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Atlanta Falcons: Top 5 RBs of All Time

By John Buhler

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player. 44. . RB 1979-1983, 1986. Auburn. William Andrews. 1

From what I’m told by older Atlanta Falcons fans than I, William Andrews was out of this world talented.  A local product from Thomasville, GA played his college ball at nearby Auburn.  Andrews had five absolutely remarkable years with the Atlanta Falcons.

From 1979 to 1983, William Andrews rushed for 5,772 yards in only 72 games.  Keep in mind that the 1982 NFL Season was a shortened one due to a labor strike, resulting in just 9 regular season games.  He made it to four straight Pro Bowls from 1980 to 1983, leading the Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs both in 1980 and 1982.

Andrews was also a strong receiving threat out of the backfield with 277 career receptions for 2,647 yards and 11 scores.  Twice in his career William Andrews achieved over 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season (1981 and 1983).  And then in his prime, the unthinkable happened.

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During the preseason leading up to the 1984 campaign, William Andrews suffered a debilitating knee injury that kept him sidelined for both the 1984 and 1985 seasons.  He made a comeback as a tight end for the Falcons in 1986 before hanging up the spikes for good at the age of 31.  Had this preseason knee injury not occurred, Andrews might have rushed for over 10,000 yards for the Atlanta Falcons.

It’s that allure of what could have been with William Andrews that adds to the legend of arguably the greatest Atlanta Falcons RB of all time.  Andrews was part of the inaugural Ring of Honor Class of 2004.  His 5,986 career rushing yards and 30 career touchdowns almost don’t even do him justice to just how talented William Andrews was pre-knee injury.  Oh, what could have been…

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