Marshall Faulk facts for kids

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Marshall Faulk

Faulk in 2023

No. 28

Position:

Running back

Personal information

Born:

February 26, 1973 (age 52)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

Height:

5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

Weight:

211 lb (96 kg)

Career information

High school:

G. W. Carver (New Orleans)

College:

San Diego State (1991–1993)

NFL Draft:

1994 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2

Career history

Indianapolis Colts (1994)
St. Louis Rams (1999)

Career highlights and awards

Super Bowl champion (XXXIV)
NFL Most Valuable Player (2000)
3× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1999–2001)
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1994)
3× First-team All-Pro (1999–2001)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1994, 1995, 1998)
7× Pro Bowl (1994, 1995, 1998–2002)
NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2000)
2× NFL scoring leader (2000, 2001)
Bert Bell Award (2001)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1994)
St. Louis Football Ring of Fame
Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor
Los Angeles Rams No. 28 retired
Jim Brown Award (1992)
2× Unanimous All-American (1992, 1993)
First-team All-American (1991)
WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1992)
3× First-team All-WAC (1991-1993)
San Diego State Aztecs No. 28 retired
7 career 2-point conversions

Career NFL statistics

Rushing yards:	12,279
Rushing average:	4.3
Rushing touchdowns:	100
Receptions:	767
Receiving yards:	6,875
Receiving touchdowns:	36

Player stats at PFR

Pro Football Hall of Fame

College Football Hall of Fame

Marshall William Faulk (born February 26, 1973) is a famous former football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He played for the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. Many people think he is one of the best running backs ever.

Faulk played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. He was named an unanimous All-American twice, meaning everyone agreed he was one of the best. The Colts picked him second overall in the 1994 NFL draft. He played five seasons with the Colts. Then, he spent his last eight seasons with the Rams. Faulk was a key player on the "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams team. This team went to two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXIV. He was even named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2000 season.

Marshall Faulk is one of only three NFL players to run for at least 10,000 yards and catch for 5,000 yards. He is the only player to get 12,000 rushing yards and 6,000 receiving yards. After retiring, he worked as an analyst for NFL Network. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2017, he joined the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life

Marshall Faulk was born and grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. He went to Carver High School. There, he played for the Carver Rams high school football team. He was also a great track runner. He could run 100 meters in 10.3 seconds! When he was young, he sold popcorn at New Orleans Saints games. These games were held in the Louisiana Superdome.

In his last two years at Carver High, Faulk ran for 1,800 yards. He also scored 32 touchdowns. In his senior year, he played defense too. He intercepted 11 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns.

College Football Star

Marshall Faulk's game ball from a 1991 game. He ran for 386 yards and scored 44 points!

Many big colleges wanted Marshall Faulk to play for them. But most wanted him as a cornerback. Faulk really wanted to be a running back. He knew he would be more successful doing what he loved. He accepted a scholarship from San Diego State University. They were the first team to offer him a spot as a running back.

Amazing College Records

One of his best games was on September 14, 1991. It was only his second college game. He ran for an amazing 386 yards in 37 carries. He also scored seven touchdowns! Both were records for a freshman player. This game started one of the best freshman seasons in NCAA history. He gained 1,429 rushing yards. He had 23 total touchdowns and scored 140 points.

In his second year, Faulk ran for over 1,600 yards. In his junior year (1993), he showed he could do it all. He caught 47 passes for 640 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,530 yards and 21 touchdowns. These numbers made him third in the nation for all-purpose yards. He was also second in scoring. Faulk left San Diego State University with many school records. He had 5,562 all-purpose yards and 62 career touchdowns. This is the 8th most in NCAA history!

Heisman Trophy Race

After his 1992 season, Faulk finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. This award goes to the best college football player. Many people thought he should have won. The winner was quarterback Gino Torretta. Torretta's team was undefeated. Faulk's team had a 5–5–1 record. The Heisman often goes to a player on one of the best teams. Faulk was also a Heisman finalist in 1991 (9th place) and 1993 (4th place).

Joining the NFL

Draft Day Excitement

Before the 1994 NFL Draft, experts thought Faulk was one of the top players. He ran a super fast 4.35-second 40-yard dash. The Cincinnati Bengals had the first pick. They thought about picking Faulk. But they chose defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson. This left Faulk for the Indianapolis Colts.

