Y. A. Tittle Famous photo Did Tittle have a famous photo as a student? A photo of a dazed Tittle in the end zone taken by Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 20, 1964, is regarded among the most iconic images Was he dazed because he was hurt or awed? was photographed helmet-less, bloodied and kneeling immediately after having been knocked to the ground by John Baker of the Pittsburgh Steelers Did they win that game? I don't know. Was there any other memorable moments from this particular game throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown at the old Pitt Stadium.
How many yards was the touchdown
How many yards was the touchdown by Y. A. Tittle on September 20, 1964?
A photo of a dazed Tittle in the end zone taken by Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 20, 1964, is regarded among the most iconic images in the history of American sports and journalism. Tittle, in his 17th and final season, was photographed helmet-less, bloodied and kneeling immediately after having been knocked to the ground by John Baker of the Pittsburgh Steelers and throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown at the old Pitt Stadium. He suffered a concussion and cracked sternum on the play, but went on to play the rest of the season.  Post-Gazette editors declined to publish the photo, looking for "action shots" instead, but Berman entered the image into contests where it took on a life of its own, winning a National Headliner Award. The photo was published in the October 2, 1964, issue of Life magazine. It is regarded as having changed the way that photographers look at sports, having shown the power of capturing a moment of reaction. It became one of three photos to hang in the lobby of the National Press Photographers Association headquarters, alongside Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima and the Hindenburg disaster. A copy now hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  After at first having failed to see the appeal of the image, Tittle eventually grew to embrace it, putting it on the back cover of his 2009 autobiography. "That was the end of the road," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2008. "It was the end of my dream. It was over." Pittsburgh player John Baker, who hit Tittle right before the picture was taken, ran for sheriff in his native Wake County, North Carolina in 1978, and used the photo as a campaign tool. He was elected and went on to serve for 24 years. Tittle also held a fundraiser to assist Baker in his bid for a fourth term in 1989. CANNOTANSWER
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Yelberton Abraham Tittle Jr. (October 24, 1926 – October 8, 2017) was a professional American football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Baltimore Colts, after spending two seasons with the Colts in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Known for his competitiveness, leadership, and striking profile, Tittle was the centerpiece of several prolific offenses throughout his 17-year professional career from 1948 to 1964.

Tittle played college football for Louisiana State University, where he was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) quarterback for the LSU Tigers football team. As a junior, he was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the infamous 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic—also known as the "Ice Bowl"—a scoreless tie between the Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks in a snowstorm. After college, he was drafted in the 1947 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, but he instead chose to play in the AAFC for the Colts.

With the Colts, Tittle was named the AAFC Rookie of the Year in 1948 after leading the team to the AAFC playoffs. After consecutive one-win seasons, the Colts franchise folded, which allowed Tittle to be drafted in the 1951 NFL Draft by the 49ers. Through ten seasons in San Francisco, he was invited to four Pro Bowls, led the league in touchdown passes in 1955, and was named the NFL Player of the Year by the United Press in 1957. A groundbreaker, Tittle was part of the 49ers' famed Million Dollar Backfield, was the first professional football player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and is credited with having coined "alley-oop" as a sports term.

Considered washed-up, the 34-year-old Tittle was traded to the Giants following the 1960 season. Over the next four seasons, he won several individual awards, twice set the league single-season record for touchdown passesincluding a 1962 game with a combined 7 touchdown passes and 500-yards passing with a near perfect (151.4 out of 158.33) passer rating, and led the Giants to three straight NFL championship games. Although he was never able to deliver a championship to the team, Tittle's time in New York is regarded among the glory years of the franchise.

In his final season, Tittle was photographed bloodied and kneeling down in the end zone after a tackle by a defender left him helmetless. The photograph is considered one of the most iconic images in North American sports history. He retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, completions, and games played. Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, and his jersey number 14 is retired by the Giants.

Early years and college career
Born and raised in Marshall, Texas, to Alma Tittle (née Allen) and Yelberton Abraham Tittle Sr., Tittle aspired to be a quarterback from a young age. He spent hours in his backyard throwing a football through a tire swing, emulating his fellow Texan and boyhood idol, Sammy Baugh. Tittle played high school football at Marshall High School. In his senior year the team posted an undefeated record and reached the state finals.

After a recruiting battle between Louisiana State University and the University of Texas, Tittle chose to attend LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and play for the LSU Tigers. He was part of a successful 1944 recruiting class under head coach Bernie Moore that included halfbacks Jim Cason, Dan Sandifer, and Ray Coates. Freshmen were eligible to play on the varsity during World War II, so Tittle saw playing time immediately. He later said the finest moment of his four years at LSU was beating Tulane as a freshman, a game in which he set a school record with 238 passing yards. It was one of two games the Tigers won that season.

Moore started Tittle at tailback in the single-wing formation his first year, but moved him to quarterback in the T formation during his sophomore season. As a junior in 1946, Tittle's three touchdown passes in a 41–27 rout of rival Tulane helped ensure LSU a spot in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Known notoriously as the "Ice Bowl", the 1947 Cotton Bowl pitted LSU against the Arkansas Razorbacks in sub-freezing temperatures on an ice-covered field in Dallas, Texas. LSU moved the ball much better than the Razorbacks, but neither team was able to score, and the game ended in a scoreless tie. Tittle and Arkansas end Alton Baldwin shared the game's MVP award. Following the season, United Press International (UPI) placed Tittle on its All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) first-team.

