Marshall Faulk

Hall of Fame running back and head coach of the Southern Jaguars.

Marshall William Faulk (born February 26, 1973) is an American football coach and former professional running back who is the head coach for the Southern Jaguars. Faulk previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, most notably with the St. Louis Rams. He is regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time.

Quick Facts

Current team: Southern Jaguars
Position: Head coach
Career number: 28
Born: 26 February 1973
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
High school: G. W. Carver (New Orleans)
College: San Diego State (1991–1993)
Draft year: 1994

Lore & Background

Faulk played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs, twice receiving unanimous All-American honors. He was selected second overall in the 1994 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent his five seasons and earned two Pro Bowl selections. Faulk spent his next seven seasons with the Rams, becoming a central contributor to the Greatest Show on Turf offense. As a member of the Rams, Faulk was named NFL Most Valuable Player in 2000, won a record three AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards, extended his Pro Bowl selections to seven, and received three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections.

He also appeared in two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXIV. Following his playing career, Faulk was an analyst for various programs on NFL Network until December 2017. Faulk is one of only three NFL players (along with Marcus Allen and Tiki Barber) to reach at least 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards and the only to amass 12,000 yards rushing and 6,000 yards receiving. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Reader's Guide

Faulk was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Carver High School in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, where he played for the Carver Rams high school football team. Also a standout track sprinter, Faulk was timed at 10.3 seconds in the 100 meters, 21.74 over 200 meters, and 49.4 in the 400 meters. While growing up he sold popcorn at New Orleans Saints games in the Louisiana Superdome.

During his final two years playing for Carver High, Faulk rushed 1,800 yards and scored thirty-two touchdowns. In his senior season, he also played defensive back, intercepting 11 passes and returning six of them for touchdowns. Faulk played college football for San Diego State University. In his second collegiate game, he amassed 386 yards and scored seven touchdowns, both records for freshmen.

He finished second in the Heisman Trophy award voting in 1992. Faulk was drafted second overall in the 1994 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He signed a seven-year $17.2 million contract and received a $5.1 million signing bonus. In his first season, he rushed for 1,282 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown.

He became the first NFL player to win both the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and the Pro Bowl's Most Valuable Player Award in the same season. Faulk was traded to the St. Louis Rams in 1999 for second- and fifth-round picks. He signed a seven-year, $45.2 million contract with the Rams. In his first year in St. Louis, he totaled an NFL record 2,429 yards from scrimmage, and joined Roger Craig as the only men at that time to total 1,000+ yards rushing and 1,000+ yards receiving in a season. The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV.