Images and Stats of Billy Sims, Lions Running Back of the 1980s
Billy Sims: Career Overview
Billy Sims played college football at the University of Oklahoma from 1975–1979. He was a member of Oklahoma’s 1975 national championship team and became a two-time All-American. In 1978, Sims won the Heisman Trophy after rushing for 1,762 yards and 20 touchdowns. He finished second in the Heisman voting in 1979 after rushing for 1,506 yards and 22 touchdowns. He finished his Oklahoma career with 3,813 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns.
The Detroit Lions selected Sims first overall in the 1980 NFL Draft. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1980. In five seasons with Detroit, Sims played 60 games, rushing for 5,106 yards and 42 touchdowns, while adding 2,072 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. His NFL career ended after a knee injury during the 1984 season.
Image Gallery of Billy Sims, Running Back, 1980-1984
Billy Sims Football Cards and Covers
Billy Sims All-Time Career Statistics
| Â | Rushing | Receiving | Total Scrimmage Yards | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Pos | # | Games | Starts | Carries | Yards | Y/A | Long | TD | Catches | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | Total TDs | |
| 1980* | 25 | DET | RB | 20 | 16 | 16 | 313 | 1303 | 4.2 | 52 | 13♦ | 51 | 621 | 12.2 | 87t | 3 | 364 | 5.3 | 1924 | 16♦ | 12 |
| 1981* | 26 | DET | RB | 20 | 14 | 14 | 296 | 1437 | 4.9 | 51 | 13 | 28 | 451 | 16.1 | 81t | 2 | 324 | 5.8 | 1888 | 15 | 9 |
| 1982* | 27 | DET | RB | 20 | 9 | 8 | 172 | 639 | 3.7 | 29 | 4 | 34 | 342 | 10.1 | 52 | 0 | 206♦ | 4.8 | 981 | 4 | 7 |
| 1983 | 28 | DET | RB | 20 | 13 | 12 | 220 | 1040 | 4.7 | 41 | 7 | 42 | 419 | 10.0 | 54 | 0 | 262 | 5.6 | 1459 | 7 | 6 |
| 1984 | 29 | DET | RB | 20 | 8 | 8 | 130 | 687 | 5.3 | 81 | 5 | 31 | 239 | 7.7 | 20 | 0 | 161 | 5.8 | 926 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 Year NFL Career | 60 | 58 | 1131 | 5106 | 4.5 | 81 | 42 | 186 | 2072 | 11.1 | 87 | 5 | 1317 | 5.5 | 7178 | 47 | 40 | ||||
| Rushing | Receiving | Total Scrimmage Yards | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Pos | G | Carries | Yards | Y/A | Long | TD | Catches | Yards | Y/R | Long | TD | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | Total TDs | |
| 1982 | 27 | DET | RB | 1 | 6 | 19 | 3.2 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 68 | 11.3 | 35 | 0 | 12 | 7.3 | 87 | 0 | 2 |
| 1983 | 28 | DET | RB | 1 | 20 | 114 | 5.7 | 56 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 6.5 | 11 | 0 | 24 | 5.8 | 140 | 2 | 0 |
| Total Post Season | 26 | 133 | 5.1 | 56 | 2 | 10 | 94 | 9.4 | 35 | 0 | 36 | 6.3 | 227 | 2 | 2 | ||||
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
- * – Pro Bowl Selection
- ♦ – Led the League
For some good additional reading:
More Great Running Backs from Past NFL History!
Detroit Lions from NFL History!
