Najee Harris, Derrick Henry add to state’s NFL milestones

Najee Harris, Derrick Henry add to state’s NFL milestones

Two players from Alabama high schools and colleges reached 1,000 rushing yards during the 2023 NFL season.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris and Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry already were among the 16 players with Alabama football roots who had recorded 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Their latest efforts brought to 46 the number of 1,000-yard rushing seasons for those players.

With his fifth 1,000-yard showing, Henry equaled another former Crimson Tide standout, Shaun Alexander, for the most in the NFL by a player from an Alabama high school or college. Henry’s count includes the most recent of the eight 2,000-yard rushing seasons in NFL history.

Harris became the 18th player in NFL history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first three seasons. The fourth also is on the state list – William Andrews. After recording 1,000 rushing yards in 1979, 1980 and 1981 for the Atlanta Falcons, Andrews’ chance at a fourth consecutive milestone season was only nine games long because of a player strike in 1982.

Henry and Alexander have been NFL rushing leaders – Alexander in 2005 and Henry in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, Josh Jacobs gave the state another NFL rushing leader.

The NFL 1,000-yard rushers with Alabama football roots include (with yearly totals presented as rushing attempts-rushing yards-rushing touchdowns):

William Andrews, Auburn

Atlanta Falcons

1979: 239-1,023-3

1980: 265-1,308-4

1981: 289-1,301-10

1983: 331-1,567-7

—-

Joe Cribbs, Sulligent High School, Auburn

Buffalo Bills

1980: 306-1,185-11

1981: 257-1,097-3

1983: 263-1,131-3

—-

James Brooks, Auburn

Cincinnati Bengals

1986: 205-1,087-5

1989: 221-1,239-7

1990: 195-1,004-5

—-

Bobby Humphrey, Glenn High School, Alabama

Denver Broncos

1989: 294-1,151-7

1990: 288-1,202-7

—-

Antowain Smith, Stanhope Elmore High School

Buffalo Bills

1998: 300-1,124-8

New England Patriots

2001: 287-1,157-12

—-

Stephen Davis, Auburn

Washington Redskins

1999: 290-1,405-17

2000: 332-1,318-11

2001: 356-1,432-5

Carolina Panthers

2003: 318-1,444-8

—-

Shaun Alexander, Alabama

Seattle Seahawks

2001: 309-1,318-14

2002: 295-1,175-16

2003: 326-1,435-14

2004: 353-1,696-16

2005: 370-1,880-27

—-

Rudi Johnson, Auburn

Cincinnati Bengals

2004: 361-1,454-12

2005: 337-1,458-12

2006: 341-1,309-12

—-

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Etowah High School, Auburn

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2005: 290-1,178-6

—-

Ronnie Brown, Auburn

Miami Dolphins

2006: 241-1,008-5

—-

Eddie Lacy, Alabama

Green Bay Packers

2013: 284-1,178-11

2014: 246-1,139-9

—-

Mark Ingram, Alabama

New Orleans Saints

2016: 205-1,043-6

2017: 230-1,124-12

Baltimore Ravens

2019: 202-1,018-10

—-

Jordan Howard, Gardendale High School, UAB

Chicago Bears

2016: 252-1,313-6

2017: 276-1,122-7

—-

Derrick Henry, Alabama

Tennessee Titans

2018: 215-1,059-12

2019: 303-1,540-16

2020: 378-2,027-17

2022: 349-1,538-13

2023: 280-1,167-12

—-

Josh Jacobs, Alabama

Oakland Raiders

2019: 242-1,150-7

2020: 273-1,065-12

2022: 340-1,653-12

—-

Najee Harris, Alabama

Pittsburgh Steelers

2021: 307-1,200-7

2022: 272-1,034-7

2023: 255-1,035-8

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.