Eric Dickerson

By 1984, Dickerson's second season, he'd gained enough confidence to calm down. He became choosier about which holes he would try to slip through. That season, Dickerson had twelve 100-yard games. As the end of the season approached, it looked as if Dickerson might be able to break O.J. Simpson's single-season rushing record of 2,003 yards, set in 1973. The pressure mounted, and during a December 2 game against New Orleans, Dickerson gained only 149 yards. He blamed the disappointing numbers on mounting pressure from the press and fans. A few days later, Dickerson said he was having nightmares. According to Sports Illustrated, Dickerson told the press: "I didn't sleep well last night. I was trying to sleep, and I had a dream about getting 2,001 yards." That's exactly where his dream ended—at 2,001 yards—three shy of breaking Simpson's record. Dickerson, however, pulled it together later in the month during the second to last game of the regular season. Playing the Houston Oilers, Dickerson gained 215 yards in twenty-seven carries to break Simpson's single-season rushing record. Dickerson ended the season with 2,105 rushing yards and fourteen touchdowns. He also caught twenty-one passes for 139 yards.

When Dickerson broke Simpson's single-season rushing record in 1984, he found himself thrust into the spotlight. Dickerson, however, gave his teammates plenty of credit for his success. The humble Dickerson didn't forget the ten offensive linemen who made his record-shattering possible. In appreciation, Dickerson gave them each a diamond-studded gold ring etched with the number 2,105.

In each of his first four years with the Rams, Dickerson delivered his team to the playoffs. In 1986, Dickerson set a new record for rushing yardage in a playoff game by gaining 248 yards against the Dallas Cowboys.

Following a salary dispute, Dickerson was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 1987. It was one of the biggest deals in NFL history. The trade involved three teams and 10 players, as well as draft-choice swapping. The trade proved good for the Colts, and in 1988, Dickerson earned his fourth rushing title, leading the league with 1,659 yards. Dickerson spent four seasons with the Colts before joining the Los Angeles Raiders in 1992 and the Atlanta Falcons in 1993. He retired in 1993 without ever making it to the Super Bowl.