Question

In 2004, Jerome Bettis carried 5 times for 1 yard in a season opener against the Raiders, but scored 3 TDs (they were using him as a goal-line runner, with Duce Staley getting most of the playing time). Who was the first person in the Super Bowl era to score 3 rushing touchdowns while running for fewer than 10 yards? Said player did it in a 1975 game between the Colts and the Dolphins. He is a notable player because Baltimore selected him with Miami’s first-round pick in 1971 – obtained as compensation after Don Shula left the Colts for the Dolphins.

Answer

Running back Don McCauley. Five others have run for 3 TDs while rushing for fewer than 10 yards. Arizona had two of them, in the 1998-99 seasons – Jake Plummer and Mario Bates. And three pretty obscure guys: Booker Russell (Oakland, 1979), Hank Bauer (San Diego, 1979) and Reggie Evans (Washington, 1983).