Which NFL Player Was Your Childhood Hero? (1 Viewer)

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Man, I've been a Vikings fan for over 40 years and would have a hard time pointing to just one player. Grew up watching Tommy Kramer and Wade Wilson throw to the likes of Ahmad Rashad, Joe Senser, and Michigan legend Anthony Carter. But, at that time, the true strength of the team was their defense, let by guys like Keith Millard, Scott Studwell, and stud safety Joey Browner.

If I had to pick one Viking from my early childhood, it would have to be Anthony Carter. He was just a special player who came up huge in some of the absolute biggest moments. Divisional round of the 1987 playoffs... Vikings were coming off of a wild card blowout of the Saints, and traveled to Candlestick to face the #1 seed 49ers. My parents were appliance shopping and my brother and I found our way to the electronics department at Sears, where we planted our butts on an endcap and watched Carter almost single-handedly dismantle San Fran. 10 catches, 227 yards, plus another 50-ish yards rushing/returning. We probably sat and watched that game from inside of Sears for over two hours. Unfortunately, Darrin Nelson dropped a game-tying pass the following week to come up just short against the Skins. Of the five NFCC games I've seen the Vikings lose, that one may have been their best chance to win a SB, considering how badly Washington beat up on the Broncos (the four MIN SB losses were all a little before my time).

Interesting side note (and a great trivia tidbit)... Anthony Carter still holds the NFL record for most all-purpose yards in a single NFL postseason (642 in 1987).

All of that said, if I'm being honest, the player I enjoyed watching the most growing up was Eric Dickerson (when they weren't playing MIN, that is). We didn't have cable TV growing up, and I probably listened to more Vikings games on the radio than I watched on TV. When we DID get a chance to watch games on Sunday (many times at my grandparents' house), it was more often than not the 49ers during that early/mid 80's time period. And, the divisional rival to those Niners were the LA Rams.... Jim Everett, Henry Ellard, Willie "Flipper" Anderson, and THE MAN.... Eric Dickerson. Talk about some classic battles between those two teams. The Niners were loaded, but the Rams were no slouch, and Everett, Dickerson, and company game them all they could ask for on several occasions. So, naturally, when I wasn't pulling for my Vikings, I was often pulling for the underdog in that SF-LA rivalry of sorts.

Dickerson was just fun to watch. I don't know how to describe his running style other than to say that he almost "glided" across the field. All the greats have their own style. Payton was one of a kind. Sanders could juke anybody out of their shoes. Riggins, Emmitt, Peterson... they're all unique. Dickerson was just SMOOTH. He made running look easy. Not quick, necessarily, and didn't have the moves that Payton or Sanders had. But, great vision plus a unique combination of power and speed. Just a pleasure to watch.

I feel like Ive watched every Anthony Carter game back in the good days of ESPN Classic. Phenomenal college player.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Mercury Morris and Larry Little. The Dolphins were my favorite team from the early 70's to the early 80s.

How does one stop having the same favorite team? Never understood that one.

If you lived in Maryland in the mid-80s, you'd understand why Baltimore fans didn't ride along with the Colts to Indy. Irsay was/is probably the most hated man in the state's history.

 

[goose_egged]

Joe Montana

I was 8 and living in the SF Bay Area when he won his last SB. I thought the man walked on water. I never gave Steve Young a fair shake because he took Joe Cool's job while the legend was injured. I doubt I've ever enjoyed following a player more than I did Montana in his two KC seasons. His revenge win over the Niners was so sweet. Ah, to be 8 again and have your heroes be ball players.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Joe Montana

I was 8 and living in the SF Bay Area when he won his last SB. I thought the man walked on water. I never gave Steve Young a fair shake because he took Joe Cool's job while the legend was injured. I'm doubt I've ever enjoyed following a player more than I did Montana in his two KC seasons. His revenge win over the Niners was so sweet. Ah, to be 8 again and have your heroes be ball players.

If KC had better receivers who could catch a cold he would have won a SB there.

Montana is my GOAT without question.

 

[JohnnyU]

Joe Montana

I was 8 and living in the SF Bay Area when he won his last SB. I thought the man walked on water. I never gave Steve Young a fair shake because he took Joe Cool's job while the legend was injured. I'm doubt I've ever enjoyed following a player more than I did Montana in his two KC seasons. His revenge win over the Niners was so sweet. Ah, to be 8 again and have your heroes be ball players.

If KC had better receivers who could catch a cold he would have won a SB there.

Montana is my GOAT without question.

Speaking of KC, I have vivid memories of Otis Taylor, Len Dawson, Ed Podolak, Mike Garrett, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, and Emmitt Thomas.

 

[darksideofoz]

none were a hero to me. playing football isn't a heroic endeavor hehe

but, if it wasn't for Barry Sanders, I wouldn't have fallen in love with the NFL. Shortly after that, Brett Favre got me to fall in love with the Packers. 30+ years later, still deeply in love with the Packers and the NFL.

 

[zoonation]

Jerry Rice.

Then in my 20s - Terrell Owens. Kids today have no idea how utterly dominant T.O. was in his prime. Turned regular QBs into pro bowlers. If he played with Manning his whole career like Harrison he would have challenged the Rice TD record IMO. Easily top 3 WR of all-time.

