Been a Viking fan since 1971, this organization should ashamed of it self for not retiring the #44 of Chuck Foreman. Yes A.P. is the best RB we've ever had but Chuck was the greatest. Look at his moves and all-around ability, no one today even can do what Chuck did. Chuck Foreman is the MAN!!!
@@the.narwalian1519 Paul Krause number should be retired; like purple people eater front four:: Fran tarkenton; bud grant; mick tingelhoff Ron yary Ed white etc etc chuck Forman knee cut short his great Minnesota viking career aadrian Peterson! ; Robert Smith Cook made me for forget chuck Forman but not other Minnesota viking 1960s/1970s
I agree 44 should of been a retired number along with 22. Hitman wears that 22 really good tho lol. Heard stories of Foreman from my dad when he was a kid and I can say watching film on him he ran so great and his spin was cool too. Wish they won a title during the Grant years. Skol
One of the most underrated backs in NFL history. Maybe the first all around backs ever. Caught 70+ balls out of the backfield...unheard of in those days. Great player!
Just Mr. Foreman at a restaurant; a very gracious man with an infectious smile, doing fund raising for the Children's Miracle Network in Central Iowa. A true legend!
When I was 14 and as a Viking fan I said "Finally we have a running back!". Now that I'm 53, when we got Teddy Bridgewater I am now saying "Finally, we have a quarterback!"
This sure brings back some wonderful memories.Chuck was my favorite rb of all time.A highlight machine! Sad he never got a sb ring but then it is a team game.Thanks for sharing this and thanks Mr.Foreman for the great times!
Ouch !!...I too remember him crying on the sidelines in the Superbowl, Charles Goodrum trying to comfort him. The first few years ( including 76' ) he made 33 K per year. ( they later renegotiated his contract in 77' ) Even by era standards, that was peanuts. But Mr. Foreman was about winning,he could'nt tolerate the Vikings losing another Superbowl so the tears flowed. This was a marvelous, classic Viking: ablity, desire, resolve,durability and character..........God bless Chuck Foreaman !!
Chuck Foreman was pure poetry to watch. He may not have been on par with Simpson, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, etc. as a runner, but he worked hard every down and the Vikings' offensive scheme and Fran Tarkenton wore him out. I miss watching Chuck Foreman run and catch passes.
At 0:07 That was the 1st nationally televised game for the Vikings is 73'. Also the 1st time I saw Foreman play. I was shocked, from Bill Brown and Dave Osborne to a Gayle Sayers. Just could'nt believe they had this guy. He's high and above, the greatets of all Vikings.
SUPER SUPER,comment there JC !! I can still see him too. Never will I forget the first time I saw him. There 1st meeting with the Bears in 73' Your analogy plays on how the greatness of Foreman, like Williams, has stood the test of time. The ulitmate, yet immesurable stat.!!.
I'm old enough to remember chuck foreman. He was big, fast and shifty. He could really catch the ball. Loved that spin move. He spun all the time. In a 3 year span (74-76) he scored 51 touchdowns! As a chicago bear fan he struck fear in our hearts twice a year. People today have forgotten how good he was. If his body had held up a couple of more years he would be a candidate for the hall of fame.
This man is one of the most underrated players of all time. Rookie year he brings them to the Superbowl. Puts up 22 touchdowns in 14 games at point in his career and this is during a time when DEFENCE won championships.
I also grew up in Miami ( still here but much traveled) . I idolized the Vikings of the late 60's and 70's. Knew just about all of their players, but oddly eneough, never heard of Chuck Foreman or that he was a Hurricane. That is until the Vikings drafted him. I could'nt believe we actually had a player as super sleek as he was....... and from Miami to boot. He and Joe Kapp are my all time favorite players. But I also loved all those other old men in purple. What players they where !!
His 1st SB he caught 5 passes (they shoulda lined him up in the slot)successfully blocked on a 4th n 1 play but Oscar Reed failed on his part.2nd SB-With Lambert injured,Vikes refused to exploit it,and continued to run him at Ham.Stiil,right before halftime,after Pitt's safety and a 2-0 lead,he came storming back,catching passes in the slot(despite a drenched football)got the ball to the Pitt 22.Then he stopped Andy Russell on a blitz,but on the play Glen Edwards decked John Gilliam at the 7.
hammer44head good point. He was a devastating blocker. He had a great offensive line, hall of fame quarterback.....and they used him until he was used up.
As a young kid growing up in Minnesota, I did everything I could to copy his running style. Ummm, it did NOT work out so well for me. He was my sports idol. 44 always my favorite number. This man did it all! “The Complete Back.” He should be in the HOF! No question.
I live in Mankato Minnesota, and they have the Vikings training camp here, Chuck Foreman is here and he signs autographs and stuff. He gave me a free autograph and a hug last week! He's a great guy on top of being a bad ass player.
A graceful running back and an outstanding pass catcher. He never got the credit due him because he worked behind a great O-line and had Sir Francis at QB. Where AP was an outstanding running back, Foreman was gifted at running, receiving and blocking.
thanks so much for this video... Chuck Foreman is the sport idol of my childhood (along with Reggie Jackson)... i too, cried with him during the Super Bowl against the Raiders... for whoever said he was a poor man's Marcus Allen, it was actually the other way around.. if anything, he was a poor man's Gayle Sayers... he is criminally underrated in the history of great running backs... the Super Bowl losses and his relatively short run of excellence, derailed what was surely a H.O.F. career ...
I know there where many, and it's just an opinon. But for my money THIS was the greatest Viking of them all. So incredibly smooth, tall and lanky at 6'2 and 207. The spin move speaks for itself, but he had another one wich I call the half spin move( 0:51) In both cases, they where perfectly excecuted in an eye blink. Rarely has anyone made defenders miss SO clean. From 73' to 77' few where better, yet he is rarely if ever, mentioned among the great backs.This man Foreman, was magnificent !!
