Steven Jackson always enjoys engaging football fans on Twitter and one of the topics he's most passionate about is the past, present and future of the running back position in the NFL.
Ranking 16th on the NFL's all-time rushing list after completing his 11th season in the league, SJ39 has great reverence for the men who paved the way for him at the position. And in the days leading up to Super Bowl XLIX, a conversation with fans prompted him to honor the select few running backs who have been awarded Super Bowl MVP.
How important do u think running backs will be in the @SuperBowl? An inquiring running back mind wants to know lol… #NFL
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 27, 2015
Crazy enough only 7 RBs have ever won @SuperBowl MVP! Last Terrell Davis in 1998 @HeavyHitters970 Blount got a good shot at winning SB MVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 27, 2015
Morning…so yesterday's discussion w/all of u about running backs & the @SuperBowl & SB MVPs who were running backs got me thinking…
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
As a lot of u know I'm a big advocate for the running back position (imagine that lol) and especially value its history.
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
So I'm planning to spend the next few days doing a kind of tribute on here to all the @SuperBowl running back MVPs. #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
My hope: as we talk about the @SuperBowl MVP RBs, some of u can share what u loved about them, and we can all learn something. #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
It didn't take long for fans to respond. Fans were already tweeting back even before SJ revealed the first honoree: Miami Dolphins great Larry Csonka.
Funny u should mention that @SteveCammett First and my favorite #RBMVP was Larry Csonka – Super Bowl VIII @SuperBowl
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
First RB to win @SuperBowl MVP: @MiamiDolphins Larry Csonka in SB VIII, original No. 39. Anyone see him play? #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/Bzfxjn5bCL
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
Did u see Larry Csonka play live? RT @Lundy1970 @SuperBowl @MiamiDolphins Yes and it was fun to watch him. Power and determination.
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
Wow lol. Best Csonka memories? RT @SteveCammett @SuperBowl season ticket holder for all 3 Super Bowl seasons… $15 for Super Bowl VI!
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
@sj39 he delivered punishment to the defense. Imagine Gronk as a fullback. Linebackers and DBs were afraid to tackle him. He'd run them over
— Tom James (@TribStarTJames) January 28, 2015
For someone who saw Csonka so much…best thing about watching him play? RT @SteveCammett OL averaged 255 lbs. Zonk was 237!!!
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
Some playoff highlights of @SuperBowl VIII MVP Larry Csonka…what do u think? https://t.co/QsDyKXNDCN #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
Up next: Pittsburgh Steelers legend and Hall of Famer Franco Harris, who romped for 158 yards in Super Bowl IX.
Back to my tribute to @SuperBowl RB MVPs…next up: SB IX @steelers HOF Franco Harris #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/2imJzZ2eEe
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
Here's @steelers @SuperBowl MVP RB Franco Harris doing his thing…broke Csonka's rushing record from SB VIII http://t.co/TzPmvAi3kz
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
With Harris' four Super Bowl titles I have to agree lol RT @blackbryan703 @steelers @SuperBowl great person too. He played big in playoffs.
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
Every year I watch the HOF presentation & Franco Harris looks like he could still play. #AgedWithGrace @blackbryan703 he respects your game
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 28, 2015
After Harris came Super Bowl XVII MVP John Riggins—and Washington Redskins fans loved reveling in the memories of Riggo.
Fans of the @Redskins u will like who's up next…1983 Super Bowl XVII MVP @riggo44. 38 carries! #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/dvymf5Wmxj
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 29, 2015
@sj39 @Redskins That's one of the first Super Bowls I remember watching. I'll never forget @riggo44 running that ball!
— Stacey Farr (@martinfan) January 29, 2015
@sj39 @Redskins @riggo44 "Crank up that Diesel….awwwm! awwwm! awwwm!"
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 29, 2015
Guess that's how u rack up 166 yards in the @SuperBowl lol RT @brucehallsports @Redskins @riggo44 Punished tacklers and ALWAYS fell forward.
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 29, 2015
@sj39 @Redskins @riggo44 @SuperBowl His ability to break tackles. He would just steamroll opponents!
— brad stevens (@WhittonAl) January 29, 2015
@sj39 @Redskins @riggo44 @SuperBowl Nothing ever stopped him. Just kept churning and picking up yards. ##riggins
— Diane Feeney (@Diane_Feeney) January 29, 2015
@sj39 @Redskins @riggo44 Diesel!! Love that man!
