Floyd Little cemented his legacy as a legendary running back who dominated both the college gridiron and the professional ranks. Before his pro career began, Floyd Little Syracuse years were filled with iconic moments that shaped his legacy.
FLOYD LITTLE
Football Bio
July 4, 1942 – New Haven, Connecticut – Syracuse halfback from 1964 to 1966, Floyd Little, was born.
This legendary back has a great story as told by the FootballFoundation.org. At Syracuse, he is connected with other great Orange runners, Ernie Davis and Jim Brown, as they all wore the special jersey number 44 at the school; in fact, it was retired in honor of all three after Little played his last game.
Floyd was a three-time All-America halfback and a specialist on returns. Little led the nation with 1990 all-purpose yards, along with a 23.5-yard punt return average as a junior in 1965.
He still holds the Syracuse career record with six punt returns for touchdowns. The 1966 ECAC Player of the Year, Little finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting twice.
He averaged 5.4 yards as a rusher, 20 yards on punt returns, and 29 yards on kickoff returns. Floyd’s longest punt returns included 90 yards against UCLA and 71 yards against Penn State in 1964; 95 yards against Pittsburgh and 91 against Penn State in 1965.
His best rushing games included 216 yards in the 1967 Gator Bowl against Tennessee; 196 against West Virginia in 1965; and 193 against Florida State in 1966. He scored five touchdowns against Kansas in 1964.
One of the most amazing facts is that Floyd shared the same Orange backfield as legendary runner Larry Csonka. Floyd Little’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1983.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame notes that Little was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 1967 Draft as the sixth overall pick. The Bronco’s used him mostly as a return specialist at first. As a rookie, he led the American Football League in punt returns with a 16.9 average on 16 returns.
That first season, Floyd scored his only TD in the AFL courtesy of his 72-yard return against the New York Jets. Little also returned a career-high 35 kickoffs for 942 yards.
Over the next couple of years, he worked hard to enhance his pro rushing skills, and by his third season, Denver gave him more carries. Little rose to the challenge too as he averaged a league-high and career-best 5.0 yards per carry.
In 1971, he became the first 1,000-yard rusher in Denver Broncos history. Floyd then went on to win the NFL rushing title that year, finishing with 1,133 yards on 284 carries and scoring 6 touchdowns! Floyd Little was also enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 2010 class.
Floyd Little transformed the Denver Broncos franchise and elevated the Syracuse football program to unprecedented heights. He leaves behind an unforgettable legacy of resilience, breathtaking runs, and unyielding dedication to the sport.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1983.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2010.
- Denver Broncos Ring of Fame: Charter member, inducted in 1984.
- Retired Numbers: No. 44 was retired by both the Syracuse Orange and the Denver Broncos.
- NFL Rushing Leader: Led the league with 1,133 rushing yards in 1971.
- NFL Rushing Touchdowns Co-Leader: Achieved this mark in 1973.
- 3× First-Team All-American: Earned honors consecutively from 1964 to 1966.
- 1966 ECAC Player of the Year: Recognized as the top player in the East.
- First-Team All-Pro: Selected in 1969.
- 5× Pro Bowl Selection: Reached the Pro Bowl in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1973.