The Green Bay Packers have not had many players win Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year throughout their history. The last player that they had to win either of the rookie season awards was running back Eddie Lacy in 2013. Today, June 2, is Lacy’s birthday, so we at Wisconsin Sports Heroics wanted to shine a spotlight on one of the most entertaining running backs we fans have had the pleasure of watching destroy defenders.
Eddie Lacy Had a Short But Effective Career with the Green Bay Packers
Eddie Lacy was drafted by the Packers in the second round (61st overall pick) in the 2013 NFL Draft. It did not take him long to make his mark on the team. An immediate starter, Lacy rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie season. He was named Offensive Player of the Year and made his only career Pro Bowl.
Lacy was just as good in Year Two. In 2014, a season in which Aaron Rodgers won his second NFL MVP Award, Lacy rushed for 1,139 yards and nine touchdowns. He also became more of a weapon in the passing game, hauling in 42 receptions for 427 yards and four more touchdowns.
BACON! 🥓
LASANHA! 🍝
Rômulo Mendonça ia à LOUCURA com as corridas do aniversariante do dia de hoje, Eddie Lacy! 🥳
🎥: @ESPNBrasil pic.twitter.com/fNQdkK5l3X
— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) June 2, 2023
Lacy was an underrated performer in the postseason as well. In his career with the Packers, Lacy rushed 85 times for 407 yards in Green Bay playoff games, good for a 4.71 yards per carry average. Unfortunately, he was on injured reserve in 2016 when the Packers lost the NFC Championship Game to the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2015, Lacy was limited to 15 games and rushed for 758 yards and three touchdowns. He saw his rushing attempts fall from 284 and 246 in 2013 and 2014 to just 187 that season. The next year, he was injured after five games, but had returned to his usual level of production before the injury. In those five games, he had 71 carries for 360 yards for a career-best 5.1 yards per carry.
Lacy signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017, but could not shake the injury bug. He retired following the season.
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1 Comment
Great read! I always felt Eddie Lacy didn’t get the recognition he deserved during his time with the Packers. He brought a unique blend of power and agility that really made a difference on the field. It’s nice to see someone highlighting his contributions!