Purple Moses: I loved that team and I loved this rusher. Every Saints fan of the day picked another team with a plausible chance of success to root for. Mine was the Vikes. Chuck Foreman inspired this young FB/LB/TE/DE and 44 was my number from age 6 to age 18.
Uggh!!! Hendricks, Hall, and Villipiano were doing everything they could to get their hands on him. Forget comparing to his regular season output. He really did do his job to set up scores with his receiving against the Steelers and Raiders, and did great blocking in all three SBs. We would not even be discussing this had he not been so great to help carry his team in all those playoff tournaments. That is the ridiculous irony. Foreman was a great big-game player.
The best all around running back of the 1970's. Should be in hall of fame playing in frozen fields in minnesota and running with out a true full back in front of him. He would double his production today playing in the dome. Got his throwback jersey. My favorite runningback of all time
Yes, agree wiith both of your comments. Living here in Miami I saw that 72 game ( remember the bomb to Gilliam ). Those 72' Vikings where much better than their 7-7 mark that year. They had many injuries and lost a handfull of game by just a couple of points. I was 13 and wasn't really sure what to expect in SB VIII. It's hard to say what they could have done differently in that game. It was such a dominating performance by the Dolphins on both sides of the line.
Chuck Foreman was in the same class as Gayle Sayers and Barry Sanders in terms of pure artistry and creativity... his head fakes and tippy-toed jukes and cuts were breaking ankles way before Allen Iverson was born..LMAO @ the move at :51, if you listen close, you can clearly hear the defender's groin muscle pop...nohomo
That was actually the '76 championship game, but Foreman the Spin Doctor did alot of great things in the "74 title game against the Rams as well. Since Jim Brown retired in 1965, foreman is actually the greatest RB since then. Foreman had 30 pounds on both Walter Payton and Marcus Allen. This video is just a tip of the iceberg as to how incredible the Spin Doctor was. For Fran Tarkenton's first 12 years in the NFL, 8-6 was his best record over a full season. Spin Dr. changed all that completely.
In a 3 or 4 year span in the mid 70's . Foreman was in the top 2 or 3 best players in the entire league. In 75' Tarkenton got most of the publicity because of the Unitas records, but Foreman was THE man for the Vikings.
Also in SB9,with Lambert hurt,Vikes still called plays to the right,into Ham.Wet ball caused 3 fumbles,1 by Chuck,Franco,and Bill Brown.Early in SB11,Chcuk made perfect block at goal line but McCalanahan fumbled on dry day.Later down 19-0,foreman helped make it 19-7 with key catches and tried to make it 19-14 during competitive phase until Willie Hall made INT on a pass intended for Chuck.His 100 total yards WERE DURING COMPETITIVE PHASE.Raider D was trying to clobber all Vikes,ask Sammy White.
This guy had an untouchable spin move coming straight through the hole spinning one way and on contact, spinning the other; running forward and still gaining yards.
Oh yeah. I know the play your talking about. Was like a 30 yard TD run right .( he had another 30 yd td run the year before against them, remember , on 4th and 1 ) In the playoff run he goes right up the middle when Scott and Houston come in for the tackle. He put on one of his one of a kind cat quick moves and they both end up tackling each other. He then finished by tight roping in around and over Fischer....all in ONE play. The man was nothing short of phenomenal!!!
His blocking he received was NEVER anything to brag about and got him and Fran killed on a regularly yet he still was great and my favorite. Play after play downfield blockers are out of position and watching him do all the work.
That's precsiely why he'd get my vote.They constantly fed him the ball, and he continued to produced. Rarely has a team so depended on ONE player as the Vikings did on Foreman.Not Tarkenton, or the aging defense, but on the back of Foreman is how the Vikings got back in the Superbowl.With the exception of Foreman they had the same team wich went from 7-7 in 72' to 12-2 in 73' Many have noticed,unfortunately losing FOUR Superbowls stands out far more than any one player.THAT'S what keeps him out.
Yea alright. I see what your saying. Both players pretty much adapted their moves to suit their velocity. Since Foreman did'nt have the sprinter speed he HAD to do the shakin and bakin. It was just a thrill to see Foreman make people miss the way he did. In recent books /sports literature, it's been said he was one of the top 4 or 5 athletes to ever to play the game. I know, I know, that can be argued forever too ))
I never noticed until now that he never switched hands with he ball. Had he been taught to do that he could've broken a few hundred more tackles. His whirlybird bird style likely made it difficult to do. Still my fav runningback of all time. People knocking his yes forget how important he was as a receiver.
Reallly sorry to hear that, maybe he just bit off more than he could chew and was stressed out that day. I lived in Minnesota ( later after the Vikings glory years) and saw some of the players around town. I also saw Eller near the U of MN and spoke to him about the saftey he got on Gabriel in 69'. The guy was just awesome, he ended up thanking me ! Have also seen Foreman in the Mall of America a couple of times with family or friends. I've never said anything to him though.
Chuck Foreman was one of the best players in NFL history...he and Jim Marshall are so long overdue for the Hall of Fame it's RIDICULOUS....Chuck Foreman was Marshall Faulk 25 years before Marshall Faulk....so many players on those Vikings teams of the 70's get screwed outta the Hall because they didn't win a Super Bowl--utterly ridiculous....and I'm a NY Giant fan
After catching 5 passes in his first SB(they could have gone for 127 yards instead of 27 had he been in the slot) Foreman made a perfect block on 4th&1,deep in Miami territory but Oscar Reed failed.Next year,he put Vikes in perfect position for a 7-2 halftime lead.After Steelers took 2-0 lead,Foreman caught passes of wet football,picked up blitz by Andy Russel that protected Tarkenton to complete a pass to John Gilliam at the 7yard-line before Glen Edwards decked him and Mel Blount got the INT.
