Marcus Allen

Marcus LeMarr Allen (March 26, 1960-) (RB) was considered the “greatest player I ever saw” by USC head coach John Robinson and in 1981 became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. Marcus had one of the most extraordinary seasons in NCAA history when he rushed for 2,342 yards, adding 341 receiving yards for a total of 2,683 all-purpose yards and led the nation in scoring. He was named the Heisman Trophy winner (outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence and integrity), the Maxwell Award winner (best football player in the United States) and the Walter Camp Award recipient (collegiate American Football Player of the Year). The Los Angeles Raiders selected Allen with the tenth overall pick of the 1982 NFL Draft. In his first season with LA, Marcus helped lead the Raiders to the AFC West Division title, led the NFL in touchdown and earned the 1982 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Marcus’ sophomore season marked the first of three consecutive 1,000 yard plus campaigns as he led the Raiders to the Promised Land winning Super Bowl XVIII over the Washington Redskins in a 38-9 rout. He rushed for 191 yards, two touchdowns and caught two passes as he earned the 1983 Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award. In 1985, Allen led the NFL in rushing with 1,759, led with 109.9 yards per game totaling a league leading 2,314 yards from scrimmage. He was named the 1985 NFL AP MVP, 1985 NFL PFWA MVP and the 1985 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year.

Marcus had a tumultuous relationship with Raiders owner Al Davis, who relegated Allen to a back-up role during his final season in the silver and black. In 1993, Marcus Allen joined the Kansas City Chiefs and former Bay Area rival quarterback Joe Montana. Marcus scored a league leading 12 rushing touchdowns that season, led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game and earned the 1993 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award as he returned to his previously dominant form. In 1995, Marcus became the player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards and top 5,000 receiving yards. Allen played 16 seasons in the NFL for the Raiders (1982-1992) and the Chiefs (1993-1997), was named to two NFL All-Pro First Teams and played in six NFL Pro Bowls. Marcus Allen retired following the 1997 seasons having amassed 12,243 rushing yards and 123 rushing touchdowns, 5,411 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns and 282 passing yards with six passing touchdowns. In all, he scored 872 total points on 145 touchdowns and one two-point conversion. Marcus Allen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.