Indianapolis Colts Years

The Indianapolis Colts picked Faulk second overall in the 1994 NFL Draft. They really needed a strong running game. Faulk signed a big contract. He quickly showed his talent. In his first year, he ran for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass. The Colts improved their record to 8–8. That season, Marshall Faulk became the first NFL player to win both the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and the Pro Bowl's Most Valuable Player Award in the same year. He was also the first rookie to win Pro Bowl MVP.

The next season, Faulk ran for 1,078 yards and 14 total touchdowns. The Colts made it to the playoffs. They almost reached the Super Bowl, but lost a close game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Faulk missed that game due to a toe injury.

In 1996, Faulk had a tough year because of his toe injury. He only ran for 587 yards. But he still led the Colts in total yards from scrimmage. He recovered and ran for over 1,000 yards in the next two seasons. In 1998, he set a personal best with 1,319 rushing yards. He also caught 86 passes for 906 yards. That year, he led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,227. This was the first of his NFL-record four straight seasons with over 2,000 total yards.

Becoming a St. Louis Ram

The Colts traded Faulk to the St. Louis Rams in 1999. The Rams gave the Colts two draft picks for him. Faulk signed a huge contract with the Rams. It was the biggest deal in the team's history at that time.

The "Greatest Show on Turf"

In his first year with the Rams, Faulk was the main reason for their amazing offense. This offense was nicknamed "The Greatest Show on Turf". Faulk set an NFL record with 2,429 total yards from scrimmage. He ran for 1,381 yards and caught for 1,048 yards. He also scored 12 touchdowns. Faulk became only the second player ever to have over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in one season. He also broke the NFL record for most receiving yards by a running back.

Super Bowl Glory

The Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV that season! In the Super Bowl, the Tennessee Titans defense tried hard to stop Faulk's running. He only had 17 rushing yards. But he was a big part of the Rams' passing game. He caught 5 passes for 90 yards. This was the second-highest receiving total by a running back in Super Bowl history. At the end of the season, he won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. He was also a starter in the Pro Bowl.

MVP Season and More Awards

The next year, Faulk became the first running back to lead his team in receptions for five different seasons. He was also named the NFL MVP and the Offensive Player of the Year again in 2000. He ran for 1,359 yards in 14 games. He also set a new NFL record with 26 total touchdowns! The Rams' offense was amazing, but their defense struggled that year.

In 2001, the Rams returned to the Super Bowl. Their defense improved, and the offense was still scoring a lot of points. Faulk had another fantastic season. He ran for a career-high 1,382 yards. He also caught 83 passes for 765 yards. He led the NFC with 2,147 total yards from scrimmage. He scored 21 touchdowns, even though he missed two games due to injuries. Faulk won the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award for the third year in a row! These years were the peak of Faulk's amazing career.

Later Career and Retirement

Marshall Faulk in 2008 in San Diego

As Faulk got older, injuries started to affect him. After 2001, he didn't have another 1,000-yard rushing season. He was still the Rams' main running back. But he wasn't as fast or powerful as he was in his prime. Still, he remained a respected and effective player.

In 2002, Faulk signed another big contract with the Rams. The team struggled that year, finishing 7–9. Faulk played in 14 games. He had 953 rushing yards and 80 catches. The next season, he played in 11 games. He had 818 rushing yards and 45 catches. The Rams improved their record to 12–4.

In 2004, Faulk shared playing time with rookie Steven Jackson. He played in 14 games and ran for 774 yards. In 2005, Faulk's last NFL season, he ran for only 292 yards. He also caught 44 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown. This was the only time in his career he didn't score a rushing touchdown.

In July 2006, the Rams announced that Faulk needed knee surgery. He would miss the entire 2006 NFL season. During that season, Faulk worked as an analyst for the NFL Network. On March 26, 2007, Marshall Faulk officially announced his retirement from football.

On November 29, 2007, the Rams announced they would retire Faulk's jersey number, 28. This means no other Rams player will wear that number. The ceremony happened during a game on December 20, 2007. In 2010, the NFL Network ranked Faulk as the 70th greatest player of all time.

In 2011, Marshall Faulk was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He ranks very high in NFL history for running backs. He is first in receiving yards (6,875), second in catches (767), and third in total yards from scrimmage (19,154). He is also tenth in rushing yards (12,280).

Faulk holds an NFL record with seven two-point conversions. He also has NFL records for five games with over 250 yards from scrimmage. He has 14 games with over 200 yards from scrimmage. He is the only player to have 70+ rushing touchdowns and 30+ receiving touchdowns. He is also the only player with 12,000 rushing yards and 6,000 receiving yards in his career.

