Jamal Anderson Rushing Yards Record

Lore & Background

Anderson earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1998, leading the NFC in rushing and helping the Falcons to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII. He suffered a career-ending knee injury in 2001 while finishing his eight-year career with 41 touchdowns from scrimmage and nearly 7,000 yards of offense. His best season was 1998, when he set an NFL record with 410 carries, and finished with 1,846 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, both totals second in the league that year behind Terrell Davis. Anderson was well known for his 'Dirty Bird' touchdown celebration.

Reader's Guide

Anderson played eight seasons with the Falcons, amassing 5,336 rushing yards, 156 receptions for 1,645 yards, and 41 touchdowns from scrimmage before he suffered what became a career-ending tear of his ACL in 2001. He broke the 1,000-yard barrier in four different seasons between 1996 and 2000. His rushing touchdowns total 36, with 5 receiving touchdowns, making 41 total touchdowns from scrimmage.

Did You Know?

• Anderson's 'Dirty Bird' celebration was widely copied; he once said 'people break out and do the Dirty Bird in the strangest places.'
• He attended Moorpark College in 1990–1991, where he had over 2,800 rushing yards and was named First Team All-Western State Conference in both years.
• Anderson was arrested in February 2009 on suspicion of cocaine possession after police said he was snorting cocaine off a toilet bowl in a nightclub restroom.