I went to a fundraiser about (guessing) twenty or more years ago, wife and I got to sit right next to him in a barbecue outing. Super nice guy, extremely polite. We talk for a while, He stated his body will never be the same due to all the hits he received while playing football. My biggest memory of him, He had a heart of gold and compassion. A very humble spirit and one of the most friendly person anyone would ever meet. Even though our friendship only lastest about 45 minutes, I will never forget his humble conversation with all those He came in contact with. He is truly a remarkable person.
I was a freshman in Jester Center (dorm at UT) in 1974 and the football players were in the same dorm, including Earl Campbell. He was a nice guy then too, same demeanor you describe, spoke with us (he was a freshman too) just like anybody else, many of the football players were aloof.
62 here. I told my son about Earl Campbell when he was younger, pre TH-cam days. He did/could not believe there was such a man who could bowl linebackers over, hit defensive backs lifting them off their feet driving them into end zone for TD with brute power. And the nible feet to run past them almost at will. Speed +Power =E. Campbell=one of the top 5 backs in the history of the NFL.
@@koolhandduke4087 I almost wish we didn't have the Mount Rushmore. Because,there's so many other guys that deserve it but there is a pecking order...maybe one Great Wall.
64 yo, There is no one who exemplifies a legendary back status like Campbell. He was a delight to watch. Carrying the football like a loaf of bread. Loved watching him!
~~ I grew up in D.C. area - so got to see a LOT of Riggins - some forget that by the time he led the Skins to the Super Bowl in 1982 against Miami - he was in his 11th season in the NFL - (would have been 12 but he sat out one year in a contract dispute ) - tough inside running backs almost never last nearly that long - Riggo was one tough SOaB ..
My wife & I had Oiler season tickets during the Earl Campbell years. What great memories about a great player & man. We still have the pom poms from the Miami game.
@@nflunveiled... A British person who spells color without a "u"?... O_o... Ok lol, NOW I'm officially confused! Are you actually an American with a British accent from having British parents? I had a friend like that once lol. 🤷 That would also explain the American football obsession too.
@@Cooe. I'm born and raised in the UK. Honestly don't know how that happened lol. I must have subconsciously been trying to appease my US viewers by spelling it without a u🤦♂
I was the biggest Jim Brown ever. Grew up in Ohio watching him play. He was my hero. When i became old enough to realize that Brown was a womanizer and stood for just about everything that i disagree with, Brown was not my hero anymore. I still think he is one of the greatest s backs ever. After observing Campbell's career, I was to old to have a hero. But I truly believe Campbell was just as good or better than Brown.
@@ChristopherKilian-fg6ds a good question. 1. Earl Campbell, 2. Gale Sayers, 3. Barry Sanders, 4. Walter Payton, 5. O.J. Simpson. I don’t include Jim Brown cuz I never saw him play.
@@ChristopherKilian-fg6ds You're right! Before that hip injury, we all got to see what would've been a legend. We'll give him an honorable mention due to lack of games. 6. Marcus Allen.
For those too young to have seen him play, you missed out. He was absolutely incredible to watch. Massively underrated and almost entirely unknown to the younger generations.
@@RIbigDave He had a short career because they wore him out. There were times when everyone in the stadium knew the ball was going to Earl... and it didn't matter.
@@RIbigDave It's a shame the Steelers never had a power back. 😁 That's a joke. I hated watching the Steelers beat my team, but I absolutely LOVED Franco Harris. I think he's under-recognized outside of Pittsburgh faithful.
I watched him play and he was incredible. I remember so many games against the Steelers that he seemed unstoppable and he was always the one thing you couldn't control in the game.
I first really started to pay attention to the NFL in 1978.......at 10 years old. I've been a dedicated fan ever since. Earl Campbell is my all time favorite running back to this day. He was an absolute beast and no one has been as devastating of a power back since he retired. He was a freakin' bulldozer.
I'm a 73 year old man/football fan. Earl Campbell is on any short list of my favorite players ever. It's him and Bo Jackson, don't ask me to pick between them, I can't.
@@nflunveiled I have a ranch about 20 miles from Auburn so I got to see a lot of Bo while he was in school there. Man I can’t argue with either of your choices both were bad to the bone.
I’m 65 and I lived in Houston when Earl showed up. If memory serves, his first touch in a pro game, granted it was preseason, was a swing pass right and next thing you see is him crossing the goal line 60 + yards later. He was amazing!
Rode in an elevator with EC when the Oilers were staying at my hotel when playing the Browns. Between his legs and shoulders, took up about half the elevator cab. Bum Philips and Dan Pastorini also in the elevator. I was 6'2 and about 215 at the time, I was by a wide margin the smallest person in the elevator!!
A couple of stories about Earl. He was a humble, helpful, and nice person. The first major purchase after he made the Oilers was a house for his mother. She had done so much for him that he just wanted to help her. He was known for 100+ yard games. Every time he had a 100-yard game, he took the entire offensive line out for steaks. I was running long distance in Houston in the late '70s and early '80s. I would see Earl at the start line at times. He ran up to 10,000 meter road races with a body that was built for 100-yd sprints and pushing a bulldozer into the end zone. And he was one of the nicest people at the race. It was like he didn't think of himself as special. As a Red Raider fan, I really didn't like him in college. After he put those horns away, I liked him.
I got to meet him when I was a freshman at UT. I got on the wrong elevator and ended up in the coaching offices on the stadium. He walked up to me and asked if he could help my find my way to class. I was so flustered i didn't realize it was him until we were half way down and then I became even more flustered I couldn't make my legs work. He moved slow back then but was still huge. He is a Texas Legend.
Have followed pro football since 1972. In his prime, Earl Campbell is the best I've ever seen. The "one back offense" was started by Bum Phillips featuring Campbell. Everyone on the planet knew he was going to get the ball 25 times per game. And yet he still produced amazingly well and was a punishing RB who could also outrun the defense. Just an amazing, amazing player.
My memory of Earl Campbell as a kid growing up during the late 1970's was watching Campbell run for an amazing TD run against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys famed Doomsday Defense had no answer on how to stop Campbell on that day. Overall, it was a great game to watch on TV and what made it even more special was that the Houston Oilers won that game. The Dallas Cowboys may have indeed been considered Americas Team, but "Luv Ya Blue" was a special period for Oilers fans.