UPI again named Tittle its first-team All-SEC quarterback in 1947. In Tittle's day of iron man football,  he played on both offense and defense. While on defense during a 20–18 loss to SEC champion Ole Miss in his senior season, Tittle's belt buckle was torn off as he intercepted a pass from Charlie Conerly and broke a tackle. He ran down the sideline with one arm cradling the ball and the other holding up his pants. At the Ole Miss 20-yard line, as he attempted to stiff-arm a defender,(#87 Jack Odom), Tittle's pants fell and he tripped and fell onto his face. The fall kept him from scoring the game-winning touchdown.

In total, during his college career Tittle set school passing records with 162 completions out of 330 attempts for 2,525 yards and 23 touchdowns. He scored seven touchdowns himself as a runner. His passing totals remained unbroken until Bert Jones surpassed them in the 1970s.

Professional career

Baltimore Colts
Tittle was the sixth overall selection of the 1948 NFL Draft, taken by the Detroit Lions. However, Tittle instead began his professional career with the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference in 1948. That season, already being described as a "passing ace", he was unanimously recognized as the AAFC Rookie of the Year by UPI after passing for 2,739 yards and leading the Colts to the brink of an Eastern Division championship. After a 1–11 win–loss record in 1949, the Colts joined the National Football League in 1950. The team again posted a single win against eleven losses, and the franchise folded after the season due to financial difficulties. Players on the roster at the time of the fold were eligible to be drafted in the next NFL draft.

San Francisco 49ers
Tittle was then drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1951 NFL Draft after the Colts folded. While many players at the time were unable to play immediately due to military duties, Tittle had received a class IV-F exemption due to physical ailments, so he was able to join the 49ers roster that season. In 1951 and 1952, he shared time at quarterback with Frankie Albert. In 1953, his first full season as the 49ers' starter, he passed for 2,121 yards and 20 touchdowns and was invited to his first Pro Bowl. San Francisco finished with a 9–3 regular season record, which was good enough for second in the Western Conference, and led the league in points scored.

In 1954, the 49ers compiled their Million Dollar Backfield, which was composed of four future Hall of Famers: Tittle; fullbacks John Henry Johnson and Joe Perry; and halfback Hugh McElhenny. "It made quarterbacking so easy because I just get in the huddle and call anything and you have three Hall of Fame running backs ready to carry the ball," Tittle reminisced in 2006. The team had aspirations for a championship run, but injuries, including McElhenny's separated shoulder in the sixth game of the season, ended those hopes and the 49ers finished third in the Western Division. Tittle starred in his second straight Pro Bowl appearance as he threw two touchdown passes, including one to 49ers teammate Billy Wilson, who was named the game's MVP.

Tittle became the first professional football player featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he appeared on its 15th issue dated November 22, 1954, donning his 49ers uniform and helmet featuring an acrylic face mask distinct to the time period. The cover photo also shows a metal bracket on the side of Tittle's helmet which served to protect his face by preventing the helmet from caving in. The 1954 cover was the first of four Sports Illustrated covers he graced during his career.

Tittle led the NFL in touchdown passes for the first time in 1955, with 17, while also leading the league with 28 interceptions thrown. When the 49ers hired Frankie Albert as head coach in 1956, Tittle was pleased with the choice at first, figuring Albert would be a good mentor. However, the team lost four of its first five games, and Albert replaced Tittle with rookie Earl Morrall. After a loss to the Los Angeles Rams brought San Francisco's record to 1–6, Tittle regained the starting role and the team finished undefeated with one tie through the season's final five games.

In 1957, Tittle and receiver R. C. Owens devised a pass play in which Tittle tossed the ball high into the air and the  Owens leapt to retrieve it, typically resulting in a long gain or a touchdown. Tittle dubbed the play the "alley-oop"—the first usage of the term in sports—and it was highly successful when utilized. The 49ers finished the regular season with an 8–4 record and hosted the Detroit Lions in the Western Conference playoff. Against the Lions, Tittle passed for 248 yards and tossed three touchdown passes—one each to Owens, McElhenny, and Wilson—but Detroit overcame a 20-point third quarter deficit to win 31–27. For the season, Tittle had a league-leading 63.1 completion percentage, threw for 2,157 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushed for six more scores. He was deemed "pro player of the year" by a United Press poll of members of the National Football Writers Association. Additionally, he was named to his first All-Pro team and invited to his third Pro Bowl.

After a poor 1958 preseason by Tittle, Albert started John Brodie at quarterback for the 1958 season, a decision that proved unpopular with the fan base. Tittle came in to relieve Brodie in a week six game against the Lions, with ten minutes left in the game and the 49ers down 21–17. His appearance "drew a roar of approval from the crowd of 59,213," after which he drove the team downfield and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to McElhenny for the winning score. A right knee ligament injury against the Colts in week nine ended Tittle's season, and San Francisco finished with a 7–5 record, followed by Albert's resignation as coach. Tittle and Brodie continued to share time at quarterback over the next two seasons. In his fourth and final Pro Bowl game with the 49ers in 1959, Tittle completed 13 of 17 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.

