One of the greatest running backs of all time. He was fun to watch and a very humble person as well. He could run over you or run past you with speed. I Loved to watch him run. Thanks
As I watch Campbell shedding and running through tacklers I'm reminded of all the posters on the Jim Brown clips talking about the poor tackling of the 60's. The tacklers of the 70's were having the same trouble with Campbell that their predecessors had with Brown. Watching Campbell run is like watching Brown; a force of nature. It was a pleasure to watch him play.
I wouldn't disagree with that. Both were the #1 key for the opposition defense,. Neither had an outstanding quarterback to keep the defense off balance. If Earl had stayed healthy who knows what he could have done. I'll never forget the Miami game on Monday night sometime in the early 70's. One of the greatest athletic performances in any sport I've ever seen.
he is my favorite because of his style.......plus he was handed the ball 35+ times per game and the defenses knew who was getting the ball and still couldn't stop him. That says a lot about the power he had.
Earl Campbell always came to play hard every week and collect heavy debts from all defensive players. Earl Campbell was not only a ferocious beast of power, not only one of the fastest running backs, not only the most determined player on the field, but he was also an incredibly wise runner scanning all possible moves to advance with surprise, stealth, and absolute ballet mastery when Earl so desired. He would never stop until tackled by half of a defense or he makes a touchdown. Of so many fine NFL running backs, I could only see "Sweetness" Walter Payton at this epic level of brilliance of overall mastery of the offensive ground game. Bless those blockers for sure, but Earl Campbell was a game changer of NFL.
very true and I do not care what anybody says Zeke Elliot and running backs today are nothing compared to what Earl Campbell, bo Jackson was those are the last of the power backs
A die-hard Steelers fan, i remembered him having to face the 'iron curtain' twice a yr, including the playoffs. Dude was an absolute BEAST!! He was one who would NOT be denied, especially in a time when opposition went extra hard, not worrying about being penalized for giving a hard hit, like today where everything seems to be watered down. Respect to this man, the illest cat who ever came out of the backfield. 6 dislikes? Bet you're one of the ones in favor of an NFL ' 2-hand touch ' league.LOL
This video is awesome, it not only showed how powerful Earl Campbell was, but that he had some serious speed and he could cutback too. He had a complete game, run with power, speed, and elusiveness...he just didn't want to be elusive to much!!!
God bless Earl - he gave his body, heart, and soul to Houston....and we traded him after we burned him out :(. If Houston had at least passed more- Earl may have had a few years left in him!
I live in Dallas, and my son couldn't undrstand why I cheered when Mike Irvin went down with an injury.... Recently, I showed him the man that made me a pro football fan, Earl Campbell, and the way this man played the game,,,,,now, my son understands.
He was the best RB of his short ERA. 1978-1983. His style of play limited him to a short career. His highlight films show you just how amazing he was. From 1978-81 he had a 5.2 yards per carry average. His later years with the saints ruined his stats. The entire Houston Oilers team was built around HIM! From 78-82 he destroyed Tony Dorsett and Walter Payton.
Damn! Jack Tatum turned out Campbell's lights and the man still scored the touchdown. I asked Tatum about that back around 96 or 97 and he said Campbell told him afterwards that he didn't remember walking over to the bench. He was out on his feet. Earl was amazing!
I have said it a million times and I will say it again.. This is the guy who inspired Marvel Comics to create the Juggernaut.. Someone that once they start moving forward; can't be stopped.
They should call the Astrodome, the Earl Campbell Dome. Because before Earl" it was considered a joke not real sports. But when Earl played played nobody questioned the Astrodome.
I noticed that too. He was a class act, either handing the ball to the ref or simply laying it on the ground. A true professional, unlike some of the selfish, egotistical so called "athletes" today.
Earl Campbell and Bo Jackson are the only two running backs I would compare to Jim Brown in the 50+ years I've been following the game. Too bad Earl got hurt so often.
I'm 20 and wish that guys like Earl were still in the league. You never see a running back now purposefully put his helmet in a defender's chest. Most these look like something straight out of a Nike ad!
