Don’t Forget These Best One-Hit Wonders in NFL History
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One day he’s puttin’ on the ritz. He’s got the whole world in his hands. Then for one reason or another, the nights went out in Georgia. Na na, hey hey, kiss him goodbye.
He’s known as the “One-Hit Wonder,” the NFL player who went from Mr. Big Stuff to Mr. Custer faster than you can say The Catawba Claw. But hold your head up. Don’t worry, be happy. Many among us would like to say he was dancing in the moonlight even for one fleeting moment.
In the year 2525, football fans will still wonder where these guys coulda, woulda, shoulda been.
30. Brian Williams
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Position: Cornerback
Career: 10 seasons (2002-011)
Teams: Minnesota Vikings (2002-05), Atlanta Falcons (2006-08), Jacksonville Jaguars (2009-10), New York Giants (2011)
Career statistics/game: 132 games/0.1 interceptions/3.8 tackles
What Makes Brian Williams a One-Hit Wonder
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In 2003, Russell had a league-high nine interceptions in the regular season. He added another in the playoffs.
The fourth-round draft pick remained a starter for the next five seasons, but he never approached that kind of production again.
29. Josh Norman
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Position: Cornerback
Career: 10 seasons (2012-present)
Teams: Carolina Panthers (2012-15), Washington Redskins (2016-19), Buffalo (2020), San Francisco 49ers (present)
Career statistics/game: 121 games/0.1 interceptions/3.7 tackles
What Makes Josh Norman a One-Hit Wonder
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Norman had one All-Pro season — and got filthy rich off it. Six forced turnovers and two touchdowns convinced the Redskins to offer a five-year, $75 million, free-agent deal, of which $50 mill was guaranteed.
Since then, the chatty DB has done what he does best — flap his gums and steal paychecks.
28. Nick Goings
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Position: Running back
Career: 8 seasons (2001-08)
Teams: Carolina Panthers (2001-08)
Career statistics/game: 105 games/4.9 ball touches/22.4 yards from scrimmage/0.1 total touchdowns
What Makes Nick Goings a One-Hit Wonder
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Goings found his niche as a blocker and special teams ace early in his career. But not long after feature back Stephen Davis went down in the first game of the 2004 season, he became the lead dog and responded with five 100-yard performances in a span of six games.
Despite career-highs of 821 yards and six touchdowns, he was back where he started for the remainder of his career.
27. Kyle Arrington
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Position: Cornerback
Career: 7 seasons (2009-15)
Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009), New England Patriots (2009-14), Baltimore Ravens (2015)
Career statistics/game: 102 games/0.1 interceptions/3.7 tackles
What Makes Kyle Arrington a One-Hit Wonder
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At 25, Arrington had a league-high seven interceptions with a 13-3 Patriots team in the 1991 season. Inexplicably, the guy practiced social distancing with rival wide receivers the next season.
He lost his job to new arrival Aquib Talib and had only one pick the rest of his career.
26. Le’Ron McClain
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Position: Fullback
Career: 7 seasons (2007-13)
Teams: Baltimore Ravens (2007-10), Kansas City Chiefs (2011), San Diego Chargers (2012-13)
Career statistics/game: 111 games/4.0 ball touches/16.8 yards from scrimmage/0.1 total touchdowns
What Makes Le’Ron McClain a One-Hit Wonder
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After Willis McGahee went down midway though the 2008 campaign, McClain moved from designated blocker to feature back. He rushed for a career-high 902 yards and 10 touchdowns as an All-Pro selection.
Enter Ray Rice (and McGahee again). McClain returned to his previous role and never carried the ball more than a half-dozen times in any game in the rest of his career.
25. LaMont Jordan
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Position: Running back
Career: 9 seasons (2001-09)
Teams: Denver New York Jets (2001-04), Oakland Raiders (2005-07), New England Patriots (2008), Denver Broncos (2009)
Career statistics/game: 114 games/9.3 ball touches/44.2 yards from scrimmage/0.3 total touchdowns
What Makes LaMont Jordan a One-Hit Wonder
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After Jordan caddied for Curtis Martin in his first four seasons, he bolted to the Raid-uhs and made the most of his first big chance. Not only did the second-round draft pick run for 1,025 yards in the 2005 season, but his 70 pass receptions were tops among backs in the league.
