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
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Joe Cribbs, Sulligent High School, Auburn
Buffalo Bills
1980: 306-1,185-11
1981: 257-1,097-3
1983: 263-1,131-3
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James Brooks, Auburn
Cincinnati Bengals
1986: 205-1,087-5
1989: 221-1,239-7
1990: 195-1,004-5
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Bobby Humphrey, Glenn High School, Alabama
Denver Broncos
1989: 294-1,151-7
1990: 288-1,202-7
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Antowain Smith, Stanhope Elmore High School
Buffalo Bills
1998: 300-1,124-8
New England Patriots
2001: 287-1,157-12
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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
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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
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Rudi Johnson, Auburn
Cincinnati Bengals
2004: 361-1,454-12
2005: 337-1,458-12
2006: 341-1,309-12
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Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Etowah High School, Auburn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2005: 290-1,178-6
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Ronnie Brown, Auburn
Miami Dolphins
2006: 241-1,008-5
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Eddie Lacy, Alabama
Green Bay Packers
2013: 284-1,178-11
2014: 246-1,139-9
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Mark Ingram, Alabama
New Orleans Saints
2016: 205-1,043-6
2017: 230-1,124-12
Baltimore Ravens
2019: 202-1,018-10
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Jordan Howard, Gardendale High School, UAB
Chicago Bears
2016: 252-1,313-6
2017: 276-1,122-7
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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
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Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Oakland Raiders
2019: 242-1,150-7
2020: 273-1,065-12
2022: 340-1,653-12
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Najee Harris, Alabama
Pittsburgh Steelers
2021: 307-1,200-7
2022: 272-1,034-7
2023: 255-1,035-8
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.