Personally, my favorite runner of all time. I wish I could've watched the guy live. Nobody could ever match his power when he was running the ball. I think he would blast Ray Lewis. If a guy like Jack Tatum couldn't stop him, in an era where "dirty" hits weren't dirty yet, then nowadays he would completely dominate in my opinion
There have been many great running backs (Jim Brown, OJ, Etc), but I still think Earl was the greatest running back. The Reason I think this, is first he ran in the late 70's when weight training was used extensively (not used in Brown or OJ's era). You had great defenses to deal with because of it. Earl had to deal with the greatest defense ever (Steel Curtain) which was in his division. When Earl ran all the defenses focused on him. 14 game season almost 2000 yds & perfect power/speed/heart
@mr713titansfan : Grew up in the Houston area watching the Oilers and they couldn't shake me when they moved away. I live in the Dallas area, but my heart is in The Coliseum somewhere up there in Tennessee.
Mean Joe Greene: 'Well, I never played against Jim Brown, but if tackling him is anything like tackling Campbell, I wouldn't want to have to tackle him either'
Earl was a monster a true iron man he played like a animal today he is cripple walks with a cane he says he would change the way he played if he could go back looking to hit someone these NFL players today wineing about the league doing something about hits well those guys go visit earl then say you dont care about long term affects I played the way I want and willing to pay the price yeah right
The guy would knock the helmet off a bull! The guy was was a total "Texan", the way he played the game. Take life by the horns, dive head first into life. I'm not even from Texas, but that's what he reminde dme of.
There may be some faster and possibly even more agile, but head to head none could withstand him. Nobody can name the player stronger, tougher, more fearsome or determined than Earl in the following list despite tremendous respect for many ... just ask any poor slob that ever tried to tackle him ! Sayres, Sanders, Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Thomas, Okoye, Smith, Marion Barber ( a smaller Earl !), Williams, Dorsett or Smith. Earl is and was the scariest man to ever hold a pigskin ! Period
People like to believe that his style of running was the only cause of his shortened career, but the truth is that the Oilers collapsed after Philips left, and there wasn't much of a foundation for any back to hold on to. Peyton for example had a solid franchise behind him his whole career, Campbell did not.
@dresendezz I completely agree with you on the balance. However, it wasn't just that, it was the combination of the power (34 inch thighs), strength, speed (4.5 40 yard dash), coordination and the balance that made him amazing. And all that was at him being 244lbs too.
@nardo363636 The biggest problem Earl had was playing his career at the same time as the legendary Pittsburg Steeler teams of the late 70"s. Imo, the 78 version was the best team of all time. 9 hall of famers playing at the peak of their careers. If Earl had played just a few years later,I think he gets a ring too. When the Steelers started getting old,Earl was starting to wear down
I like how he murders people on the field but is super humble. For instance notice him walk over and politely hand the ball to the ref around 3:17....so much more badass than these f'n dances people do when they hit the endzone...hahaha I'd love to see someone do that today.
Now I'm reading the post about how great Earl would have been had he played for a better team.... Earl plays for the best team of all, his God, and his family.....NUF SAID.
@mannecyberguy I read an article in which Earl said if he had to do it over again He would not have played football. Hind sight is 20/20. I wish all the best for him. And I hope the NFL takes care of the men that got it all started. If not, I am going outside on Sundays and smelling the roses of America.
Adrain peterson will never follow this mans steps no one will ever be scaryer then this guy at runningback.. fucking monster will a helmet on.. fucking impossible to take down.. fucking unstoppable !
@Mrchikenkatsu Well said, most players today would rather be famous for a few high light films and avoid the defender and then act like a damn fool in the endzone, sidelines, or off the field.
@000MrAnderson Earl was certainly THAT, btw, what you said reminded me of what Paul Brown said when he was asked why he used Jim Brown so much:"When you have a big gun, you shoot it." In the case of E. Campbell, I think that the Oilers' coaching staff may have taken that quote too literally, considering the price he paid.
wow u just dont see backs fight for yardage like that anymore now its all about who is a better sprinter and fall down when a linebacker gets close to you
Campbell had the misfortune of bad timing-the Oilers were arguably the 2nd best team in the league for a while but it was while the Steelers were winning. If the Oilers had been strong after the Steelers say the early 80s, and if the team hadn't disintegrated as it did after Philips did, Campbell might've had a longer career AND gotten deep in to the playoffs.
If I remember correctly, the play with the arrow drawn in was where he basically ended Dave Elmendorf's career. I think he was a rookie. Feel free to check me on that if you wish.
@coolbrounderscore I think Earl would blast Lewis too. But in today's game I thnk Lewis, Harrison, maybe even Suh are a few of the really physical players. Besides, today's game they don't tackle, they try to get highlight hits. They would just bounce off of Earl. That hit by the Raider CB where he stumbled in for a touchdown, that would be a Godell Fine today!!!
