If you saw a guy lining up in the backfield wearing a dark visor, a thick neck roll, and white J-pads that looked like they belonged on a gladiator, you knew exactly who it was. Eric Dickerson didn't just play football; he glided through it. He had this weird, upright running style that defied every coaching manual ever written. Coaches always scream, "Get low!" Dickerson stayed high. And yet, nobody could touch him. Honestly, the way he ran was almost offensive to physics.
He arrived in 1983 as a rookie for the Los Angeles Rams and basically treated the NFL like a high school JV scrimmage. 1,808 yards. As a rookie. Think about that for a second. Most veteran backs would give their left arm for a 1,500-yard season, and this kid from Sealy, Texas, did it straight out of SMU. But that was just the appetizer.
The 2,105 Season: Eric Dickerson and the Record That Won't Die
In 1984, the world changed for the Rams and for the record books. Eric Dickerson put together a season so dominant it still sits at the top of the mountain forty years later. 2,105 rushing yards. That is the number. It’s the holy grail for running backs. Adrian Peterson came close. Barry Sanders came close. Derrick Henry came close. But they all looked up and saw #29 still holding the crown.
What’s crazy is how he did it. He had twelve 100-yard games that year. 12 out of 16. That’s not a "hot streak," that’s a season-long assault on the defense. He wasn't a power back like Earl Campbell, and he wasn't a scatback. He was a long-strider. Once he hit the secondary, he looked like a track star in pads. You'd see a safety take an angle, thinking they had him pinned, and then Eric would just... outrun the angle. It looked effortless. Sorta like he was jogging while everyone else was sprinting for their lives.
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The Rams were a perfect fit for him at first. John Robinson’s "Student Body Left" and "Student Body Right" plays gave Dickerson the creases he needed. If the line gave him two yards, he took sixty. He led the league in rushing four different times during his career. People talk about Emmitt Smith’s longevity or Barry Sanders’ highlight reels, but for a five-year peak? Nobody—and I mean nobody—was better than Eric Dickerson.
The Halloween Trade and the Indianapolis Years
Things got messy in LA, though. Money, mostly. Eric knew what he was worth, and the Rams weren't ready to pay "quarterback money" to a guy taking handoffs. So, in 1987, one of the biggest trades in sports history went down. It was Halloween. Ten players and draft picks were involved between the Rams, the Colts, and the Bills.
Dickerson went to the Indianapolis Colts and immediately proved he wasn't just a product of the Rams' system. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in just nine games with the Colts that year. He carried that team to their first winning season in a decade. He was the fastest player to ever reach 10,000 career rushing yards, hitting that mark in just 91 games. To put that in perspective, Jim Brown took 98. Barry Sanders took 103.
But the friction followed him. He was suspended, he had contract disputes, and he was vocal about the team's struggles. Eric wasn't the type to just shut up and run. He had a personality that was as big as his stride, which kinda made him a polarizing figure for old-school fans but a hero for players who wanted more leverage.
The Equipment, the Goggles, and the Look
Let's talk about the gear because it’s iconic. Why the goggles? Myopia. He couldn't see the holes without them. Most players would’ve worn contacts, but Eric leaned into the look. It made him look like a futuristic warrior. The neck roll was there because he ran so upright; he needed the protection.
He was a technician, too. He didn't fumble often—at least not compared to the workload he carried. In 1986, he carried the ball 404 times. That’s an insane amount of punishment. Your body basically starts to break down after 300 carries in a modern NFL season, but Dickerson just kept churning.
- Rookie Record: 1,808 yards (1983)
- Single Season Record: 2,105 yards (1984)
- Playoff Record: 248 yards in a single game against Dallas (1986)
Those aren't just stats; they’re barriers. The 248-yard playoff performance against the Cowboys is one of those "where were you" moments for Rams fans. He was a one-man wrecking crew that day.
Life After the 2,105
When he finally hung it up after brief stints with the Raiders and Falcons, he had 13,259 rushing yards. At the time, he was second only to Walter Payton. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1999. Today, he’s still around the game, working with the Rams in an executive role and doing media work. He’s still just as outspoken as he was in the 80s. He doesn't sugarcoat anything.
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If you're a young fan trying to understand why this guy matters, just go watch the film of him against the Oilers or the Cowboys in the mid-80s. You’ll see a guy who looks like he’s playing at a different speed than everyone else. He was a 220-pound man with 4.4 speed who could find a hole the size of a needle head.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the history of the position, start by comparing the "era-adjusted" stats. Today’s NFL is a passing league, which makes Dickerson's 2,105 yards even more impressive because every defense he faced knew he was getting the ball 25 times a game.
- Study the vision: Watch how Dickerson presses the line of scrimmage to move linebackers before cutting. It’s a masterclass in manipulation.
- Track the record: Keep an eye on the 2,100-yard mark during the final weeks of the NFL season. With the 17-game schedule, someone might finally break it, but it’ll take an incredible run to beat what Eric did in 16.
- Check the Hall of Fame archives: If you’re ever in Canton, his 1984 jersey and equipment are some of the most popular displays for a reason.
Eric Dickerson changed how we view the running back position. He proved that you could be a "finesse" runner with a power back's frame and still dominate the most physical league in the world. He remains the standard for what a superstar back looks like.
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Next Steps to Explore NFL History
- Watch the "Pony Express" highlights: See where it all started at SMU with Craig James.
- Analyze the 1987 trade: Look at the long-term impact on the Buffalo Bills, who landed Cornelius Bennett in that three-way deal and went on to four straight Super Bowls.
- Compare the "2,000-Yard Club": Look at the carries and yards per attempt for the eight men who have crossed that threshold to see who was truly the most efficient.