Kevin Faulk

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Faulk's professional identity was defined by versatility rather than traditional feature-back dominance. Dubbed the "Swiss Army knife" for his ability to play running back, wide receiver, gunner, and return specialist, he rarely started but excelled in specific roles. In 2001, while serving as a reserve behind Antowain Smith, he led the team with 33 kickoff returns and recorded his first career pass completion—a 23-yard strike to Tom Brady against Miami. His versatility peaked in 2002, making history as the only player in franchise record (and the only NFL player that season) to score multiple touchdowns in three different categories: rushing, receiving, and kick returns. That same year, he broke Dave Meggett's franchise record for total kickoff return yards and posted a league-leading 27.9-yard average on such returns.

In Their Own Story

On September 7, 1996, as an LSU freshman against Houston, Faulk delivered one of the most dramatic performances in school history. With Tiger Stadium emptying out after a 34–14 deficit late in the third quarter, he took over in the fourth. Faulk rushed for a school-record 246 yards on 21 carries and returned four punts for another 106 yards, leading LSU to a 35–34 victory while holding Houston scoreless in the final period. Decades later, his NFL career mirrored this clutch resilience. In Super Bowl XXXVIII against Carolina, with the game tight at 32–29, he scored the decisive two-point conversion on a direct snap run with 2:51 remaining. His most recent NFL action occurred in 2011 when he tore his ACL in Week 2 against the Jets, ending a season that had begun with a suspension for substance abuse policy violation earlier that year.

Reader's Guide

Faulk's career statistics reflect a player who maximized efficiency over volume. He finished his LSU career with 4,557 rushing yards (second best in SEC history at the time) and 6,833 all-purpose yards, tied for fifth in NCAA history and first in SEC history until Tim Tebow surpassed the record in 2009. In the NFL, he became the Patriots' all-time leader in all-purpose yards by the end of the 2009 season (12,140 yards) and the 26th running back in league history to reach 400 receptions. His longevity was notable; despite suffering multiple injuries including sprained ankles in 1999 and a torn ACL in 2011, he played every remaining game after returning from suspension in Week 2 of 2008, marking his tenth consecutive season with the team. He retired as a two-time All-Pro selection (implied by Hall of Fame status) but specifically holds the distinction of being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2016.

Did You Know?

• Faulk holds the only distinction in NFL history (and Patriots history) for recording multiple touchdowns in three different categories (rushing, receiving, and kick returns) in a single season, achieved in 2002.
• In college, Faulk rushed for a school-record 246 yards on just 21 carries during a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback against Houston in 1996.
• Faulk completed his first career NFL pass: a 23-yard completion to quarterback Tom Brady against the Miami Dolphins on December 22, 2001.
• He surpassed Tony Collins for the Patriots' all-time receiving list by a running back with his 262nd catch on November 26, 2006.
• After retiring from the NFL in 2011 due to an ACL tear, Faulk returned to LSU as an assistant coach from 2018 to 2021 before entering the College Football Hall of Fame.