Mizzou Football: Ten Best NFL Careers of All-Time

Best Tigers to Play in the NFL – Number 6: James Wilder

NFL Running Back from 1981-1990

Number six on this list is James Wilder, who spent the same amount of time in the pros as Eric Wright, and was in the NFL during the same time frame.

While Wilder was a great running back during those two years, his production began to decline in the coming years.

Wilder, also a second round pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, went to Tampa Bay and started off a bit slow at the beginning of his career.

By his fourth year (1984), he was looking to get it going, and managed to hit 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his pro career.

Wilder shattered the 1,000 yard mark by running the ball a career high 407 times for 1,544 yards and 13 touchdowns in 16 games. The following year he took the football for 1,300 yards exactly and had ten touchdowns.

While Wilder was a great running back during those two years (he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1984), his production began to decline in the coming years. He never hit the 1,000 yard mark again, but continued to run the football decently with the Bucs.

In his final season in 1990, Wilder split time with the Redskins and Lions and called it a career after that season concluded.

He makes this list at number six.