Tennessee Titans: 15 best running backs in franchise history
By Will Lomas
Hoyle Granger. 8. player. 148. . RB. (1966-70, 1972)
- Best season: 1967
- 1,194 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns
- 300 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns
The 1960s were an amazing time to be an Oilers fan, especially if you liked running backs. You have to remember that professional football still relied on primarily pounding the round offensively to win football games. The Oilers were certainly exceptional at that.
Between Hoyle Granger, Charley Tolar and (spoiler alert) Billy Cannon, the Oilers were loaded with talent in their backfield during their early days in the AFL in the 1960s.
Granger had three straight seasons where he had over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards, with his 1967 being his best because he led the entire league in yards from scrimmage.
The two-time AFL All-Star was one of the best backs in the league in his time and he wasn’t limited to one role. Equally effective as a receiver or runner, Granger would have been a perfect fit in the NFL today with his dual-threat playmaking abilities out of the backfield.
A six-year professional career is nothing to scoff at in those days. Even if his best years were behind him when he came back to the Oilers in 1972 after a year with the 1971 New Orleans Saints, Granger still averaged 4.2 yards per attempt, which is a testament to how talented he was as a tailback.