Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

2015 Hall of Fame finalist: Terrell Davis

Former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis' Hall of Fame candidacy is one of quality. He did as much as possible in the time he had in the NFL.

Davis played just seven NFL seasons -- all with the Broncos -- before knee injuries ended his career, but his résumé continues to be unique. To those who played alongside him, Davis is deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame. He was a Super Bowl MVP (XXXII) to close out the 1997 season and won an NFL MVP award in 1998.

Davis led the league in rushing in ’98 with 2,008 yards and has three of the top five rushing seasons in Broncos history. His career mark of 97.5 rushing yards per game (regular season) is the fourth-best total in NFL history.

Davis rushed for 100 or more yards in seven of his eight career playoff games, and the Broncos won all seven. Those were Denver's consecutive postseason wins on the way to back-to-back Super Bowl wins to close out the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Davis has been a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame seven times, including this year, but this is the first time he has been a finalist.

He is just one of two backs in the Super Bowl era to have won the league’s rushing title and the Super Bowl in the same season. Davis did it to close out the 1998 season, while Emmitt Smith did it three times.

And there is precedent for a back with a career as short as Davis’ to reach Canton. Six running backs who are already enshrined played in fewer regular-season games than Davis’ 78.

“I’ve always said, I would not have two Super Bowl rings if it were not for TD,’’ said John Elway, the franchise's legendary QB who is now the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations/general manager. “I believe that.’’

 

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