I've made this same comment on another post featuring Earl Campbell, but I don't mind repeating myself. I attended the University of Texas at the same time as Earl and saw him occasionally while walking between classes. People who said hello to him as they walked by were all given a smile and a return hello. Other players on the team walked around like they were ten feet tall, and nobody tried approaching them. Later in life I worked with the mother in law of NY Giants All-Pro linebacker Carl Banks. She said she asked him once if there was a guy he hated playing against. He said that would be Earl Campbell, because after a game of tackling him, Banks would still be sore the following Sunday when there was another game to play. Praise from one of the best.
Exactly!…little mention of player contracts, or the political climate, or drama in the locker room or what coach was about to be fired or fantasy leagues. No flexing for getting a simple first down or making a routine tackle. Just players that you felt would play for free, played for their teammates and often played hard for their coach…and winning was everything
What annoys me is that we have data showing the artificial turf used today is still more likely to cause injury, but they use it because it's cheaper to maintain.
@@poindextertunes UGA has been studying the subject (they're not the only sports turf science department looking at this). They recently provided data on their research, which shows that knee and ankle injuries are more likely on synthetic turf than any of the natural surfaces tested. In fairness, Bermudagrass was far and away the best, with a significant drop for ryegrass which is the dominant natural surface used in football due to the time of year. But again, synthetic surfaces produced the most negative conditions for knees and ankles.
In my opinion Earl Campbell was the best running back to ever touch a football. I went to most of his home games here in Houston, and he was so exciting to watch that I have never forgotten him and often find myself thinking of his running style and the excitement it generated with the fans! Most people see the highlight reels and think of Earl as just a power running back, but he was so much more than that. Earl had multiple weapons that made him the best. He could run over a defender (toughness), he could run away from a defender (speed), he could drag multiple defenders down the field (strength), and he could stiff arm a defender into the ground like no other. Defenders never knew what to expect and it was hilarious to watch them make the wrong choice when going for the tackle. Long live Earl Campbell (The Tyler Rose), the best running back of all time!
@tatesinclair6837 matter of fact about 20 yrs ago NFL had running backs see film and then meet Earl Campbell. He was stooped over barely walk and.every injury from his career. The current running backs did not recognize him at first. Nowadays u see players go for the sideline to prevent all that accumulated damage. That was my Hero.
Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders. Both at the extreme opposite ends of the spectrum from each other. Watching them play was always a treat. Both were also the only offensive weapons their team had, for the majority of their career. 2 of the biggest What-Ifs were, what is either of those guys had ever played on a top 5 team for a few years.
You definitely know football,sir.Those are my 2 picks as well.Along with power runners, you would have to add Bo Jackson, and Hershel Walker. Then behind Sanders,Walter Peyton and probably Dickerson. Just look at the yardage and you'll see what makes the difference.
As a Stealers fan I dreaded when they played Houston (now the Titans) because of this man. I have to acknowledge that he was amazing to watch run with the ball....
As a huge and longtime Steelers fan from the 70s, I never worried about them playing Campbell because they could always key on him since they didn’t have much else. And they never really had a good quarterback either stabler shot by then.
@@bigwoody4704 Totally agree with you. I enjoy discussing that controversial TD catch which of course became one of the most famous incompletions ever which opened doors to enforce the instant replay review which to this day still creates major controversy. I grimaced watching that controversial endzone catch from my 12" black & white TV...lol.
I used to watch Walter Payton every Suday being 2 hours from Chicago, but I watched all the Oilers games as I could because in my opinion Earl Campbell was the best running back in the NFL despite gaining 9,407 yards for a career. Earl was a linebacker running over other linebackers with a ball carried like a loaf of bread trying to make it home to his mamma.
My favorite years watching NFL was the mid 70’s to early 90’s…so I was fortunate enough to see Earl Campbell many times on TV. He’s one of my all time favorites.
Every time Earl ran the ball, everyone was waiting for him. Amazing back. Best ever. Great hands too. So powerful but wasn't hardly caught from behind in a footrace until his retirement year.
Imagine if The Oilers would have spent some $$$ on a passing game to double the threat??!! Probably would have a couple Super Bowls!! That would have helped against The Steelers.
@@jefflanham1080 they always had a weakness at quarterback; unfortunately, the Raiders knew what they were doing when they dumped Stabler, as Stabler was their biggest problem along with Casper when they lost to the Raiders in the playoffs
Back in the early 80's, when I was in Middle School, one of my teachers brought in a guest speaker, Blane Gaison, a Safety playing for the Atl Falcons. He said he tried to tackle Earl, head on. The next thing he knew, he was on his back, looking up at the spinning stadium.
Coach Bum Phillips summed it up when he was asked, "Is Earl Campbell in a class by himself?" Bum replied, "I don't know, but it wouldn't take long to call the roll".
A friend of mine, Gregg Bingham, played for the Oilers during Campbell’s time there. He played inside linebacker and was the captain of the defense, leading the team in tackles for 11 seasons. He was also one of the most ferocious hitters in the league. Early in Campbell’s career, Bingham pulled him aside and offered him some advice. He told him start making defenders miss because otherwise he would encounter a never ending succession of defenders as big or bigger than him, who would eventually wear him down. Campbell never spoke to Bingham again after that run in. He once referenced Bingham derisively as a ‘know it all’ but refused to elaborate. Campbell would be using a walker by time he was 40. He would be in a wheelchair not long after.
bingham he was a great player recall as kids watching oilers in a book about my late dad waa barty smiths postion and freshman team coach of course they couldnt play in games sometimes scout team against first team early on would just try to run over defenders dad told him you need to learn to evade not invade 40 years later barty recalled best advice her ever had ironically his knee was torn uo in a cheap shot on the sidelines of the blue grey all star game ywt still waa able to play for the pack nine seasons dad waa starting tailback miss. state 56 art davis backup d.b. punt return 54 55 nicknamed tank the yank but had speed also had to learn early on how to avoid those big hits so advised barty as a freshman earlit was sad to see his interviews suffering with arthritis darly royal coached both men dad and earl met gayle sayers 84 ind.bowl game dad was va.tech qbs recievers coach he was walked with a cane had recent surgery probably but not as disabled as earl
That’s a very interesting story; it’s a shame Campbell didn’t listen. Or at least respect what was helpful advice. I would also say, though, that Campbell’s condition wasn’t only from playing, otherwise all physical backs would be like him. Part of this is congenital if you talk to Greg, ask him about Vernon Perry. Vernon Perry interested me because he played for Montreal when I was in Canada, which was a good team with David Green at running back, and then had the luxury of coming over to Houston. It’s a shame that Houston never really had a good quarterback, which is why Campbell was resigned most years to dismal seasons. The last real shot was playing the Raiders in 80, and if you rewatch that game on TH-cam, you can see that Stabler and Casper, who had been traded by the raiders to the Oilers, failed that team miserably. Quarterback was generally always the Oilers biggest weakness.
