Earl Campbell
He was selected as the Southwest Conference running back of the year in each of his college seasons and finished with 4,444 career rushing yards.
Also while at the University of Texas, Earl Campbell was chosen as a New Man in the Texas Cowboys student service organization in the mid-70s. The Texas Cowboys are the student organization made up of campus leaders.
They are also responsible for taking care of and firing 'Smokey' the Cannon at Texas football games.
Houston Oilers
Campbell was the first draft pick overall in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, and in that year he was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press as well as the Most Valuable Player. The Luv Ya Blue era in Houston was due mostly to Campbell's running ability and Coach Bum Phillips' "good ole boy" personality.
Campbell possessed a rare combination of speed and power, and was a prolific running back from 1978 through 1985.
His outstanding single-season performance in 1979 earned him All-Pro, Pro Bowl, and NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. It was also the second of three consecutive seasons in which he led the league in rushing.
He played in five Pro Bowls and finished his career with 9,407 yards and 74 touchdowns rushing along with 806 yards on 121 receptions. In 1980, Campbell's best year in the NFL, he ran for 1,934 yards including four 200-yard rushing games, including a personal best 206 yards against the Chicago Bears.
Despite playing against stacked defenses and being gang-tackled nearly every time he carried the ball (a then-record 373 times), Campbell managed to average 5.2 yards per carry and score 13 rushing touchdowns in 1980 alone.
New Orleans Saints
In 1984, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints, reuniting him with his former Oilers coach O.A. The trade was controversial in New Orleans, as it was widely believed that Campbell's skills had diminished, and the Saints already had the young George Rogers in the backfield.
Campbell played in a diminished role in 1984 and 1985, and retired during the preseason of 1986, feeling that the beating he had taken during his career had taken too much of a toll, a toll which has become apparent in his life today (see below).
Hall of Fame
On July 27, 1991, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Legacy
Campbell is widely acknowledged as one of the best power backs in NFL history. Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene claimed that Campbell could inflict more damage on a team than any other back he ever faced.
Former Heisman Trophy winner and Miami Dolphins player Ricky Williams was often compared to Campbell during Williams' days as a player with The University of Texas Longhorns.
Earl Campbell currently serves as President of Earl Campbell Meat Products, Inc.