Under new head coach Red Hickey in 1960, the 49ers adopted the shotgun formation. The first implementation of the shotgun was in week nine against the Colts, with Brodie at quarterback while Tittle nursed a groin injury. The 49ers scored a season-high thirty points, and with Brodie in the shotgun won three of their last four games to salvage a winning season at 7–5. Though conflicted, Tittle decided to get into shape and prepare for the next season. He stated in his 2009 autobiography that at times he thought, "The hell with it. Quit this damned game. You have been at it too long anyway." But then another voice within him would say, "Come back for another year and show them you're still a good QB. Don't let them shotgun you out of football!" However, after the first preseason game of 1961, Hickey informed Tittle he had been traded to the New York Giants.

New York Giants
In mid-August 1961, the 49ers traded the 34-year-old Tittle to the New York Giants for second-year guard Lou Cordileone. Cordileone, the 12th overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft, was quoted as reacting "Me, even up for Y. A. Tittle? You're kidding," and later remarked that the Giants traded him for "a 42-year-old quarterback." Tittle's view of Cordileone was much the same, stating his dismay that the 49ers did not get a "name ballplayer" in return. He was also displeased with being traded to the East Coast, and said he would rather have been traded to the Los Angeles Rams.

Already considered washed up, Tittle was intended by the Giants to share quarterback duties with 40-year-old Charlie Conerly, who had been with the team since 1948. The players at first remained loyal to Conerly, and treated Tittle with the cold shoulder. Tittle missed the season opener due to a back injury sustained before the season. His first game with New York came in week two, against the Steelers, in which he and Conerly each threw a touchdown pass in the Giants' 17–14 win. He became the team's primary starter for the remainder of the season and led the revitalized Giants to first place in the Eastern Conference. The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) awarded Tittle its Jim Thorpe Trophy as the NFL's players' choice of MVP. In the 1961 NFL Championship Game, the Giants were soundly defeated by Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers, as they were shut-out 37-0. Tittle completed six of 20 passes in the game and threw four interceptions.

In January 1962, Tittle stated his intention to retire following the 1962 season. After an off-season quarterback competition with Ralph Guglielmi, Tittle played and started in a career-high 14 games. He tied an NFL record by throwing seven touchdown passes in a game on October 28, 1962, in a 49–34 win over the Washington Redskins. Against the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale, Tittle threw six touchdown passes to set the single-season record with 33, which had been set the previous year by Sonny Jurgensen's 32. He earned player of the year honors from the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club, UPI, and The Sporting News, and finished just behind Green Bay's Jim Taylor in voting for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award. The Giants again finished first in the Eastern Conference and faced the Packers in the 1962 NFL Championship Game. In frigid, windy conditions at Yankee Stadium and facing a constant pass rush from the Packers' front seven, Tittle completed only 18 of his 41 attempts in the game. The Packers won, 16–7, with New York's lone score coming on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone by Jim Collier.

Tittle returned to the Giants in 1963 and, at age 37, supplanted his single-season passing touchdowns record by throwing 36. He broke the record in the final game with three touchdowns against the Steelers, three days after being named NFL MVP by the AP. The Giants led the league in scoring by a wide margin, and for the third time in as many years clinched the Eastern Conference title. The Western champions were George Halas' Chicago Bears. The teams met in the 1963 NFL Championship Game at Wrigley Field. In the second quarter, Tittle injured his knee on a tackle by Larry Morris, and required a novocaine shot at halftime to continue playing. After holding a 10–7 halftime lead, The Giants were shutout in the second half, during which Tittle threw four interceptions. Playing through the knee injury, he completed 11 of 29 passes in the game for 147 yards, a touchdown, and five interceptions as the Bears won 14–10.

The following year in 1964, Tittle's final season, the Giants went 2–10–2 (), the worst record in the 14-team league. In the second game of the year, against Pittsburgh, he was blindsided by defensive end John Baker. The tackle left Tittle with crushed cartilage in his ribs, a cracked sternum, and a concussion. However, he played in every game the rest of the season, but was relegated to a backup role later in the year. After throwing only ten touchdowns with 22 interceptions, he retired after the season at age 39, saying rookie quarterback Gary Wood not only "took my job away, but started to ask permission to date my daughter." Over 17 seasons as a professional, Tittle completed 2,427 out of 4,395 passes for 33,070 yards and 242 touchdowns, with 248 interceptions. He also rushed for 39 touchdowns.

Career statistics

Profile and playing style

Tittle threw the ball from a sidearm, almost underhand position, something novel at those times, though it was common practice in earlier decades. It was this seemingly underhand style that drew the curiosity and admiration of many fans. This, in tandem with his baldness—for which he was frequently referred to as the "Bald Eagle"—made him a very striking personality. Despite his throwing motion, he had a very strong and accurate arm with a quick release. His ability to read defenses made him one of the best screen passers in the NFL. He was a perfectionist and highly competitive, and he expected the same of his teammates. He possessed rare leadership and game-planning skills, and played with great enthusiasm even in his later years. "Tittle has the attitude of a high school kid, with the brain of a computer," said Giants teammate Frank Gifford. Baltimore Colts halfback Lenny Moore, when asked in 1963 to compare Tittle and Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas, said:

I played with Tittle in the Pro Bowl two years ago, and I discovered he's quite a guy ... He and John, however, are entirely different types ... Tittle is a sort of 'con man' with his players ... he comes into a huddle and 'suggests' that maybe this or that will work on account of something he saw happen on a previous play ... The way he puts it, you're convinced it's a good idea and maybe it will work. John, now, he's a take-charge guy ...  you what the other guy's going to do, what he's going to do, and what he wants you to do.