72 year-old here. I once watched a live game on TV in which Campbell was playing. It may have been the Oilers against the Falcons. A running play was called, (of course,) and Earl Campbell burst through the defensive line. A linebacker ran at full speed to stop Campbell. The linebacker dove towards Campbell with his head down. The linebacker speared Campbell in the stomach with his helmet. Campbell was lifted off of the ground a bit, and his massive legs churned in the air with perfect form. When Campbell came down, he resumed his run and got a long gain. The camera panned back to the line of scrimmage where the linebacker was lying on the ground, unconscious.
I was there the whole Love Ya Blue era !!! The Astrodome was built in 1964 The Harris County Sports Authority Along with Harris County Commissions declined to finance a new upgraded stadium. They both said no, Oilman Bud Adams said Kiss My Ass, renamed the team the Titans and move to Nashville in the dead of night. Those same groups then begged the Football commissioner to created a new Houston franchise team called the Texans. 2 years later we have a new stadium and new team. Coached by Jerry "Johnny Cash" Glanville.
I am 72 years old and saw all of Jim Brown. 3000 more yards in 117 to 118 games. 106 to 74 TD's, 5.2 yard per carry for a career vs 4.3 ypc . Earl and Jim , magnificent men. I'll add in Bo Jackson to make up the top three most powerful runners I ever saw. Imagine if Jackson played 9-10 years . This Travis Henry is coming on !
I remember seeing him running down the field with players hanging on him, eventually they brought him down. He was always slow to get up so you never knew if he was hurt or not. Then he'd do it again and again ...
Earl Campbell was brutal on his own lineman. I saw one game where he ran into one of his own lineman's back. I don't know how bad the injury was but he was in a lot of pain and was shaking. I could never forget that.
I am a cowboys fan, I consider Earl Campbell the best running back ever played the game hands down, I hope and pray to meet him in person one day even though I live in Riyadh Saudi Arabia
I always loved how, after scoring on a spectacular run, Earl would just walk over to the ref and hand him the football. No celebrating, no fanfare. Very classy.
A reporter discovered Earl Campbell was unable to complete a 100 yard dash. The reporter asked Coach Bum Phillips if that fact concerned him. Bum said, if it's ever 4th and 99 I won't give it to Earl.
Jack Tatum said " If you ever have the opportunity to tackle Earl Campbell I would advise you to be extremely careful." He also spoke very highly of Bum Phillips; sounds like all his players just loved him. Stabler, Tatum, and Dave Casper all went to Houston in 79.
More comments from Tatum. When Pete Rozelle told him "I think you hit too hard for football" Jack responded: "Mr Commissioner, Earl Campbell weighs 235 pounds and each of his thighs is 34 inches of solid muscle. Really, I don't want to be a wise guy, but how would you suggest I tackle him easy?" ( muffled chuckles allegedly fill the room)
That’s why I don’t buy that Campbell’s current condition is just from playing, since these other guys are relatively OK in comparison. In Campbell’s case some of this is congenital.
Earl just was a knotch higher than the others if he got out on a sweep and in high gear he was gone or someone was hurting. Only way was to get to him quick before he got to speed
He was a year ahead of me at the University of Texas. Treat to watch him play. His senior year he led the nation in rushing and scoring, won the Heisman and led Texas to undefeated season and a bowl game loss away from the national title. We would see him on campus frequently. Always went to class, tried hard, apparently very nice.
Another excellent short video on one of my heroes. Thank you! I do wish you would give some closure at the end of these videos, like when they retired. 👍🏽🙏🏽
Saw him torch the Redskins Over the Hill Gang at my first NFL game. Ran over a few guys for 166 yards and 2 TDs in the 1979 season opener. Never seen anyone run that hard in my life at that point.
not only the most impressive running back in NFL history, he has to rank as one of the top 5 greatest football players in NFL history. Total and complete domination of the competition on a brutal and physical level.
Barry Switzer said Earl Campbell was one of two 1st yr college football players that was physically Ready for the NFL. Coach Switzer saw a lot of talented football players, coached for and against some great teams and players...
Indeed, Earl Campbell was like a Sherman tank in cleats and a uniform, a rhinoceros for sure, when it came to being an NFL Running back. What a powerful force he was.
Earl used to wear tear away jerseys, that ripped apart when defenders tried to tackle him. The NFL banned them shortly after that. He finished his career in New Orleans
Earl Campbell. The Tyler Rose. My favorite running back. So many others - Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, John. Riggins, Sweetness, Jim Brown, Larry Czonka, Marshawn Lynch, the list goes on and on. And for me, Earl Campbell is at the head of the class.
Not sure what I loved more ... watching Eric Dickerson break free into the open field and start gliding away, effortlessly, from DBs like an antelope from a wounded lion ... or ... watching Earl Campbell batter and bruise very large men while they made every attempt to slow, or stop, him on his way to another devastating 30 yard gain.
I played high school ball in the 80s. Had a poster of Campbell on my wall. I was a strong running back and decided to play like Earl. I ran angry. By my junior year I was noticed and recruited by division 1 schools. My body was taking a beating, though and I ended up going div 2. Now, I walk like Earl does - haha! Love the man, though. Would love to meet him and I wish him well. I hurt tacklers - ribs, brain, etc. It was a blast but I'm torn all these years later about how hard the sport is on the bodies of the young men who play it.
oh wow! The sport sure is brutal. I recall Earl saying he doesn't regret his time in the league (despite the toll it has taken on his body). How do you look back at your career?
@@nflunveiled Some regret. But...let me tell you...when a guy gets between you and the goal line and you put him on his butt it's as much fun as you can have without going to jail. Now, in my late 50s, I do a lot of maintenance work on the my body. I often would get 10/yards per carry in games. If I got the ball 10 times or more we'd win. We had a top-rated tailback in our backfield, too.
