**Todd Gurley: A Brief but Brilliant Flame in the NFL**
Todd Gurley is just 30 years old, and yet it feels like a lifetime since he last graced an NFL field. His last snap came in 2020, a quiet exit for a player who once dominated the league with a rare combination of power, speed, and instinct. His knees, battered by years of relentless punishment, could no longer carry the load. But when he was on? There were few—if any—running backs who could match his dominance.
Gurley’s story is one of meteoric rise, peak brilliance, and an unfortunate, premature decline. In his prime, he was a force of nature, a game-changing back who could single-handedly tilt the outcome of a contest. For a few unforgettable seasons, he wasn’t just great—he was untouchable.
Todd Gurley’s path to NFL stardom was anything but smooth. A standout at the University of Georgia, he tore his ACL late in his junior season, casting doubt on his draft stock. But the St. Louis Rams (soon to be Los Angeles) saw something special in him, selecting him 10th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. It didn’t take long for Gurley to prove them right.
Despite missing the first three games of his rookie year as he recovered from his knee injury, Gurley exploded onto the scene with a 146-yard rushing performance in just his fourth career game. He went on to rush for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 13 games, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. His blend of patience, burst, and power made him an instant star.
Gurley’s true breakout came in 2017 under the guidance of first-year head coach Sean McVay. The Rams’ offense transformed into one of the most explosive units in the league, and Gurley was its engine. That season, he led the NFL with 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors. He was a nightmare for defenses—equally capable of breaking off a 50-yard run as he was of catching a screen pass and taking it to the house.
The following year, he picked up right where he left off. Through the first 12 games of the 2018 season, Gurley was the frontrunner for MVP, racking up 1,251 rushing yards, 580 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns. The Rams were 11-1, and Gurley was the centerpiece of one of the most dangerous offenses in football.
Then, the knee issues flared up.
Late in the 2018 season, Gurley’s production dipped noticeably. He was held under 50 rushing yards in three of his final four regular-season games, and though the Rams made a Super Bowl run, it was clear something was wrong. Reports later confirmed that Gurley was dealing with arthritis in his knee—a degenerative condition that sapped his explosiveness and limited his workload.
The Rams, perhaps in denial about the severity of his condition, still rewarded him with a four-year, $60 million extension in 2018, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history at the time. But by 2019, the decline was undeniable. His yards per carry dropped from 4.9 in 2018 to 3.8 in 2019. The burst that once made him unstoppable was gone.
Los Angeles released him after the 2019 season, and though he latched on with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, he was a shell of his former self. He managed just 678 rushing yards and nine touchdowns before being phased out of the offense entirely. By the end of the year, it was clear: Todd Gurley’s knees had betrayed him.
Gurley’s career arc is one of the most bittersweet in recent NFL history. At his peak, he was arguably the best running back in football—a true three-down weapon who could carry an offense. Had his knees held up, he might have gone down as one of the all-time greats. Instead, his prime lasted just three seasons.
Even so, his impact was undeniable. In an era where running backs are increasingly devalued, Gurley was a reminder of what a truly elite back can do for an offense. The Rams’ success in 2017 and 2018 doesn’t happen without him. His ability to score from anywhere on the field forced defenses to game-plan specifically for him, opening up opportunities for teammates like Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, and Robert Woods.
Today, at just 30 years old, Gurley remains a “what if” story. What if modern sports medicine could have preserved his knees? What if the Rams had managed his workload differently? What if he had been drafted into a different system?
We’ll never know. But what we do know is this: For a brief, electrifying stretch, Todd Gurley was as good as it got. His combination of vision, power, and breakaway speed made him one of the most thrilling players to watch. And though his career was cut short, those who saw him at his best will never forget it.
In the end, Todd Gurley’s flame burned bright—just not long enough.
