The game of football is grueling enough for players as they move through the high school and college ranks into the NFL. For Steelers’ starting running back James Conner, the road to NFL stardom had just a few more twists and turns than others.
James Conner has overcome more than just the everyday rigors, as well as the bumps and bruises it took to get to the league. He is a man that embodies the hard work and blue-collar mentality that makes him a perfect fit in the Steel City. Steelers’ fans have a man in Conner that they can root for on and off the field, because of his great story. In this week’s piece below, I will take a look at what makes Conner so unique and why he was always destined to be the next great Steelers’ back.
Early years and the struggle of survival
James Conner is a true Pennsylvanian through and through, as he attended high school in Erie and committed to play college football at the University of Pittsburgh. Even as a college Freshman, it was clear that Conner was playing at a much higher level than most. He appeared in 12 games as a true freshman, rushing for over 700 yards and eight touchdowns.
Panthers’ fans and alum everywhere knew that Conner was a star, especially after the team’s bowl game that year. Conner broke Tony Dorsett’s single-game school rushing yards record with 229 in that game. The great Dorsett showed nothing but support for his fellow Pitt alum after the game.
For an encore, Conner was named ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore, rushing for 1,765 yards and a conference-record 26 touchdowns. He bulldozed his way through defenders and looked like a man on a mission to become the best back in all of college football. It was during his third college season, though, where trouble sadly took over. Conner tore his ACL in the Panther’s opening win and was subsequently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during his knee rehabilitation process.
Recovery
Conner worked through chemotherapy treatments to battle back within the next year. Amazingly, he still trained even through the chemo treatments, providing inspiration to his teammates and those in Pittsburgh. His work ethic was unquestionable.
Miraculously, a year later James Conner was completely cancer-free and returned for his junior season as the starter for the Panthers. Now disease-free and with the support of Panthers’ fans and all college football fans alike, he showed off his vintage ability once again. The talented back rushed for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns, while even adding 302 yards and another four scores through the air.
He was indeed the answer to Pittsburgh’s prayer and a true inspiration to all who watched him. Conner embraced his battle with the disease and became a champion to all under the hashtag #ConnerStrong.
From Pitt to the Steelers
On the heels of that exceptional bounce-back junior season, Conner entered his name into the 2017 NFL Draft. Once thought of as a potential day one selection, Conner faced obvious hurdles to being drafted into the NFL at all. Against all the odds once again, the talented runner was chosen by the Steelers in the third round at number 105 overall. His storybook career took on a new chapter, moving from a Pittsburgh Panther to a Pittsburgh Steeler. And his legacy as a legend in the city of Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania continued to grow.
The third-rounder had a mostly uneventful rookie season, compiling only 144 rushing yards and zero touchdowns as the backup to Le’ Veon Bell. He also landed on injured reserve with another knee injury, this time to his MCL. However, from tragedy came triumph once again for James Conner in Pittsburgh. Amid a contract dispute with the team, Bell decided to sit out the 2018 season, and this elevated Conner into the catbird seat. Entering only his second season in the NFL, the former Pittsburgh Panther was the undisputed starter now for the Steelers.
James Conner was the consummate professional as the backup in Pittsburgh as he awaited Bell’s contract situation to subside. However, he was ready to take over once they called his number, and he never looked back. In his first full season as the starter, Conner resembled the great slashing style of his predecessor as both a runner and receiver in this offense. It was evident that Conner learned a great deal during his rookie season, as he watched Bell contribute 1,600 total yards and eleven touchdowns.
In 2018, Pittsburgh’s offense did not skip a beat as Conner took over and dominated to the pace of over 1,400 total yards and 13 scores.
And the legend continues
James Conner’s first season as a starter in Pittsburgh was an overwhelming success, and he made his first Pro Bowl. He fell just 27 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards, which looks like a real outlier for the encore and moving forward as the next star tailback in the Steel City. Even his former teammate Bell has taken time out to marvel at the early success of Conner.
It was during a November Thursday Night game that Bell tweeted out in admiration. The young starter had just finished a string of four consecutive 100-yard games in which he also scored seven total touchdowns. It was obvious that the two great tailbacks shared a special bond, even throughout the tumultuous times in Pittsburgh.
What is truly astounding is that James Conner overcame a life-threatening illness in a matter of months, yet he’s achieving elite status with the Steelers. Having Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster on offense also helps curtail singling him out. Conner is primed to continue his success, especially considering his dominant, physical running nature.
2019 and beyond
Conner’s star is on the rise, and it is apparent to all of the NFL, including both past and present Steelers’ teammates. Jaylen Samuels was a player that watched and learned from Conner’s success in 2018. Samuels is a former fifth-round draft selection who earned the second-string role. Samuels contributed three receiving scores as a backup and also added a 142-yard rushing performance while filling in for Conner last season. He believes that role could expand this season and it even appears the two could be on the field at the same time in 2019.
The potential of these two backs in the Pittsburgh offense could be huge. I predicted big numbers for these two players back in May. Both Samuels and Conner have great hands and are versatile, Swiss army knife-types as runners. The incumbent will be able to use Samuels to prolong his career, and the two should complement each other well moving forward, leaving each player fresh from week to week.
Whether by himself or part of a tandem, Conner is going to enjoy great success again in 2019. Fans from all over are rooting for his great story to continue and he remains an inspiration to all. We all look forward to watching his legend grow some more in the great city of Pittsburgh.
Scott Gorman is a writer for PFN covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. You can follow him @sgormanPFN on Twitter.