I witnessed Earl run against the Dolphins in that game, as a young man I was so impressed by his Heart ❤ when running that I remember tears in my eyes. It was like watching Superman in real life! I cursed the Houston Oilers for their pathetic waste of abusing Earl over and over every snap. They (Bud Adams, Bum Phillips) destroyed Earl's career and body. God Bless the Tyler Rose, thank you Mr. CAMPBELL, One of my Heroes
I was in the Dome that day that Earl ran over Isiah Robertson. When Earl's helmet hit Robertson's pads it sounded like a rifle shot, echoing through the building. The PA announcer (Jim Corolla of KILT radio) said "Mr. Robertson...meet Mr. Campbell." The place went nuts. Great days.
I remember one of the Steelers games, Cambell ran straight into the defensive players and the sound of the crack of the pads contacting each other was astonishing. CRACK! You knew there was some major "irresistable force meets immovable object" going on. If I was a defensive player, he'd be the last person I'd want to play against.
Oh do I remember watching him and being absolutely stunned at how he just ran guys over like a freight train. There were other bruisers like Larry Csonka and John Riggens who constantly punished defenses, bloodying them and wearing them down. Campbell did that as well, but NOBODY that size had the violent burst / explosiveness and speed of Earl Campbell.
In high school, I played against his predecessor at UT. Roosevelt Leaks. It was like trying to tackle a cow. Kinda relieved I didn't play against Earl.
I went to a fundraiser about (guessing) twenty or more years ago, wife and I got to sit right next to him in a barbecue outing. Super nice guy, extremely polite. We talk for a while, He stated his body will never be the same due to all the hits he received while playing football. My biggest memory of him, He had a heart of gold and compassion. A very humble spirit and one of the most friendly person anyone would ever meet. Even though our friendship only lastest about 45 minutes, I will never forget his humble conversation with all those He came in contact with. He is truly a remarkable person.
that's really cool to hear, thanks for sharing!
Met him also, he is what a man in position should be humble and grateful.
Well said.
Mr.Earl you didn't want to play around when it came to running that fb that was like running after Mr.jim Brown
I was a freshman in Jester Center (dorm at UT) in 1974 and the football players were in the same dorm, including Earl Campbell. He was a nice guy then too, same demeanor you describe, spoke with us (he was a freshman too) just like anybody else, many of the football players were aloof.
62 here. I told my son about Earl Campbell when he was younger, pre TH-cam days. He did/could not believe there was such a man who could bowl linebackers over, hit defensive backs lifting them off their feet driving them into end zone for TD with brute power. And the nible feet to run past them almost at will. Speed +Power =E. Campbell=one of the top 5 backs in the history of the NFL.
I don't blame him, it's hard to believe how Earl played without seeing it with your own two eyes!
Everyone has their Mount Rushmore of BACKS.
And I respect everyone.Here is mine.
Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders,& EARL CAMPBELL.
Solid list! @@sheawhitey5009
@sheawhitey5009--I concur... My choices are the same. Honorable mentions to Eric Dickerson, Marcus Allen, OJ Simpson and Larry Czonka.
@@koolhandduke4087 I almost wish we didn't have the Mount Rushmore. Because,there's so many other guys that deserve it but there is a pecking order...maybe one Great Wall.
64 yo, There is no one who exemplifies a legendary back status like Campbell. He was a delight to watch. Carrying the football like a loaf of bread. Loved watching him!
he was a class act!
Boomer here. I think I remember seeing a play where everyone on the other team hit him. One guy twice and he still scored. 🏈🏈🐐
He was a great Runner but now he's almost in a wheelchair all banged up
loved watching Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Franco Harris, John Riggins and Larry Csonka. Fond memories.
great list!
~~ I grew up in D.C. area - so got to see a LOT of Riggins - some forget that by the time he led the Skins to the Super Bowl in 1982 against Miami - he was in his 11th season in the NFL - (would have been 12 but he sat out one year in a contract dispute ) - tough inside running backs almost never last nearly that long - Riggo was one tough SOaB ..
@@billyz5088Rigans had more of his total career yards after the age of 30 than he did before
When Walter Payton died I wept openly. He was amazing.
@@mustangsandwich Walter Payton still my hero today.
Earl was my favorite football player then, he's my favorite now, and he's my favorite forever !
Incredible player. I will never forget the monday night game against the dolphins. Big boy football
My wife & I had Oiler season tickets during the Earl Campbell years. What great memories about a great player & man. We still have the pom poms from the Miami game.
that's awesome - I wish I could have watched him live!
I was happy when Campbell made the NFL's Century Team - dude was a beast
P.S. Those Oilers uniforms were so sweet! I kinda miss 'em
some of the old school jersey colorways were so nice-they don't make them like that anymore
The Titans went all Oiler in a game last year. Uniforms, the stadium, everything. It was so awesome to see it for this old Oiler fan.
@@nflunveiled... A British person who spells color without a "u"?... O_o... Ok lol, NOW I'm officially confused! Are you actually an American with a British accent from having British parents? I had a friend like that once lol. 🤷 That would also explain the American football obsession too.
@@Cooe. I'm born and raised in the UK. Honestly don't know how that happened lol. I must have subconsciously been trying to appease my US viewers by spelling it without a u🤦♂
@@nflunveiled 🤣 Lol that's freaking hilarious. Code switching like a BOSS!!! 😁
That’s him. That’s the one. Forget the records. Earl Campbell is the best that’s ever been.
I was the biggest Jim Brown ever. Grew up in Ohio watching him play. He was my hero. When i became old enough to realize that Brown was a womanizer and stood for just about everything that i disagree with, Brown was not my hero anymore. I still think he is one of the greatest s backs ever. After observing Campbell's career, I was to old to have a hero. But I truly believe Campbell was just as good or better than Brown.
Warren, Where does Walter Payton rank?
@@ChristopherKilian-fg6ds a good question. 1. Earl Campbell, 2. Gale Sayers, 3. Barry Sanders, 4. Walter Payton, 5. O.J. Simpson. I don’t include Jim Brown cuz I never saw him play.
@@rwarren58 though it was short lived, what about Bo Jackson?
@@ChristopherKilian-fg6ds You're right! Before that hip injury, we all got to see what would've been a legend. We'll give him an honorable mention due to lack of games. 6. Marcus Allen.
For those too young to have seen him play, you missed out. He was absolutely incredible to watch. Massively underrated and almost entirely unknown to the younger generations.
Bo Jackson came close….
Part of that is because he had a relatively short career
@@RIbigDave He had a short career because they wore him out. There were times when everyone in the stadium knew the ball was going to Earl... and it didn't matter.
@scotthime6928 I know I was a Steelers fan and I folowed his whole career plus I've always had a weakness for power backs.
