Chuck Foreman

Walter Eugene "Chuck" Foreman (born October 26, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). Considered one of the best passing-catching backs in NFL history, Foreman started in three Super Bowls with the Vikings and was the premiere back for the team for most of the 1970s. Upon entering the league in 1973, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first five seasons of his career. During this time, he was also named to the first-team All-Pro and second-team All-Pro teams two times each. Nicknamed "The Spin Doctor" for his elusive running abilities, Foreman held the Vikings franchise record for rushing yards from scrimmage upon his retirement. As part of the team's 50th anniversary celebration, Foreman was named as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010. The Professional Football Researchers Association named Foreman to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2010.

Foreman was raised in Frederick, Maryland and was a standout athlete in football, basketball, and track at Frederick High School. After attending the University of Miami, he was drafted 12th overall in the 1973 NFL draft by the Vikings. Foreman suffered a knee injury during the 1978 season, after which his skills declined, and he officially retired from professional football in 1980. Following his football career, Foreman was involved with numerous business ventures in the Twin Cities area. In 2000, he was arrested for his part in a mail fraud scheme, for which he was sentenced to probation. After sentencing, he began public speaking at schools and became a substitute teacher in Bloomington. In recent years, fans and former Vikings players have been trying to get Foreman elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Chuck is currently a weekly headline contributor to the JimBob Sports Jamboree with Jim Rich, Bob Sansevere and Mike "The Superstar" Morris a Bob FM show.

Early life and college career Foreman was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland where he attended Frederick High School, competing in basketball, football, and track and field. Growing up, he was a fan of the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts of the NFL as well as the Baltimore Bullets of the NBA. Playing the end position on the football team, he began incorporating the spin move into his running style after watching Bullets player Earl Monroe use the same maneuver while playing basketball, a move which inspired Foreman's nickname during his professional career. During his high school career, Foreman caught four touchdown passes in a single game against Bel Air High School. as he rushed 191 times for 951 yards. He also caught 7 passes for 72 yards that season and was named a first-team All American by the publication Sporting News. Foreman transitioned to wide receiver for his senior season, He learned that he was drafted while sitting in his apartment at the University of Miami and at first felt consternation toward playing in Minnesota due to the cold, recalling a time in which flamethrowers were used to thaw the field of Metropolitan Stadium before a game. After rushing for 801 yards on 182 carries and catching 37 passes for 362 yards during the regular season, Foreman won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and was voted to the Pro Bowl, helping the Vikings improve from a 7–7 record in 1972 to a 12–2 record and a NFC Central division championship in 1973. In the playoffs, the Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins in the divisional round and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game en route to a Super Bowl appearance against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings lost Super Bowl VIII 24–7; Foreman was held to only 18 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving in the game. He later said that the Dolphins were the best team that the Vikings faced in the Super Bowl that decade.

In 1974, Foreman was again voted to the Pro Bowl and was selected as a second-team All-Pro by the Pro Football Writers Association, the Newspaper Enterprise Association, and the Associated Press. He ran for 777 yards on 199 attempts while adding 586 yards on 53 receptions and also led the league in combined rushing and receiving touchdowns with 15. Although the Vikings' record worsened to 10–4, they repeated as NFC Central champions and reached the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, where they lost 16–6 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Foreman only gained 18 yards on 12 carries and 50 yards on 5 receptions, yet he believes that the Vikings were the better team in the game, and the loss was a result of self-inflicted mistakes.

Foreman was awarded first-team All-Pro honors and appeared in a third-consecutive Pro Bowl for his 1975 season. At the time he had retired, he was ranked 17th in league history in rushing yards, 15th in carries, and 11th in rushing touchdowns; Foreman now ranks in the top 75 (as of 2023) in touchdowns. Chuck Foreman was in consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 under the seniors category making it to the final 31 players alongside another former Minnesota Viking, Jim Marshall.

Personal life Foreman's son Jay Foreman played linebacker in the NFL from 1999 to 2006. He is a substitute teacher in Minnesota at Bloomington Kennedy High School and Valley View Middle School in Bloomington, Minnesota. Foreman has also established Sound Advice For Life, a student development program with the goal of providing positive reinforcement and guidelines for a productive life.

NFL career statistics

Year Team GP Rushing Receiving Fum Att Yds TD Y/G Rec Yds TD 1973 MIN 12 182 801 4 66.8 37 362 2 6 1974 MIN 13 199 777 9 59.8 53 586 6 6 1975 MIN 14 280 1,070 13 76.4 73 691 9 12 1976 MIN 14 278 1,155 13 82.5 55 567 1 7 1977 MIN 14 270 1,112 6 79.4 38 308 3 9 1978 MIN 14 237 749 5 53.5 61 396 2 8 1979 MIN 12 87 223 2 18.6 19 147 0 4 1980 NE 16 23 63 1 3.9 14 99 0 0 Career 109 1,556 5,950 53 54.6 350 3,156 23 52

NFL records Most receiving touchdowns by a 10 touchdown rusher, season: 9 (tied with Marshall Faulk) Most games with a rushing and receiving touchdown, season: 5

Minnesota Vikings Franchise Records Most total touchdowns, season: 22 Most receiving touchdowns by a running back, season: 9 (tied with Bill Brown) Most consecutive seasons with at least 1 receiving and 1 rushing touchdown: 6 (tied with Ted Brown) Playoff rushes, career: 229 Playoff rushing yards, career: 860 Playoff rushing touchdowns, career: 7