William Andrews

STEADY PERFORMER

A third-round pick in the 1979 NFL draft, William Andrews became just the second running back in NFL history to have two 2,000-yard (combined yards) seasons. From 1979-83, Andrews gained 8,382 total yards – an average of 1,677 per year – to lead all NFL runners. The impressive numbers sent Andrews to five-straight Pro Bowls. Though his career was cut short by a knee injury in 1985, Andrews managed to set 19 Falcons records in his NFL tenure.

ACQUIRED:

William Andrews was a third-round selection (79th choice overall) out of Auburn by the Falcons in the 1979 NFL Draft.

MILESTONES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Pro Career

• A third-round draft pick “surprise”, Andrews was among the NFL’s elite runners when a shocking knee injury prematurely ended one of the NFL’s greatest careers.
• He became just the second running back in NFL history to have two 2,000-yard all-purpose seasons (the only other prior to Andrews was O.J. Simpson. When he had his first 2,000-yard year, he joined just four other backs who had done so (Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Wilbert Montgomery and Simpson).
• Tallied 22 games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards and had 45 games in which he accounted for more than 100 combined yards.
• In his first five seasons in the NFL (1979-83), he outgained every other back in the entire NFL. The bullish Andrews had 8,382 yards in those five years (an average of 1,677 per season) to lead all NFL runners.
• Andrews set 19 Falcons records that began in his very first NFL game in 1979 when he ran for 167 yards at New Orleans with 189 total yards. With 121 yards the following week at Philadelphia, Andrews became just the third player ever to gain more than 100 yards rushing in his first two games.
• Led the team to three playoff berths in his first five years and earned four Pro Bowl spots.
• During that five-year span, he played in 72 of those 73 games and then disaster struck on August 21, 1984 when during a practice in Suwanee Andrews severely injured his knee. After 660 days of rehabilitation, Andrews returned to play one more season for the Falcons.

Honors

• Four Pro Bowls (1980-83).
• All-NFL by five publications in 1983, Falcons MVP.
• NFL All-Rookie team in 1979.
• Inducted into Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in February of 1996.
• Team Man of the Year winner for off-field work with groups like Olympics, Project CURE for leukemia, Drug Awareness programs.
• Was one of five finalists for Miller’s NFL Man of the Year balloting for his tireless work in the community.

College

• Was a “no-name” back at Auburn, who spent a lot of time blocking for future NFL running backs Joe Cribbs and James Brooks.
• One of his highlights was a 25-carry, 142-yard game to beat rival Georgia en route to his 1,367 yards over his three seasons.

Personal

• Born on Christmas Day in 1955 in Thomasville, Ga.
• Starred at Thomasville, Ga., where his team won two state championships as he ran for an incredible 4,339 yards with 61 touchdowns.
• He has two sons, Andy and Micah.