@@RIbigDave It's a shame the Steelers never had a power back. 😁
That's a joke. I hated watching the Steelers beat my team, but I absolutely LOVED Franco Harris. I think he's under-recognized outside of Pittsburgh faithful.
I watched him play and he was incredible. I remember so many games against the Steelers that he seemed unstoppable and he was always the one thing you couldn't control in the game.
2:49
The video highlights his lack of success against the Steelers.
I watched all those games against the Steelers because I'm a Steelers fan and Earl was pretty difficult to control@@PonderingOne
@
Not so much.
In his 12 games against the Steelers he averaged less than 57 yards per game. He scored 6 TD on 206 carries. His team went 5-7.
I first really started to pay attention to the NFL in 1978.......at 10 years old. I've been a dedicated fan ever since. Earl Campbell is my all time favorite running back to this day. He was an absolute beast and no one has been as devastating of a power back since he retired. He was a freakin' bulldozer.
agreed!!
63 y/o here. Earl was a beast. Loved watching the Oilers back in the day.
Earl is the man!
I live in India. And even here we have heard of Campbell and Payton. Oddly both used number 34.
Still my favorite running back ever.
I hated when the Oilers moved.
I'm a 73 year old man/football fan. Earl Campbell is on any short list of my favorite players ever. It's him and Bo Jackson, don't ask me to pick between them, I can't.
wish we got to see more of Bo
@@nflunveiled totally agree 💯 he was a real pleasure to watch. I'd pick him before Campbell. He a short career and still should be in the HOF.
@@nflunveiled I have a ranch about 20 miles from Auburn so I got to see a lot of Bo while he was in school there. Man I can’t argue with either of your choices both were bad to the bone.
Earl and Bo are the best I’ve ever seen
That is an acceptable dilemma!
I'm thankful for the years I got to watch him and sad for the terrible price he's had to pay. God bless Earl Campbell.
Amen. He was really something special.
Let's not forget Peterson and Tomlinson. Both as good as it gets in their prime.
I’m from Houston. #34 = Campbell, Nolan Ryan, Hakeem Olajuwon. I loved Earl’s nickname “The Tyler Rose”.
It was simply amazing to watch Campbell play, he was virtually unstoppable. He was a human freight train.
nobody was taking him down with those legs
@@nflunveiledJack Tatum did
Freight train, but not the night train. Night train Lane would have leveled Campbell if they ever played against each other.
He has the coolest RB highlight reel of all time.
oh for sure!
Walter Payton is my personal favorite, I admit no one else has ever danced and amazed like Barry, but nobody had the motor of Earl. Legend.
Payton's great strength was his longevity.
sanders and Payton were way different types of runners than campbell
@@Michael-hq1iq I believe that's what I indicated in my post lol. But ty?
I’m 65 and I lived in Houston when Earl showed up.
If memory serves, his first touch in a pro game, granted it was preseason, was a swing pass right and next thing you see is him crossing the goal line 60 + yards later.
He was amazing!
that was a sign of things to come 💪
Rode in an elevator with EC when the Oilers were staying at my hotel when playing the Browns. Between his legs and shoulders, took up about half the elevator cab. Bum Philips and Dan Pastorini also in the elevator. I was 6'2 and about 215 at the time, I was by a wide margin the smallest person in the elevator!!
haha that's amazing!
Bet that was pretty cool being in they're presence. Earl definitely was a big dude yet very nice and pretty humble.
A couple of stories about Earl. He was a humble, helpful, and nice person. The first major purchase after he made the Oilers was a house for his mother. She had done so much for him that he just wanted to help her. He was known for 100+ yard games. Every time he had a 100-yard game, he took the entire offensive line out for steaks.
I was running long distance in Houston in the late '70s and early '80s. I would see Earl at the start line at times. He ran up to 10,000 meter road races with a body that was built for 100-yd sprints and pushing a bulldozer into the end zone. And he was one of the nicest people at the race. It was like he didn't think of himself as special. As a Red Raider fan, I really didn't like him in college. After he put those horns away, I liked him.
I’ve seen a lot of people comment on how nice he was. I love to hear stories like this, Earl was amazing on & off the field
I got to meet him when I was a freshman at UT. I got on the wrong elevator and ended up in the coaching offices on the stadium. He walked up to me and asked if he could help my find my way to class. I was so flustered i didn't realize it was him until we were half way down and then I became even more flustered I couldn't make my legs work. He moved slow back then but was still huge. He is a Texas Legend.
haha that's awesome
Have followed pro football since 1972. In his prime, Earl Campbell is the best I've ever seen. The "one back offense" was started by Bum Phillips featuring Campbell. Everyone on the planet knew he was going to get the ball 25 times per game. And yet he still produced amazingly well and was a punishing RB who could also outrun the defense. Just an amazing, amazing player.
I agree. That's what makes the greats, great. You know he is getting the ball, but you still can't stop him!
My memory of Earl Campbell as a kid growing up during the late 1970's was watching Campbell run for an amazing TD run against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys famed Doomsday Defense had no answer on how to stop Campbell on that day. Overall, it was a great game to watch on TV and what made it even more special was that the Houston Oilers won that game. The Dallas Cowboys may have indeed been considered Americas Team, but "Luv Ya Blue" was a special period for Oilers fans.
iconic performance!
I've made this same comment on another post featuring Earl Campbell, but I don't mind repeating myself. I attended the University of Texas at the same time as Earl and saw him occasionally while walking between classes. People who said hello to him as they walked by were all given a smile and a return hello. Other players on the team walked around like they were ten feet tall, and nobody tried approaching them.
Later in life I worked with the mother in law of NY Giants All-Pro linebacker Carl Banks. She said she asked him once if there was a guy he hated playing against. He said that would be Earl Campbell, because after a game of tackling him, Banks would still be sore the following Sunday when there was another game to play. Praise from one of the best.
Gosh I loved Football BACK in that time period!!!! When Monday Night Football was an event for your buds !!!
Exactly!…little mention of player contracts, or the political climate, or drama in the locker room or what coach was about to be fired or fantasy leagues. No flexing for getting a simple first down or making a routine tackle. Just players that you felt would play for free, played for their teammates and often played hard for their coach…and winning was everything
@@jimbrown2604spot on
He was great! A strong runner on a superbowl team, I remember Otis Anderson giving an uppercut in the superbowl for the Giants.
That green concrete in the Astrodome shortened Earl’s career as much as anything.
And they ran him 35 times a game.