Tittle's most productive years came when he was well beyond his athletic prime. He credited his ability to improve with age to a feel for the game borne from years of league experience. "If you could learn it by studying movies, a good, smart college quarterback could learn all you've got to learn in three weeks and then come in and be as good as the old heads," he told Sports Illustrated in 1963. "But they can't."

Legacy
At the time of his retirement, Tittle held the following NFL records:

Tittle was the fourth player to throw seven touchdown passes in a game, when he did so in 1962 against the Redskins. He followed Sid Luckman (1943), Adrian Burk (1954), and George Blanda (1961). The feat has since been equaled by four more players: Joe Kapp (1969), Peyton Manning (2013), Nick Foles (2013), and Drew Brees (2015). Tittle, Manning and Foles did it without an interception. His 36 touchdown passes in 1963 set a record which stood for over two decades until it was surpassed by Dan Marino in 1984; as of 2016 it remains a Giants franchise record.

Despite record statistics and three straight championship game appearances, Tittle was never able to deliver a title to his team. His record as a starter in postseason games was 0–4. He threw four touchdown passes against 14 interceptions and had a passer rating of 33.8 in his postseason career, far below his regular season passer rating of 74.3. Seth Wickersham, writing for ESPN The Magazine in 2014, noted the dichotomy in the 1960s between two of New York's major sports franchises: "... Gifford, Huff and Tittle, a team of Hall of Famers known for losing championships as their peers on the Yankees—with whom they shared a stadium, a city, and many rounds of drinks—became renowned for winning them." The Giants struggled after Tittle's retirement, posting only two winning seasons from 1964 to 1980.

He made seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro teams, and four times was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player or Player of the Year: in 1957 and 1962 by the UPI; in 1961 by the NEA; and in 1963 by the AP and NEA. In a sports column in 1963, George Strickler for the Chicago Tribune remarked Tittle had "broken records that at one time appeared unassailable and he has been the hero of more second half rallies than Napoleon and the Harlem Globetrotters." He was featured on four Sports Illustrated covers: three during his playing career and one shortly after retirement. His first was with the 49ers in 1954. With the Giants, he graced covers in November 1961, and he was on the season preview issue for 1964; a two-page fold-out photo from the 1963 title game. Tittle was on a fourth cover in August 1965.

The trade of Tittle for Lou Cordileone is seen as one of the worst trades in 49ers history; it is considered one of the best trades in Giants franchise history. Cordileone played just one season in San Francisco.

Famous photo

A photo of a dazed Tittle in the end zone taken by Morris Berman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on September 20, 1964, is regarded among the most iconic images in the history of American sports and journalism. Tittle, in his 17th and final season, was photographed helmet-less, bloodied and kneeling immediately after having been knocked to the ground by John Baker of the Pittsburgh Steelers and throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown at the old Pitt Stadium. He suffered a concussion and cracked sternum on the play, but went on to play the rest of the season.

Post-Gazette editors declined to publish the photo, looking for "action shots" instead, but Berman entered the image into contests where it took on a life of its own, winning a National Headliner Award. It is regarded as having changed the way that photographers look at sports, having shown the power of capturing a moment of reaction. It became one of three photos to hang in the lobby of the National Press Photographers Association headquarters, alongside Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima and the Hindenburg disaster. A copy has hung in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A similar photo by Dozier Mobley of the Associated Press, which shows Tittle looking forward rather than down, was published in the October 2, 1964, issue of Life magazine.  After at first having failed to see the appeal of the image, Tittle eventually grew to embrace it, putting the Mobley version on the back cover of his 2009 autobiography. "That was the end of the road," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2008. "It was the end of my dream. It was over." Pittsburgh player John Baker, who hit Tittle right before the picture was taken, ran for sheriff in his native Wake County, North Carolina in 1978, and used the photo as a campaign tool. He was elected and went on to serve for 24 years. Tittle also held a fundraiser to assist Baker in his bid for a fourth term in 1989.

Honors
In recognition of his high school and college careers, respectively, Tittle was inducted to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.

Tittle was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with its 1971 class, which included contemporaries Jim Brown, Norm Van Brocklin, the late Vince Lombardi, and former Giants teammate Andy Robustelli. By virtue of his membership in the pro hall of fame, he was automatically inducted as a charter member of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in 2009.

The Giants had originally retired the number 14 jersey in honor of Ward Cuff, but Tittle requested and was granted the jersey number by Giants owner Wellington Mara when he joined the team. It was retired again immediately following his retirement, and is now retired in honor of both players. In 2010, Tittle became a charter member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor.

Personal life
After his retirement, he rejoined the 49ers staff and served as an assistant coach before being hired by the Giants in 1970 as a quarterback mentor. During his NFL career, Tittle worked as an insurance salesman in the off-season. After retiring, he founded his own company, Y. A. Tittle Insurance & Financial Services. Tittle appeared on the October 9, 1961 episode of To Tell the Truth as one of three challengers. Tittle claimed to be hair stylist-weekend pro wrestler Richard Smith. Tittle received one vote from the four Celebrity Panelists (Johnny Carson). 