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One of the greatest running backs of all time. He was fun to watch and a very humble person as well. He could run over you or run past you with speed. I Loved to watch him run. Thanks
I watched most of this as it happened on t.v. when I was a kid. I'm STILL getting goosebumps.
As I watch Campbell shedding and running through tacklers I'm reminded of all the posters on the Jim Brown clips talking about the poor tackling of the 60's. The tacklers of the 70's were having the same trouble with Campbell that their predecessors had with Brown. Watching Campbell run is like watching Brown; a force of nature. It was a pleasure to watch him play.
I think Jim and Earl are the two best ever.
I wouldn't disagree with that. Both were the #1 key for the opposition defense,. Neither had an outstanding quarterback to keep the defense off balance. If Earl had stayed healthy who knows what he could have done. I'll never forget the Miami game on Monday night sometime in the early 70's. One of the greatest athletic performances in any sport I've ever seen.
Greatest power running back of all time, and it's not close. Loved watching this guy play in the late 70s, early 80s
yes he was a true battering ram, but the guy also had true breakaway speed. he made some great defenders look bad. thanks
The most amazing running back of all time. No one could dish out hits like earl campbell could.
Speed, power and balance, what a combo. A well respected man on and off the field. Earl Campbell is another fine example of a great athlete.
Earl the best running back and powerback of all time wouldn't want another running back in my back field except him.
I was there many times watching Earl run.
He's the best as far as I'm concerned
The greatest ever. The Tyler Rose. There will never be another. He is truly one of a kind.
he is my favorite because of his style.......plus he was handed the ball 35+ times per game and the defenses knew who was getting the ball and still couldn't stop him.
That says a lot about the power he had.
Go Earl ! Earl will always be the best ever to me.
I haven't seen some of these clips in decades. Thank you very much!!!!
Earl Campbell always came to play hard every week and collect heavy debts from all defensive players. Earl Campbell was not only a ferocious beast of power, not only one of the fastest running backs, not only the most determined player on the field, but he was also an incredibly wise runner scanning all possible moves to advance with surprise, stealth, and absolute ballet mastery when Earl so desired. He would never stop until tackled by half of a defense or he makes a touchdown. Of so many fine NFL running backs, I could only see "Sweetness" Walter Payton at this epic level of brilliance of overall mastery of the offensive ground game. Bless those blockers for sure, but Earl Campbell was a game changer of NFL.
Earl holds the record for most jerseys torn during a career.
The man was pure strength and willpower.
one of the true gods of the arena.
earl defined what it means to be a great power back.
very true and I do not care what anybody says Zeke Elliot and running backs today are nothing compared to what Earl Campbell, bo Jackson was those are the last of the power backs
Earl campbell the best running back/powerback of all time would rather have him in my backfield then anyone else
A die-hard Steelers fan, i remembered him having to face the 'iron curtain' twice a yr, including the playoffs. Dude was an absolute BEAST!! He was one who would NOT be denied, especially in a time when opposition went extra hard, not worrying about being penalized for giving a hard hit, like today where everything seems to be watered down. Respect to this man, the illest cat who ever came out of the backfield. 6 dislikes? Bet you're one of the ones in favor of an NFL ' 2-hand touch ' league.LOL
This video is awesome, it not only showed how powerful Earl Campbell was, but that he had some serious speed and he could cutback too. He had a complete game, run with power, speed, and elusiveness...he just didn't want to be elusive to much!!!
God bless Earl - he gave his body, heart, and soul to Houston....and we traded him after we burned him out :(. If Houston had at least passed more- Earl may have had a few years left in him!
earl campbell waz a beast!!! 1 of the best to do it
earl campbell the most exciting rb of all time normal guys wouldnt last a single season running like earl so it is impressive that he did for 7
I live in Dallas, and my son couldn't undrstand why I cheered when Mike Irvin went down with an injury....
Recently, I showed him the man that made me a pro football fan, Earl Campbell, and the way this man played the game,,,,,now, my son understands.
He was the best RB of his short ERA. 1978-1983. His style of play limited him to a short career. His highlight films show you just how amazing he was. From 1978-81 he had a 5.2 yards per carry average. His later years with the saints ruined his stats. The entire Houston Oilers team was built around HIM! From 78-82 he destroyed Tony Dorsett and Walter Payton.