Paul Brown use to say "If you have a big gun you shoot it"
What annoys me is that we have data showing the artificial turf used today is still more likely to cause injury, but they use it because it's cheaper to maintain.
@@therealjohneasonwe do? where?
@@poindextertunes UGA has been studying the subject (they're not the only sports turf science department looking at this). They recently provided data on their research, which shows that knee and ankle injuries are more likely on synthetic turf than any of the natural surfaces tested.
In fairness, Bermudagrass was far and away the best, with a significant drop for ryegrass which is the dominant natural surface used in football due to the time of year. But again, synthetic surfaces produced the most negative conditions for knees and ankles.
In my opinion Earl Campbell was the best running back to ever touch a football. I went to most of his home games here in Houston, and he was so exciting to watch that I have never forgotten him and often find myself thinking of his running style and the excitement it generated with the fans! Most people see the highlight reels and think of Earl as just a power running back, but he was so much more than that. Earl had multiple weapons that made him the best. He could run over a defender (toughness), he could run away from a defender (speed), he could drag multiple defenders down the field (strength), and he could stiff arm a defender into the ground like no other. Defenders never knew what to expect and it was hilarious to watch them make the wrong choice when going for the tackle. Long live Earl Campbell (The Tyler Rose), the best running back of all time!
The Tyler Rose 🙌
Lucky you for seeing him live; only Bo was comparable
He was my favorite running back.
he was special
Dude is paying the price for his career today. I believe he's said he wouldn't do it again if he had a chance.
yeah it's sad, he could barely even walk by his 50s maybe even earlier
Yep. NFL takes a real toll on the players. We only see the ex stars suffering....
@@walterbrown9651 very true
@tatesinclair6837 matter of fact about 20 yrs ago NFL had running backs see film and then meet Earl Campbell.
He was stooped over barely walk and.every injury from his career. The current running backs did not recognize him at first.
Nowadays u see players go for the sideline to prevent all that accumulated damage.
That was my Hero.
Targeting penalties are intended to protect both players during a tackle
The man is a triple threat. Run you over, run you under or run you through.
It was an amazing time being a kid to watch these superstars.
Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders. Both at the extreme opposite ends of the spectrum from each other.
Watching them play was always a treat. Both were also the only offensive weapons their team had, for the majority of their career.
2 of the biggest What-Ifs were, what is either of those guys had ever played on a top 5 team for a few years.
so true
You definitely know football,sir.Those are my 2 picks as well.Along with power runners, you would have to add Bo Jackson, and Hershel Walker. Then behind Sanders,Walter Peyton and probably Dickerson. Just look at the yardage and you'll see what makes the difference.
I was a huge Oilers fan. It crushed me when Bud Adams up and left. I haven't watched a football game since, though I'm glad Houston got the Texans.
As a Stealers fan I dreaded when they played Houston (now the Titans) because of this man. I have to acknowledge that he was amazing to watch run with the ball....
luckily for the Steelers the Oilers lacked any other weapons
As a huge and longtime Steelers fan from the 70s, I never worried about them playing Campbell because they could always key on him since they didn’t have much else. And they never really had a good quarterback either stabler shot by then.
oilers got jobbed in the '79 Conference Championship Game vs Pittsburgh but replay wasn't used in officiating back then
@@bigwoody4704 Totally agree with you. I enjoy discussing that controversial TD catch which of course became one of the most famous incompletions ever which opened doors to enforce the instant replay review which to this day still creates major controversy. I grimaced watching that controversial endzone catch from my 12" black & white TV...lol.
Thanks for this memory. He was indeed special.
thank you for watching!
I used to watch Walter Payton every Suday being 2 hours from Chicago, but I watched all the Oilers games as I could because in my opinion Earl Campbell was the best running back in the NFL despite gaining 9,407 yards for a career. Earl was a linebacker running over other linebackers with a ball carried like a loaf of bread trying to make it home to his mamma.
Earl payed a price for being so tough . He was incredibly fast as well as a bulldozer .
My favorite years watching NFL was the mid 70’s to early 90’s…so I was fortunate enough to see Earl Campbell many times on TV. He’s one of my all time favorites.
I wasn't lucky enough to watch Earl, but from the highlights I can only imagine!
Every time Earl ran the ball, everyone was waiting for him. Amazing back. Best ever. Great hands too. So powerful but wasn't hardly caught from behind in a footrace until his retirement year.
Imagine if The Oilers would have spent some $$$ on a passing game to double the threat??!! Probably would have a couple Super Bowls!! That would have helped against The Steelers.
@@jefflanham1080 they always had a weakness at quarterback; unfortunately, the Raiders knew what they were doing when they dumped Stabler, as Stabler was their biggest problem along with Casper when they lost to the Raiders in the playoffs
Back in the early 80's, when I was in Middle School, one of my teachers brought in a guest speaker, Blane Gaison, a Safety playing for the Atl Falcons. He said he tried to tackle Earl, head on. The next thing he knew, he was on his back, looking up at the spinning stadium.
poor guy lol
That guy also had to play William Andrews, which was about as challenging as Campbell
Coach Bum Phillips summed it up when he was asked, "Is Earl Campbell in a class by himself?" Bum replied, "I don't know, but it wouldn't take long to call the roll".
spot on lol
The Houston Oilers were my grandmas favorite team. EC was a beast and Bum was fun to watch coach.
I could never wrap my head around the idea of someone that big running that fast.
Jack Tatum was the only player to really inflict pain on Earl Campbell. Their collision at the goal line laid both of them out.
yeah that was a brutal hit (for both of them)
Earl Campbell, the original best-mode.
A friend of mine, Gregg Bingham, played for the Oilers during Campbell’s time there. He played inside linebacker and was the captain of the defense, leading the team in tackles for 11 seasons. He was also one of the most ferocious hitters in the league.
Early in Campbell’s career, Bingham pulled him aside and offered him some advice. He told him start making defenders miss because otherwise he would encounter a never ending succession of defenders as big or bigger than him, who would eventually wear him down.
Campbell never spoke to Bingham again after that run in. He once referenced Bingham derisively as a ‘know it all’ but refused to elaborate.
