Image Gallery of Preston Pearson

Post category:Special Teams/Kick Returners / Running Backs
Post author:phil

Image Gallery of Preston Pearson, Running Back/Kick Returner 1967-1980

Colts special teams player Preston Pearson gets a chance to carry the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in 1968. While he was used almost exclusively as a Kick Returner (he scored 2 touchdowns and averaged over 35 yards a return) he occasionally (19 times) carried the ball as a runner. The Vikings shown here are linebackers Lonnie Warwick (#59) & Wally Hilgenberg (#58) and Cornerback Ed Sharockman (#45).
Preston Pearson carries against the Minnesota Vikings in 1968

Preston Pearson, Runningback Kick Returner 1967-1980

Appeared in 5 different Super Bowls with 3 different teams. Was on the winning team twice - Once each with Pittsburgh and Dallas.
Preston Pearson

Joining the Cowboys in 1975 he became what many consider the original third down back. Equally adept at catching the ball as receiving defenses had to account for him in passing situations. He led the NFL in 1976 and 1977 in Average Yards-per-Touch with 6.0 and 6.5 averages respectively. His on-field contributions helped Dallas to 3 Super Bowl appearances.
Preston Pearson

A 12th-round draft pick out of University of Illinois he played 7 games a rookie primarily as a Special Teams player. By 1968 he was playing runingback and returning kicks. His 35.1 average for returning kicks was best in the league that year. He also had the longest return of the year (a 102 yards TD Return against Detroit). Remained a Colt through the 1969 season.
Preston Pearson Baltimore Colts

After 3 seasons with the Colts he joined the Steelers and played there for 5 years primarily as a kick returner and special teams player.
Preston Pearson Pittsburgh Steelers

Behind the blocking of center John Fitzgerald, guard Tom Rafferty and fullback Robert Newhouse he scores a touchdown against San Francisco in 1977. It was his second score of the of the day.
Preston Pearson Scores while Tom Rafferty and Robert Newhouse Block

His 14-year career started as a 12-round draft pick out of Illinois by the Baltimore Colts in 1967. Started 7 games on Special Teams that season. Here he is going up against veteran Dave Edwards of the Dallas Cowboys his rookie season.
Rookie Preston Pearson goes against Dave Edwards

His 14-year career started as a 12-round draft pick out of Illinois by the Baltimore Colts in 1967. Started 7 games on Special Teams that season.
Baltimore Colts Rookie Preston Pearson

A Basketball player, he never played football in college but impressed scouts with his speed and athleticism. Drafted in the 12th round and played mostly special teams for the Colts his rookie year.
Preston Pearson Baltimore Colts Rookie

Won a Super Bowl in 1977. That season he led the league with a 6.5 Yards-per-Touch Average every time he carried or caught the ball.
Preston Pearson

Preston Pearson Football Cards

On his Topps 1974 card. 1974 was his last of 5 seasons with the Steelers. Sidelined part of the year with a hamstring injury he was still productive with 81 touches, 435 total yards from scrimmage, a 5.4 Yards-per-touch and 4 scores. He was waived before the start of the 1975 season. When he left the Steelers he was the franchise #7 All-Time leading rusher.
Preston Pearson 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Topps NFL Football Trading Card #452

His 14th and final season in the NFL he saw limited duty. His career would end with 9545 All-Purpose Yards and a total of 32 touchdowns scored.
Preston Pearson 1980 Dallas Cowboys Topps NFL Football Trading Card #95

Preston Pearson’s Career Rushing and Receiving Statistics

Year	Age	Team	Games	Rush	Yards	Y/A	Long	TD	Catches	Yards	Y/C	Long	TD	Touches	Y/Tch	YScm	Total TD	Fumbles
1967	22	BAL	7	0	0		0	0						0		0	0	0
1968	23	BAL	14	19	78	4.1	13	0	2	70	35.0	61	2	21	7.0	148	2	2
1969	24	BAL	14	24	81	3.4	10	0	4	64	16.0	37	0	28	5.2	145	0	2
1970	25	PIT	14	173	503	2.9	30	2	6	71	11.8	18	0	179	3.2	574	2	6
1971	26	PIT	14	131	605	4.6	29	0	20	246	12.3	41	2	151	5.6	851	2	7
1972	27	PIT	11	67	264	3.9	21	0	11	79	7.2	15	0	78	4.4	343	0	4
1973	28	PIT	14	132	554	4.2	47	2	11	173	15.7	36	2	143	5.1	727	4	2
1974	29	PIT	9	70	317	4.5	53	4	11	118	10.7	31	0	81	5.4	435	4	0
1975	30	DAL	14	133	509	3.8	32	2	27	351	13.0	49	2	160	5.4	860	4	1
1976	31	DAL	10	68	233	3.4	21	1	23	316	13.7	30	2	91	6.0♦	549	3	1
1977	32	DAL	14	89	341	3.8	22	1	46	535	11.6	36	4	135	6.5♦	876	5	1
1978	33	DAL	16	25	104	4.2	18	0	47	526	11.2	34	0	72	8.8	630	0	0
1979	34	DAL	14	7	14	2.0	11	1	26	333	12.8	26	1	33	10.5	347	2	0
1980	35	DAL	11	3	6	2.0	2	0	20	213	10.7	20	2	23	9.5	219	2	0
6 seasons Cowboys			79	325	1207	3.7	32	5	189	2274	12.0	49	11	514	6.8	3481	16	3
5 seasons Steelers			62	573	2243	3.9	53	8	59	687	11.6	41	4	632	4.6	2930	12	19
3 seasons Colts			35	43	159	3.7	13	0	6	134	22.3	61	2	49	6.0	293	2	4
14-year Career			176	941	3609	3.8	53	13	254	3095	12.2	61	17	1195	5.6	6704	30	26

Career Kick Return Statistics

Year	Age	Team	Games	Returns	Yards	Y/Rt	Long	TD	APYd
1968	23	BAL	14	15	527	35.1♦	102♦	2♦	675
1969	24	BAL	14	31♦	706	22.8	51	0	888
1970	25	PIT	14	4	114	28.5	35	0	688
1971	26	PIT	14	7	205	29.3	77	0	1056
1972	27	PIT	11	13	292	22.5	42	0	638
1973	28	PIT	14	16	308	19.3	28	0	1035
1974	29	PIT	9	12	258	21.5	29	0	693
1975	30	DAL	14	16	391	24.4	42	0	1251
6 seasons Cowboys			79	16	391	24.4	42	0	3872
5 seasons Steelers			62	52	1177	22.6	77	0	4110
3 seasons Colts			35	46	1233	26.8	102	2	1563
14-year Career			176	114	2801	24.6	102	2	9545