We are ranking the Top 10 All-Time Best NFL Offensive Players from Texas high school football. This list is based solely on each player’s NFL career — including MVPs, total stats, All-Pro teams, Super Bowl wins, and Pro Bowl selections.
Earl Campbell lands at #9 on our list. He narrowly edges out other legendary names thanks to his dominance at his peak. Although his career was shorter than most on this list, Campbell was widely considered one of the best 2–3 running backs in the NFL throughout his prime years with the Houston Oilers. If this was a list based on who was the most talented or the best in just their peak years, Campbell would be higher.
Early Life and High School Career
Earl Christian Campbell was born on March 29, 1955, in Tyler, Texas. Growing up as the sixth of eleven children, he first played football in fifth grade. By his senior year at John Tyler High School, Campbell led the team to a 4A state championship and was named Mr. Football USA, the top high school player in the country.
His punishing running style and incredible strength were already apparent at a young age, foreshadowing the legendary career that lay ahead.
College Career at the University of Texas
At the University of Texas, Campbell’s college career was nothing short of legendary. After battling through injuries early on, he exploded as a senior:
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Won the 1977 Heisman Trophy
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Led the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards and 19 touchdowns
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Unanimous All-American
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First-ever winner of the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy
Campbell finished his college career with 4,443 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. His No. 20 jersey was later retired by the Longhorns.
NFL Career and Achievements
Selected first overall in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, Campbell immediately became one of the NFL’s brightest stars. His dominance was undeniable:
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NFL Most Valuable Player (1979)
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3× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1978–1980)
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NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1978)
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3× First-Team All-Pro (1978–1980)
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5× Pro Bowl Selection (1978–1981, 1983)
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3× NFL Rushing Yards Leader (1978–1980)
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2× NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader (1979, 1980)
In his first three seasons, Campbell averaged nearly 1,700 rushing yards per year — a level of production unmatched even today. His bruising running style, highlighted by powerful lower body strength, made him nearly impossible to tackle.
Campbell’s most jaw-dropping NFL stats:
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9,407 rushing yards
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74 rushing touchdowns
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4.3 yards per carry career average
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5 seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards
However, his physical style took its toll. After being traded to the New Orleans Saints in 1984, Campbell retired following the 1985 season at age 30.
Legacy
Earl Campbell’s prime years stand among the most dominant of any running back in NFL history. Despite a shorter career, his peak was historic — an unstoppable force in a golden age of football.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and remains a revered figure in both college and professional football.
While injuries and wear shortened his career totals, his greatness during his peak was unquestioned. Few backs have ever matched Campbell’s combination of power, toughness, and production.
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NFL MVP and 3× NFL Offensive Player of the Year
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Led the league in rushing three straight seasons
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5× Pro Bowl selection
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Member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
That is why Earl Campbell earns the #9 spot on our list of the greatest offensive players from Texas high school football.