The next season he tore his left MCL in Week 11 and was never the same again.
24. Ladell Betts
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Position: Running back
Career: 9 seasons (2001-08)
Teams: Washington Redskins (2002-09), New Orleans Saints (2010)
Career statistics/game: 111 games/9.1 ball touches/44.8 yards from scrimmage/0.2 total touchdowns
What Makes Ladell Betts a One-Hit Wonder
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While Clinton Portis nursed a broken right hand, Betts stepped in to rush for a career-high 1,154 yards in only 11 starts. He also became the only player in Redskins/Washington Football Team history to run for 150-plus yards in consecutive games.
Some team could have used the second-round draft pick, right? But nooooo, he started all of three games thereafter.
23. Barry Wilburn
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Position: Cornerback
Career: 8 seasons (1985-89, 1992, 1995-96)
Teams: Washington Redskins (1985–89), Cleveland Browns (1992), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-96)
Career statistics/game: 91 games/0.2 interceptions/2.7 tackles (incomplete)
What Makes Barry Wilburn a One-Hit Wonder
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Wilburn had his one shining moment with the Super Bowl champion Redskins in the 1987 season when he was selected All-Pro on the strength of a league-high 11 interceptions.
The eighth-rounder played more like Windburn the next season, however, after which he spent the rest of his career mostly on special teams.
22. Jacky Lee
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 10 seasons (1960-69)
Teams: AFL Houston Oilers (1960-63, 1966-67), AFL Denver Broncos (1964-65) AFL Kansas City Chiefs (1967-69)
Career statistics/game: 100 games/.513 pass completion percentage/61.9 pass yards/0.5 touchdown passes
What Makes Jacky Lee a One-Hit Wonder
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Has any pro player packed more history into 23 career starts? Probably not. Lee played with the best franchise (Chiefs) in AFL history and the worst franchise (Broncos) in AFL history. In 1961, he passed for a league record 457 yards in a rare start.
Three years later, he became the first and last player to be part of a bizarre lend-lease agreement (from the Oilers to Broncos) in pro football history. The guy also was part of the most championship teams (three) in AFL history. Yet in only one season (1964) did he start as many as 10 games. Did you get all that?
21. Matt Flynn
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 7 seasons (2008-14)
Teams: Green Bay Packers (2008-11, 2014), Seattle Seahawks (2012- Oakland Raiders (2013), Buffalo Bills (2013)
Career statistics/game: 53 games/.613 pass completion percentage/47.9 pass yards/0.3 touchdown passes
What Makes Matt Flynn a One-Hit Wonder
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Flynn was a one-game wonder. On the heels of a 480-yard, six-touchdown performance in the 2011 regular-season finale, Seattle was convinced enough to offer a three-year, $26 million, free agent contract, of which $10 mill was guaranteed. Suck-errrs!
He started 10 games over the next two seasons to close out an otherwise unremarkable career.
20. Steve Emtman
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Position: Defensive end-tackle
Career: 6 seasons (1992-97)
Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1992-94), Miami Dolphins (1995-96), Washington Redskins (1997)
Career statistics/game: 50 games/2.7 tackles/0.2 sacks
What Makes Steve Emtman a One-Hit Wonder
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The No. 1 pick of a defense-laden 1992 draft was solid if not spectacular in his rookie season, only to have a torn left knee ligament take him out in the ninth game.
The one-time Outland Trophy winner wasn’t the same after a torn right patella tendon felled him early the next season. He hung on for four more seasons as a reserve.
19. Derek Anderson
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 13 seasons (2006-18)
Teams: Cleveland Browns (2006-09), Arizona Cardinals (2010), Carolina Panthers (2011-17), Buffalo Bills (2018)
Career statistics/game: 78 games/.543 pass completion percentage/139.5 pass yards/0.8 touchdown passes
What Makes Derek Anderson a One-Hit Wonder
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In 2007, Anderson won 10-of-15 starts, threw 29 touchdowns passes and was a Pro Bowl alternate. (Where have you gone, Braylon Edwards?)
Finally, at last, the Browns had their franchise quarterback. Wait, no, the Browns didn’t have their franchise quarterback. The guy won 10 games in the next 11 seasons combined. Is that so Browns or what?
