Willis McGahee
Encyclopedia
Willis Andrew McGahee III (born October 21, 1981) is an American football
running back
for the Denver Broncos
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at the University of Miami
.
He also played for the Baltimore Ravens
.
s. Only UCF's Kevin Smith
(29 in 2007), Nebraska
's Mike Rozier
(29 in 1983) and Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders
(37 in 1988) ran for more touchdowns in an NCAA Division I-A season.
McGahee's ten 100-yard performances broke the Hurricanes
' season record of eight, set by Ottis Anderson
in 1978; he added 355 yards on 25 receptions
(14.2 yard avg.) that season. He gained 2,108 all-purpose yards during 2002, which remains a Hurricanes' season record.
McGahee was a member of the 2001 University of Miami team
, which won the Division I national championship
in that year (the fifth such national championship for the University of Miami since 1983, the most of any university in the past 25 years).
In 2002, McGahee, along with Ken Dorsey
, Andre Johnson
, Kellen Winslow II
, and others led Miami to an undefeated regular season and a #1 ranking, which included a trip to the National Championship game against second ranked Ohio State
. Ohio State won the game in double overtime. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
, given to the nation's top player, finishing fourth in the voting (660 votes), while teammate Ken Dorsey finished 5th with 643 votes.
In the early part of the fourth quarter during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl
National Championship Game, McGahee suffered an injury after catching a screen pass
from Dorsey. He was immediately hit by Buckeye safety Will Allen
, bending his left knee
backwards and causing tears of the ACL
, PCL
, and MCL
. Prior to getting hurt, he had rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, as Miami would lose the game in double-overtime
, 31–24. This injury required several surgeries and extensive rehabilitation before he would be able to play again. At the season's end, McGahee announced he would not collect on a $2.5 million insurance policy he had taken out before the Championship game, and therefore would enter the 2003 NFL Draft
.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career (2001–2002), he rushed for 2,067 yards and 31 touchdowns. He majored in criminology.
, McGahee was considered "a cinch top-five pick." Because McGahee's knee injury was still a major concern to professional scouts, the Buffalo Bills
drafted McGahee as the 23rd overall selection of the 2003 NFL Draft
.
McGahee was still recuperating at the time, but recovered to make his professional debut in the first game of the 2004 NFL season
. He became the team’s starting running back during the season, replacing Travis Henry
, who later left to play for the Tennessee Titans
. During the season, McGahee rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored thirteen touchdowns, the fourth most in the league. He rushed for a career high 1,247 yards during the following season. In 2006, McGahee did not perform as well in comparison with previous seasons, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards with six touchdowns. McGahee also fell victim to several health concerns during the season, including ailments in his rib cage
, ankle
, and stomach
. The Bills also struggled as a team, and their run blocking was not as good as in previous years, which may have contributed to his diminished stats.
Following the 2006 season, after McGahee had made disparaging remarks about the city of Buffalo—including an implication that the Bills should move to Toronto
-- the Bills traded him to the Baltimore Ravens
. The Bills received third
and seventh round
picks in the 2007 NFL Draft
, and a third round pick
in the 2008 NFL Draft
.
. He replaced Jamal Lewis
, who left the team to play for the Cleveland Browns
. He was slated to earn $40.12 million through a seven-year contract, making him one of the league's highest paid running backs. In his first season with Baltimore he rushed for 1,207 yards and 7 rushing TDs. McGahee also made his first Pro Bowl in 2007, on the strength of five 100+ yard games, and a streak of seven straight games with a rushing TD. He also recorded his first career receiving TD, along with a career high 231 receiving yards on 43 receptions. Due to a cracked rib injury suffered against the Seattle Seahawks late in the season, he came up just short (roughly 30 yards) of having his best career rushing season, as he had been on pace to do so at the time with his best yards-per-carry average and his best career yards-per-game average. Until his injury, he had been ranked in the Top 5 rushing leaders all season.
Willis was slated to be the starting running back under new coach John Harbaugh in 2008, but various injuries through the season, including eye, shoulder, knee and ankle injuries, kept him from achieving his fourth 1,000-yard season in the NFL. Fullback LeRon McClain wound up taking a majority of the snaps that season, as both McGahee and rookie Ray Rice suffered injuries during the season. Despite his injuries, McGahee still rushed for 671 yards and 7 TDs, including a career-long 77-yard touchdown run against the Dallas Cowboys. He was instrumental in what Baltimore dubbed their "Three-Headed-Monster" rushing attack and still played a key role in the team's 11-5 record and playoff berth.