Marshall Faulk's Amazing Records

Fastest player to gain 16,000 yards from scrimmage: 129 games
Fastest player to gain 17,000 yards from scrimmage: 142 games
Fastest player to gain 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a season: 6 games (tied with Jim Brown)
Most two-point conversions, career: 7
Most consecutive seasons with 2,000 yards from scrimmage: 4
Most consecutive seasons with 5+ rushing touchdowns: 10 (tied with LaDainian Tomlinson)
Most consecutive games with 4+ touchdowns: 2 (tied with Jim Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson)
Most receiving yards by a running back in a season: 1,048
Most consecutive games with a reception by a running back (minimum 5 carries per game): 158
Most games with 200 yards from scrimmage: 14
Most games with 250 yards from scrimmage: 5
Most games with both a rushing and receiving touchdown, career: 15
Only player with 70+ rushing touchdowns and 30+ receiving touchdowns
Only player with 12,000 rushing yards and 6,000 receiving yards in a career
Only player to have 200 receiving yards and 50 rushing yards in the same game - December 26, 1999
Only player to have 200 receiving yards and 10 rushing attempts in the same game - December 26, 1999

Career Statistics

Legend
	AP NFL MVP & OPOTY
	AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
	Won the Super Bowl
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
Year	Team	GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1994	IND	16	16	314	1,282	4.1	52	11	52	522	10.0	85T	1
1995	IND	16	16	289	1,078	3.7	40	11	56	475	8.5	34	3
1996	IND	13	13	198	587	3.0	43	7	56	428	7.6	30	0
1997	IND	16	16	264	1,054	4.0	45	7	47	471	10.0	58	1
1998	IND	16	15	324	1,319	4.1	68T	6	86	908	10.6	78T	4
1999	STL	16	16	253	1,381	5.5	58	7	87	1,048	12.0	57T	5
2000	STL	14	14	253	1,359	5.4	36	18	81	830	10.2	72T	8
2001	STL	14	14	260	1,382	5.3	71T	12	83	765	9.2	65T	9
2002	STL	14	10	212	953	4.5	44	8	80	537	6.7	40	2
2003	STL	11	11	209	818	3.9	52	10	45	290	6.4	30	1
2004	STL	14	14	195	774	4.0	40	3	50	310	6.2	25	1
2005	STL	16	1	65	292	4.5	20	0	44	291	6.6	18	1
Career		176	156	2,836	12,279	4.3	71T	100	767	6,875	9.0	85T	36

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
Year	Team	GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1995	IND	1	1	1	16	16.0	16	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1996	IND	1	1	9	25	2.8	7	0	3	10	7.6	3.3	0
1999	STL	3	3	38	82	2.2	11	1	13	175	13.5	52	1
2000	STL	1	1	14	24	1.7	4	0	7	99	14.1	35	1
2001	STL	3	3	64	317	5.0	38	3	14	114	8.1	23	0
2003	STL	1	1	19	53	2.8	8	1	9	78	8.7	25	0
2004	STL	2	2	20	85	4.3	13	1	6	43	7.2	14	0
Career		12	12	165	602	3.6	38	6	52	519	10.0	52	2

Awards and Honors

NFL

Super Bowl champion (XXXIV)
NFL Most Valuable Player (2000)
3× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1999–2001)
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1994)
3× First-team All-Pro (1999–2001)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1994, 1995, 1998)
7× Pro Bowl (1994, 1995, 1998–2002)
NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2000)
2× NFL scoring leader (2000, 2001)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (1994)
St. Louis Football Ring of Fame
Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor
Los Angeles Rams No. 28 retired
Bert Bell Award (2001)

College

WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1992)
3× First-team All-American (1991–1993)
3× First-team All-WAC (1991-1993)
San Diego State Aztecs No. 28 retired

Life After Football

Faulk (right) and Rich Eisen during the 2010 NFL draft

After retiring from playing, Faulk became a longtime analyst for NFL Network. He shared his insights on shows like NFL Total Access. He also appeared on Thursday Night Football and NFL GameDay Morning.

Faulk even played himself in an episode of the TV show Life in Pieces in 2016.

In 2011, Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor for football players. In 2013, he was also inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor. This happened during a game against the Houston Texans.

Personal Life

Marshall Faulk was married to Lindsay Stoudt from 2006 to 2014. He has six children. His son, Marshall Faulk Jr., played running back for the Central Washington Wildcats.

Faulk has a charity foundation in San Diego. His childhood friend, Tyrone Wilson, helped him start it. Marshall Faulk is also a cousin of Kevin Faulk, who was another NFL running back.

In 2009, Faulk was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions.