If you ask a casual football fan to name the greatest running backs of the late '70s and early '80s, you’ll hear the same names. Walter Payton. Earl Campbell. Tony Dorsett. Maybe even Eric Dickerson if they’re thinking about the mid-80s. But there is a massive, gaping hole in the collective memory of the NFL, and it’s shaped like William Andrews.
In his prime, William Andrews wasn’t just a "good" football player; he was a violent, multi-dimensional force that changed how the fullback position was viewed. He played with a blend of power that mirrored Campbell and a receiving touch that preceded the modern "scat-back" era. Then, in an instant, a freak injury during a 1984 preseason practice essentially ended the career of a man on a direct trajectory to Canton.
The Rookie Debut That Put the League on Notice
Most players need time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. William Andrews? He decided to skip the learning curve. In 1979, the Atlanta Falcons took him in the third round out of Auburn. He was primarily a blocker in college, opening holes for Joe Cribbs. Nobody expected him to be a featured weapon.
On September 2, 1979, he stepped onto the turf at the Louisiana Superdome for his professional debut against the New Orleans Saints. He didn't just play; he dominated. Andrews racked up 167 rushing yards that day. It was a statement. He finished his rookie campaign with 1,023 yards, proving immediately that his collegiate role as a "lead blocker" was a massive underutilization of his talent.
Honestly, looking back at those early games, it’s wild how fluid he was for a guy who weighed over 200 pounds and ran with that much "bad intentions." He wasn't just a north-south runner. He had vision. He could catch a screen pass and turn it into a 40-yard highlight before the linebacker even knew the ball had left the quarterback's hand.
Total Yardage Mastery: 1981 and 1983
If you want to understand the true peak of William Andrews, you have to look at his 1981 season. While other backs were grinding out yards between the tackles, Andrews was doing everything. He led the NFL in yards from scrimmage that year with a staggering 2,036.
📖 Related: Georgia Georgia Tech Basketball Score: What Most People Get Wrong
Think about that for a second.
He rushed for 1,301 yards and caught 81 passes for another 735 yards. In an era where many backs were lucky to catch 30 balls, Andrews was essentially a top-tier wide receiver living in a power back's body. He was only the second player in history, after O.J. Simpson, to post multiple seasons with over 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
The 1983 Statistical Peak
Two years later, in 1983, he was even better on the ground. He finished second in the league in rushing with 1,567 yards. He also added 609 receiving yards. That’s 2,176 total yards. He was a 4-time Pro Bowler by this point and a 2-time Second-Team All-Pro. He was, quite literally, at the absolute summit of professional sports.
He was the engine of the Falcons' "Gritz Blitz" era hangover, the guy who made the offense move when the defense was struggling. Teammates and opponents alike described him as a "raging bull." He didn't avoid contact; he sought it. He didn't just run over people—he punished them for trying to tackle him.
The Injury That Changed Everything
Then came 1984.
👉 See also: Atlanta Braves Colorado Rockies: What Most People Get Wrong
During a preseason game against the Cardinals, the unthinkable happened. It wasn't even a highlight-reel hit. It was a standard play where his knee just gave out. The damage was catastrophic: torn ligaments and, perhaps more devastatingly, extensive nerve damage.
At the time, medical technology wasn't what it is today. There was no simple "clean it up and come back in six months" solution. Dr. James Andrews—yes, the legendary orthopedic surgeon—operated on him, but the recovery was grueling. He missed the entire 1984 and 1985 seasons. Two full years of his prime, gone.
The 1986 Comeback
Most people thought he’d never play again. But William Andrews was built differently. He fought his way back onto the field in 1986. He wasn't the same guy, though. He knew it, and the fans knew it. The Falcons even moved him to tight end occasionally just to keep his hands and blocking on the field.
He carried the ball 52 times for 214 yards that year. It was a shadow of his 1,500-yard seasons. Recognizing that he was no longer the "raging bull," he retired in 1987. He finished with 5,986 rushing yards and 2,647 receiving yards. Had he stayed healthy and maintained that pace for just three more years, he’d be a first-ballot Hall of Famer with stats that would rival Walter Payton.
Why We Don't Talk About Him Enough
It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle when your career only spans six effective seasons. Longevity is usually the ticket to the Hall of Fame. But if you value "peak performance" over "counting stats," Andrews is in a tier of his own.
He played in a small market in Atlanta during a time when the team wasn't winning championships. He shared the spotlight with flamboyant stars in Dallas and San Francisco. He didn't have a "The Catch" or a "Super Bowl Shuffle." He just had a blue-collar work ethic and a level of talent that frightened defensive coordinators.
💡 You might also like: Finding the YES Channel on DIRECTV: What New York Sports Fans Need to Know
What to Remember About William Andrews
- Versatility: He was the first modern dual-threat back.
- Power: He ran with a violence that defined the NFC West in the early 80s.
- Records: He still holds a massive place in the Falcons' record books and their Ring of Honor.
The next time you see a back like Christian McCaffrey or Prime Alvin Kamara catching 80 passes and running for 1,300 yards, remember that William Andrews was doing that forty years ago. He was the prototype. He was the blueprint.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see what the hype was about, go find old footage of the 1981 Falcons vs. Saints or any game from the 1983 season. Watch how he initiates contact. Compare his receiving routes to the receivers of that era. You’ll quickly see why he was considered the most dangerous man on the field every Sunday.