Todd Gurley

At 29 years old, Todd Gurley has this physical status:

Todd Jerome Gurley II (born August 3, 1994) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Georgia where he earned All-SEC honors in 2012 and 2013.

Gurley was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the tenth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Despite missing three games due to a torn ACL suffered during his junior year at Georgia, Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards in his rookie season and was voted Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press.

He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press following the 2017 season after gaining 19 offensive touchdowns.

Early years

Todd Jerome Gurley II was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Tarboro High School in Tarboro, North Carolina, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball, and track. He played running back and defensive back for the Vikings during his junior season, totalling 1,472 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, as well as 79 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. He was named Rocky Mount Telegram All-Area Offensive Player of the Year for the 2010 season. As a senior in 2011, he was the North Carolina Associated Press Player of the Year after totaling 2,600 yards and 38 touchdowns. As a senior, Gurley helped the Vikings football team win the 2A North Carolina state championship, rushing for 242 yards and four touchdowns in the championship game against Lincolnton High School.

Gurley was also a world-class hurdler and sprinter for the school's track & field team. He competed for Team USA in the 110-metres hurdles at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics, where he placed 3rd in the prelims with a career-best time of 13.66 seconds, but finished 15th overall in the semifinals. Also a top competitor in the 100-meter dash, he ran a personal-best time of 10.70 seconds in the prelims of the 2011 NCHSAA 2A State Track Meet, placing 2nd.

Gurley was considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, and was listed as the fifth best running back in his class. He committed to the University of Georgia to play college football under then-head coach Mark Richt.

Personal life

Gurley acquired numerous sponsorships in his professional career, including Hulu, Gatorade, and Carl's Jr.

Gurley was a co-founder of the M.A.D.E. Sports Foundation, which is designed to work in communities and use sports to help build character among members.

As a result of his successful 2017 season, some fantasy football owners who owned Gurley won their leagues. A movement started among some of the fantasy owners to donate some of their winnings to Shriners Hospital for Children, which was Gurley’s charity of choice. The initiative ended up netting over $10,000 for the hospital.

In 2018, Gurley hosted a childhood literacy initiative in partnership with Pizza Hut. The initiative was collaborating with nonprofit organization First Book to fulfill the company’s goal of providing access to a quality education for needy children.

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College career

In a freshman's 12–2 season, Gurley became an immediate contributor to the Bulldogs' backfield. He rushed for 100 yards on eight carries with two rushing touchdowns in his first game against the Buffalo Bulls. In addition,, he had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 45–23 home victory. Gurley won the 42-20 game against Missouri, a SEC East opponent. He was drafted for 65 yards on ten carries in his second game of the season. In the 56-20 victory over FAU, he had ten rushing yards and one touchdown. In a 48-3-2 victory over Vanderbilt, he had 16 carries for 130 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. In the 51–44 victory over Tennessee, he had 24 carries for 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the following week. In the 17–9 victory in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on October 27, he had 27 carries for 118 passing yards and one rushing touchdown. In the 37–10 victory over Ole Miss on November 3, he had 18 carries for 117 yards. In the 38–0 victory over Auburn, he had 11 carries for 116 yards and a running touchdown. Gurley became Georgia Southern's second true freshman to rush for 1,000 yards, the only other being Herschel Walker in 1980. In the 42–10 victory over Georgia Tech in the regular season finale, he had 12 carries for 97 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Georgia won the SEC East and faced Alabama in the SEC Championships. He had 23 attempts for 122 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 32-28 loss. Georgia defeated Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. He had 23 carries for 125 passing yards and one rushing touchdown in the 45-31 victory.

Gurley played 12 of 14 games and rushed for 1,385 yards on 222 attempts with 17 rushing touchdowns. His 17 rushing touchdowns tied for third in a single season in school history. Gurley came in second in the SEC in rushing yards, with only second trailing Johnny Manziel. The Associated Press named Gurley First-Team All-SEC after the season. T. J. Yeldon of Alabama, one of two true freshman running backs to do this feat in 2012, was one of two true freshman candidates, with the other being T. J. Yeldon of Alabama.