He is the Best POWER RB To EVER PLAY the Game. There Will NEVER be anyone like hime Again.
for a three year period 1979thru1981,there was and never will be a better running back he was just scary good
Imagine what he could do today!!! Wow!!! Earl Campbell v Ray Lewis...EPIC!!!
Wow great video of his power and speed. Never matched by anyone!
Damn! Jack Tatum turned out Campbell's lights and the man still scored the touchdown. I asked Tatum about that back around 96 or 97 and he said Campbell told him afterwards that he didn't remember walking over to the bench. He was out on his feet. Earl was amazing!
I have said it a million times and I will say it again.. This is the guy who inspired Marvel Comics to create the Juggernaut.. Someone that once they start moving forward; can't be stopped.
greatest of all time in his prime
They should call the Astrodome, the Earl Campbell Dome. Because before Earl" it was considered a joke not real sports. But when Earl played played nobody questioned the Astrodome.
greatest power back ever only second to sanders. if he played today he would hold the rushing title year after year
My Favorite back of all time! Now I watch Lynch,but he'not as fast, but also a beast!
I was always impressed with Earl Campbell. Notice no dance in the end zone. He acted like he belonged there and it was not unusual.
Wow... first time I ever saw a video of him... now I see what all the hype is about... he puts every other highlight video I've seen to shame...
One word. BEAST!!!!
Dude was a beast and one of the greatest
Earl Campbell vs Jack Tatutm is one of the best hits of all time
combination of speed and power we will likely never see again
Great to see again. Watched him as a Longhorn and "Earler."
anybody who knows anything about football knows that earl was the most unstoppable rb ever.
Earl Campbell was like a giant version of Barry Sanders, he not only had brute strength but he had moves too.
That is what u call a beast
Love the mystical force of nature music. Got a nice superhuman feel to it.
Beast right here
Shut up, lol!
U don't kno nothing about earl
cant be stopped! only 10 steeler's could stop him!
I noticed that too. He was a class act, either handing the ball to the ref or simply laying it on the ground. A true professional, unlike some of the selfish, egotistical so called "athletes" today.
Earl had more juice than OJ ever thought about.
Earl's running style was like a bull in a china shop, I saw a vid where Mean Joe Greene said, "You didn't hurt Earl, Earl hurt you".
Earl Campbell and Bo Jackson are the only two running backs I would compare to Jim Brown in the 50+ years I've been following the game. Too bad Earl got hurt so often.
he played under 14 games just once his entrie career... He wasn't hurt often...
i love power backs!
One hard running dude...very underrated and i'm not sure why.
The best running back since Jim Brown.
I love haow at 2:23 he dosnt even think about going around him
Ear Campbell = Freight Train + Barishnivok + Carl Lewis. He is the greatest RB ever.
I'm 20 and wish that guys like Earl were still in the league. You never see a running back now purposefully put his helmet in a defender's chest. Most these look like something straight out of a Nike ad!
thumbs up if you think earl campbell is all power with a touch of elusiveness and speed
that big boy had moves
Personally, my favorite runner of all time. I wish I could've watched the guy live. Nobody could ever match his power when he was running the ball. I think he would blast Ray Lewis. If a guy like Jack Tatum couldn't stop him, in an era where "dirty" hits weren't dirty yet, then nowadays he would completely dominate in my opinion
There have been many great running backs (Jim Brown, OJ, Etc), but I still think Earl was the greatest running back. The Reason I think this, is first he ran in the late 70's when weight training was used extensively (not used in Brown or OJ's era). You had great defenses to deal with because of it. Earl had to deal with the greatest defense ever (Steel Curtain) which was in his division. When Earl ran all the defenses focused on him. 14 game season almost 2000 yds & perfect power/speed/heart
Imagine if he played during the "plane of the goal line is a TD" era
@mr713titansfan :
Grew up in the Houston area watching the Oilers and they couldn't shake me when they moved away. I live in the Dallas area, but my heart is in The Coliseum somewhere up there in Tennessee.
Even the name, "Earl" is tough!
The Rose is the best of all time. Period..
Mean Joe Greene: 'Well, I never played against Jim Brown, but if tackling him is anything like tackling Campbell, I wouldn't want to have to tackle him either'
Earl was a monster a true iron man he played like a animal today he is cripple walks with a cane he says he would change the way he played if he could go back looking to hit someone these NFL players today wineing about the league doing something about hits well those guys go visit earl then say you dont care about long term affects I played the way I want and willing to pay the price yeah right
The guy would knock the helmet off a bull! The guy was was a total "Texan", the way he played the game. Take life by the horns, dive head first into life. I'm not even from Texas, but that's what he reminde dme of.
if EC had had a solid offensive line to back him up like the Cowboys when he played, he probably would have broken ALL tardage records.
