The Biggest NFL One-Hit Wonders
By Jason Lisk
“We had joy, we had fun, We had seasons in the sun” was the chorus for the 1974 hit single “Seasons in the Sun.” The song itself was about someone dying too soon and saying goodbye to loved ones. Notably, it was Terry Jacks’ only hit, a one-hit wonder himself. This post is devoted to those NFL players who had their season in the sun, but for whatever reason, it did not last. Injuries felled many on this list, while others toiled in anonymity until they got their brief chance, and others had everything go right for one year.
Here are the biggest one-hit wonders of the NFL–a list restricted to those that touched the ball since we have more of a record to track changes in performance:
#1 ICKEY WOODS, 1988
Ickey Woods became a cultural phenomenon in 1988 as a rookie. He developed the still-famous Ickey Shuffle and paired with James Brooks in the Cincinnati Bengals’ backfield as the team surged to the Super Bowl. He finished with over 1,000 yards rushing, and topped the century mark in both of the playoff games to reach the Super Bowl.
Woods tore his ACL early the next year and never really recovered. He had 18 combined touchdowns and shuffles in the regular season and playoffs in 1988; 13 more for the rest of his career.
#2 GREG COOK, 1969
Greg Cook is one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NFL history. He was the 5th overall pick for the young Cincinnati franchise in 1969, and started immediately as a rookie. He led the AFL in passer rating and yards per attempt (with a whopping 9.4 yards per attempt) as a rookie, but an undiagnosed torn rotator cuff cost him dearly, and he never recovered. He completed one more pass–four years later–in the NFL. Cook passed away in 2012 of pneumonia.
#3 PATRICK JEFFERS, 1999
Patrick Jeffers went from walk-on at Virginia to late round pick of the Denver Broncos. He spent several years on the back end of rosters before having one magical year at age 26. Combining with Steve Beuerlein in Carolina, Jeffers had a five-week stretch to end the 1999 season with at least 100 yards in each game. He had 717 yards and 8 TDs over those five games.
That came crashing back down the next year when Jeffers tore his ACL in the preseason, and also required micro fracture surgery.
#4 PEYTON HILLIS, 2010
In 2009, Peyton Hillis had 54 rushing yards as a fullback in Denver. The next year, in Cleveland, he had 1,654 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. He was the 2nd highest scorer in fantasy football at running back, behind only Arian Foster. It’s easy to forget just how out of control the Peyton Hillis train was before it completely de-railed. He was voted as the Madden cover. He gave us great photo back in 2010.
And then he scored 6 more touchdowns for the rest of his career and averaged 3.6 yards a carry.
#5 JOE SENSER, 1981
Joe Senser had a pretty good rookie year in 1980 (447 yards), and then exploded in 1981 for over 1,000 yards as a tight end. Thanks to a player strike and a knee injury the following year, Senser would have only 361 more yards for the rest of his career.
#6 DEREK ANDERSON, 2007
The Browns drafted Brady Quinn in the first round in 2007, and started Charlie Frye in the season opener. Frye was benched after only one start and it was Anderson who got the next one. He shocked the world with a 5 touchdown performance as the Browns beat the Bengals in a shootout, 51-45. Anderson, who was selected for the pro bowl, kept Quinn on the bench all season, and finished the year with 29 touchdown passes as Cleveland went 10-6, just missing the playoffs.
Anderson started parts of the next three years, but threw fewer than 20 touchdowns combined, and has been a backup for the last six years.
#7 TERDELL MIDDLETON, 1978
As a second year player out of Memphis, Middleton got an opportunity and put up over 1,100 rushing yards and 11 TDs in 1978 for the Packers. He never again topped 500 yards and scored four more touchdowns in his NFL career. Middleton passed away in 2015.
#8 MICHAEL CLAYTON, 2004
Michael Clayton was the first round pick for the Bucs in 2004 out of LSU, and made an immediate impact. Despite a revolving door at QB (Brad Johnson, Brian Griese, and Chris Simms all started games), he posted nearly 1,200 yards as a rookie.
He never came close to duplicating it again, never finishing with even 500 yards receiving in any of the seven remaining seasons he played. He scored only three more TDs after seven as a rookie.
#9 GARY BARNIDGE, 2015
Gary Barnidge spent six relatively anonymous seasons in the NFL, never having more than 13 catches. Then, in 2015 with Cleveland, he exploded for perhaps the most improbable 1,000 yard season out of a tight end ever. Barnidge ended the season with 79 catches and 9 touchdowns. He dropped back to 55 catches and 2 touchdowns last year, and is currently a free agent who will turn 32 in September.
#10 ROBERT GRIFFIN III, 2012
Man, was 2012 an incredible season for Robert Griffin, until he hurt his knee. Washington made a huge trade to take Griffin 2nd overall, and installed an exciting offense that took advantage of his running ability. Washington surged to the playoffs and Griffin was Rookie of the Year and a pro bowler.
That was five years ago. Griffin currently remains unsigned after one season in Cleveland, and never again recovering or progressing in Washington.
#11 STEVE SMITH, 2009
Yes, once upon a time, there was the other Steve Smith who was younger than the vocal star of the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens. At age 24, the other Smith had over 100 receptions with the Giants and over 1,200 yards, breaking the franchise record at the time for receptions.
#12 JOHN SETTLE, 1988
Platooning with veteran Gerald Riggs in 1988, John Settle had over 1,500 yards from scrimmage. He also scored 8 touchdowns and was selected for the pro bowl. Settle had an okay year the next season, but was completely unused in 1990 by Jerry Glanville. He signed with Washington before the 1991 season, but never played again.
Settle has been a long time running backs coach and is now with the University of Wisconsin.
#13 LIONEL JAMES, 1985
Lionel “Little Train” James did everything in 1985. He was a return man, had over 500 yards rushing, and over 1,000 yards receiving. He led the NFL in all-purpose yards with over 2,500. He scored 8 of his 14 career touchdowns from scrimmage that season, and had as many yards that year as over the next three years combined.
Others:
#14 CRAIG JAMES, 1985
#15 GERMANE CROWELL, 1999
#16 DON HASSELBECK, 1981
#17 MIKE FURREY, 2006
#18 DON MAJKOWSKI, 1989