Clouds of Dust: 1000 Yards Multiple Choice Quiz | NFL Players

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I once set an Atlanta Falcons single season rushing yardage record with 1,567 yards before my career was cut short by injury. Who am I?

Answer: William Andrews

Andrews set this team record in 1983. He was injured in the pre-season of the following year, and though he returned to the Falcons in 1986, he played very little and rushed for only 214 yards. Jamal Anderson broke Andrews' record when he rushed for 1,846 yards in 1998. Ironically, Anderson's career was also ruined by injury the season after setting the record.

2. Which of these runners was a tough-as-nails back for a team nicknamed, "The Over the Hill Gang", in the 1970s?

Answer: Larry Brown

Brown took a heavy beating during his 8 year tenure with the Washington Redskins. His most productive season yardage-wise was 1972, when he rushed for 1,216 yards. He led the NFL in touchdowns scored, with 14 in 1973. Bleier badly wounded his foot in the Vietnam War, but returned to have a very solid career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brockington and Bell were both big, bruising, bullish backs from Bay ball clubs. Brockington played for Green Bay and Bell for Tampa Bay.

3. Which of these running backs played for two different NFC teams and one AFC team, and was known for running with his knees way up high, making it difficult to tackle him?

Answer: Roger Craig

Craig played for the 49ers, Raiders and Vikings. All three of his 1,000 seasons came while he played in San Francisco, including a 1,502 yard season in 1988. That total stood as a team record until it was broken by Garrison Hearst in 1998.

4. Eric Dickerson set an NFL record by rushing for 2,105 yards in 1984. Can you name the only other player in the 20th century whose last name starts with "D" to rush for over 2,000 yards?

Answer: Terrell Davis

Davis rushed for 2,008 yards in 1998 for the Denver Broncos. He, Dickerson, Barry Sanders and O.J. Simpson were the only 4 backs to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season, during the 20th century.

5. Which of these was the second of only two players with a last name beginning with "E" to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, during the 20th century?

Answer: Robert Edwards

Edwards is yet another back whose career was cut short by injury. He rushed for 1,115 yards for the New England Patriots in his rookie year of 1998 and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl. The day before the game was played, Edwards seriously injured himself playing football on the beach.

He returned to play briefly for the Miami Dolphins in 2002. Willie Ellison rushed for exactly 1,000 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1971.

6. Which of these running backs was drafted in the first round out of the University of Miami(FLA), and led the league in total touchdowns scored twice?

Answer: Chuck Foreman

Foreman broke 1,000 yards rushing for the Minnesota Vikings in 1975,1976 and 1977. He led the league in total TD's scored in 1974 and 1976. He also led the league in pass receptions, with 73 in 1975.

7. Which of these players stood just 5 feet 9 inches tall, and was the first of the players listed to rush for 1,000+ yards for two different teams?

Answer: Mike Garrett

In 1972, Garrett became the only player to rush for over 1,000 yards in both the AFL and NFL. He rushed for 1,087 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967 and 1,031 yards for the San Diego Chargers in 1972.

8. Which of these running backs rushed for 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns for the New Orleans Saints in 1989?

Answer: Dalton Hilliard

Hilliard added over 500 yards and 5 touchdowns receiving in what was easily the most productive season of his career. "Ironhead" Heyward was a teammate of Hilliard's in 1989 but he didn't hit 1,000 yards rushing until he rushed for 1,083 yards for the Atlanta Falcons in 1995. Bobby Humphrey rushed for over 1,000 yards for the Denver Broncos in 1989 and 1990. Alonzo Highsmith did not ever hit the 1,000 plateau, nor did he ever play for the Saints.

9. Which of these is a former USFL player who had a 1,000+ yard season in the NFL, in 1985?

Answer: Craig James

James rushed for 1,227 yards for the Patriots in 1985, by far the best season of his 5 year career. Earnest Jackson rushed for 1,028 yards that year for the Philadelphia Eagles, but he never played in the USFL. Pete Johnson's only 1,000+ yard season was in 1981 with the Cincinnati Bengals. Stanford Jennings didn't even rush for 100 yards in 1985.

10. Two players in the 20th century with a last name beginning with "K" rushed for over 1,000 yards. Napoleon Kaufman was one. Who was the other?

Answer: Leroy Kelly

Leroy Kelley was Jim Brown's replacement at tailback, in Cleveland. He broke 1,000 yards in 1966, 1967 and 1968. Leading the league in yardage in '67 and '68, and leading the league in rushing touchdowns in all 3 seasons. Kaufman rushed for 1,294 yards for the Oakland Raiders in 1997.

