Yesterday I wrote about Woody Campbell, but there's another much more famous Campbell that also played running back in Oilers history, and that player is the legendary Earl Campbell!
The Titans/Oilers franchise have a notoriously fantastic history of great running backs, and the back that started that trend was Earl Campbell. Since then the Titans have had the privilege of having Eddie George, Chris Johnson, and Derrick Henry all be great for the franchise.
Earl Campbell is one of the greatest running backs ever and interestingly ninety-nine percent of his career was spent in the state of Texas. I imagine Earl is like a king in that state.
Earl Campbell simply dominated the 1970's and a bit of the early 80's. Both collegiately and then professionally. The man not only had impressive numbers, but his playstyle was just pure art and entertainment. He had Barry Sanders like agility with a Jerome Bettis type of power.
Campbell attended the University of Texas from 1974-1977 and there wasn't an award that the man did not win. In his senior season Campbell rushed for an insane 1,744 yards along with 18 rushing touchdowns on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.
The Oilers owned the #1 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft and they did not hesitate to select Campbell, and boy it immediately paid off for the Oilers. Earl Campbell's first three years in the NFL were his best. Perhaps that's a short lived prime but Earl's prime was just DIFFERENT. He'd have a handful of very good seasons after that, but those three years from 1978-1980 were special.
1978-1980
Earl Campbell managed to run for over 5,000 yards in those first three seasons. He averaged almost 1,700 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns a season in those first three years. He ran for a career high 1,934 yards in 1980 and a career high 19 touchdowns in 1979. Earl was Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in EACH of those seasons. Like, whatttttttt.
There was a pretty realistic chance could have won three straight MVPs in those seasons as well. He won MVP in 1979 and placed second in votes in 1978 and 1980.
Still, Earl won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 and in 1979 he was the NFL MVP. Dude was on top of the world back then.
Earl would run for 1,300 yards two more times and be a Pro Bowler two more times before eventually retiring after the 1985 season. He finished his career with 10,213 yards from scrimmage and 74 rushing touchdowns.
Earl's number 34 is retired by the Titans, and his number 20 is retired by the University of Texas. He's in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
It would have been a treat to watch this man play!!!! What a legend.