Dammmmm It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! H-Town Football
Campbell & Sanders BEST ALL TIME !!!
Love Ya Blue!
There may be some faster and possibly even more agile, but head to head none could withstand him. Nobody can name the player stronger, tougher, more fearsome or determined than Earl in the following list despite tremendous respect for many ... just ask any poor slob that ever tried to tackle him ! Sayres, Sanders, Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Thomas, Okoye, Smith, Marion Barber ( a smaller Earl !), Williams, Dorsett or Smith. Earl is and was the scariest man to ever hold a pigskin ! Period
People like to believe that his style of running was the only cause of his shortened career, but the truth is that the Oilers collapsed after Philips left, and there wasn't much of a foundation for any back to hold on to. Peyton for example had a solid franchise behind him his whole career, Campbell did not.
@dresendezz I completely agree with you on the balance. However, it wasn't just that, it was the combination of the power (34 inch thighs), strength, speed (4.5 40 yard dash), coordination and the balance that made him amazing. And all that was at him being 244lbs too.
the hit by the raiders is the only hit in this highlight where he seemed even remotely human
The Tyler Rose. It's almost unfair to have such a cool sounding nickname.
we gotta play the oilers again next year too? dam!
@nardo363636 The biggest problem Earl had was playing his career at the same time as the legendary Pittsburg Steeler teams of the late 70"s. Imo, the 78 version was the best team of all time. 9 hall of famers playing at the peak of their careers.
If Earl had played just a few years later,I think he gets a ring too. When the Steelers started getting old,Earl was starting to wear down
Every time he lowered his shoulders 11 men on defense shit themselves
Watching this hurts me
I like how he murders people on the field but is super humble. For instance notice him walk over and politely hand the ball to the ref around 3:17....so much more badass than these f'n dances people do when they hit the endzone...hahaha I'd love to see someone do that today.
Now I'm reading the post about how great Earl would have been had he played for a better team....
Earl plays for the best team of all, his God, and his family.....NUF SAID.
He's more nimbler than I thought
Trying to stop Earl would be like trying to stop a runaway dump truck going downhill!
@mannecyberguy I read an article in which Earl said if he had to do it over again He would not have played football.
Hind sight is 20/20. I wish all the best for him. And I hope the NFL takes care of the men that got it all started. If not, I am going outside on Sundays and smelling the roses of America.
Adrain peterson will never follow this mans steps no one will ever be scaryer then this guy at runningback.. fucking monster will a helmet on.. fucking impossible to take down.. fucking unstoppable !
@Mrchikenkatsu Well said, most players today would rather be famous for a few high light films and avoid the defender and then act like a damn fool in the endzone, sidelines, or off the field.
The original truck stick
@000MrAnderson Earl was certainly THAT, btw, what you said reminded me of what Paul Brown said when he was asked why he used Jim Brown so much:"When you have a big gun, you shoot it." In the case of E. Campbell, I think that the Oilers' coaching staff may have taken that quote too literally, considering the price he paid.
My favorite RB to watch, ever. Although Payton is the best ever.
Listen to those analog synths!
wow u just dont see backs fight for yardage like that anymore now its all about who is a better sprinter and fall down when a linebacker gets close to you
3:10 now you see, modern nfl players, thats how a man celebrates a touchdown... he doesnt, act like you've been there before boys
Campbell had the misfortune of bad timing-the Oilers were arguably the 2nd best team in the league for a while but it was while the Steelers were winning. If the Oilers had been strong after the Steelers say the early 80s, and if the team hadn't disintegrated as it did after Philips did, Campbell might've had a longer career AND gotten deep in to the playoffs.
he is one of the best no one you can really compare to him the only one thats some what similar is jim brown
0:33 "Face the nation" with Earl Campbell, Earl's guest today, Donnie Shell.
If I remember correctly, the play with the arrow drawn in was where he basically ended Dave Elmendorf's career. I think he was a rookie. Feel free to check me on that if you wish.
@coolbrounderscore I think Earl would blast Lewis too. But in today's game I thnk Lewis, Harrison, maybe even Suh are a few of the really physical players. Besides, today's game they don't tackle, they try to get highlight hits. They would just bounce off of Earl.
That hit by the Raider CB where he stumbled in for a touchdown, that would be a Godell Fine today!!!