I don't think there has been any running back ever to have moves this sweet. Can anyone imagine how many more yards Chuck would have had if he had the breakaway speed of Walter Payton or OJ Simpson? I remember in an interview in the 70's Walter Payton called Chuck Foreman the best running back he's ever seen. My favorite Chuck "moves" are at 0:39 and 0:51. Tacklers are left completely empty handed.
There are two must see games featuring both Simpson and Foreman.The Steelers /Vikings, 10/76' MNF is available in full broadcast .The other is the last game of the 1975 season. Vikings vs. Bills.That one is available from NFL Films ( Game of the Week). In that game Foreman and Simpson would have tied for most TD's ( 23 ) per season. Foreman would have had 5, but he fumbeld at the goal line.Then he was taken out for the 4th because of the snowball hit him in the eye.Historical game !
Yeah, Foreman's four touchdowns led his team to a 35-6 lead and a 35-13 victory over Buffalo. But Foreman was unable to finish the game in the fourth quarter because he could not see after getting hit in the eye with a snowball or iceball. This paved the way for Simpson to win the scoring the title in 1975.
Good as the Vikings where, I still cannot remember a team that relied more on ONE single player than the Vikings did on Foreman. ( possibly the Redskins with Larry Brown?? ) I know there was Tarkento and Gilliam, but HE was the catalyst that propelled them to so many wins.Chuck ALSO was atop the league leaders in receptions every year. Led the NFC ( league?) in 75' This WAS the greatest Viking ever to suit up if you ask me.
As a Cowboys fan, I was only familiar with Chuck Foreman as the star RB of the Vikings, was not really aware he was a unique, all-time great. For years I vaguely remembered him in connection with the Colts Lydell Mitchell as both were star running backs with parallel careers cut short by contract problems. Some combination of Mitchell, OJ Simpson and Foreman went down to the last weekend fighting for a season TD record one year, involving a Saturday snow game for one of them.
Wow...Chuck is another one of those guys underappreciated by TODAY's fans. It's been quite awhile since there was a RB who was as a big DOWNFIELD threat catching the ball as he was running it. Foreman, Sweetness...RBs ain't like that today. Lots of backs have been threats out in the flat, but not downfield.
Never has the NFL seen a more artistic runner than Foreman....before of since Check him out @ 2:15 with the full spin move. But just as impressive on the following highlight. He does his turf rip move on Chhrlie Weaver at almost at full speed and immediately goes into, yet still another move as the clip cuts off.
Yes to all you said!! Few people made defenders miss as clean as Foreman "The turf rip" move !!. So far I've refer to it as the half spin move. You can see it also at 3:20
@GemCan78 That's it right there. I truly loved this team and all the players and how they kept coming back year after year despite the dissapointments. But it was Foreman who got them as far as they got. By the time they returned to the SB's in 73,' the Vikings where way past their prime. In 76' Foreman was there again, but oh those phenomenal Vikings kick blockers can't be overlooked either!!
Yes,Foreman's fumble in SB 9, was the fumbling of a drenched football, as Franco and even Bill Brown both fumbled as well. That did not stop Foreman from catching a couple of what could have been key passes leading up to a score right before halftime-before Gilliam's fumble at the 7. But Foreman should have been blocking at the goal-line against the Pittsburgh,someone had to block those crazy monsters,while Foreman should have been given the ball on those plays against Miami and Oakland.
You guy's knowledge of 70's football is phenomenal !! Both RB's where fantastic players. Where Simpson may not have been the best blocker ,Foreman did not have the blazing speed. To my knowledge there are but TWO players who took the Steel Curtains' ass and handed it to them. Foreman ( 1976, MNF 148 yrds rushing, huge chunks ) and Simpson in 73?? Rememebr when he went around the right side and just blew by the Steeler secondary. It was worse than what Bo Jackson did to Bozworth!
Chuck Signed my kids (high school) football for free a couple years ago and when he learned my boy played the same position he even pulled him aside and gave him a few tips. I guess everyone's entitled to a bad day every now and then.
Foreman played 8 years in the league, 7 with the Vikings and 1 with the Patriots....similar to Joe Kapp. His first 5 where H.O.F caliber. His last three, where significantly less productive. You gotta star in the league for a bit longer than 5 years to get in ( with the exception of Gayle Sayers). The bigger problem with the H.O.F and the Viking players of the 70's, are the 4 SB losses. They have been stigmatized and avoided like a plague. The losses came with a HUGE price tag.
Absolutely true! Yes, we all loved Fran and the Purple People Eaters without question. But Tarkenton was overrated on the team. When the Vikings made they're second run for the Superbowl ,starting in 73' . It WAS Foreman beyond and above everyone else that got them there. It goes without saying they had superb players on the team, Gilliam, Tarkenton. Page, etc..But Foreman was their indispensable weapon. Been watching the NFL for 40 years, NEVER seen anything like him.What a player!
I think back then Chuck Foreman was one heck of a back. He can do it all as a former Viking fan. Run,block,catch he can beat you in so many was. I even see him use a decoy. Retired his number absolutely. And Paul Krause's number to. He still holds the NFL record for the most interception of all time. It would've been nice to see the Vikes to win a super bowl. I still think they had one of the best defense in NFL history. Too bad they fizzle out in the super bowl.
Marshall was an AJ Duhe type. He was also great at blocking passes and coming in from behind and swipping the ball from the QB. How, or where would I be able to read yuor blog?
@jasunderpar One of the absolute, TOP players ever to suit up. Few teams so depended on a single player as the Vikings did on Foreman.Although he did bang up a knee, it was never a total knee blow-up. Believe it or not, Foremans' demise had a lot to do with weight gain. In 77' he was still great, in 78' average in 79, he was but a shadow.
@SuperTurk1234 younguns today dont know....i always felt that Chuck and Payton had the most beautiful running styles ever....just awsome to watch and these old films dont do justice....
