I think we can officially say that the fullback in the NFL is an endangered species. With the increase in passing, particularly out of three and four receiver sets (more than three receivers lined up on 49.2% of offensive plays in the league last year), in the league the fullback is a rarer and rarer breed. The Jets cut veteran fullback Tony Richardson on Saturday (there is talk that he will return after the first game). Richardson, over his career blocked for Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Adrian Peterson, and Thomas Jones providing each with their career years. In 2000, injuries thrust him into the starting halfback role and he rushed for 647 yards at 4.7 yards per carry and had 468 receiving yards. He was poised to ascend to the role of primary back for the Chiefs when Priest Holmes arrived in Kansas City. Richardson selflessly returned to the fullback position and helped Holmes become one of the most dynamic backs in the league (see above picture, Richardson is #49). Richardson should be celebrated as one of the best to ever play his position and one of a handful of universally championed individuals in the game. He quietly achieved near perfection at his position and was a rock of leadership in the locker room. Reaction to Richardson being cut in the Jet's locker room was overwhelmingly disappointed. ESPN reported that one player simply said the move was "Terrible." while another player said, "[It's] f------ ridiculous."
Fullbacks are asked to punch open holes for 1,000-yard running backs, but also need to possess the capacity to catch outlet passes and pound out touchdowns on goal-line carries and first downs on short-yardage. The nature of their duties (non-glamorous) and the evolution of the league (whether Air Coryell, Joe Gibbs’ H-back system, or the Spread) leads to the fullback being an over looked, underutilized position. The West Coast offense does use a fullback extensively in various sets, passing routes, and blocking formations but even the West Coast has evolved beyond the original iteration introduced by Bill Walsh and his immediate disciples. Another example of the devolution of the fullback position is the Indianapolis Colts who did not even have a fullback on their 53 man roster last season. Even in the pro-bowl they are overlooked. For years Mike Alstott of the Tampa Bay Bucs booked his trip to Hawaii even though he was primarily used as a tailback and not a fullback (even Pro-Football-Reference.Com lists Alstott's position as RB and not FB).
Fullbacks are among the unsung heroes of the league. This year at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Emmitt Smith reminded us just how important fullbacks are and how important, Daryl “Moose” Johnston was to his career. Smith offered the following ode to his fullback:
Daryl Johnston, where are you? Will you please stand? You mean the world to me (tearing up) not just because we shared the same backfield, but because you sacrificed so much for me. People don’t understand what it took to be a fullback in our system, the sacrifices you made not simply with your body but your whole spirit. You took care of me as though you were taking care of your little brother. Without you, without you, I know today would not have been possible. I love you from the bottom of my heart.
You would hear the same thanks and devotion for those that Tony Richardson blocked for or for those (Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Corey Dillon, LaDainian Tomlinson) that Lorenzo Neal (who retired after the 2008 NFL season), another modern great blocking back, blocked for.
There are currently no true blocking backs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are fullbacks but they were primarily running backs and not blockers. Players such as Jim Taylor (Packers), Larry Csonka (Dolphins), and Jim Brown (Browns) are all listed as fullbacks but each clearly played a roles that made them primary ball carriers in some of the most heralded ground games of their times. Let’s hope, if this is indeed the end of the road for Tony Richardson, that the public and the Hall give him his due. The Hall is long overdue to induct a blocking back and I cannot think of any better inductees than Tony Richardson.
Fullbacks are among the unsung heroes of the league. This year at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Emmitt Smith reminded us just how important fullbacks are and how important, Daryl “Moose” Johnston was to his career. Smith offered the following ode to his fullback:
Daryl Johnston, where are you? Will you please stand? You mean the world to me (tearing up) not just because we shared the same backfield, but because you sacrificed so much for me. People don’t understand what it took to be a fullback in our system, the sacrifices you made not simply with your body but your whole spirit. You took care of me as though you were taking care of your little brother. Without you, without you, I know today would not have been possible. I love you from the bottom of my heart.
You would hear the same thanks and devotion for those that Tony Richardson blocked for or for those (Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Corey Dillon, LaDainian Tomlinson) that Lorenzo Neal (who retired after the 2008 NFL season), another modern great blocking back, blocked for.
There are currently no true blocking backs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are fullbacks but they were primarily running backs and not blockers. Players such as Jim Taylor (Packers), Larry Csonka (Dolphins), and Jim Brown (Browns) are all listed as fullbacks but each clearly played a roles that made them primary ball carriers in some of the most heralded ground games of their times. Let’s hope, if this is indeed the end of the road for Tony Richardson, that the public and the Hall give him his due. The Hall is long overdue to induct a blocking back and I cannot think of any better inductees than Tony Richardson.
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