Campbell would be using a walker by time he was 40. He would be in a wheelchair not long after.
wow that's interesting thanks for sharing!
bingham he was a great player recall as kids watching oilers in a book about my late dad waa barty smiths postion and freshman team coach of course they couldnt play in games sometimes scout team against first team early on would just try to run over defenders dad told him you need to learn to evade not invade 40 years later barty recalled best advice her ever had ironically his knee was torn uo in a cheap shot on the sidelines of the blue grey all star game ywt still waa able to play for the pack nine seasons dad waa starting tailback miss. state 56 art davis backup d.b. punt return 54 55 nicknamed tank the yank but had speed also had to learn early on how to avoid those big hits so advised barty as a freshman earlit was sad to see his interviews suffering with arthritis darly royal coached both men dad and earl met gayle sayers 84 ind.bowl game dad was va.tech qbs recievers coach he was walked with a cane had recent surgery probably but not as disabled as earl
sorry got mixed up switz was earls coach royal rickys another great suffered many severe injuries
That’s a very interesting story; it’s a shame Campbell didn’t listen. Or at least respect what was helpful advice. I would also say, though, that Campbell’s condition wasn’t only from playing, otherwise all physical backs would be like him. Part of this is congenital if you talk to Greg, ask him about Vernon Perry. Vernon Perry interested me because he played for Montreal when I was in Canada, which was a good team with David Green at running back, and then had the luxury of coming over to Houston. It’s a shame that Houston never really had a good quarterback, which is why Campbell was resigned most years to dismal seasons. The last real shot was playing the Raiders in 80, and if you rewatch that game on TH-cam, you can see that Stabler and Casper, who had been traded by the raiders to the Oilers, failed that team miserably. Quarterback was generally always the Oilers biggest weakness.
72 year-old here. I once watched a live game on TV in which Campbell was playing. It may have been the Oilers against the Falcons. A running play was called, (of course,) and Earl Campbell burst through the defensive line. A linebacker ran at full speed to stop Campbell. The linebacker dove towards Campbell with his head down. The linebacker speared Campbell in the stomach with his helmet. Campbell was lifted off of the ground a bit, and his massive legs churned in the air with perfect form. When Campbell came down, he resumed his run and got a long gain. The camera panned back to the line of scrimmage where the linebacker was lying on the ground, unconscious.
absolutely insane!
This was like trying to tackle a tank, love the unis
The unis were awesome!
I saw Campbell hang 198 yards on Kansas City in 1981. Went away a true believer
how could you not right!
Always loved how after scoring a touchdown, he'd put the ball on the ground and jog back to the sideline. Like it was the 1000th touchdown he scored!
no fancy celebrations for Earl
Barry too
Or humbly handed the ref the ball.
Earl and Bum both agreed when you score act like you have done it before.
Prime Campbell might have have been the best to ever do it. That prime didn't last very long, but man, when he was in it, he was Him in every way.
Seriously that 3-4 years stretch was a work of art
I was there the whole Love Ya Blue era !!!
The Astrodome was built in 1964
The Harris County Sports Authority Along with Harris County Commissions declined to finance a new upgraded stadium.
They both said no, Oilman Bud Adams said Kiss My Ass, renamed the team the Titans and move to Nashville in the dead of night.
Those same groups then begged the Football commissioner to created a new Houston franchise team called the Texans.
2 years later we have a new stadium and new team. Coached by Jerry "Johnny Cash" Glanville.
I am 72 years old and saw all of Jim Brown. 3000 more yards in 117 to 118 games. 106 to 74 TD's, 5.2 yard per carry for a career vs 4.3 ypc . Earl and Jim , magnificent men. I'll add in Bo Jackson to make up the top three most powerful runners I ever saw. Imagine if Jackson played 9-10 years . This Travis Henry is coming on !
Jim, Earl, and Bo...what a trio!
Those are the three best bags I’ve ever seen. Not just physical, speed, agility, finesse everything.
Must’ve been terrifying for a safety to have to come up and make a head on solo tackle on Earl after he had gathered up a full head of steam!
I remember seeing him running down the field with players hanging on him, eventually they brought him down. He was always slow to get up so you never knew if he was hurt or not. Then he'd do it again and again ...
When Lawrence Taylor says the man was hard to tackle you know he was tough.
yeah that says it all
If you total the most productive 17 games in a row, between 2 seasons in NFL history, he has over 2300 yards. The goat
Dickerson has to be close.
Earl Campbell was brutal on his own lineman. I saw one game where he ran into one of his own lineman's back. I don't know how bad the injury was but he was in a lot of pain and was shaking. I could never forget that.
yeah that’s crazy!
I am a cowboys fan, I consider Earl Campbell the best running back ever played the game hands down, I hope and pray to meet him in person one day even though I live in Riyadh Saudi Arabia
He’s a legend here in Austin, for the kind of person he is as much as for his football career. In Houston too.
love to hear that
I always loved how, after scoring on a spectacular run, Earl would just walk over to the ref and hand him the football. No celebrating, no fanfare. Very classy.
nowadays you'll have celebrations just for gaining 3 yards lol
A reporter discovered Earl Campbell was unable to complete a 100 yard dash. The reporter asked Coach Bum Phillips if that fact concerned him.
Bum said, if it's ever 4th and 99 I won't give it to Earl.
😂
That was a mile not 100 yards
The comment was on fourth and a mile we're not going to give him the ball
Jack Tatum said
" If you ever have the opportunity to tackle Earl Campbell I would advise you to be extremely careful." He also spoke very highly of Bum Phillips; sounds like all his players just loved him. Stabler, Tatum, and Dave Casper all went to Houston in 79.
More comments from Tatum. When Pete Rozelle told him "I think you hit too hard for football" Jack responded:
"Mr Commissioner, Earl Campbell weighs 235 pounds and each of his thighs is 34 inches of solid muscle. Really, I don't want to be a wise guy, but how would you suggest I tackle him easy?"
( muffled chuckles allegedly fill the room)
Larry Czonka was another hard hitting RB
true he was great
Yes he was!
There were many..
John Riggins
Franco
Bettis
Walter
And lets not forget The Greatest ever....
Mr Jim Brown.
All beasts.
That’s why I don’t buy that Campbell’s current condition is just from playing, since these other guys are relatively OK in comparison. In Campbell’s case some of this is congenital.
Earl just was a knotch higher than the others if he got out on a sweep and in high gear he was gone or someone was hurting. Only way was to get to him quick before he got to speed
Campbell was the reason they created tear away jerseys, he was always on the sideline with a ripped jersey or his huge shoulder pads out.
He used to live not far from me. I'm told he's a super nice guy as well. What a legend.
that's awesome!
He was a year ahead of me at the University of Texas. Treat to watch him play. His senior year he led the nation in rushing and scoring, won the Heisman and led Texas to undefeated season and a bowl game loss away from the national title.