McGahee's first career post-season play came in 2008, and he did not disappoint. With minor injuries to McClain and Rice, the Ravens relied on Willis to carry their rushing attack in the playoffs, where he was vital in a 27-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the wildcard round, and a close 13-10 victory over the top rated Tennessee Titans in the divisional round. During the 2008 AFC Championship Game, Willis was the Ravens' primary offensive weapon, scoring two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep the game close. However, following a hard helmet-to-helmet hit by Ryan Clark
, he was taken off the field on a stretcher to be evaluated by team physicians. He would later be diagnosed with no serious injury and was hailed for his heroic play.
McGahee spent the 2009 offseason more seriously dedicated to rehabbing and coming back better than ever. Despite McGahee's extra training, the Ravens decided to go with second-year player Ray Rice
as their starter. McClain's carries were drastically reduced, as he took on his traditional run blocking FB role, but McGahee's carries were also severely limited during several games, as the team either tried to have a pass-heavy attack, or relied almost entirely on Rice. Despite this, Willis remained fresh and injury free the entire season, and would actually become the teams' leading scorer, with 14 TDs (12 rushing, 2 receiving). In Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he scored 2 rushing TDs and 2 receiving TDs in one game, another career record. His 14 regular season TDs saw him tied for second most TDs in the league in 2009. It was speculated by some that if OC Cam Cameron had given Willis more carries, he could have easily eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, as his 5.0 yards-per-carry average was a career best.
He also ended the season with his best career game, racking up 167 yards and 3 TDs against the Oakland Raiders. He also added 60 yards and a TD in a wildcard round 33-14 blowout of the New England Patriots.
During the 2010 offseason, Willis McGahee opted to remain with the Baltimore Ravens, instead of going to another team as a possible starter. In week one versus the Jets, McGahee scored the game's only touchdown on a 1-yard run which contributed to a Ravens' win. McGahee scored a crucial 9-yard touchdown against the Steelers in week four. In week five, McGahee rushed for 67 yards and a 30-yard touchdown against the Broncos. In week 7, McGahee faced his former team, the Buffalo Bills. In that game, McGahee had 74 total yards which included a 25-yard run and a 2-yard touchdown. In week 9, McGahee scored a touchdown on a 32-yard screen reception on Baltimore's opening drive. This marked the first time in the season that the Ravens had scored on the opening drive. In week 14 against the Texans, McGahee scored the team's first touchdown on a 1-yard run. In week 15 versus the Saints, McGahee had 7 carries for 53 yards and a 28-yard run up the middle. In the 2010 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McGahee scored a 25-yard touchdown run late in the 4th quarter that sealed the win for Baltimore. The Ravens won 30-7.
McGahee was released on July 28, 2011, to allow the team to free up salary cap space. In his four seasons as a Baltimore Raven, he accrued over 3300 total yds. from scrimmage, as well as 35 total regular season TDs, including 31 rushing TDs. That makes him the highest touchdown scoring Raven in the last half decade.
worth $9.5 million, $3 million being guaranteed. Following an injury in week 1 to Knowshon Moreno, McGahee became the primary back for the Broncos and in week two versus the Cincinnati Bengals, he rushed for 101 yards on 28 carries and a 1 yard touchdown run, in which he also brought back the famed "Mile High Salute". In a week 3 loss to the Titans, McGahee ran for 52 yards on 22 carries and had a 5 yard reception for a touchdown. During a week 4 loss to the Packers, McGahee rushed 15 times for 103 yards with two receptions for 10 yards. In a week 5 loss to the Chargers, McGahee rushed for 125 yards on 16 carries. In the week 7 win against the Dolphins, in the early second half McGahee already racked up 76 yards with an average of 4.2 yards per carry. It looked as if McGahee was on pace for his third-straight 100 yard game, and fourth of the season. However, McGahee fractured his hand early in the second half as well. In that game McGahee could've moved up from 10th in the NFL in rushing to 8th. McGahee was unable to play the following week against the Lions due to his injury. The Broncos lost 45-10. However, the following week against the Raiders McGahee came back with a strong performance.He put up 163 rushing yards, which included a 60 yard touchdown and 24 yard touchdown. That game moved McGahee up to 9th in the NFL rushing leaders statistics. In a week 10 bout against the Chiefs, McGahee was favored to have another 100 yard game, giving him a total of 5 on the season. However, in the first quarter McGahee ran up one of his blockers legs, and suffered a left hamstring injury. He was taken to the locker room and listed as questionable to return. Coach John Fox stated in a post-game press conference that McGahee was fine and could've returned in an emergency situation. Coach Fox also said McGahee would most likely be able to play in the next game. McGahee then was moved from 9th to 12th in the NFL Rushing Leaders statistic board. During week 11 against the New York Jets, McGahee only picked up 18 yards on the ground. McGahee stated after the game that he did not feel quite like himself. It is very probable that his hamstring was bothering him. On November 23, 2011, McGahee was named a team captain after the release of captain and backup quarterback Kyle Orton
. Coach Fox attributed this to the fact that McGahee "had the next most votes when we took the vote [for team captain] back before the season started." In the week 12 game versus the Chargers McGahee rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries. The 117 yards included two 20 plus yard runs. One of which was a 24 yard run in overtime which set up the Broncos inside of the 20-yard line. This critical run set up the game winning field goal for Denver.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
.