In 2013, Gurley played a bigger part in Georgia's receiving game. Gurley led the Bulldogs to a career-high 154 yards on 12 attempts and two rushing touchdowns on August 31, in Georgia's season opener at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. Despite the fact that the Bulldogs lost the game 38–35, Gurley had a fantastic showing against Clemson, which included a 75-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. In the 41–30 victory over South Carolina, he had 30 rushing yards and one running touchdown to go along with an eight-yard receiving touchdown. In the 23-20 victory over Florida, he had 17 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown as well as three receptions for 87 receiving yards and one touchdown. In the 41-34 victory over Georgia Tech, he had 20 rushing yards and three touchdowns to go along with four receptions for 36 touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. In the 24-19 loss, he had 86 passing yards, 97 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. He rushed for 989 passing yards on 165 attempts, with ten rushing touchdowns to go along with 37 interceptions for 441 yards and six receiving touchdowns. He led the team in all major rush categories and receiving touchdowns. The Associated Press named Gurley as the Second-Team All-SEC after the season.

Gurley joined the Georgia Bulldogs indoor track team in the spring of 2013. He competed in the 60-meter hurdles and set the seventh fastest time in school history at 8.12 seconds, taking sixth place at the VT Elite Meet.

Gurley's 10–3 season in 2014 saw some tragic events occur for the team in terms of coordination and injury. Gurley rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 15 attempts in the 45-21 victory over Clemson on August 30, defeating them by a score of 100 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. In the 35-32 victory over Tennessee, he had 28 carries for 208 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Garrison Hearst had 246 against Vanderbilt in 1992, he had 208 yards in a single game by a Georgia running back. The University of Georgia had Gurley permanently suspended him on October 9, 2009, for a suspected breach of NCAA laws. Gurley had been charged over $3,000 over two years for signed autographs and memorabilia, but it took just two days to find out. Gurley played in the Missouri and Arkansas games before the NCAA upheld its decision to ban Gurley for four games. Gurley did not play against Auburn in their annual rivalry match until he was eligible to play against them. Gurley tore his ACL against Auburn on November 15, the end of his junior season and his University of Georgia career. In six games, he had 123 attempts for 911 rush yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Gurley decided against his senior season and entered the 2015 NFL Draft. At the time of his release from Georgia, his 3,285 passing yards ranked second, and his 36 running touchdowns tied for second in school history.

Professional career

Gurley was chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the first round as the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the first to be drafted in that year's draft. In 1989, Tim Worley was the highest drafted running back out of Georgia after being ranked seventh overall. Gurley's recovery went faster than expected and during the team's preseason, although he did not play, he did not practice without wearing pads. Gurley was medically cleared for complete contact by St. Louis team physicians a few weeks back.

Gurley made his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, on September 27, 2015. In the 12–6 loss, he was eased into action and finished the game with six rushes for nine yards. The Rams returned to the undefeated Arizona Cardinals for an NFC West divisional matchup next week. Gurley started slow at halftime with just two passing yards at halftime, but rushed for 144 yards in the second half, defeating the Cardinals by a score of 24–22. Gurley will rush for at least 128 yards per game against the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and the San Francisco 49ers. In the Week 7 matchup, he scored his first NFL touchdown against the Browns on October 25, 2015. Gurley became the most prolific rusher in his first four NFL games since the AFL–NFL merger, with 566 yards in his first four NFL debuts. Gurley's jersey and cleats were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Week 8, following the 27–6 victory over the 49ers in Week 8.

In Week 9, Gurley was restricted to 89 yards on 24 attempts in the Rams' 21–18 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In a 37-13 loss to the Chicago Bears, he was limited to only 45 rushing yards on 12 carries in Week 10. Gurley rushed for 66 yards on 25 attempts against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, finishing the game on a 16–13 loss. Gurley was limited to 19 yards on nine attempts in a 31–7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12. In a 27–3 loss at home in the second divisional matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this week, he was limited to 41 passing yards on nine carries in a 27–3 loss. Gurley rushed for 140 yards in Week 14 of the Rams' 24–14 victory over the Detroit Lions. Gurley rushed for 48 yards, scored a touchdown, and became the third rookie in Rams history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (Jerome Bettis and Eric Dickerson) in a 31–23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15. Gurley rushed for 85 yards on 19 carries in Week 23, beating the Seattle Seahawks as the second Rams rookie since Dickerson in 1983, to rush for 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns.