I saw both of those games. The snow ball incident also prevented Foreman from winning the triple crown in the NFC.( Rushing, receiving and scoring) He lost the rushing title to Jim Otis of the Cardinals by jus a couple of yards.
@AC2888 Great comment. Truly revolutionized the position. Maybe he was partially responsible for diminishing/eliminating, a need for two RB's in the backfield.
Thats my cousin my mom still got his high school grad pic from the news paper in Fred. Md and some pics from high school n college on field and hes on the 2K8 legends gm The U!!!!!
cant wait til next year when the Vikings will be playing home games outside again at TCF Bank Stadium ... the Vikings home field advantage used to be more extreme than the Packers is now ...they tore their stadium down to build the Mall Of America and the Vikings been snakebit at home in big games, ever since
Actually, Foremans' weight was listed at 207 starting in 73'. I use to get the Viking report, and in 1978 he came in weighing 230. It was in that 78' season where his skills where just not the same. Regarding the weight gain .He was quoted after the season in an article, "I gambled and I lost". Also, in his book , Vikes , Mikes and a Little Extra ( not sure about the last part) Rashad inexplicably wrote that Foreman was at times a " bit inconsistent".
Chuck Forman had knee surgery he used quarterback brace wasn't running back;; remember Ricky Young; Ed white trade : Ed white had great career in San Diego; Ricky Young could only catch a ⚽️ 🏈
To make the comparison as to how he played in the Superbowls, you have to factor in his regular season play. I saw all of his post season games and many others too. More so than any other player, he did get them to the SPs. Once there,he and everyone else just didn't perform up to their usual standards. He may not have made a crucial mistake that cost the Vikings the game per say. But based on him making a few good blocks doesn't denote him as having a standout performance in SP play.
After his first game against Chicago in 73'. The Bears themselves said they had'nt seen anything like it since the days of Gale Sayers!! There may have been others with better stats, but Foreman looked like a snake weaving through a maze. His moves and creativity where just unbelievable by any standards. The other backs that followed. They had their good points no doubt. But no way, just no way. Not one of them has has conjured images of the great sleek footed Foreman.
I know exactly the plays your talking about. The 4th down against the Dolphins was crtical. Everyone did a superb job blocking ( Foreman too as always). There was definitely hole there for Reed to get the first down.. Just super blocking. Then Reed fumbles like Mclanahan in SP XI. ( and Foreman the next year) The Giliam play was also critical. Mind you he did have a fractured wrist in that game.Maybe he could have held on had he been healthy. He did get blasted though.
James Harris was the Buffalo QB from 1969-71. In 73, Bills lost two games to lowly San Diego and Saints,despite having a better all around team than either of the two. Did you see that one game against Philly in '73? The one year Bills made playoffs was the one year OJ was injured in both of the first two games of the season. I will tell all about the Bills talent on the rest of the team soon. For now,had Foreman not led his team to all those SBs,you would not be even be talking about choking.
Much too short. He was absolutely amazing from '73 - '77. That's not long enough to get HOF consideration. If he had played at that level for just a few more years, he'd have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. He was THAT good for those of you too young to remember him.
@white1sox1 Disagree here. Foremans' career can't always be measured in numbers. He had a low yrds. per rush but lets also rememeber that he was also the go to guy during short yardage / goal line plunge situations. Although he was officially the halfback, he was bigger than the other rb's who played next to him so he was essentially the fulback too. Back then, his stats, were in fact up ther with the best................even today the Superbowl losses carry a HUGE stigma.
I also like what he did an that'76 game against the Redskins with those two touchdowns he scored. He made the great Ken Houston look bad on both of them. On one score, he made the great Ken Houston, the great Pat Fischer, and the great Jake Scott all look really bad.
Thanks 64az,It was a shock to me to cuz I met Carl Eller the year be4 that and Carl was a really nice guy but someone was handling the autographing for Carl and he was just doing the signings,thought with Foreman it would be the same.Nope! Foreman had himself working for himself to sign autographs.After he signed my football card i asked him "what do you think of the Vikings this season",He just said "alright man!" and wouldn't even look me in the eye when he said it,he was looking the other way
Been a Viking fan since 1971, this organization should ashamed of it self for not retiring the #44 of Chuck Foreman. Yes A.P. is the best RB we've ever had but Chuck was the greatest. Look at his moves and all-around ability, no one today even can do what Chuck did. Chuck Foreman is the MAN!!!
They also should’ve retired 22 Paul Krause’s number
❤️ chuck Forman spin.moves
@@the.narwalian1519 Paul Krause number should be retired; like purple people eater front four:: Fran tarkenton; bud grant; mick tingelhoff Ron yary Ed white etc etc chuck Forman knee cut short his great Minnesota viking career aadrian Peterson! ; Robert Smith Cook made me for forget chuck Forman but not other Minnesota viking 1960s/1970s
I agree 44 should of been a retired number along with 22. Hitman wears that 22 really good tho lol. Heard stories of Foreman from my dad when he was a kid and I can say watching film on him he ran so great and his spin was cool too. Wish they won a title during the Grant years. Skol
No way wooooow not cool 😒
One of the most underrated backs in NFL history. Maybe the first all around backs ever. Caught 70+ balls out of the backfield...unheard of in those days. Great player!
All while rushing for over 1000 yards.
My hero love chuck foreman my hero with all pro offensive line ron yary, ed white mick tingelhoff invented the spin move
Just Mr. Foreman at a restaurant; a very gracious man with an infectious smile, doing fund raising for the Children's Miracle Network in Central Iowa. A true legend!
The hall of fame need to call and welcome him with open arms.
I live in Toledo Ohio I'm 59 years old and a Vikings fans since 1970 Chuck Foreman was extremely talented and a joy to watch.
