Eric Dickerson

Lore & Background

Dickerson committed to Texas A&M University before reconsidering and deciding amongst Oklahoma, USC and SMU. His great-grandaunt talked him into staying in Texas to attend SMU because she liked Mustangs coach Ron Meyer. Dickerson was the subject of recruiting controversy when he started driving a new Pontiac Trans Am during his senior year of high school. According to myth, Dickerson began driving the vehicle about the same time he committed to A&M, and, when he signed with SMU, he purportedly stopped driving it because it 'had been destroyed by a vengeful Aggie'. Ron Meyer called the car the 'Trans A&M'. At the time, he said his grandmother from Mexico had purchased it for him. Dickerson has refused to answer whether he accepted anything to attend SMU, saying, 'Even if I did take something, I still wouldn't tell.' He later admitted that SMU paid him $500 or $1000 a month. In 2022, Dickerson admitted that the Trans Am had been paid for by A&M boosters, and that in an attempt to hide the impropriety one of his family members made the purchase and was reimbursed by the boosters. He said he later sold the car to an SMU teammate. Initially, Dickerson shared carries with Craig James and Charles Waggoner. Waggoner was hurt returning a kickoff their freshman season, leaving Dickerson and James to lead SMU's running attack, called the Pony Express. Dickerson gained 4,450 yards on 790 carries to break Earl Campbell’s Southwest Conference record for yards and attempts. His 48 career touchdowns tied Doak Walker’s SMU total for career scoring. In his senior year, despite splitting time with James, Dickerson finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, behind Herschel Walker and John Elway. He was also a first-team All-American in 1982 and a second-team All-American in 1981.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was thick with anticipation on a crisp Sunday afternoon in 1984. The crowd roared as Eric Dickerson lined up behind center, the white and blue of his jersey stark against the green turf. With a snap that seemed to echo through the stadium, he took the handoff and instantly exploded into open space. Defenders lunged, but Dickerson danced around them with a fluidity that defied physics, his cleats churning up the dirt as he sprinted toward the end zone.

Reader's Guide

Before the 1983 NFL draft, the Houston Oilers said they would draft Dickerson second if they did not make a trade. Dickerson's family opposed him playing for the Oilers — although Dickerson himself was merely cool about doing so — while, like John Elway, Dickerson would have flatly refused to play for the Baltimore Colts had they drafted him. A trade with the Oilers saw the Los Angeles Rams acquire the second pick, which they used to draft Dickerson. Although he considered going to the Los Angeles Express in the USFL, Dickerson ultimately decided to play for the Rams. An immediate success, he established rookie records for most rushing attempts (390), most rushing yards gained (1,808) and most touchdowns rushing (18), including another two receiving touchdowns. His efforts earned him All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season, Dickerson continued his onslaught on the NFL record book becoming a member of the 2,000-yard club. Twelve times in 1984 he gained more than 100 yards rushing, breaking the record of 100-yard games in a season held by O. J. Simpson. His 2,105 total yards rushing beat Simpson's 1973 NFL season record of 2,003 yards (Dickerson having reached 2,007 yards after 15 games), but since the NFL expanded the regular season from 14 to 16 games in 1978, Dickerson had the benefit of playing in two additional games. No one has since rushed for more yards in a single NFL season. Dickerson's 5.6 yards per carry led the Rams to a playoff berth in 1984. Although he rushed for 1,234 yards in 1985 while missing the first two games due to a contract dispute, Dickerson missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his young NFL career. He did go on to rush for a playoff record 248 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in post-season play. In 1987, after playing just three games for the Rams during the strike-shortened 1987 season, Dickerson was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in one of the NFL's biggest trades ever at that time. The trade reunited Dickerson with Ron Meyer. Although he played in just nine games with the Colts that year, he still managed to gain 1,011 yards to finish the season with 1,288. Also, he spearheaded a late season Colts run that helped the team to their first winning season (and first playoff berth) in 10 years. In 1988, Dickerson, with 1,659 yards rushing, became the first Colt to lead the leag

Did You Know?

• Dickerson holds the NFL single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards, set in 1984.
• He was the fastest player to reach 10,000 career rushing yards, doing so in 91 games.
• Dickerson wore prescription goggles throughout his career due to myopia.
• He rushed for a playoff record 248 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in the 1985-86 postseason.