Despite only 12 attempts and missing the Rams' season-ending loss to San Francisco, Gurley finished his rookie year with 1,106 passing yards and ten touchdowns on 229 attempts. Gurley, along with fellow Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, and punter Johnny Hekker, was selected to compete in the 2016 Pro Bowl on December 22, 2015. He was named to the 2015 NFL All-Rookie Team. Gurley, along with Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver/kick returner Tyler Lockett, Oakland Chiefs wide receiver Amari Cooper, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston were among the five rookies selected to the Pro Bowl. Gurley won a decisive 27 votes to 17 for Winston, beating Winston for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was ranked 22nd by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

Gurley had a rough start in the Rams' first season in Los Angeles in his second season. Gurley was held to 98 rushing yards on 36 carries in the first two weeks of the 2016 season against the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. However, Gurley had 28 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 for 37–32 victory. His record against the Buccaneers was his best on record. The Rams ended the season with a 4–12 record. Gurley finished with 278 carries for 885 yards, finishing 17th in the NFL, 55.3 rushing yards per game, a dramatic decrease from the previous season and six touchdowns.

Gurley managed to bounce back from a down year when he was with the Rams during Jeff Fisher's firing and subsequent hire of Sean McVay as the new head coach, requiring him to call the team's former playbook similar to that of a "middle school offense." Gurley opened the 2017 season with a bang against the Indianapolis Colts. In the 46-9 victory, he had 19 carries for 40 rushing yards and a touchdown to go along with five receptions for 56 receiving yards. In a Week 2 game against the Washington Redskins, he had 16 carries for 88 yards and a running touchdown, as well as three touchdowns for 48 yards and a receiving touchdown. On Thursday Night Football, Gurley's breakthrough game of 2017 came against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. He ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns, as well as five passes for 36 yards and one touchdown. After registering 241 rushing yards, 140 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns in September, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. Gurley's streak against the Dallas Cowboys continues in Week 4, where he passed 215 rushing yards (124 passing yards and 94 receiving yards) and a touchdown. He now had one in each of his last three games and led the NFL in total touchdowns and yards-from-scrimmage. After his 215-yard game against the Cowboys, Gurley was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks, Gurley recorded his third 100-yard rush game of the season with 121 yards on 23 attempts against the Jacksonville Jaguars, after logging just 43 yards on 14 attempts. In Week 7, Gurley had yet another 100-yard game as a result of 106 attempts for 22 passing attempts and one rushing touchdown.

Gurley's output increased for the next five games after the Rams' Week 8 bye: he averaged 62 rushing-and-54 receiving yards per game, with 100+ yards from scrimmage in four of them, and three touchdowns in the time span, with three touchdowns in a row. In a thrilling-but-losing effort against Philadelphia in Week 14, he had 96 passing yards and two touchdowns on only 13 carries. Gurley had a career-best four touchdowns (three rushing, three rushing, and 20 with 30 seconds remaining in the first half) on 180 yards from scrimmage in a landslide victory over Seattle in Week 15. In 2006, he became the first Ram to score four touchdowns in a single game after Steven Jackson. In the game, he scored 24 points, the most for a single game by any player in the 2017 season. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Week 15. Gurley was named as a starter in his second Pro Bowl on December 19. Gurley earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. He had ten passes for 158 yards and two receiving touchdowns to go along with 118 rushing yards. For the second time this season, Gurley was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month. The playoff-bound Rams decided not to have Gurley out of the game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers, allowing Kareem Hunt to win the coveted trophy for rushing yards, but the NFL still led the way with 13 rushing touchdowns, 19 total touchdowns, and 2,093 yards-from-scrimmage and all-purpose yards. With 114 points, he finished the season as the top scoring among non-kickers in the league. He was the 16th player in NFL history with a 750/750 passing/receiving yard season and the eighth to record a 1,300/750 season.