18. Peyton Hillis
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Position: Running back
Career: 7 seasons (2008-14)
Teams: Denver Broncos (2008-09),Cleveland Browns (2010-11), Kansas City Chiefs (2012), New York Giants (2013-14)
Career statistics/game: 81 games/10.2 ball touches/47.9 yards from scrimmage/0.3 total touchdowns
What Makes Peyton Hillis a One-Hit Wonder
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Hillis came out of nowhere in the 2010 season when only five players gained more yards from scrimmage. Why, the seventh-rounder even found his way onto the Madden NFL 12 cover.
But hamstring-concussion issues conspired against the 250-pound bruiser, and his production dropped in each of the next four seasons. Yep, the Madden Curse got another one.
17. Rich Szaro
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Position: Place-kicker
Career: 5 seasons (1975-79)
Teams: New Orleans Saints (1975-78), New York Jets (1979)
Career statistics/game: 81 games/37 field goals, 59 field goal attempts/.627 field goal percentage
What Makes Rich Szaro a One-Hit Wonder
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Szaro was the most interesting place-kicker in the world. Among the best, too. In 1976, the first Poland native to play in the NFL was the league field goal percentage leader (.784) before foot and hamstring problems forced him into early retirement.
The southpaw could kick almost equally well with his right foot. So, when his left foot pulled up lame two seasons later, he calmly booted a 20-yard field goal with the other one then went on the injured reserve list.
16. Don Majkowski
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 10 seasons (1987-96)
Teams: Green Bay Packers (1987-92), Indianapolis Colts (1993-94), Detroit Lions (1995-96)
Career statistics/game: 90 games/.554 pass completion percentage/141.1 pass yards/0.7 touchdown passes
What Makes Don Majkowski a One-Hit Wonder
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Majkowski was the best story of the 1989 season. The Pro Bowler led the league in pass yards (4,318) and the Pack to a 10-6 record. Yep, The Magic Man had it all — the arm, the name, the hair and the flair.
Just when the 10th-round draft pick had regained his touch midway through the next season, Arizona Cardinals d-end Freddie Joe Nunn delivered a cheap-shot that ruined his career. He was eventually Wally Pipped by a relative unknown by the name of Brett Favre.
15. Olandis Gary
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Position: Running back
Career: 5 seasons (1999-2003)
Teams: Denver Broncos (1999-2002),Detroit Lions (2003)
Career statistics/game: 48 games/11.6 ball touches/50.3 yards from scrimmage/0.2 total touchdowns
What Makes Olandis Gary a One-Hit Wonder
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In his pro debut, Gary had the unenviable task to replace stud back and fellow Georgia product Terrell Davis (torn right ACL and MCL) in Week 5 of the 1999 season. No prob. The fourth-round draft pick rushed for nearly 100 yards (96.6) per game in a dozen starts.
When Davis went down in the 2000 opener, Gary stepped in again. On a torn right ACL that nobody knew about, apparently. Mike Anderson assumed the reins, and Gary was reduced to a footnote in history.
14. Terry Miller
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Position: Running back
Career: 4 seasons (1978-1981)
Teams: Buffalo Bills (1978-80),Seattle Seahawks (1981)
Career statistics/game: 48 games/8.9 ball touches/40.9 yards from scrimmage/0.2 total touchdowns
What Makes Terry Miller a One-Hit Wonder
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Desperate for a workhorse back to replace O.J. Simpson in their Ground Chuck (Knox) offense, the Bills jumped on Miller at the fifth pick of the 1978 draft. The reigning Heisman Trophy runner-up rushed for 1,060 yards, but a team rookie record 208 came in a blowout of the New York Giants at home.
Moreover, his eight fumbles were an issue. The next season he split carries with fullback Curtis Brown and didn’t play much thereafter. Can you say “bust?”
13. Terrelle Pryor
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Position: Quarterback, wide receiver
Career: 6 seasons (2012-13, 2015-18)
Teams: Oakland Raiders (2012-13), Cleveland Browns (2015-16),Washington Redskins (2017), New York Jets (2018), Buffalo Bills (2018)
Career statistics/game: 51 games/2.3 pass receptions/30.6 pass yards/0.1 pass touchdowns
What Makes Terrelle Pryor a One-Hit Wonder
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Ohio State quarterbacks are more overrated than bottled water. Pryor is another scatter-arm who fooled the talent scouts with his athleticism. His only productive season came as wide receiver in the 2014 season when he caught 77 balls for 1,007 yards.