He also played for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.
College career
In college, McGahee broke several records in the 2002 season. He shattered school season records, carrying the ball 282 times for 1,753 yards (6.2 yards avg.) and 28 touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. Only UCF's Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith (running back)
Kevin Smith is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Central Florida.-Early years:Smith attended Southridge High School...
(29 in 2007), Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
's Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...
(29 in 1983) and Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
(37 in 1988) ran for more touchdowns in an NCAA Division I-A season.
McGahee's ten 100-yard performances broke the Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
' season record of eight, set by Ottis Anderson
Ottis Anderson
Ottis Jerome "O.J." Anderson is a former American football running back. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXV in 1991 when playing with the New York Giants...
in 1978; he added 355 yards on 25 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
(14.2 yard avg.) that season. He gained 2,108 all-purpose yards during 2002, which remains a Hurricanes' season record.
McGahee was a member of the 2001 University of Miami team
2001 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team was the national champion of the 2001 college football season and is considered by many to be the greatest team in college football history.-Pre-season motivation:...
, which won the Division I national championship
2002 Rose Bowl
The 2002 Rose Bowl, played on January 3, 2002, was a college football bowl game. It was the 88th Rose Bowl game and was the BCS National Championship Game of the 2001 college football season...
in that year (the fifth such national championship for the University of Miami since 1983, the most of any university in the past 25 years).
In 2002, McGahee, along with Ken Dorsey
Ken Dorsey
Kenneth Simon "Ken" Dorsey is a former football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Miami, Dorsey played for the Cleveland Browns from 2006–2008...
, Andre Johnson
Andre Johnson
Andre Lamont Johnson is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Through the 2010–11 NFL season, Johnson currently ranks first all-time in NFL history in receiving yards per game for a career...
, Kellen Winslow II
Kellen Winslow II
Kellen Boswell Winslow, II is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns sixth overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, and others led Miami to an undefeated regular season and a #1 ranking, which included a trip to the National Championship game against second ranked Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. Ohio State won the game in double overtime. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, given to the nation's top player, finishing fourth in the voting (660 votes), while teammate Ken Dorsey finished 5th with 643 votes.
In the early part of the fourth quarter during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl
2003 Fiesta Bowl
The 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl took place on January 3,2003 in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 31–24 in double overtime. It also served as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season...
National Championship Game, McGahee suffered an injury after catching a screen pass
Screen pass
A screen pass is a type of play in American football. During a screen pass, a number of things happen concurrently in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is being thrown, when in fact the pass is merely a short one, just beyond the defensive linemen. Screens are usually deployed...
from Dorsey. He was immediately hit by Buckeye safety Will Allen
Will Allen (safety)
Will Allen is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, bending his left knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
backwards and causing tears of the ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
, PCL
Posterior cruciate ligament
The posterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It connects the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the medial condyle of the femur...
, and MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
. Prior to getting hurt, he had rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, as Miami would lose the game in double-overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
, 31–24. This injury required several surgeries and extensive rehabilitation before he would be able to play again. At the season's end, McGahee announced he would not collect on a $2.5 million insurance policy he had taken out before the Championship game, and therefore would enter the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career (2001–2002), he rushed for 2,067 yards and 31 touchdowns. He majored in criminology.
Buffalo Bills
Prior to his knee injury in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl2003 Fiesta Bowl
The 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl took place on January 3,2003 in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 31–24 in double overtime. It also served as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season...
, McGahee was considered "a cinch top-five pick." Because McGahee's knee injury was still a major concern to professional scouts, the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
drafted McGahee as the 23rd overall selection of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
.