We would see him on campus frequently. Always went to class, tried hard, apparently very nice.
Another excellent short video on one of my heroes. Thank you! I do wish you would give some closure at the end of these videos, like when they retired. 👍🏽🙏🏽
Saw him torch the Redskins Over the Hill Gang at my first NFL game. Ran over a few guys for 166 yards and 2 TDs in the 1979 season opener. Never seen anyone run that hard in my life at that point.
not only the most impressive running back in NFL history, he has to rank as one of the top 5 greatest football players in NFL history. Total and complete domination of the competition on a brutal and physical level.
I never got to watch Earl, but he’s still my top 3 favourite players of all time. His peak was absolutely insane.
Barry Switzer said Earl Campbell was one of two 1st yr college football players that was physically Ready for the NFL. Coach Switzer saw a lot of talented football players, coached for and against some great teams and players...
yeah I read that, seriously impressive!
Was Marcus Dupree the other?
@@murphyotoole9014 Yes
@@davidfrost801 Thank you!
@@murphyotoole9014 Welcome
Mr. Earl was a man among men stay strong
Indeed, Earl Campbell was like a Sherman tank in cleats and a uniform, a rhinoceros for sure, when it came to being an NFL Running back. What a powerful force he was.
Giants fan but sure loved watching Earl Campbell
What’s funny is the end of that run against the Rams where he rhino’d the LB was pretty amazing! His jersey shreds as the defense tries to tackle him.
I played against him in High School. He was a monster even then.
holy smokes, did you ever tackle him?
@@nflunveiled I was on gang tackles, but never one-on-one. He was a one man offensive machine.
@@larrycooper7261 that's crazy! Thanks for sharing
Just looking at the title of the video, I KNEW it was going to be about Earl Campbell. He just ran straight over everybody.
I watched this guy's whole career I mean he was amazing. For a big man when he ran it was like rip City
man... I wish I got to watch this guy live
Earl used to wear tear away jerseys, that ripped apart when defenders tried to tackle him. The NFL banned them shortly after that. He finished his career in New Orleans
Hes why I wore number 34 from 6th grade to my Jr Year in HS. I only switched cause I moved to reciever. Earl was a force of nature
Earl Campbell. The Tyler Rose. My favorite running back. So many others - Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, John. Riggins, Sweetness, Jim Brown, Larry Czonka, Marshawn Lynch, the list goes on and on. And for me, Earl Campbell is at the head of the class.
My favorite quote about Earl:
"There are guys who put the fear of God in you. Earl doesn't do that. He simply arranged meetings with him." Buddy Ryan
Not sure what I loved more ... watching Eric Dickerson break free into the open field and start gliding away, effortlessly, from DBs like an antelope from a wounded lion ... or ... watching Earl Campbell batter and bruise very large men while they made every attempt to slow, or stop, him on his way to another devastating 30 yard gain.
that's a tough choice lol
I remember Earl Campbell well... He made me an Oilers fan.
One of the few opposing players Jack Lambert seemed to have respect for.
Best running back I ever seen
Earl is my favourite!
I played high school ball in the 80s. Had a poster of Campbell on my wall. I was a strong running back and decided to play like Earl. I ran angry. By my junior year I was noticed and recruited by division 1 schools. My body was taking a beating, though and I ended up going div 2. Now, I walk like Earl does - haha! Love the man, though. Would love to meet him and I wish him well. I hurt tacklers - ribs, brain, etc. It was a blast but I'm torn all these years later about how hard the sport is on the bodies of the young men who play it.
oh wow! The sport sure is brutal. I recall Earl saying he doesn't regret his time in the league (despite the toll it has taken on his body). How do you look back at your career?
I hope you are still walking. Earl Campbell isn't.
@@susiedupuy9532 Thanks. I am. I can hike usually, which sounds better. I wish him the best....
@@nflunveiled Some regret. But...let me tell you...when a guy gets between you and the goal line and you put him on his butt it's as much fun as you can have without going to jail. Now, in my late 50s, I do a lot of maintenance work on the my body. I often would get 10/yards per carry in games. If I got the ball 10 times or more we'd win. We had a top-rated tailback in our backfield, too.
@@susiedupuy9532 I walk more like Red Fox....seriously.
I witnessed Earl run against the Dolphins in that game, as a young man I was so impressed by his Heart ❤ when running that I remember tears in my eyes. It was like watching Superman in real life! I cursed the Houston Oilers for their pathetic waste of abusing Earl over and over every snap. They (Bud Adams, Bum Phillips) destroyed Earl's career and body. God Bless the Tyler Rose, thank you Mr. CAMPBELL, One of my Heroes
I was in the Dome that day that Earl ran over Isiah Robertson. When Earl's helmet hit Robertson's pads it sounded like a rifle shot, echoing through the building. The PA announcer (Jim Corolla of KILT radio) said "Mr. Robertson...meet Mr. Campbell." The place went nuts. Great days.
Nice memory! Thanks for sharing
Yeah that’s awesome thanks!
To this day I still love the Tyler rose Earl Cambell.
same! I just ordered a throwback jersey of his
The Great Earl Campbell. For three seasons he was as dominant as any RB ever.
I agree!
I remember one of the Steelers games, Cambell ran straight into the defensive players and the sound of the crack of the pads contacting each other was astonishing. CRACK! You knew there was some major "irresistable force meets immovable object" going on. If I was a defensive player, he'd be the last person I'd want to play against.
totally agree lol
Oh do I remember watching him and being absolutely stunned at how he just ran guys over like a freight train. There were other bruisers like Larry Csonka and John Riggens who constantly punished defenses, bloodying them and wearing them down. Campbell did that as well, but NOBODY that size had the violent burst / explosiveness and speed of Earl Campbell.
His first Professional play from scrimmage was like a 70 yard Run around the right end for a TD!
Insane!
In high school, I played against his predecessor at UT. Roosevelt Leaks. It was like trying to tackle a cow. Kinda relieved I didn't play against Earl.
oh damn...yeah that's a blessing lol
A truly remarkable running back, he was unstoppable one on one.
I seriously feel bad for any defender trying to tackle him
I WATCHED THAT Oilers vs Dolphins game in a truck stop in Gaymon, OK. I remember even then thinking "Holy *bleep*"
The clip where he runs out of his shirt is iconic
truly!
Best I ever seen
Earl was nothing less of a complete MONSTER.