When I was 14 and as a Viking fan I said "Finally we have a running back!". Now that I'm 53, when we got Teddy Bridgewater I am now saying "Finally, we have a quarterback!"
Chuck Foreman was a very underrated RB. Not many running backs had the combination of running, catching and blocking.
This sure brings back some wonderful memories.Chuck was my favorite rb of all time.A highlight machine! Sad he never got a sb ring but then it is a team game.Thanks for sharing this and thanks Mr.Foreman for the great times!
Ouch !!...I too remember him crying on the sidelines in the Superbowl, Charles Goodrum trying to comfort him.
The first few years ( including 76' ) he made 33 K per year. ( they later renegotiated his contract in 77' ) Even by era standards, that was peanuts. But Mr. Foreman was about winning,he could'nt tolerate the Vikings losing another Superbowl so the tears flowed. This was a marvelous, classic Viking: ablity, desire, resolve,durability and character..........God bless Chuck Foreaman !!
beast,great running back he has the speed and patience
Chuck Foreman was pure poetry to watch. He may not have been on par with Simpson, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, etc. as a runner, but he worked hard every down and the Vikings' offensive scheme and Fran Tarkenton wore him out. I miss watching Chuck Foreman run and catch passes.
At 0:07 That was the 1st nationally televised game for the Vikings is 73'. Also the 1st time I saw Foreman play. I was shocked, from Bill Brown and Dave Osborne to a Gayle Sayers. Just could'nt believe they had this guy. He's high and above, the greatets of all Vikings.
SUPER SUPER,comment there JC !! I can still see him too. Never will I forget the first time I saw him. There 1st meeting with the Bears in 73'
Your analogy plays on how the greatness of Foreman, like Williams, has stood the test of time.
The ulitmate, yet immesurable stat.!!.
I'm old enough to remember chuck foreman. He was big, fast and shifty. He could really catch the ball. Loved that spin move. He spun all the time. In a 3 year span (74-76) he scored 51 touchdowns! As a chicago bear fan he struck fear in our hearts twice a year.
People today have forgotten how good he was. If his body had held up a couple of more years he would be a candidate for the hall of fame.
This man is one of the most underrated players of all time. Rookie year he brings them to the Superbowl. Puts up 22 touchdowns in 14 games at point in his career and this is during a time when DEFENCE won championships.
I also grew up in Miami ( still here but much traveled) . I idolized the Vikings of the late 60's and 70's. Knew just about all of their players, but oddly eneough, never heard of Chuck Foreman or that he was a Hurricane. That is until the Vikings drafted him.
I could'nt believe we actually had a player as super sleek as he was....... and from Miami to boot. He and Joe Kapp are my all time favorite players. But I also loved all those other old men in purple.
What players they where !!
Best running back the vikings have ever had. Could run and catch.
Ever hear of Adrian Peterson?
@@donnacahill7166 chuck forman might have had better hands ; Robert Smith was great too
Remember Ricky younghis replacement ; ron yary; ed white and mitch tingeloff hall of fame offensive line
@@donnacahill7166 Robert smith
@@donnacahill7166 Adrian Patterson;or Robert Smith doesn't make forget chuck Forman
His 1st SB he caught 5 passes (they shoulda lined him up in the slot)successfully blocked on a 4th n 1 play but Oscar Reed failed on his part.2nd SB-With Lambert injured,Vikes refused to exploit it,and continued to run him at Ham.Stiil,right before halftime,after Pitt's safety and a 2-0 lead,he came storming back,catching passes in the slot(despite a drenched football)got the ball to the Pitt 22.Then he stopped Andy Russell on a blitz,but on the play Glen Edwards decked John Gilliam at the 7.
Perhaps the most UNDERRATED Running Back in HISTORY ...........................This man did things that aren't even attempted today.
My favorite RB as a kid
Ed white and Ron yary and mitch tingeloff offensive line
Mine too!
Minnesota viking trade Ed white for Ricky Young; Ed white had great offensive line career at San Diego while Ricky Young only catches a 🏈
Chuck is still my favorite rb of all time.Geez he had so many moves or would just plow you over.Great blocker also.
hammer44head good point. He was a devastating blocker.
He had a great offensive line, hall of fame quarterback.....and they used him until he was used up.
The guy was magic.
As a young kid growing up in Minnesota, I did everything I could to copy his running style. Ummm, it did NOT work out so well for me. He was my sports idol. 44 always my favorite number. This man did it all! “The Complete Back.” He should be in the HOF! No question.
I live in Mankato Minnesota, and they have the Vikings training camp here, Chuck Foreman is here and he signs autographs and stuff. He gave me a free autograph and a hug last week! He's a great guy on top of being a bad ass player.
A graceful running back and an outstanding pass catcher. He never got the credit due him because he worked behind a great O-line and had Sir Francis at QB. Where AP was an outstanding running back, Foreman was gifted at running, receiving and blocking.
I knew him very, very back then and you wouldn't believe how banged up he was after a game.
thanks so much for this video... Chuck Foreman is the sport idol of my childhood (along with Reggie Jackson)... i too, cried with him during the Super Bowl against the Raiders... for whoever said he was a poor man's Marcus Allen, it was actually the other way around.. if anything, he was a poor man's Gayle Sayers... he is criminally underrated in the history of great running backs... the Super Bowl losses and his relatively short run of excellence, derailed what was surely a H.O.F. career ...
I know there where many, and it's just an opinon. But for my money THIS was the greatest Viking of them all.
So incredibly smooth, tall and lanky at 6'2 and 207. The spin move speaks for itself, but he had another one wich I call the half spin move( 0:51) In both cases, they where perfectly excecuted in an eye blink. Rarely has anyone made defenders miss SO clean. From 73' to 77' few where better, yet he is rarely if ever, mentioned among the great backs.This man Foreman, was magnificent !!