Until his death, Tittle resided in Atherton, California. His wife Minnette died in 2012. They had three sons: Michael, Patrick and John, and a daughter, Dianne Tittle de Laet. Their daughter is a harpist and poet, and in 1995 she published a biography of her father titled Giants & Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y. A. Tittle.

In his later life, Tittle suffered from severe dementia, which adversely affected his memory and limited his conversation to a handful of topics. Tittle died on October 8, 2017, at a hospital in Stanford, California, of natural causes.

 List of 500-yard passing games in the National Football League

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

 
 
 

1926 births
2017 deaths
American football quarterbacks
Baltimore Colts (1947–1950) players
Deaths from dementia
Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players
LSU Tigers football players
National Football League Most Valuable Player Award winners
National Football League players with retired numbers
Neurological disease deaths in California
New York Giants players
People from Atherton, California
People from Marshall, Texas
Players of American football from Texas
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
San Francisco 49ers players
Western Conference Pro Bowl players
Lamar N. Miller (born April 25, 1991) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Washington Football Team.

Early years
Miller attended Miami Killian Senior High School in Miami, Florida. While there, he played high school football for the Cougars. As a senior, he was a Parade All-American after rushing for 1,749 yards on 217 carries with 22 touchdowns.

College career
Miller decided to play for  University of Miami rather than University of Florida (near his mother's hometown) to stay close to home, and to follow the footsteps of other former Hurricanes running backs. After he was redshirted in 2009, Miller saw his first game action in 2010. He played in 11 games with one start and rushed for 646 yards on 108 carries with six touchdowns. Miller took over as the Hurricanes starting running back in 2011. During the 2011 season, Miller rushed for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns. He became the first Miami running back since Willis McGahee in the 2002 season to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

Miller was also an All-ACC track performer at the University of Miami, where he ran the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters.

Statistics

Professional career

Miami Dolphins
Miller was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, 97th overall on April 28, 2012. On June 1, 2012, Miller signed a 4-year, $2.58 million contract, including a $480,000 signing bonus.

2012 season 
As a rookie, Miller shared the backfield with Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas. On September 16, he made his NFL debut running for 65 yards on a season-high 10 carries and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. Miller ran in a 15-yard touchdown, his first career-touchdown. On December 23, Miller ran for a season-high 73 yards on 10 carries against the Buffalo Bills.

At the end of the 2012 season, Miller rushed for 250 yards and a touchdown averaging 4.9 yards per rush. Miller also caught 6 passes for 45 yards.

2013 season 
After the departure of Reggie Bush, Miller became the main running back on the team and continued to share time with Daniel Thomas. On September 15, Miller ran for 69 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He ran in a 10-yard touchdown, his second career touchdown. On September 22, Miller ran for 62 yards on eight carries against the Atlanta Falcons. He recorded a 49-yard run. On September 30, Miller ran for 62 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints. He ran in a 5-yard touchdown, his third career touchdown. On October 27, Miller ran for 89 yards on 18 carries against the New England Patriots. On October 31, Miller ran for a season-high 105 yards on 16 carries against the Cincinnati Bengals. His performance against the Bengals was his first 100-yard game of his career. On December 1, Miller ran for 72 yards on a season-high 22 carries against the New York Jets. On December 29, Miller ran for 73 yards on 17 carries in the second divisional game against the New York Jets.

At the end of the 2013 season, Miller ran rushed for 709 yards and two touchdowns averaging 4 yards per rush. He also caught 26 passes for 170 yards.

2014 season 

Coming into the 2014 season, Miller was the main running back with a backfield that consisted of him, Thomas, Damien Williams, and Knowshon Moreno. On September 7, Miller ran for 59 yards on 11 carries and caught four passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against the New England Patriots. He recorded a 4-yard receiving touchdown, the first touchdown of the season, and his first career reception for a touchdown. On September 21, Miller ran for 108 yards on 15 carries against the Kansas City Chiefs. He ran his first 100-yard game of the season (second career). On September 28, Miller ran for 64 yards on 12 carries and a season-high two touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders. He ran in a 9-yard touchdown and a 1-yard touchdown, his second & third touchdown of the season (fifth & sixth career). His three touchdowns broke a career-high, he scored two touchdowns in 2013. On October 12, Miller ran for 53 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. He ran in a 5-yard touchdown, his fourth touchdown of the season (seventh career). On October 19, Miller ran for 61 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown against the Chicago Bears. He ran in a 2-yard touchdown, his fifth touchdown of the season (eighth career). On October 26, Miller ran for 78 yards on 14 carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On November 2, 2014, Miller ran for 49 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers. He ran in a 2-yard touchdown, his sixth touchdown of the season (ninth career). On November 13, Miller ran for 86 yards on 15 carries against the Buffalo Bills. On December 1, Miller ran for 56 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown against the New York Jets. He ran in a 4-yard touchdown, his seventh touchdown of the season (10th career). On December 21, Miller ran for 92 yards on a season-high 19 carries and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. He also caught a season-high five passes for a season-high 58 yards. He ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his eighth touchdown of the season (11th career). On December 28, Miller ran for a season-high 178 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown against the New York Jets. He ran in a 97-yard touchdown, the longest run in franchise history. It was his ninth touchdown of the season (12th career). He ran his second 100-yard game of the season (third career). He became the first Dolphins running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since Reggie Bush in 2011.

