Clinton Portis
Washington Redskins running back for seven seasons; recorded 1,516 rushing yards in 2005, a mark later surpassed by Alfred Morris.
Clinton Earl Portis (born September 1, 1981) is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. Portis was best known for being the starting running back for the Washington Redskins for seven seasons, in which he gained an average of 81.2 yards rushing per game, for which a select panel of celebrities included him as one of the 80 Greatest Redskins.
- Position
- Running Back
- Team Era
- Washington Redskins (2004–2010)
- Draft Origin
- Selected by Denver Broncos in 2002, traded to Washington
- Key Achievement
- NFL Offensive Player of the Week multiple times
- Signature Trait
- Explosive breakaway speed and power running
- Status
- Retired
Lore & Background
Portis attended the University of Miami, where he became the first true freshman to start a season opener at running back since the 1975 season. He set a school freshman record with five 100-yard performances, and led the team with 838 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries in 10 games. In 2001, the Hurricanes won the National Championship and Portis rushed for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns on 220 carries. He was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame on April 10, 2013. Portis was also a standout track athlete in high school, but did not compete in track for the University of Miami.
In Their Own Story
The roar of the crowd at FedExField reached a fever pitch as Clinton Portis took the handoff, his eyes locked on the gap between the defensive end and linebacker. He lowered his shoulder, absorbing the initial hit with a grunt, before exploding through the seam. The turf seemed to shake beneath his cleats as he sprinted down the sideline, weaving past desperate defenders who couldn't keep up with his sudden burst of speed. It was another day where Portis reminded everyone why he was the heart of the Washington offense.
Reader's Guide
Portis was selected 51st overall by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He earned Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after finishing his debut season with a franchise‑rookie record 1,508 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns. In 2003 he rushed for 1,591 yards and earned his first Pro Bowl invitation. On March 4, 2004, the Broncos traded Portis to the Washington Redskins in exchange for Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey and a second‑round draft pick. With Washington, Portis set a franchise record with 1,516 rushing yards in 2005. He played for Washington for seven seasons (2004–2010), finishing his career with 9,923 rushing yards and 75 rushing touchdowns, ranking second in Washington franchise history behind John Riggins. He officially announced his retirement in August 2012. On February 20, 2025, Portis was hired by Delaware State University as the running backs coach; he left after the 2025 season.
Did You Know?
- Portis rushed for 1,516 yards in 2005, breaking Stephen Davis' 2001 mark of 1,432 yards; the franchise single-season record was later broken by Alfred Morris.
- He became just the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons.
- Portis was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame on April 10, 2013.
- He was timed at 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters in high school.
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