19. Larry Csonka
There was a moment in Larry Csonka’s rookie year where he almost gave up professional football entirely, due to a string of injuries and inconsistent play. But when the great Don Shula tweaked Csonka’s running style, Csonka never missed a game from then on, leading his Miami Dolphins in rushing the next five seasons. Between 1971 and 1973, he ran for more than 1,000 yards each season, and was the engine that powered the Miami offense during the three straight seasons they made it to the Super Bowl (1971 through 1973).
Over his 11-year NFL career, Csonka carried the ball 1,891 times for 8,081 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also caught 106 passes for 820 yards and four touchdowns. He was among the NFL’s top 10 ranked players in rushing yards four times, in rushing touchdowns five times, total touchdowns three times, and yards from the line of scrimmage once.
- Seasons Played: 11
- Pro Bowl Selections: 5x selection
- Hall of Fame: Class of 1987