He bounced around with eight teams in six seasons.
12. Patrick Jeffers
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Position: Wide receiver
Career: 5 seasons (1996-2001)
Teams: Denver Broncos (1996-97), Dallas Cowboys (1998), Carolina Panthers (1999, 2001)
Career statistics/game: 46 games/2.1 pass receptions/34.0 pass yards/0.3 pass touchdowns
What Makes Patrick Jeffers a One-Hit Wonder
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The Dallas Cowboys allowed Jeffers to walk after the 1999 season in return for a fifth-round draft pick. The one-time Virginia walk-on and Muhsin Muhammad promptly become the first wide receiver tandem to produce 1,000 yards each in the same season.
But his career reversed course faster than one could say “torn left anterior cruciate,” sad to say. He attempted a comeback after a one-year layoff but wasn’t the same.
11. Joe Senser
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Position: tight end
Career: 4 seasons (1980-82, 1984)
Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1980-82 1984)
Career statistics/game: 46 games/3.4 pass receptions/34.0 pass yards/0.3 pass touchdowns
What Makes Joe Senser a One-Hit Wonder
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Sensor was a curly-haired hunk who had everything except an intense desire to block — sticky hands, considerable ups and deceptive speed. They all came together in the 1981 season when the Pro Bowler caught 79 passes for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns.
A low hit that blew out his right knee changed all that midway through the next season. He remains the only tight end to record a 1,000-yard season in franchise history.
10. Steve Slaton
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Position: Running back
Career: 4 seasons (2008-11)
Teams: Houston Texans (2008-11),Miami Dolphins (2011)
Career statistics/game: 45 games/12.0 ball touches/60.1 yards from scrimmage/0.4 total touchdowns
What Makes Steve Slaton a One-Hit Wonder
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Slaton burst onto the scene as the No. 7 ground-gainer in the league, only to start the 2009 campaign with a bad cough that wouldn't go away. In the first four games, he fumbled four times — one more than in the previous season — and Texans head coach Gary Kubak quickly lost faith in him.
He was out of the NFL two years later and finished his career with the Toronto Argonauts north of the border. Too weird.
9. Rashaan Salaam
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Position: Running back
Career: 4 seasons (1995-97, 1999)
Teams: Chicago Bears (1995-97), Cleveland Browns (1999)
Career statistics/game: 33 games/14.8 ball touches/54.7 yards from scrimmage/0.4 total touchdowns
What Makes Rashaan Salaam a One-Hit Wonder
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As a rookie, Salaam surpassed the 100-yard mark five times. He also lost five fumbles in the process, the result of bad hands coupled with an admitted lack of focus brought on by a marijuana addiction.
Add knee-hamstring problems and a broken right leg, and the guy never lived up to the hype, a fact that he would regret for the rest of his life.
8. Ickey Woods
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Position: Running back
Career: 4 seasons (2008-11)
Teams: Houston Texans (2008-11),Miami Dolphins (2011)
Career statistics/game: 45 games/12.0 ball touches/60.1 yards from scrimmage/0.7 total touchdowns
What Makes Ickey Woods a One-Hit Wonder
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Woods was all the rage in his 2008 debut — ninth in rushing yards (1,066) and second in touchdowns (15) league-wide. He even authored the celebratory Ickey Shuffle en route to Super Bowl XXIII. Well, the jig was up in no time.
Fat Elbert ate his way through the offseason, tore his left ACL early in the 1989 season and then watched Harold Green take his job. After cartilage-ligament damage to his right knee two years later, a Geico commercial would be his last hurrah.
7. Tim Tebow
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 3 seasons (2010-12)
Teams: Denver Broncos (2010-11), New York Jets (2012)
Career statistics/game: 35 games/.479 pass completion percentage/69.2 pass yards/0.5 touchdown passes
What Makes Tim Tebow a One-Hit Wonder
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A widely held notion says an athlete should not lose his job because of an injury. But should one be cancelled permanently after he won a playoff game that he wasn’t supposed to win?
