Andra Franklin

Last updated

Andra Franklin
1986 Jeno's Pizza - 09 - Mark Murphy (Mark Murphy crop).jpg
Franklin (37) in Super Bowl XVII
No. 37
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born:(1959-08-22)August 22, 1959
Anniston, Alabama, U.S.
Died:December 6, 2006(2006-12-06) (aged 47)
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school: Anniston (AL)
College: Nebraska
NFL draft: 1981  / Round:  2  / Pick: 56
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:2,232
Rushing average:3.6
Rushing touchdowns:22
Player stats at PFR

Andra Bernard Franklin (August 22, 1959 December 6, 2006) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) from 1981 to 1984 for the Miami Dolphins. Franklin played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers; he died at age 47 from heart failure in 2006. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

From Anniston, Alabama, Franklin played at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1977 through 1980, [1] [2] rushing for 1,738 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft (56th overall) by the Dolphins, and played under head coach Don Shula.

Franklin led the Dolphins in rushing during the strike-shortened 1982 season, third overall in the NFL, with 701 yards in nine games. The Dolphins won the AFC title and met the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII in January 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated after Miami's win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC semifinals. [4]

His playing career was cut short by a knee injury, [3] his last game was on September 9, 1984. [5]

Franklin (middle) rushing the ball in Super Bowl XVII 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 09 - Mark Murphy (cropped).jpg
Franklin (middle) rushing the ball in Super Bowl XVII

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1981 MIA 16112017113.5297362.031
1982 MIA 991777014.0257393.060
1983 MIA 15122247463.3188000.000
1984 MIA 2220743.7120000.000
42346222,2323.629226152.561

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1981 MIA 11960.730000.000
1982 MIA 43783013.9122000.000
1983 MIA 116284.790000.000
65933353.6122000.000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XVII</span> 1983 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Miami Dolphins and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Redskins defeated the Dolphins, 27–17, to win their first Super Bowl championship. The game was played on January 30, 1983, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Craig (American football)</span> American football player (born 1960)

Roger Timothy Craig is an American former football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings. Craig went to four Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Craig was the first NFL player to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey are the only other players to have accomplished that feat. He currently works as the VP of Business Development at TIBCO Software.

Eric Eugene Crouch is an American former college football player who was a quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He won the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, and Davey O'Brien Award in 2001. Running Nebraska's option offense that year, he completed 105 of 189 passes for 1,510 yards and seven touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,115 yards and 18 touchdowns. He had brief stints playing professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and United Football League (UFL).

Tony Curtis Nathan is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Dolphins in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft with the 61st overall pick. Nathan played with Miami from 1979 to 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Morris</span> American football player (born 1947)

Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner. He played for eight years, primarily for the Miami Dolphins, in the American Football League (AFL) as a rookie in 1969 then in the American Football Conference (AFC) following the 1970 merger with the National Football League (NFL).

Mike Shula is an American football coach who is the Offensive Analyst for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the South Eastern Conference (SEC). He played college football as a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was the school's head coach from 2003 to 2006. He was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 1999, the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017, and the New York Giants from 2018 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Kiick</span> American football player (1946–2020)

James Forrest Kiick was an American professional football player. He played as a running back for the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League (AFL) from 1968 to 1969 and in the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 through 1977, except for 1975 when he played in the World Football League (WFL).

Cory Michael Schlesinger is an American former professional football player who was a fullback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was selected by the Lions in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft. He was selected to three Pro Bowls.

Carl Richard Todd is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1986. Like former Jets quarterback Joe Namath and Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, he played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Todd was selected by the Jets in the first round of the 1976 NFL draft with the sixth overall pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Taylor</span> American football coach (born 1983)

Zachary William Taylor is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Beginning his NFL career as an offensive assistant, Taylor was the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams when they appeared in Super Bowl LIII. Taylor was named Cincinnati's head coach the following season in 2019, where he went 6–25–1 in his first two years. In 2021, Taylor led the Bengals to their first playoff win since 1990, ending the longest active drought in the four major North American sports, en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI. Taylor followed this up with 12 wins and a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2022. During his time with the Bengals, Taylor has won five postseason games, matching the franchise win total prior to his hiring as head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommie Frazier</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1974)

Tommie James Frazier Jr. is an American former college football player who was a quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He earned consensus All-American honors in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epic in Miami</span> American football playoff game in 1982

The Epic in Miami was the National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl. The game, won by the Chargers in overtime, 41–38, is one of the most famous in National Football League lore because of the enormity of scoring, the conditions on the field, the performances of players on both teams, and the numerous records that were set.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team</span> American college football season

The 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was the national champion of the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cornhuskers offense scored 459 points while the defense allowed 162 points.

The 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the Big Eight Conference during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. The Cornhuskers were led by tenth-year head coach Bob Devaney and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Steve Taylor is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Taylor had signed a four-year contract with the Edmonton Eskimos just one month after finishing his senior season of college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The dual-threat quarterback was selected in the 12th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts in April, but Taylor was already committed to playing in the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyreek Hill</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tyreek Hill is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Hill was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played college football at Garden City, Oklahoma State, and West Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Burkhead</span> American football player (born 1990)

Rex Burkhead is a former American football running back. He played college football at Nebraska and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. After four seasons with the Bengals, Burkhead spent his next four seasons with the New England Patriots, where he appeared in consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl LIII. Burkhead joined the Houston Texans in 2021, spending two seasons with them before retiring in 2024.

The 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by first-year head coach Mike Riley and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tua Tagovailoa</span> American football player (born 1998)

Tuanigamanuolepola Donny Tagovailoa is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning a national championship in 2017, and named the Offensive MVP of the national championship game as a freshman. As a sophomore, Tagovailoa won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in 2018, earning a 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship appearance.

De'Von Achane is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M and was selected by the Dolphins in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

References

  1. 1 2 Hambleton, Ken (December 6, 2006). "Ex-Husker fullback Franklin dies at 47". Lincoln Journal-Star. (Nebraska). Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Hambleton, Ken (December 11, 2006). "Remembering Andra Franklin". Lincoln Journal-Star. (Nebraska). Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Former Huskers' standout Andra Franklin is dead at 47". ESPN. Associated Press. December 8, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  4. Papanek, John (January 24, 1983). "The Revenge of the Killer Bees". Sports Illustrated. p. 21.
  5. "Dolphins lose Franklin with knee injury". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). September 11, 1984. p. 14.