At the end of the 2014 season, Miller rushed for 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns averaging 5.1 yards per rush. He also caught 38 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown. He was ranked 10th in rushing yards, only one of 13 players to break 1,000 yards rushing, just above Alfred Morris, Matt Forte, and Jamaal Charles. He was ranked eighth in rushing touchdowns, was one of 14 players to score eight touchdowns or more on the season.

2015 season 
Going into the 2015 season, Miller remained as the Dolphins' feature back, Williams remained as depth, and Jay Ajayi and Jonas Gray were eventually added to the backfield. On October 18, Miller ran for 113 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. He ran for his first 100-yard game of the season (fourth career). He ran in a 7-yard touchdown, which was his first of the season (13th career). On October 25, Miller ran for a season-high 175 yards on 14 carries and a season-high 2 touchdowns against the Houston Texans. He ran for his second 100-yard game of the season (fifth career). Miller recorded a 54-yard touchdown reception, his first receiving touchdown of the season (second career, longest touchdown reception of his career). He ran in an 85-yard rushing touchdown, his second rushing touchdown of the season (13th career, the second-longest career run and in franchise history). He rushed for more than 100 yards in consecutive games for the first time in his career. On October 29, Miller ran for 15 yards on nine carries and a touchdown against the New England Patriots. He ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his fourth touchdown of the season (16th career). On November 8, Miller ran for 44 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. He ran in two 1-yard touchdowns, his fifth & sixth touchdown of the season (17th & 18th career). On November 15, Miller ran for 43 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. He recorded a 13-yard receiving touchdown, his seventh touchdown of the season (19th career). Miller recorded a 35-yard reception. On December 6, Miller ran for 113 yards on a season-high 20 carries against the Baltimore Ravens. He ran for his third 100-yard game of the season (sixth career). On December 14, Miller ran for 89 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns against the New York Giants. He ran in a 14-yard touchdown and a 38-yard touchdown, his eighth & ninth touchdown of the season (20th & 21st career). On December 27, Miller ran for 31 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his 10th touchdown of the season (22nd career). His ten touchdowns break a career-high, he recorded nine touchdowns in 2014.

By the end of the 2015 season, Miller had rushed for 872 yards and eight touchdowns averaging 4.5 yards per rush. He also caught 47 passes for a career-high 397 yards and two touchdowns. He was ranked 13th in rushing yards, only one of 17 players to break 800 rushing yards, just above Ronnie Hillman, Rashad Jennings, Thomas Rawls, and Chris Johnson. He was ranked seventh in rushing touchdowns, only one of eight players to score eight touchdowns or more on the season, tied with David Johnson.

Houston Texans
On March 9, 2016, Miller signed a four-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $26 million with $14 million guaranteed. This contract was the sixth highest among running backs.

2016 season
On September 11, Miller ran for 106 yards on a season-high 28 carries in the season opener against the Chicago Bears. His 28 carries is a career-high, breaking his previous record of 22 in 2013. His 15 carries in the first half also marked the most he's ever had in a half of a game in his career (14, 1st half, 2015). He ran his first 100-yard game of the season (seventh career). On September 18, Miller ran for 83 yards on 25 carries against the Kansas City Chiefs. On September 22, Miller ran for 80 yards on 21 carries against the New England Patriots. On October 2, Miller ran for 82 yards on 19 carries against the Tennessee Titans. On October 16, Miller ran for a season-high 149 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts. He ran his second 100-yard game of the season (eighth career). He recorded a receiving touchdown, a 10-yard reception (Miller's 4th career touchdown reception). He also ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his first touchdown of the season (20th career rushing touchdown). On October 30, Miller ran for 56 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions. He ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his third touchdown of the season (25th career touchdown). On November 13, Miller ran for 83 yards on 15 carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On November 21, Miller ran for 104 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. He ran his third 100-yard game of the season (ninth career). He ran in a 1-yard touchdown, his fourth touchdown of the season (26th career touchdown). Miller recorded a 33-yard run. On December 11, Miller ran for 107 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown in the second divisional game against the Indianapolis Colts. He ran his fourth 100-yard game of the season (10th career). He ran in a 2-yard touchdown, his fifth touchdown of the season (27th career touchdown). Miller eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season, the second time in his NFL career he accomplished the feat (first time was 2014). His 4.0 yards per carry tied a career-low and his 4.3 yards per touch ranked No. 57 among NFL running backs in 2016.

The Texans qualified for the playoffs in the 2016 season. In the Wild Card Round against the Oakland Raiders, Miller had 31 carries for 73 yards and a rushing touchdown in the 27–14 victory. In the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, he finished with 19 carries for 74 yards and four receptions for 15 yards in the 34–16 loss.