On January 6, 2018, Gurley played his first post-season game against the Atlanta Falcons in the Wild Card Round. In the 26–13 home loss, he was playing from behind for the majority of the game.

Gurley was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year after a stellar 2017 season. In MVP voting, he came in second place behind Tom Brady. He was ranked sixth by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

The Rams tried to choose Gurley's contract for the fifth time on April 24, 2018. Gurley's four-year, $60 million contract extension with the Rams was guaranteed on July 24, 2018, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

In Week 1, Gurley scored the Rams' first touchdown of the season, with quarterback Jared Goff catching him in the end zone against the Oakland Browns. Gurley defeated 33–13 on a touchdown in 147-scrimmage yard effort. Gurley scored three rushing touchdowns in Week 2, the Arizona Cardinals' 34–0 victory, for the second time in his career. In Week 3, Gurley had 23 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown to go along with five receptions for 51 receiving yards.

In Week 33, Gurley defeated the Seattle Seahawks by 77 passing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Gurley completed with 28 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-20 victory over the Denver Broncos, earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 7, against the San Francisco 49ers, he had two rushing touchdowns and a touchdown pass. Since rushing for 462 yards and seven touchdowns and receiving 16 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns in four games, Gurley was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for the month of October.

Todd Gurley set a new team record by scoring a touchdown in 13 straight games, beating Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch' record of 17 yards per game during Week 10's victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Gurley rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help the Rams win their second straight NFC West championship and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2018.

In a 30–23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, Gurley scored two rushing touchdowns. He was later kicked out of the final two regular season games due to knee inflammation, and he finished the 2018 season with 256 passes for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns receiving. Gurley was named to his third Pro Bowl appearance in his four professional seasons. He was selected as a First-Team All-Pro.

Gurley ran 23 times for 115 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 30–22 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff.

Gurley failed in a 26-23 overtime victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, as he passed for ten yards and a touchdown and had one catch for three yards. Gurley's injury status was heavily discussed ahead of the Super Bowl, with news claiming he was fine, but other reports indicated he was much more hurt than expected. In the 13–3 loss to the Patriots, Gurley had ten carries for 35 rushing yards. Gurley suffered from arthritis in his left knee on March 2, 2019.

Gurley's lingering knee pains contributed to reduced output in 2019. He didn't have a 100-yard rush game, but he was still strong in the red zone on scoring touchdowns. In the Rams 9-27 season, Gurley ended the 2019 season with 857 passing yards and 12 touchdowns to go along with 31 receivers for 207 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Gurley was released on March 19, 2020, which was March 19, 2020.

Gurley signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons on April 6, 2020. If he has 13 touchdowns or 1,000 rushing yards, the contract includes a $2 million signing bonus as well as $500,000 in incentives.

Gurley made his Falcons debut against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. Gurley was rushing for 56 yards and his first rushing touchdown as a Falcon during the 38–25 loss. In Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, he had 16 rush yards for 57 yards and two running touchdowns. Gurley lost by 150 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. In Week 7 against the Detroit Lions, he had 23 rushing yards and two running touchdowns. His second rushing touchdown was particularly impressive. When driving, the Falcons were 14–14 late in the fourth quarter. The Falcons were able to clock out the majority of the clock and kick a potential game-winning field goal. However, Gurley was given the ball and tried to prevent them from crossing the goal line. However, he scored a touchdown with 1:04 remaining to give the Lions a chance to play again and win the game, which they did. Overall, Gurley completed the 2020 season with 195 passes for 678 yards and nine passing touchdowns, as well as 25 receptions for 164 receiving yards. Gurley carried backfield with Brian Hill and Ito Smith during the season.

Gurley revealed in an October 2022 interview that he did not play in 2021, and that he was no longer playing in professional football.

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