Best of the Packers: Top 10 running backs since 1960
By Phil Watson
10. Eddie Lee Ivery (1979-86)
When the Green Bay Packers selected Georgia Tech running back Eddie Lee Ivery with the 15th overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, the hope was they had found their bellwether back for the next several years.
But Ivery tore up his knee three carries into his NFL debut and missed the rest of the 1979 season. He bounced back to lead the club with 831 rushing yards—a career best—in 1980 while snagging 50 passes as well.
But injuries cropped back up in 1981. Another opening-day knee injury sidelined him for all but 14 carries that season. He came back in 1982 to rush for 453 yards and nine touchdowns in the strike-shortened season, but was suspended for half of the 1983 campaign after he was arrested on drug-related charges.
The charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence, although Ivery has admitted he was using cocaine and alcohol liberally, and he returned to rush for 552 yards and six scored in 1984, limited to 10 games by nagging injuries. He played in 15 games in 1985, gaining 636 yards, and was moved to receiver for the 1986 season.
Ivery retired in 1987 after having back surgery in 1986.
He rushed for 2,933 yards and 23 touchdowns and also caught 162 passes for 1,612 yards and seven scores.
Next: Undrafted Back Went For 1,200 Yards Back-To-Back