11. Which of these players rushed for 1,000 yards or more in a season first?

Answer: Paul Lowe

All of these were 1,000+ yard rushers but Lowe was the earliest. Playing for the AFL's San Diego Chargers, Lowe rushed for 1,010 yards in 1963, and then led the AFL in rushing in 1965 with 1,121 yards. Floyd Little's only 1,000 yard season occurred in 1971, when Dorsey Levens was a year old and Jamal Lewis was not yet born.

12. What team, other than the San Diego Chargers, did running back Chuck Muncie rush for over 1,000 yards for?

Answer: New Orleans Saints

Muncie played for the Saints from 1976-1979, rushing for 1,198 yards in 1979. He rushed for 1,144 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Chargers in 1981. He retired after the 1984 season.

13. Which of these running backs is the only one listed to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season?

Answer: Jim Nance

Nance played most of his career with the Boston Patriots of the AFL. He rushed for an impressive 1,458 yards in 1966 and 1,216 yards in 1967. Robert Newhouse came close as he rushed for 930 yards for the Dallas Cowboys in 1975. Darrin Nelson and Tony Nathan were used mainly as receivers.

14. No NFC running back with a last name starting with the letter "O" ever rushed for 1,000 yards or more in a season, during the 20th century.

Answer: False

Two actually did. Steve Owens rushed for 1,035 yards for the Detroit Lions in 1971, and Jim Otis rushed for 1,076 yards for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975. Christian Okoye had two 1,000 yard seasons with the AFC's Kansas City Chiefs.

15. Which of the backs listed was the only one to NEVER rush over 1,000 yards in a season during his career?

Answer: Preston Pearson

Pearson had an outstanding career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Colts, but was mainly used as a receiver.

16. What "R" player, other than John Riggins, rushed for over 1,000 yards in a Redskins uniform?

Answer: George Rogers

Rogers had two 1,000+ yard seasons for the Redskins: 1,093 yards in 1985 and 1,203 yards in 1986. His 18 TD's scored in 1986 led the league. Gerald Riggs also played for the Redskins, and at the end of the century owned their single game rushing record with 221 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles, but his three 1,000 yard seasons all came with the Atlanta Falcons. Mike Rozier and Errict Rhett both had 1,000 yard seasons but neither ever played for the Redskins.

17. Which of these backs was the only one in either the AFL or NFL to exceed 1,000 yards rushing in 1969?

Answer: Gale Sayers

Sayers rushed for 1,032 yards for the 1-13 Chicago Bears in 1969. It was to be the last time of the century that only one player exceeded 1,000 yards.

18. Which of these is the only running back listed to have 1,000+ yard seasons with more than one team?

Answer: Wendell Tyler

All of these backs had 1,000+ yard seasons, but only Tyler did it with two different teams, breaking 1,000 for the Los Angeles Rams in 1979 and 1981, and racking up his highest total of 1,262 yards for the San Francisco 49ers in 1984.

19. Which of these running backs had 3 consecutive 1,000+ yard rushing seasons for the Oakland Raiders?

Answer: Mark Van Eeghen

Van Eeghen, the only player listed to ever play for the Raiders, broke the 1,000 barrier in 1976, 1977 and 1978. Steve Van Buren had two 1,000+ yard seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1940s. Neither Tommy Vigorito nor Jon Vaughn amassed 1,000 yards for their entire career.

20. Which of these running backs was the only one listed to rush for over 1,000 yards in 4 straight seasons for the Seattle Seahawks?

Answer: Chris Warren

Interestingly enough, all three Seahawks running backs to exceed 1,000 yards rushing in a season in the 20th century had a last name starting with the letter "W". Warren broke 1,000 yards rushing for the Seahawks from 1992-1995, including an AFC best and Seahawks record 1,545 yards in 1994. Curt Warner also had four 1,000+ yard plus seasons for the Seahawks, but they were not consecutive. Ricky Watters broke 1,000 yards rushing with the team from 1998-2000. Charles White never played for the Seahawks and had only one 1,000+ yard season.

Source: Author malcolmsex

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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Clouds of Dust: 1000 Yards Trivia Quiz

A quiz about NFL and AFL running backs who have surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in a season. I've gone in alphabetical order with the answers, leaving out the six letters that do not apply. Enjoy!

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