dickerson -- in a blockbuster deal -- was
traded to the Indianapolis Colts. Although he played in just nine games with the
Colts that year, he still managed to gain 1,011 yards to finish the season with 1,288.
In 1988, Dickerson, with 1,659 yards rushing, became the first Colt to lead the
league in rushing since Alan Ameche in 1955. The following season he became the first
player in NFL history to gain more than 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons.
He also became the seventh back to gain more than 10,000 yards and the fastest ever
to do so, reaching the milestone in just 91 games. During his 11-year career, Dickerson
gained 13,259 yards rushing, which was second all-time at the time of his retirement.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Dickerson was All-Pro in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 and
1988.
| EVENT |
PLACE |
POINTS |
MONEY |
EVENT WINS |
| 1989 Preliminary 1 |
6 |
16 |
$1,600 |
Weight Lifting |
| TOTALS |
16 |
$1,600 |
1 |