— Alexander Fyfe (@sandyfintray) January 29, 2015
What I love about @riggo44: the tenacity with which he ran the ball each & everytime & passion he still has for @redskins franchise #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 29, 2015
Here is a great clip…4th and inches and @riggo44 breaks a huge run for a TD in @SuperBowl XVII… https://t.co/QTtDoTkK8b #RBVMP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 29, 2015
After the Redskins legend came a man who beat the D.C. squad in Super Bowl XVIII. One of the greatest of all time: Marcus Allen.
The MVP of @SuperBowl XVIII, @MarcusAllenHOF, was and is still one of my all-time favorite RBs to watch. #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/FbfJ4vZfBY
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 29, 2015
And @MarcusAllenHOF's @SuperBowl TD run for the @RAIDERS still makes me dream of my very own… #RBMVP http://t.co/kFmteb7dxO
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 29, 2015
@sj39 me an @kcchiefs fan. Feel honored that @MarcusAllenHOF finished his career with us. True class act.
— DebDobson (@debdobson) January 29, 2015
@sj39 @RAIDERS @MarcusAllenHOF @SuperBowl It was how easy he made it look…so fluid and graceful.
— Jeff Proctor (@proctorink) January 30, 2015
Following Allen was former New York Giant Ottis Anderson, who sits alongside SJ39 on the 10,000-yard rusher list.
One of the @SuperBowl MVPs who gets overlooked a lot is the @Giants @OJAnderson24… #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/SeaWViCtk1
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
For u fans of running backs u should know: @Giants @OJAnderson24 was outstanding, a tough explosive runner in his day! #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
@sj39 I love how you respect the older guys. Very cool. They all paved the way and made the NFL great.
— Tom (@Lundy1970) January 30, 2015
@sj39 @SuperBowl @Giants @OJAnderson24 He played for the old St. Louis Football Cardinals prior to Giants I think. Great Player.
— MoHuskerFan (@MoHuskerFan) January 30, 2015
@sj39 @Giants @OJAnderson24 remember him loading up to lay into a DB in that super bowl
— Duke and Boy (@RickFindura) January 30, 2015
After the @Giants @OJAnderson24 won the @Superbowl MVP guess where he was headed next lol…must have been fun http://t.co/pWxTCzoVAg
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
Next came a Dallas Cowboys legend and the NFL's all-time rushing leader: Emmitt Smith.
Next RB to win @SuperBowl MVP came in 1994…like me, @dallascowboys fans love the legend @EmmittSmith22 #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/dNuZxrPhP8
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
The longevity & toughness of @dallascowboys @EmmittSmith22 sticks out to me…played a game on astroturf with a separated shoulder #respect
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
On this drive in @SuperBowl XXVIII @cowboys RB @EmmittSmith22 basically put the team on his back…watch this https://t.co/6BLPvTcu8E
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
#motivation RT @supamike36 I think about that every time I'm at the gym and start feeling ready to go home before the workouts over.
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
Closing the list was Terrell Davis: one of the most talented running backs of the modern era, who also had maybe the best nickname a RB can have.
The last RB in my tribute & last RB to win @SuperBowl MVP hailed from the @Broncos…@Terrell_Davis #RBMVP pic.twitter.com/pFj0d7R47A
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
On those @Broncos @SuperBowl teams @Terrell_Davis was the difference maker. Very few ppl could execute zone running offense like TD did
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
@sj39 @Broncos @SuperBowl @Terrell_Davis also Broncos never won a Superbowl till they had the run game TD is a fav here even being a Hawkfan
— donald kirby (@EvilVolts4m) January 30, 2015
Even more amazing about @broncos @Terrell_Davis @SuperBowl MVP performance…he played through a migraine! http://t.co/4ApTWIBtDk #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
Steven ended his #RBMVP session with a prediction that, just maybe, runner No. 8 would be added to the SB MVP list.
Hard to believe it's been 17 years since a running back was @SuperBowl MVP. Maybe this is the year it happens again… #RBMVP
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) January 30, 2015
His prediction was just about one yard from coming true. Had Marshawn Lynch run in the game-winning touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks, he would've likely been the MVP with 103 yards and two scores. Maybe next year.