Seattle Seahawks: 15 best running backs in franchise history

Number 13: Fenner could have been much bigger for the Seahawks

Like several of the backs on the Hawks all-time roster, Derrick Fenner was drafted with an eye toward the future rather than immediate help. Seattle had two backs that combined for over 2,700 yards from scrimmage in 1988, so clearly, the path to flashy stats was blocked for the 10th-round pick out of Gardner-Webb. I imagine more 12s have heard of that school than remember when the NFL draft went that. As a rookie, Fenner did very little; he had just 14 touches on offense and only got into five games.

1990 told a very different story for the 6’3″, 240-pound beast. Seattle’s bell cow of 1988 saw his production drop drastically in ’89, and in 1990 he was on a different team. He’s definitely a Seahawks legend, but we’ll get to him later. Much later. As for Fenner, all he did was take over as the Hawks lead back, rush for 859 yards, and lead the league in rushing touchdowns with 14. 1991 was another rough year for him, though.

A persistent battle with tendinitis in his knee grounded Fenner for five games. He only made 7 starts after getting the nod in all but one in 1990. He was clearly hampered by the knee as his average dropped from 4.0 to 2.9 yards per carry. Fenner’s time in Seattle was over, and he was in a Bengals uniform the next season.

He played for six more years in the NFL after leaving the Seahawks, appearing in 120 games in all. His move to fullback – his natural position – certainly reduced his opportunities with the rock. Fenner may never have approached his big sophomore season stats, but a nine-year career for a tenth-round pick is a pretty amazing achievement. His best year by far was with Seattle. As with so many of these players, who knows what he could have done if he’d stayed healthy in that pivotal year?