 

[Ben & Jerry's]

Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Paul Warfield, Mercury Morris and Larry Little. The Dolphins were my favorite team from the early 70's to the early 80s.

How does one stop having the same favorite team? Never understood that one.

If you lived in Maryland in the mid-80s, you'd understand why Baltimore fans didn't ride along with the Colts to Indy. Irsay was/is probably the most hated man in the state's history.

I grew up in Central Indiana in the 70's. 2 hours from Cincinnati and 3 hours from Chicago. There was 28 NFL teams.

The Dolphins were the emerging team, so that's who I was drawn to. At the time, the Bears and Bengals weren't exciting.

The Miami 3 headed running attack with Csonka, Morris, and Kiick was electric. I was drawn to #39 with the unique little U-shaped piece added to his face mask, desperately trying to protect that crooked nose. If you needed 1 yard, there was none better.

Then Shula, Griese, Buoniconti, **** Anderson, Yepremian, the whole team was fascinating to me.

Fast forward to the late 70's. The Miami dominance was over, Walter Payton was in Chicago, and the Steelers emerged. Without a "local" team to cheer for, my love for ALL of the NFL grew and started liking them all similarly.

In 1984, the Colts rolled in to town and I finally had a team to root for . I endured the Schlichter, Pagel, Trudeau, George, Harbaugh years.

And so I've been a Colts fan for 41 years

 

[fatness]

If you lived in Maryland in the mid-80s, you'd understand why Baltimore fans didn't ride along with the Colts to Indy. Irsay was/is probably the most hated man in the state's history.

Yep.
https://keepingscore.blogs.time.com...-colts-out-of-baltimore-in-the-dead-of-night/

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-28/baltimore-colts-move-to-indianapolis

 

[TripItUp]

Deion and Ronnie Lott

I played DB in high school and naturally followed the top DBs of the day.

 

[Donnybrook]

Man, I've been a Vikings fan for over 40 years and would have a hard time pointing to just one player. Grew up watching Tommy Kramer and Wade Wilson throw to the likes of Ahmad Rashad, Joe Senser, and Michigan legend Anthony Carter. But, at that time, the true strength of the team was their defense, let by guys like Keith Millard, Scott Studwell, and stud safety Joey Browner.

If I had to pick one Viking from my early childhood, it would have to be Anthony Carter. He was just a special player who came up huge in some of the absolute biggest moments. Divisional round of the 1987 playoffs... Vikings were coming off of a wild card blowout of the Saints, and traveled to Candlestick to face the #1 seed 49ers. My parents were appliance shopping and my brother and I found our way to the electronics department at Sears, where we planted our butts on an endcap and watched Carter almost single-handedly dismantle San Fran. 10 catches, 227 yards, plus another 50-ish yards rushing/returning. We probably sat and watched that game from inside of Sears for over two hours. Unfortunately, Darrin Nelson dropped a game-tying pass the following week to come up just short against the Skins. Of the five NFCC games I've seen the Vikings lose, that one may have been their best chance to win a SB, considering how badly Washington beat up on the Broncos (the four MIN SB losses were all a little before my time).

Interesting side note (and a great trivia tidbit)... Anthony Carter still holds the NFL record for most all-purpose yards in a single NFL postseason (642 in 1987).

All of that said, if I'm being honest, the player I enjoyed watching the most growing up was Eric Dickerson (when they weren't playing MIN, that is). We didn't have cable TV growing up, and I probably listened to more Vikings games on the radio than I watched on TV. When we DID get a chance to watch games on Sunday (many times at my grandparents' house), it was more often than not the 49ers during that early/mid 80's time period. And, the divisional rival to those Niners were the LA Rams.... Jim Everett, Henry Ellard, Willie "Flipper" Anderson, and THE MAN.... Eric Dickerson. Talk about some classic battles between those two teams. The Niners were loaded, but the Rams were no slouch, and Everett, Dickerson, and company game them all they could ask for on several occasions. So, naturally, when I wasn't pulling for my Vikings, I was often pulling for the underdog in that SF-LA rivalry of sorts.

Dickerson was just fun to watch. I don't know how to describe his running style other than to say that he almost "glided" across the field. All the greats have their own style. Payton was one of a kind. Sanders could juke anybody out of their shoes. Riggins, Emmitt, Peterson... they're all unique. Dickerson was just SMOOTH. He made running look easy. Not quick, necessarily, and didn't have the moves that Payton or Sanders had. But, great vision plus a unique combination of power and speed. Just a pleasure to watch.

Came in here to post about Anthony Carter. Just loved his crazy skinny legs that would some how elevate him over some of the best DBs. He was a true underdog that always shone brightest in the playoffs. I like him because he came across as being shy and authentic and he let his play speak for him. No contrived TD celebrations like the receivers in the modern era.
Unfortunately he ran into trouble after he left the game and you can't condone his conduct but that doesn't change the way I felt for him at the time.

 

[Deamon]

Uncle Mark.

 

[WVU Alum]

Ronnie Lott

I also had an unhealthy fandom of Vince Evans.

 

[panhead55]

Okay I'm old. Paul Hornung and Hugh McElhenny