Rashard Mendenhall
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Running Back Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Rush Att | Rush Yds | Rush TDs | Rec | Targets | Rec Yds | Rec TDs | Fumbles | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | ARI | 15 | 217 | 687 | 8 | 18 | 21 | 134 | 0 | 3 | 126 |
| 2012 | PIT | 6 | 51 | 182 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 62 | 1 | 1 | 28 |
| 2011 | PIT | 15 | 228 | 928 | 9 | 18 | 28 | 154 | 0 | 1 | 160 |
| 2010 | PIT | 16 | 324 | 1273 | 13 | 23 | 34 | 167 | 0 | 2 | 218 |
| 2009 | PIT | 15 | 242 | 1108 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 261 | 1 | 3 | 179 |
| 2008 | PIT | 3 | 19 | 58 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Career Summary
Rashard Mendenhall was an Illinois running back who played six NFL seasons with Pittsburgh and Arizona.
Mendenhall played at Illinois before Pittsburgh selected him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played five seasons with the Steelers and one with the Cardinals.
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Early Life
Mendenhall is from Skokie, Illinois.
NFL player information lists Mendenhall's hometown as Skokie, Illinois.
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High School
Mendenhall attended Niles West High School.
Illinois listed Niles West as Mendenhall's high school and noted that he earned all-state recognition in football and track as a junior.
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College Career
Mendenhall rushed for 2,539 yards and 22 touchdowns at Illinois, including a record 1,681-yard season in 2007.
Mendenhall rushed for 2,539 yards and 22 touchdowns in three Illinois seasons. In 2007, he set the school single-season rushing record with 1,681 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns.
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Path to the NFL
The Steelers selected Mendenhall in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, 23rd overall.
Pittsburgh selected Mendenhall with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
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NFL Career
Mendenhall rushed for 4,236 yards and 37 touchdowns in 72 NFL games.
NFL statistics credit Mendenhall with 4,236 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns, 95 receptions and 795 receiving yards in 72 regular-season games. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both 2009 and 2010.
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Career Accomplishments
Mendenhall was the 2007 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a Silver Football Award winner.
Mendenhall was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football Award in 2007. He also earned first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America recognition.
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Playing Style
Mendenhall combined power, speed, receiving ability and moves as a runner.
Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert described Mendenhall as a back who could run with power and moves, catch passes, and run faster than 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
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Legacy
Mendenhall helped Pittsburgh win Super Bowl XLIII and was inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.
Illinois credits Mendenhall with helping the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII. The university inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.
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Post-Career
Mendenhall retired from football after the 2013 season and became an award-winning writer for HBO's Ballers.
Mendenhall retired after six NFL seasons, saying he planned to pursue writing and other ventures. Illinois later reported that he became an award-winning writer for HBO's Ballers.
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21948, 00-0026163, 1987-06-19, Rashard Mendenhall, Rashard, Mendenhall
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