2017 season
In the 2017 season, Miller put together some solid statistics but the performance of the team faltered with numerous injuries occurring. In the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had 65 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards as the Texans fell 29–7. In the next game, a 13–9 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, he had 61 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards. On September 24, in a 36–33 loss to the New England Patriots, he finished with 56 rushing yards and seven receiving yards. In the next game, a 57–14 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he had his best statistical game of the season with 75 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, four receptions, 56 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. On October 8, against the Kansas City Chiefs, he finished with 74 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards in the 42–34 loss. In the next game, a 33–17 victory over the Cleveland Browns, he finished with 41 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards. Two weeks later, against the Seattle Seahawks, he had 54 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, three receptions, 19 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown in the 41–38 loss. On November 2, starting quarterback Deshaun Watson tore his ACL in practice after the loss to the Seahawks. During Week 9, the Texans played the Indianapolis Colts next and lost 20–14 as Miller had 57 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards. In the following game, a 33–7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, he finished with 60 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards. A week later, against the Arizona Cardinals, he had 61 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown in the 31–21 win. In a Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, he finished with 51 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, which would be his last time finding the endzone in the 2017 season. In the next game, the second divisional matchup against the Tennessee Titans, he finished with 56 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards in the 24–13 loss. In the next game, a 26–16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, he finished with 53 rushing yards on 17 carries. In Week 15, a 45–7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was held to a season-low 32 rushing yards. On Christmas Day, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he finished with 55 rushing yards and ten receiving yards in the 34–6 loss. In the season finale, against the Indianapolis Colts, he finished with 37 rushing yards and was held without a reception for the only time all season. Overall, in the 2017 season, Miller finished with 888 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 36 receptions, 327 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.

2018 season 
In the season opener against the New England Patriots, Miller ran for 98 yards and caught a pass for 11 yards in the 20–27 loss. On September 23, Miller scored his first touchdown of the season, bringing in a touchdown catch on the final play of the game against the New York Giants. On October 21, Miller rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This touchdown was his eighth touchdown on the ground as a Texan, moving past quarterback David Carr into seventh-most in franchise history. The next week, Miller rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins, included as well was a 58-yard run. His back-to-back 100-yard games were his first time as a Texan, the last time this was accomplished by a Texan was by Arian Foster in 2014. After this game, Foster surpassed 100 yards for the sixth time as a Texan, passing Steve Slaton, Ben Tate, and teammate Alfred Blue into third most in franchise history. After running up 86 yards against the Washington Redskins, he would follow that game with 162 yards and a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans, including a 97-yard touchdown run. His touchdown run is the longest play in franchise history, and was the longest touchdown run in the NFL since he did it in 2014, becoming the only player in NFL history with two touchdown runs over 95 yards in a career. Overall, Miller finished the 2018 season with 973 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 25 receptions, 163 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. The Texans finished atop the AFC South and earned the #3-seed for the AFC Playoffs. In the Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts, he had eight receptions for 63 yards in the 21–7 loss. He also rushed for 18 yards on five carries.

2019 season
During the team's third preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, Miller tore his ACL, prematurely ending his season. He was placed on injured reserve on August 26, 2019.

New England Patriots
On August 13, 2020, Miller signed with the New England Patriots. He was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list after signing. He was activated on August 31, 2020. Miller was released from the Patriots on September 5, 2020.

Chicago Bears
Miller was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad on October 5, 2020. The move reunited him with offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and running backs coach Charles London, whom he respectively played under in Miami and Houston, respectively. He was elevated to the active roster on November 16 for the team's week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings, and reverted to the practice squad after the game, in which he recorded two catches for six yards and had no rushing attempts.

Washington Football Team
On December 17, 2020, Miller was signed by the Washington Football Team off the Bears' practice squad. He re-signed with the team on March 29, 2021, and was released on August 15, 2021.

New Orleans Saints
On October 19, 2021, the New Orleans Saints signed Miller to their practice squad. He was released on November 16, 2021.

NFL career statistics

Records and achievements

NFL records

 Only player in NFL history to rush for a 90+ yard touchdown with two different teams
 Only player in NFL history with two 95+ yard rushing touchdowns

Dolphins records

 Longest rushing play: 97 yards

Texans records

 Longest rushing play: 97 yards

References

External links

 Miami Hurricanes bio

1991 births
Living people
American football running backs
Chicago Bears players
Houston Texans players
Miami Dolphins players
Miami Hurricanes football players
New England Patriots players
New Orleans Saints players
Players of American football from Miami
Miami Killian Senior High School alumni
Washington Football Team players
American Conference Pro Bowl players Chris Thompson (born October 20, 1990) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida State University and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Early years
Thompson grew up in Greenville, Florida and attended and played high school football at Madison High School. He received offers from Florida State, Clemson, Memphis, and Miami. He chose to attend Florida State.

College career

2009 

On October 10, 2009, Thompson ran for a 49-yard gain against Georgia Tech. On October 31, Thompson ran for his first and second touchdown as a Seminole against North Carolina State.

Thompson played in 13 games his freshman year, running for 120 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 10 yards. Thompson returned six kickoffs for 150 yards (25.0 average).

2010 

On September 4, 2010, Thompson ran for a touchdown and blocked a punt against Samford. On September 18, Thompson ran for 123 yards on nine carries and a touchdown against BYU. On October 2, 2010, Thompson ran for 76 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown against Virginia. On October 9, Thompson ran for 158 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown against Miami. On November 20, Thompson ran for 95 yards and a touchdown against Maryland. On December 31, Thompson ran 147 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown against South Carolina in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl. On December 4, Thompson recorded a 20-yard touchdown reception against Virginia Tech in the 2010 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game.