McGahee was still recuperating at the time, but recovered to make his professional debut in the first game of the 2004 NFL season
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
. He became the team’s starting running back during the season, replacing Travis Henry
Travis Henry
Travis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, who later left to play for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. During the season, McGahee rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored thirteen touchdowns, the fourth most in the league. He rushed for a career high 1,247 yards during the following season. In 2006, McGahee did not perform as well in comparison with previous seasons, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards with six touchdowns. McGahee also fell victim to several health concerns during the season, including ailments in his rib cage
Human rib cage
-See also:*Terms for bones*Terms for anatomical location*Articulation of head of rib-References:* Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th ed. Keith L. Moore and Robert F. Dalley. pp. 62–64...
, ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
, and stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
. The Bills also struggled as a team, and their run blocking was not as good as in previous years, which may have contributed to his diminished stats.
Following the 2006 season, after McGahee had made disparaging remarks about the city of Buffalo—including an implication that the Bills should move to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-- the Bills traded him to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. The Bills received third
Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
and seventh round
C. J. Ah You
Charles "C. J." Ah You, Jr. is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma.-High school:Ah You played high school football at Lone...
picks in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
, and a third round pick
Tavares Gooden
-Baltimore Ravens:He had only 5 tackles in 4 games of the 2008 season. Gooden started at ILB alongside Ray Lewis for the 2009 season. He was oft-injured and only played 12 games. He made 47 tackles. Back to being a backup in 2010, Gooden had just another mediocre season with 18 tackles.He was...
in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
Baltimore Ravens
McGahee began his tenure with the Ravens in the 2007 NFL season2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. He replaced Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, who left the team to play for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was slated to earn $40.12 million through a seven-year contract, making him one of the league's highest paid running backs. In his first season with Baltimore he rushed for 1,207 yards and 7 rushing TDs. McGahee also made his first Pro Bowl in 2007, on the strength of five 100+ yard games, and a streak of seven straight games with a rushing TD. He also recorded his first career receiving TD, along with a career high 231 receiving yards on 43 receptions. Due to a cracked rib injury suffered against the Seattle Seahawks late in the season, he came up just short (roughly 30 yards) of having his best career rushing season, as he had been on pace to do so at the time with his best yards-per-carry average and his best career yards-per-game average. Until his injury, he had been ranked in the Top 5 rushing leaders all season.
Willis was slated to be the starting running back under new coach John Harbaugh in 2008, but various injuries through the season, including eye, shoulder, knee and ankle injuries, kept him from achieving his fourth 1,000-yard season in the NFL. Fullback LeRon McClain wound up taking a majority of the snaps that season, as both McGahee and rookie Ray Rice suffered injuries during the season. Despite his injuries, McGahee still rushed for 671 yards and 7 TDs, including a career-long 77-yard touchdown run against the Dallas Cowboys. He was instrumental in what Baltimore dubbed their "Three-Headed-Monster" rushing attack and still played a key role in the team's 11-5 record and playoff berth.
McGahee's first career post-season play came in 2008, and he did not disappoint. With minor injuries to McClain and Rice, the Ravens relied on Willis to carry their rushing attack in the playoffs, where he was vital in a 27-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the wildcard round, and a close 13-10 victory over the top rated Tennessee Titans in the divisional round. During the 2008 AFC Championship Game, Willis was the Ravens' primary offensive weapon, scoring two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep the game close. However, following a hard helmet-to-helmet hit by Ryan Clark
Ryan Clark (American football)
Ryan Terry Clark is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
, he was taken off the field on a stretcher to be evaluated by team physicians. He would later be diagnosed with no serious injury and was hailed for his heroic play.
McGahee spent the 2009 offseason more seriously dedicated to rehabbing and coming back better than ever. Despite McGahee's extra training, the Ravens decided to go with second-year player Ray Rice
Ray Rice
Raymell Maurice Rice is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers. He is currently ranked as the Baltimore Ravens third all-time rusher in...
as their starter. McClain's carries were drastically reduced, as he took on his traditional run blocking FB role, but McGahee's carries were also severely limited during several games, as the team either tried to have a pass-heavy attack, or relied almost entirely on Rice. Despite this, Willis remained fresh and injury free the entire season, and would actually become the teams' leading scorer, with 14 TDs (12 rushing, 2 receiving). In Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he scored 2 rushing TDs and 2 receiving TDs in one game, another career record. His 14 regular season TDs saw him tied for second most TDs in the league in 2009. It was speculated by some that if OC Cam Cameron had given Willis more carries, he could have easily eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, as his 5.0 yards-per-carry average was a career best.
He also ended the season with his best career game, racking up 167 yards and 3 TDs against the Oakland Raiders. He also added 60 yards and a TD in a wildcard round 33-14 blowout of the New England Patriots.