Purple Moses: I loved that team and I loved this rusher. Every Saints fan of the day picked another team with a plausible chance of success to root for. Mine was the Vikes. Chuck Foreman inspired this young FB/LB/TE/DE and 44 was my number from age 6 to age 18.
Uggh!!! Hendricks, Hall, and Villipiano were doing everything they could to get their hands on him. Forget comparing to his regular season output. He really did do his job to set up scores with his receiving against the Steelers and Raiders, and did great blocking in all three SBs. We would not even be discussing this had he not been so great to help carry his team in all those playoff tournaments. That is the ridiculous irony. Foreman was a great big-game player.
I had to look this guy up. Along with Terry Metcalf of the Cardinals and O.J Simpson these were my favorite childhood running backs.
The best all around running back of the 1970's. Should be in hall of fame playing in frozen fields in minnesota and running with out a true full back in front of him. He would double his production today playing in the dome. Got his throwback jersey. My favorite runningback of all time
Yes, agree wiith both of your comments. Living here in Miami I saw that 72 game ( remember the bomb to Gilliam ).
Those 72' Vikings where much better than their 7-7 mark that year. They had many injuries and lost a handfull of game by just a couple of points.
I was 13 and wasn't really sure what to expect in SB VIII. It's hard to say what they could have done differently in that game. It was such a dominating performance by the Dolphins on both sides of the line.
"The Spin Doctor"
Thank you Chuck
Chuck Foreman was in the same class as Gayle Sayers and Barry Sanders in terms of pure artistry and creativity... his head fakes and tippy-toed jukes and cuts were breaking ankles way before Allen Iverson was born..LMAO @ the move at :51, if you listen close, you can clearly hear the defender's groin muscle pop...nohomo
That was actually the '76 championship game, but Foreman the Spin Doctor did alot of great things in the "74 title game against the Rams as well. Since Jim Brown retired in 1965, foreman is actually the greatest RB since then. Foreman had 30 pounds on both Walter Payton and Marcus Allen. This video is just a tip of the iceberg as to how incredible the Spin Doctor was. For Fran Tarkenton's first 12 years in the NFL, 8-6 was his best record over a full season. Spin Dr. changed all that completely.
In a 3 or 4 year span in the mid 70's . Foreman was in the top 2 or 3 best players in the entire league. In 75' Tarkenton got most of the publicity because of the Unitas records, but Foreman was THE man for the Vikings.
foreman should definitely be in HOF-starter in 3 super bowls-not many hall of famers can say that
Also in SB9,with Lambert hurt,Vikes still called plays to the right,into Ham.Wet ball caused 3 fumbles,1 by Chuck,Franco,and Bill Brown.Early in SB11,Chcuk made perfect block at goal line but McCalanahan fumbled on dry day.Later down 19-0,foreman helped make it 19-7 with key catches and tried to make it 19-14 during competitive phase until Willie Hall made INT on a pass intended for Chuck.His 100 total yards WERE DURING COMPETITIVE PHASE.Raider D was trying to clobber all Vikes,ask Sammy White.
This guy had an untouchable spin move coming straight through the hole spinning one way and on contact, spinning the other; running forward and still gaining yards.
Not only was he a great player, but the main reason he should be in the HOF is because he revolutionized the RB position
Oh yeah. I know the play your talking about. Was like a 30 yard TD run right .( he had another 30 yd td run the year before against them, remember , on 4th and 1 )
In the playoff run he goes right up the middle when Scott and Houston come in for the tackle. He put on one of his one of a kind cat quick moves and they both end up tackling each other. He then finished by tight roping in around and over Fischer....all in ONE play.
The man was nothing short of phenomenal!!!
Good old Chuck, I knew him from UM days. I played Rugby.
Wow,, university of Miami days: chuck Forman
His blocking he received was NEVER anything to brag about and got him and Fran killed on a regularly yet he still was great and my favorite. Play after play downfield blockers are out of position and watching him do all the work.
That's precsiely why he'd get my vote.They constantly fed him the ball, and he continued to produced. Rarely has a team so depended on ONE player as the Vikings did on Foreman.Not Tarkenton, or the aging defense, but on the back of Foreman is how the Vikings got back in the Superbowl.With the exception of Foreman they had the same team wich went from 7-7 in 72' to 12-2 in 73'
Many have noticed,unfortunately losing FOUR Superbowls stands out far more than any one player.THAT'S what keeps him out.
Yea alright. I see what your saying. Both players pretty much adapted their moves to suit their velocity. Since Foreman did'nt have the sprinter speed he HAD to do the shakin and bakin. It was just a thrill to see Foreman make people miss the way he did. In recent books /sports literature, it's been said he was one of the top 4 or 5 athletes to ever to play the game. I know, I know, that can be argued forever too ))
unbelievable moves
I never noticed until now that he never switched hands with he ball. Had he been taught to do that he could've broken a few hundred more tackles. His whirlybird bird style likely made it difficult to do. Still my fav runningback of all time. People knocking his yes forget how important he was as a receiver.
Some great comments here about a great, underrated back.
Such a pleasure to watch him work. The only VIkings jersey I ever owned was #44.
Reallly sorry to hear that, maybe he just bit off more than he could chew and was stressed out that day. I lived in Minnesota ( later after the Vikings glory years) and saw some of the players around town. I also saw Eller near the U of MN and spoke to him about the saftey he got on Gabriel in 69'. The guy was just awesome, he ended up thanking me !
Have also seen Foreman in the Mall of America a couple of times with family or friends. I've never said anything to him though.
It's the Superbowl thing again...it's huge no doubt.
