A History of the Eagles' Running Backs
1933 Swede Hanson scores the first touchdown in Eagles history. The Temple product finishes the season with a teamleading total of 24 points.
1936 With the first overall selection in the first NFL draft, the Eagles pick Heisman winner Jay Berwanger. He declines to play for the Birds or anyone else.
1944 The Eagles use their firstround pick on a running back from Louisiana State who has never even heard of the team and who misses the stop when his train reaches Philadelphia. After he finds his way back from New York, Steve Van Buren starts shattering the team's records.
1945 In a 10-game season, Van Buren scores 18 touchdowns, more than some entire teams.
1947 Van Buren becomes the second 1,000-yard back in NFL history.
1949 Carrying the Birds to their second straight NFL title, Van Buren rushes for 196 yards in the 14-0 championship game win over the Los Angeles Rams.
1952 In an attempt to replace the injured Van Buren, the Eagles use their first-round pick on John Bright. Bright, who would have become the team's first black player, opts instead to play in Canada, but rookie halfbacks Ralph Goldston and Don Stevens integrate the team.
1957-59 Fullback Bill Barnes leads the team in rushing three times and earns three Pro Bowl berths.
1960 On a 5-yard sweep, rookie Ted Dean scampers for the winning score in the 17-13 title game victory over the Green Bay Packers.
1962 Tim Brown, a former 27th-round pick of the Packers, sets an NFL record with 2,306 total yards. He breaks the mark in 1963 with 2,428.
1968 Two late-season wins cost the 2-12 Eagles a chance to draft Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson. They settle for Leroy Keyes, who ultimately is shifted to defense.
1978 Unheralded second-year back Wilbert Montgomery rushes for 1,220 yards and lands in the Pro Bowl.
1979 Montgomery breaks his own team mark with 1,512 rushing yards.
1980 Montgomery's 194 rushing yards lead to a 20-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC title game.
1982-85 As injuries slow Montgomery, the Eagles struggle to find a featured back.
1986 Keith Byars is drafted in the first round but proves to be a better receiver than runner.
1992 Herschel Walker, signed as a free agent, rushes for 1,070 yards.
1995-97 Free-agent signee Ricky Watters leads the offense, peaking in 1996 with 1,411 rushing yards.
1998 With Watters' departure, Duce Staley becomes the featured back. He posts consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
2002 Brian Westbrook is drafted in the third round out of Villanova.
2007 Westbrook sets a team record for yards from scrimmage (2,104) and receptions (90).
- Compiled by David Cohen