Eric Dickerson
RB #29 — Los Angeles Rams
More Los Angeles Rams Players
About Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards in 1984 and nobody has touched that number in four decades. Not Emmitt. Not Barry. Not Adrian Peterson, who came within eight yards and probably thinks about it every single day. Dickerson did it running straight up like he was too tall to bother leaning forward, wearing rec-spec goggles that made him look like he wandered in from a racquetball court, and gliding past defenders who could see him coming from 40 yards away but couldn't do anything about it. The record has survived the salary cap era, the spread offense era, the running-back-by-committee era, and the era where teams just throw the ball 50 times a game. It still stands. It might stand forever.
Dickerson's post-career identity is just as distinct as his playing style. He is loudly, consistently, and entertainingly unimpressed by modern football. Every new running back who gets compared to him receives a public evaluation that usually starts with measured praise and ends with a reminder that none of them have run for 2,105 yards. He has opinions about everything. The current Rams. The current NFL. The Hall of Fame voting process. Player contracts. Coaching decisions. He delivers all of it with the energy of a man who set a record that still intimidates people and sees no reason to be humble about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Eric Dickerson the go-to for 'old school vs. new school' football memes?
Because he volunteers for the role constantly. Dickerson does not keep his opinions about modern players quiet. He compares current stats to his own. He questions whether today's backs could have survived his era. He does this publicly, frequently, and with complete conviction. He is the self-appointed spokesperson for every retired player who watches a modern highlight and mutters 'I did that in 1983.'
What are the signature visual elements of Eric Dickerson memes?
The goggles are non-negotiable. The upright running posture that somehow generated 2,105 yards is the second element. And his facial expression in interviews, which typically communicates 'I am tolerating this question about a player who will never break my record,' completes the package. Dickerson is one of the most visually recognizable players in NFL history and the goggles do about 80 percent of the work.
Last updated: April 2026