Thompson played in 14 games his sophomore year, running for 845 yards on 134 carries and six touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. Thompson returned 2 kickoffs for 33 yards (16.5 average).

2011 

On September 10, 2011, Thompson ran for 21 yards and a touchdown against Charleston Southern. On October 8, Thompson sustained T5 and T6 compression fractures in his back against Wake Forest which ended his junior season.

Thompson only played in five games as a junior, running for 83 yards on 29 carries and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 17 yards.

2012 

On September 8, 2012, Thompson ran for his first touchdown of the season against Savannah State. On September 15, Thompson ran for 197 yards on 9 carries and two touchdowns against Wake Forest. Thompson recorded a 74-yard touchdown run. On September 22, Thompson ran for 103 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns against Clemson. He also caught 8 passes for 79 yards. Thompson recorded a 41-yard run. On October 6, Thompson ran for 141 yards on 25 carries against NC State. On October 20, Thompson tore his ACL in his left knee against Miami which ended his season.

Thompson played in eight games his senior year, running for 687 yards on 91 carries and five touchdowns. He caught 21 passes for 248 yards.

On January 2, 2013, Thompson, along with teammate and cornerback Xavier Rhodes entered the 2013 NFL Draft.

Statistics

Professional career

Washington Redskins
Thompson was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round, with the 154th overall pick, of the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract on May 15, 2013. With Richard Crawford on injured reserve, Thompson was given the return specialist job. After struggling in the first four games of the season, he lost his returner position to Josh Morgan. On November 8, 2013, Thompson was placed on the team's injured reserve due to a torn left labrum. He finished his rookie season with eight kick returns for 160 net yards and seven punt returns for 36 net yards.

The Redskins released Thompson for final roster cuts before the start of the 2014 season, losing the third-string running back position to rookie Silas Redd. He was signed to the team's practice squad after clearing waivers the following day. Thompson was promoted to the active roster on December 11, 2014. Thompson scored a receiving touchdown against the New York Giants in the Week 15 game. The touchdown was the first of Thompson's professional career. His only other action in the 2014 season came in the next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he had three receptions for five yards.

On September 24, 2015, Thompson recorded his second career touchdown reception against the New York Giants. On October 4, 2015, Thompson recorded a 43-yard run in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. On November 15, 2015, Thompson recorded a 38-yard run in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints. On December 26, 2015, Thompson caught his third career touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles, a 12-yarder in the third quarter. Overall, in the 2015 season, he had 216 rushing yards, 35 receptions, 240 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.

On March 4, 2016, the Redskins extended a tender to Thompson. He officially accepted and signed the tender on March 17. On September 12, 2016, Thompson scored his first rushing touchdown of his career against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On October 2, 2016, Thompson scored his fifth touchdown of his career, a 5-yard touchdown reception against the Cleveland Browns. On October 23, 2016, Thompson ran for a season-high 73 yards on 12 carries against the Detroit Lions. On November 13, 2016, Thompson lost his first fumble of his career against the Minnesota Vikings. On December 11, 2016, Thompson ran for 38 yards on three carries and a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. Thompson ran in a 25-yard touchdown, his third touchdown of the season and the sixth of his career. Overall, in the 2016 season, he finished with 356 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 49 receptions, 349 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.

On April 21, 2017, Thompson re-signed with the Redskins. On September 5, 2017, Thompson signed a two-year contract extension with the Redskins. On September 10, 2017, in the season opening 30–17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Thompson recorded a 24-yard receiving touchdown from Cousins. In a Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thompson had three rushing attempts for 77 yards and two touchdowns. On September 24, Thompson amassed 188 total yards (150 receiving) in a 27–10 win over the Oakland Raiders on NBC Sunday Night Football. In Week 11, Thompson fractured his fibula and was ruled out for the season. He was placed on injured reserve on November 21, 2017. He finished the 2017 season with 294 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 39 receptions for a career-high 510 yards and four touchdowns.

In Week 2, against the Indianapolis Colts, Thompson recorded a career-high 13 receptions for 92 receiving yards in the 21–9 loss. He suffered a rib injury and missed game action. Overall, Thompson played in ten games and had 178 rushing yards and 41 receptions for 268 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. In 2019, Thompson appeared in 11 games and recorded 37 carries for 138 rushing yards to go along with 42 receptions for 378 receiving yards.

Jacksonville Jaguars
On May 1, 2020, Thompson signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Week 2 of the 2020 season against the Tennessee Titans, Thompson recorded his first receiving touchdown as a Jaguar during the 33–30 loss. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 24, and activated on October 30. He suffered a back injury in Week 10 and was placed on injured reserve on November 16, 2020.

San Francisco 49ers
On September 22, 2021, Thompson was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He was released on October 5.

Chicago Bears
On October 19, 2021, Thompson was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad. He was waived by the team on November 3.

NFL career statistics

References

External links
Jacksonville Jaguars bio
Florida State Seminoles bio

1990 births
Living people
People from Greenville, Florida
People from Madison, Florida
Players of American football from Florida
American football running backs
Florida State Seminoles football players
Washington Redskins players
Jacksonville Jaguars players
San Francisco 49ers players
Chicago Bears players