NFL One-Hit Wonders: Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis is probably my favorite of the NFL one-hit wonders. NFL one-hit wonders happen more often than you think. Players can have one career year and then do nothing for the rest of their time in the league. This week, I am doing a series on some of the past one-hit wonders, culminating on Friday with a look at the candidates for 2023. The season Hillis had for the Cleveland Browns was unlike anything we have ever seen.

NFL One-Hit Wonders: Peyton Hillis

Hillis spent two years in Denver after being drafted in the seventh round by the team. The Broncos traded him to the Browns before the 2010 season. Because of his size, many thought he would be more of a fullback which, even in 2010, was a position that was starting to fade. He began the 2010 season low on depth charts, but due to injuries, he was thrust into a prominent role. He took over in Week 3 and took advantage of his opportunity in a big way.

Former Browns RB Peyton Hillis (40) – Stephen Morton, Associated Press

The 2010 Season

Week 3 was a game against the Baltimore Ravens, a team whose run defense was only allowing 3.4 yards per carry. Hillis came in a dropped 144 yards on them (6.5 yards per carry) and also added yards in the passing game vaulting him over 180 all-purpose yards for the game. Following a Week 9 game against the Patriots, Hillis was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 9, the first Cleveland Browns running back to win that honor since Eric Metcalf in 1992. He had over 200 all-purpose yards in that game. In total, Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. He added another 477 yards receiving and two touchdowns. It truly was a special season.

via EA

Madden Cover

How special was it? Hillis made an improbable run in the Madden cover athlete voting. For this year, EA made a bracket of players and had fans vote on the matchups. Hillis defeated Ray Rice, Matt Ryan, and Aaron Rodgers on his way to the finals. He then defeated Michael Vick with 66 percent of the vote to become the Madden cover athlete for the next season. For a player that had one great season, he was insanely popular with fans.

Former Browns RB Peyton Hillis (40) – Larry French/Getty Images

Post-2010 Injuries

Hillis could never recapture the magic of the 2010 season. He struggled with hamstring injuries and concussions due to his tough running style. Many blamed the “Madden curse,” but it wasn’t just 2011 that he struggled. He never eclipsed 600 yards in a season and only spent one more year with the Browns before bouncing around the league for a couple of years. He retired in 2015 on the advice of doctors and even, in an interview, talked about how his heart was not really in it anymore.

The running back position is full of elusive and quick running backs. Peyton Hillis was one of the last real bruising backs to grace an NFL field. The 2010 Hillis season was so fun to watch. Fans loved seeing an underdog perform well and that is exactly what happened with Hillis. The Browns have not had much to cheer about in recent years, but this season gave them a player to get excited about.