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What are the top rookie seasons in NFL history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Jevon Kearse (1999): 58 total tackles with 14.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles; Kearse was Defensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowler, and All-Pro while leading the NFL in forced fumbles and setting a rookie sack record.
9. Devin Hester (2006): 600 punt return yards with 3 touchdowns and 528 kickoff return yards with 2 touchdowns; Hester was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro while leading the NFL in punt return yards, punt return touchdowns, and kickoff return touchdowns.
8. Ronnie Lott (1981): 89 total tackles with 7 interceptions (including 3 touchdown returns); Lott was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro, and tied a rookie record for interception touchdown returns.
7. Jim Brown (1957): 942 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns with 16 receptions for 55 receiving yards and a touchdown; Brown was a Pro Bowler, All-Pro, and league MVP while leading the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
6. Earl Campbell (1978): 1,450 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns with 12 receptions for 48 receiving yards; Campbell was Offensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowler, All-Pro, and Offensive Player of the Year while leading the NFL in rushing yards.
5. Eric Dickerson (1983): 1,808 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns with 51 receptions for 404 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns; Dickerson was Offensive Rookie of the year, a Pro Bowler, and All-Pro while leading the NFL in rushing attempts, rushing yards, and yards from scrimmage and setting rookie records for all of these categories plus rushing touchdowns.
4. Night Train Lane (1952): 14 interceptions (including 2 touchdown returns); Lane set an NFL record for most interceptions in a season.
3. Randy Moss (1998): 69 receptions for 1,313 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns; Moss was Offensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowler, and All-Pro while leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns (also a rookie record).
2. Lawrence Taylor (1981): an unofficial 9.5 sacks with an interception; Taylor was Defensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowler, All-Pro, and Defensive Player of the Year (the first player ever to win the honors in his rookie season).
1. Gale Sayers (1965): 867 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns with 29 receptions for 507 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, 238 punt returns yards with a touchdown, and 660 kickoff return yards with a touchdown; Sayers was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro, and set an NFL record with 6 touchdowns in a single game.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 42: Top 10 International Players in NBA History