Roger Craig—A Hall of Famer But Did Not Revolutionize Running Back Position

 By John Turney 

Exuberance is fine. After a long wait, Roger Craig, per media reports, will be announced as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 and his fans are excited. But exaggeration should be tempered.

Among them was former teammate Ronnie Lott who said on X, "Ronnie Lott, He changed the game." Really?

The Rush With Travis and Ross posted this: "Roger Craig changed the running back position and deserves to be in the NFL Hall of Fame!"

Part true. Yes, many think Craig is deserving and now voters agree.

Another supporter posted, "Transformed the RB position.  First all-purpose back, and had combined yardage that no other RBs did. A key man on a historic dynasty." 

Two assertions are true, two are not

And another, "Roger Craig changed the game which we see today with running and pass catching RBs, defensively(sic) likely meant "definite" a hall of famer."

There were many other comments, but you get the point—many think he changed the game. But did he?

One can be worthy of the Hall of Fame and have achievements that surpassed previous players, but still not have "changed the game" or "changed the running back position." 

The point they make is that Craig was a supreme runner and pass catcher and was the first player to gain 1,000 yards rushing and also have 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, the first "1,000-1,000" man.

But is that changing the role of a running back? Or is it being more prolific than those who came before? The case for the latter is stronger.

Backs have always been receivers; it is just a matter of degree. Check out Chuck Mutryn, who played for the Buffalo Bills in the old AAFC. In 1948, he ran for 823 yards and caught passes for 794 more. 

The Colts' Lenny Moore was a fine receiver, though he was usually catching passes as a flanker, moving out from his right halfback position. Clem Daniels, the Raiders back, was a fine receiver out of the backfield, as were quite a few AFL running backs.

In the 1970s, both the Vikings' Chuck Foreman and Lydell Mitchell, who played for the Colts in his prime, led the NFL in receptions in three seasons (Mitchell twice). In fact, from 1974 through 1979, a running back led the NFL in pass catches each season. Craig had a teammate—Earl Cooper, who caught 83 passes in 1980 while running for 794 yards. While not an exhaustive list, it shows that catching passes was a thing before Roger Craig. 

The only difference is that Craig took it to a new level with the 1,000-1,000 milestone, and THAT is what was a key factor in his presumed induction to the Hall. As it should be.

That and the old "eye-test" because anyone who saw him play would say he was unique. A high-stepping speedster with power. He could block as well as pass and catch.

He also had the accolades:

• 3× Super Bowl champion (XIX, XXIII, XXIV)—key contributor to one of the NFL's greatest dynasties.
• 4× Pro Bowl (1985, 1987–1989)
• NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1988)
• First-team All-Pro (1988), second-team All-Pro (1985)
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

Overall, the seniors committee saw fit to pass his name on to the full Board of Selectors and enough of them gave him the thumbs up, if media reports are to be believed—the announcement is tonight at the NFL Honors program. 

So congratulations are in order, Roger Craig is a Hall of Famer. But he didn't really "change" the running back position or the game, unless we're missing something.