Marshall Faulk, born on February 26, 1973, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a former professional American football running back renowned for his exceptional versatility and impact on the game. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams.
Early Life and Education
Faulk attended San Diego State University from 1991 to 1993, where he earned unanimous All-American honors twice. His outstanding college performance led to his selection by the Indianapolis Colts as the second overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft.
NFL Career
During his NFL career, Faulk achieved numerous accolades, including:
- NFL Most Valuable Player (2000): Recognized for his outstanding performance during the 2000 season.
- Three-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1999–2001): Honored for his exceptional offensive contributions over three consecutive years.
- Super Bowl Champion (XXXIV): Played a pivotal role in the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.
- Seven-time Pro Bowl Selection (1994, 1995, 1998–2002): Recognized as one of the league’s top players multiple times.
- Six-time First-team All-Pro (1999–2001) and Second-team All-Pro (1994, 1995, 1998): Acknowledged for his excellence at the running back position.
Faulk was instrumental in the Rams’ high-powered offense, known as “The Greatest Show on Turf,” which led to two Super Bowl appearances and a championship win. In the 2000 season, he amassed 1,359 rushing yards and 830 receiving yards, scoring a total of 26 touchdowns—a record at the time.
Post-Retirement and Coaching
After retiring from professional play, Faulk transitioned to roles in media and coaching. He served as an analyst for NFL Network until December 2017. In February 2025, he joined the University of Colorado’s football coaching staff as the running backs coach, following an invitation from head coach Deion Sanders.
Legacy
Faulk’s legacy is marked by his dual-threat capability as both a runner and receiver, setting him apart from many of his contemporaries. He is one of only three NFL players to surpass 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards, and the sole player to exceed 12,000 rushing and 6,000 receiving yards. His contributions to the game were further cemented with inductions into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.