Chuck Foreman was one of the best players in NFL history...he and Jim Marshall are so long overdue for the Hall of Fame it's RIDICULOUS....Chuck Foreman was Marshall Faulk 25 years before Marshall Faulk....so many players on those Vikings teams of the 70's get screwed outta the Hall because they didn't win a Super Bowl--utterly ridiculous....and I'm a NY Giant fan
After catching 5 passes in his first SB(they could have gone for 127 yards instead of 27 had he been in the slot) Foreman made a perfect block on 4th&1,deep in Miami territory but Oscar Reed failed.Next year,he put Vikes in perfect position for a 7-2 halftime lead.After Steelers took 2-0 lead,Foreman caught passes of wet football,picked up blitz by Andy Russel that protected Tarkenton to complete a pass to John Gilliam at the 7yard-line before Glen Edwards decked him and Mel Blount got the INT.
On MNF Frank Gifford would always call Chuck "George Foreman" & Cosell would make a snarky comment
I don't think there has been any running back ever to have moves this sweet. Can anyone imagine how many more yards Chuck would have had if he had the breakaway speed of Walter Payton or OJ Simpson? I remember in an interview in the 70's Walter Payton called Chuck Foreman the best running back he's ever seen. My favorite Chuck "moves" are at 0:39 and 0:51. Tacklers are left completely empty handed.
There are two must see games featuring both Simpson and Foreman.The Steelers /Vikings, 10/76' MNF is available in full broadcast .The other is the last game of the 1975 season. Vikings vs. Bills.That one is available from NFL Films ( Game of the Week). In that game Foreman and Simpson would have tied for most TD's ( 23 ) per season. Foreman would have had 5, but he fumbeld at the goal line.Then he was taken out for the 4th because of the snowball hit him in the eye.Historical game !
Yeah, Foreman's four touchdowns led his team to a 35-6 lead and a 35-13 victory over Buffalo. But Foreman was unable to finish the game in the fourth quarter because he could not see after getting hit in the eye with a snowball or iceball. This paved the way for Simpson to win the scoring the title in 1975.
Good as the Vikings where, I still cannot remember a team that relied more on ONE single player than the Vikings did on Foreman. ( possibly the Redskins with Larry Brown?? )
I know there was Tarkento and Gilliam, but HE was the catalyst that propelled them to so many wins.Chuck ALSO was atop the league leaders in receptions every year.
Led the NFC ( league?) in 75'
This WAS the greatest Viking ever to suit up if you ask me.
As a Cowboys fan, I was only familiar with Chuck Foreman as the star RB of the Vikings, was not really aware he was a unique, all-time great. For years I vaguely remembered him in connection with the Colts Lydell Mitchell as both were star running backs with parallel careers cut short by contract problems. Some combination of Mitchell, OJ Simpson and Foreman went down to the last weekend fighting for a season TD record one year, involving a Saturday snow game for one of them.
Wow...Chuck is another one of those guys underappreciated by TODAY's fans. It's been quite awhile since there was a RB who was as a big DOWNFIELD threat catching the ball as he was running it. Foreman, Sweetness...RBs ain't like that today. Lots of backs have been threats out in the flat, but not downfield.
The creator of the spin move.....
I remember that move of his chuck Forman
Chuck Forman & earl Monroe
Never has the NFL seen a more artistic runner than Foreman....before of since Check him out @ 2:15 with the full spin move. But just as impressive on the following highlight. He does his turf rip move on Chhrlie Weaver at almost at full speed and immediately goes into, yet still another move as the clip cuts off.
Yes to all you said!! Few people made defenders miss as clean as Foreman "The turf rip" move !!. So far I've refer to it as the half spin move. You can see it also at 3:20
@GemCan78 That's it right there. I truly loved this team and all the players and how they kept coming back year after year despite the dissapointments.
But it was Foreman who got them as far as they got. By the time they returned to the SB's in 73,' the Vikings where way past their prime. In 76' Foreman was there again, but oh those phenomenal Vikings kick blockers can't be overlooked either!!
Yes,Foreman's fumble in SB 9, was the fumbling of a drenched football, as Franco and even Bill Brown both fumbled as well. That did not stop Foreman from catching a couple of what could have been key passes leading up to a score right before halftime-before Gilliam's fumble at the 7. But Foreman should have been blocking at the goal-line against the Pittsburgh,someone had to block those crazy monsters,while Foreman should have been given the ball on those plays against Miami and Oakland.
C'mon. You can't be serious. Foreman's style is way and above more unique than anyones. Gale Sayers the closest one maybe.
You guy's knowledge of 70's football is phenomenal !!
Both RB's where fantastic players. Where Simpson may not have been the best blocker ,Foreman did not have the blazing speed.
To my knowledge there are but TWO players who took the Steel Curtains' ass and handed it to them. Foreman ( 1976, MNF 148 yrds rushing, huge chunks ) and Simpson in 73?? Rememebr when he went around the right side and just blew by the Steeler secondary. It was worse than what Bo Jackson did to Bozworth!
Chuck Signed my kids (high school) football for free a couple years ago and when he learned my boy played the same position he even pulled him aside and gave him a few tips. I guess everyone's entitled to a bad day every now and then.
Foreman played 8 years in the league, 7 with the Vikings and 1 with the Patriots....similar to Joe Kapp.
His first 5 where H.O.F caliber. His last three, where significantly less productive.
You gotta star in the league for a bit longer than 5 years to get in ( with the exception of Gayle Sayers).
The bigger problem with the H.O.F and the Viking players of the 70's, are the 4 SB losses.
They have been stigmatized and avoided like a plague. The losses came with a HUGE price tag.
Absolutely true! Yes, we all loved Fran and the Purple People Eaters without question. But Tarkenton was overrated on the team.
When the Vikings made they're second run for the Superbowl ,starting in 73' .
It WAS Foreman beyond and above everyone else that got them there.
It goes without saying they had superb players on the team, Gilliam, Tarkenton. Page, etc..But Foreman was their indispensable weapon.
Been watching the NFL for 40 years, NEVER seen anything like him.What a player!
in all seriousness, foreman was seriously great.