How do you explain that Tebow never got a chance to play quarterback after he guided the Broncos to a 7-4 record in the 2011 regular season and an improbable overtime win against the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs? Seems fishy.
6. Sylvester Morris
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Position: wide receiver
Career: 1 seasons (2000)
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2000)
Career statistics/game: 15 games/3.2 pass receptions/45.2 pass yards/0.2 pass touchdowns
What Makes Sylvester Morris a One-Hit Wonder
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The next Otis Taylor was born on Sept. 17, 2000. Or so it seemed. That day Morris toasted the San Diego Chargers for 112 yards and three touchdowns in his home debut. But not so fast.
The first-rounder went on to a solid rookie season, only to have one knee problem after another keep him on the sidelines. He finally had enough after a torn left ACL five years later. On the first day of minicamp.
5. Dieter Brock
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 1 season (1985)
Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1985)
Career statistics/game: 15 games/.597 pass completion percentage/177.2 pass yards/1.1 touchdown passes
What Makes Dieter Brock a One-Hit Wonder
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The Rams had a recent history of sucky quarterbacks, so they went north of the border to sign Brock, the long-time Canadian Football League flingueur. The 34-year-old set a slew of team rookie records en route to the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Problem was, his team met up with the vaunted Chicago Bears defense in the second round. It would be his last pro game.
4. Greg Cook
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Position: Quarterback
Career: 2 seasons (1969, 1973)
Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1969, 1973)
Career statistics/game: 12 games/.535 pass completion percentage/155.4 pass yards/1.25 touchdown passes
What Makes Greg Cook a One-Hit Wonder
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Like Jacky Lee before him, Cook was a highly regarded University of Cincinnati product. The 1969 Rookie of the Year established first-year records for yards per attempt (9.4) and completion (17.5) that stand today.
But a torn rotator cuff went undiagnosed early that season, and despite multiple surgeries, the would-be star played in only one more game four years later.
3. Chris Borland
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Position: Linebacker
Career: 1 season (2014)
Teams: San Francisco 49ers (2014)
Career statistics/game: 14 games/7.7 tackles/0.1 interceptions/0.1 sacks
What Makes Chris Borland a One-Hit Wonder
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Borland began his career on the bench with a talent-laden Niners defense. By the seventh game, the third-rounder was the rare rookie starter who made plays all over the field. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Month.
Poof! Just like that, he was gone.The Wisconsin product announced his retirement shortly after the season, a potential Hall of Fame career cut short because of head trauma concerns.
2. Bobby Burnett
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Position: Halfback
Career: 3 seasons (1966-68)
Teams: Buffalo Bills (1966-67), Denver Broncos (1968)
Career statistics/game: 25 games/11.3 ball touches/56.2 yards from scrimmage/0.3 total touchdowns
What Makes Bobby Burnett a One-Hit Wonder
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As a rookie, Burnett hit the ground in a full sprint — 1,185 total yards in the regular season and 133 more in a postseason loss. The two-way threat garnered Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-AFL honors.
But when New York Jets defensive back Johnny Sample dove at his knees to make a tackle in the 1967 season opener, all that potential greatness went up in smoke. “I just never could turn it on like I could before that happened,” the former Arkansas star would say later.
He saw action in only 10 more games.
1. Bucky Pope
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Position: Flanker, split end
Career: 4 seasons (1964 1966-68)
Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1964, 1966-67), Green Bay Packers (1968)
Career statistics/game: 33 games/1.0 pass receptions/28.8 pass yards/0.4 pass touchdowns
What Makes Bucky Pope a One-Hit Wonder
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Pope was an eighth-round draft pick out of tiny Catawba College in North Carolina. He had 6-foot-5 size, fluid moves, Velcro hands and could run like hell. When he scored six touchdowns in his first four games, people began to know him by that delightful, way cool, all-time nickname of his — The Catawba Claw.
In a spectacular rookie season, he had a league-high 10 TD receptions (seven of 48 yards or more ) and averaged 31.4 yards per catch, second most in league history. If The Catawba Claw hadn’t suffered a serious knee injury in a preseason game the next season, more than his nickname might be Hall of Fame worthy.