During the 2010 offseason, Willis McGahee opted to remain with the Baltimore Ravens, instead of going to another team as a possible starter. In week one versus the Jets, McGahee scored the game's only touchdown on a 1-yard run which contributed to a Ravens' win. McGahee scored a crucial 9-yard touchdown against the Steelers in week four. In week five, McGahee rushed for 67 yards and a 30-yard touchdown against the Broncos. In week 7, McGahee faced his former team, the Buffalo Bills. In that game, McGahee had 74 total yards which included a 25-yard run and a 2-yard touchdown. In week 9, McGahee scored a touchdown on a 32-yard screen reception on Baltimore's opening drive. This marked the first time in the season that the Ravens had scored on the opening drive. In week 14 against the Texans, McGahee scored the team's first touchdown on a 1-yard run. In week 15 versus the Saints, McGahee had 7 carries for 53 yards and a 28-yard run up the middle. In the 2010 Wildcard Playoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McGahee scored a 25-yard touchdown run late in the 4th quarter that sealed the win for Baltimore. The Ravens won 30-7.
McGahee was released on July 28, 2011, to allow the team to free up salary cap space. In his four seasons as a Baltimore Raven, he accrued over 3300 total yds. from scrimmage, as well as 35 total regular season TDs, including 31 rushing TDs. That makes him the highest touchdown scoring Raven in the last half decade.
Denver Broncos
On July 30, 2011, McGahee signed a four-year deal with the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
worth $9.5 million, $3 million being guaranteed. Following an injury in week 1 to Knowshon Moreno, McGahee became the primary back for the Broncos and in week two versus the Cincinnati Bengals, he rushed for 101 yards on 28 carries and a 1 yard touchdown run, in which he also brought back the famed "Mile High Salute". In a week 3 loss to the Titans, McGahee ran for 52 yards on 22 carries and had a 5 yard reception for a touchdown. During a week 4 loss to the Packers, McGahee rushed 15 times for 103 yards with two receptions for 10 yards. In a week 5 loss to the Chargers, McGahee rushed for 125 yards on 16 carries. In the week 7 win against the Dolphins, in the early second half McGahee already racked up 76 yards with an average of 4.2 yards per carry. It looked as if McGahee was on pace for his third-straight 100 yard game, and fourth of the season. However, McGahee fractured his hand early in the second half as well. In that game McGahee could've moved up from 10th in the NFL in rushing to 8th. McGahee was unable to play the following week against the Lions due to his injury. The Broncos lost 45-10. However, the following week against the Raiders McGahee came back with a strong performance.He put up 163 rushing yards, which included a 60 yard touchdown and 24 yard touchdown. That game moved McGahee up to 9th in the NFL rushing leaders statistics. In a week 10 bout against the Chiefs, McGahee was favored to have another 100 yard game, giving him a total of 5 on the season. However, in the first quarter McGahee ran up one of his blockers legs, and suffered a left hamstring injury. He was taken to the locker room and listed as questionable to return. Coach John Fox stated in a post-game press conference that McGahee was fine and could've returned in an emergency situation. Coach Fox also said McGahee would most likely be able to play in the next game. McGahee then was moved from 9th to 12th in the NFL Rushing Leaders statistic board. During week 11 against the New York Jets, McGahee only picked up 18 yards on the ground. McGahee stated after the game that he did not feel quite like himself. It is very probable that his hamstring was bothering him. On November 23, 2011, McGahee was named a team captain after the release of captain and backup quarterback Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. Coach Fox attributed this to the fact that McGahee "had the next most votes when we took the vote [for team captain] back before the season started." In the week 12 game versus the Chargers McGahee rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries. The 117 yards included two 20 plus yard runs. One of which was a 24 yard run in overtime which set up the Broncos inside of the 20-yard line. This critical run set up the game winning field goal for Denver.
Career statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Attempts | Yards | YPA | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 NFL season -Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *... |
Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 2004 NFL season The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005... |
Buffalo Bills | 16 | 284 | 1,128 | 4.0 | 13 |
| 2005 2005 NFL season The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006... |
Buffalo Bills | 16 | 325 | 1,247 | 3.8 | 5 |
| 2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... |
Buffalo Bills | 14 | 259 | 990 | 3.8 | 6 |
| 2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... |
Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... |
15 | 294 | 1,207 | 4.1 | 7 |
| 2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... |
Baltimore Ravens | 16 | 170 | 671 | 3.9 | 7 |
| 2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
Baltimore Ravens | 16 | 109 | 554 | 5.0 | 12 |
| 2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
Baltimore Ravens | 15 | 100 | 380 | 3.8 | 5 |