Rashaan Salaam.
Anthony Thomas.
Matt Forte.
*Drumroll please...*
Jordan Howard.
Those five names represent the progression of the Bears single-season rookie rushing record, which Howard eclipsed last year when he topped Forte’s 1,238 yards from 2008. Howard didn’t merely break Forte’s record — he became the fourth Bears running back ever to rush for 1,300 yards in a season, joining Forte, Thomas Jones, and Walter Payton, who did it nine times.
Of course, the careers of those rookie rushers diverged from there.
Feathers rushed for 1,004 yards in 1934, earned All Pro honors, and gained 976 yards rushing total for the rest of his career.