I think back then Chuck Foreman was one heck of a back. He can do it all as a former Viking fan. Run,block,catch he can beat you in so many was. I even see him use a decoy. Retired his number absolutely. And Paul Krause's number to. He still holds the NFL record for the most interception of all time. It would've been nice to see the Vikes to win a super bowl. I still think they had one of the best defense in NFL history. Too bad they fizzle out in the super bowl.
Marshall was an AJ Duhe type. He was also great at blocking passes and coming in from behind and swipping the ball from the QB.
How, or where would I be able to read yuor blog?
@jasunderpar
One of the absolute, TOP players ever to suit up. Few teams so depended on a single player as the Vikings did on Foreman.Although he did bang up a knee, it was never a total knee blow-up. Believe it or not, Foremans' demise had a lot to do with weight gain.
In 77' he was still great, in 78' average in 79, he was but a shadow.
@SuperTurk1234 younguns today dont know....i always felt that Chuck and Payton had the most beautiful running styles ever....just awsome to watch and these old films dont do justice....
Adrian has butter fingers and dosen't even deserve to spit in Foreman's direction. Go Chuck!!!
I saw both of those games. The snow ball incident also prevented Foreman from winning the triple crown in the NFC.( Rushing, receiving and scoring)
He lost the rushing title to Jim Otis of the Cardinals by jus a couple of yards.
on 0;52 son did a ill move on the lions he was underrated yo
@AC2888 Great comment. Truly revolutionized the position. Maybe he was partially responsible for diminishing/eliminating, a need for two RB's in the backfield.
Thats my cousin my mom still got his high school grad pic from the news paper in Fred. Md and some pics from high school n college on field and hes on the 2K8 legends gm The U!!!!!
cant wait til next year when the Vikings will be playing home games outside again at TCF Bank Stadium ... the Vikings home field advantage used to be more extreme than the Packers is now ...they tore their stadium down to build the Mall Of America and the Vikings been snakebit at home in big games, ever since
I met him today he was a sub at my school
Bloomington, MN
Actually, Foremans' weight was listed at 207 starting in 73'.
I use to get the Viking report, and in 1978 he came in weighing 230.
It was in that 78' season where his skills where just not the same. Regarding the weight gain .He was quoted after the season in an article, "I gambled and I lost".
Also, in his book , Vikes , Mikes and a Little Extra ( not sure about the last part) Rashad inexplicably wrote that Foreman was at times a " bit inconsistent".
Chuck Forman had knee surgery he used quarterback brace wasn't running back;; remember Ricky Young; Ed white trade : Ed white had great career in San Diego; Ricky Young could only catch a ⚽️ 🏈
To make the comparison as to how he played in the Superbowls, you have to factor in his regular season play. I saw all of his post season games and many others too. More so than any other player, he did get them to the SPs. Once there,he and everyone else just didn't perform up to their usual standards.
He may not have made a crucial mistake that cost the Vikings the game per say. But based on him making a few good blocks doesn't denote him as having a standout performance in SP play.
After his first game against Chicago in 73'. The Bears themselves said they had'nt seen anything like it since the days of Gale Sayers!!
There may have been others with better stats, but Foreman looked like a snake weaving through a maze. His moves and creativity where just unbelievable by any standards.
The other backs that followed. They had their good points no doubt.
But no way, just no way. Not one of them has has conjured images of the great sleek footed Foreman.
I know exactly the plays your talking about. The 4th down against the Dolphins was crtical.
Everyone did a superb job blocking ( Foreman too as always). There was definitely hole there for Reed to get the first down.. Just super blocking. Then Reed fumbles like Mclanahan in SP XI. ( and Foreman the next year)
The Giliam play was also critical. Mind you he did have a fractured wrist in that game.Maybe he could have held on had he been healthy. He did get blasted though.
Loved me some Chuck Foreman and Terry Metcalf.
Go Cowboys
my alltime favorite viking played great in the slop his jukes were amazing to watch
Chuck brought the “ spin move “ to town
Chuck Forman & earl Monroe
James Harris was the Buffalo QB from 1969-71. In 73, Bills lost two games to lowly San Diego and Saints,despite having a better all around team than either of the two. Did you see that one game against Philly in '73? The one year Bills made playoffs was the one year OJ was injured in both of the first two games of the season. I will tell all about the Bills talent on the rest of the team soon. For now,had Foreman not led his team to all those SBs,you would not be even be talking about choking.
Should be in the HOF was my hero growing up as a kid.
This guy needed two more good years for HOF status. Just good years. That's how great, and versatile, Chuck Foreman was,
Much too short. He was absolutely amazing from '73 - '77. That's not long enough to get HOF consideration. If he had played at that level for just a few more years, he'd have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. He was THAT good for those of you too young to remember him.
Legs and arms flying in every direction. Big, strong. You'd hate to be a safety with this guy coming at you in the open field.
At 0:50........Just a thing of beauty !!
@white1sox1
Disagree here. Foremans' career can't always be measured in numbers. He had a low yrds. per rush but lets also rememeber that he was also the go to guy during short yardage / goal line plunge situations. Although he was officially the halfback, he was bigger than the other rb's who played next to him so he was essentially the fulback too.
Back then, his stats, were in fact up ther with the best................even today the Superbowl losses carry a HUGE stigma.
I also like what he did an that'76 game against the Redskins with those two touchdowns he scored. He made the great Ken Houston look bad on both of them. On one score, he made the great Ken Houston, the great Pat Fischer, and the great Jake Scott all look really bad.
Thanks 64az,It was a shock to me to cuz I met Carl Eller the year be4 that and Carl was a really nice guy but someone was handling the autographing for Carl and he was just doing the signings,thought with Foreman it would be the same.Nope! Foreman had himself working for himself to sign autographs.After he signed my football card i asked him "what do you think of the Vikings this season",He just said "alright man!" and wouldn't even look me in the eye when he said it,he was looking the other way