Corey Dillon facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | October 24, 1974 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Franklin (Seattle, Washington) |
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| NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43 | ||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Corey James Dillon (born October 24, 1974) is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Dillon played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots.
He played college football for the Washington Huskies. In 1996, he was named an All-American and All-Pac-10 player. The Bengals picked him in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft.
During his seven years with the Bengals, Dillon set many team records. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times in a row. Later, with the Patriots, he earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection. He also won Super Bowl XXXIX with them. Dillon retired with over 11,000 rushing yards. This places him 20th all-time in NFL career rushing yards. In 2024, he was added to the Bengals Ring of Honor.
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Early Life & Sports Talents
Corey Dillon grew up in Seattle, Washington. He went to Franklin High School. There, he and his cousin, Ed Raiford, were a powerful duo on the football team. Both earned many national awards for their skills.
Dillon was also a great baseball player. He played as a catcher and received All-Metro honors. The San Diego Padres baseball team even picked him in their 1993 draft.
College Football Journey
Dillon started his college football career at Garden City Community College in Kansas. In 1994, he rushed for 1,165 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. The next year, he played for Dixie State College in Utah. He gained 1,899 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
In 1996, Dillon joined the University of Washington and played for the Huskies. He was known for his strong and aggressive running style. That season, he set new team records. He rushed for 1,695 yards and scored 24 touchdowns.
In one game against San Jose State, Dillon had an amazing first quarter. He rushed for 222 yards and caught an 83-yard touchdown pass. This set NCAA records for rushing and all-purpose yards in a single quarter. He also scored five touchdowns against UCLA.
Professional Football Career
Cincinnati Bengals Years
The Cincinnati Bengals chose Corey Dillon in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft. He was the 43rd player picked overall. In his first game in 1997, Dillon rushed for 246 yards. He scored 4 touchdowns against the Tennessee Oilers. This broke a 40-year-old rookie record set by Jim Brown.
His 1,129 rushing yards that season are still a Bengals rookie record. For six years, Dillon was a standout player for the Bengals. He rushed for over 1,000 yards every year from 1997 to 2002. He was selected for the Pro Bowl three times (1999, 2000, 2001).
On October 22, 2000, Dillon set an NFL record. He rushed for 278 yards in one game against the Denver Broncos. This broke Walter Payton's record from 1977. While this record has since been broken, it remains a Bengals team record.
New England Patriots Success
In 2004, Dillon was traded to the New England Patriots. This trade helped the Patriots win their third Super Bowl. Dillon had a fantastic 2004 season. He set new career highs with 1,635 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
He played a big role in the Patriots' playoff run. In the Super Bowl XXXIX victory, he was the top rusher. He gained 75 rushing yards and scored a touchdown. Overall, he rushed for 292 yards in the 2004 postseason.
In 2005, Dillon continued to help the team. He rushed for 733 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games. He also caught more passes, showing his versatility. In 2006, he shared rushing duties with rookie Laurence Maroney. Dillon finished that year with 812 rushing yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns.
Retirement from the NFL
The Patriots released Dillon on March 2, 2007. Later that year, Dillon announced his retirement from the NFL. He ended his career as the active leader in career rushing yards.
Corey Dillon's Amazing Records
Corey Dillon holds several impressive records for both the Bengals and Patriots.
Cincinnati Bengals Franchise Records
- Most rushing yards in a career – 8,061
- Most carries in a career – 1,865
- Most rushing yards per game in a career – 75.3
- Most rushing yards in a single game – 278 (in 2000)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a game – 4 (in 1997), tied with Joe Mixon
New England Patriots Franchise Records
- Most rushing yards in a single regular season – 1,635 (in 2004)
- Most rushing yards in the postseason in a career – 508
- Most carries in the postseason in a career – 120
See also
- List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders
- Washington Huskies football statistical leaders
