Running backs aren't what they used to be. Not what they were when Jerome Bettis was rumbling into and over NFL defenses.
Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley and Baltimore 's Derrick Henry , Bettis said on Tuesday on The Pivot Podcast, are today's rushers that have the wherewithal to break long runs from an inside give and the stature to withstand 25-30 carries during a game.
"That's the definition of a franchise running back, and I believe that term is the term that we have lost — the franchise running back," Bettis said. "Or the organizations that have recognized are the ones that are flourishing. When you look at the decision that Philadelphia made, they identified him as the guy, and they said, 'If we can get him, it's gonna be a coup.' … It's exactly what they thought it would be."
Bettis, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played for the Steelers from 1996-2005, broke down Barkley's game shortly before those comments. Barkley signed with the Eagles as a free agent last off-season, then ran for a career-high 2,005 yards on 345 carries during the regular season. Both figures led the league.
"I see a player that has the home run ability, but has the ability to run in-between the tackles," Jerome Bettis said. "Because, a lot of times, you have either/or. … That's why Fred (Taylor, Pivot Podcast co-host) was so special, because he can run in-between the tackles, and you can get the 3-4 yards. But, then I can also break the 40, 50, 60 yards. That's why Derrick Henry is so valuable."
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis on May 21, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Bettis believes Atlanta 's Bijan Robinson and Detroit 's Jahmyr Gibbs also qualify as franchise tailbacks. Both were taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Those sort of ball-carriers are becoming few and far between, however.
"You look at the game now, and the running game is not the same — and it's not because you don't need to run the football," Bettis said. "You still need to run the football, right? The problem is you don't have the same caliber of running backs that's coming out of colleges every year, because when we were coming out, you had two or three dogs coming out every year at the running back position.
"You were like, 'Man, this guy gonna be good. He gonna be good. He gonna be good.' You don't have that anymore."
There wasn't a running back drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, or in 2022.
Texas' Jonathan Brooks had to wait until the 46th pick to hear his name called by Carolina this past spring. That was the longest it took for a running back to be taken off the board since 2014, when Bishop Sankey wasn't picked up by until Tennessee took a flier on him with the 54th choice.
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