In the fourth quarter of the final game of the 1972 season, Falcons running back Dave Hampton carried the ball for a one yard gain. Atlanta stopped the game to celebrate. Hampton had become the first Falcon to rush for 1,000 yards in team history. Throughout the 70s, a running back gaining 1,000+ yards was a real accomplishment, with only 26 teams and a 14 game schedule, there weren’t many chances for a running back to pile up the numbers. In the two previous seasons there were just seven 1,000 yard rushers, though in that 1972 season there would be 10.
The 1,000 yard rusher is back
