On This Date in Sports December 17, 1972: Thrown for a Loss
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
A week after their playoff hopes went up in smoke with a 20-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Atlanta Falcons host the Kansas City Chiefs, with Dave Hampton seeking to become the team's first 1,000-yard rusher. Hampton entered the game needing 70 yards to get 1,000 yards on the season. Late in the game, Dave Hampton broke the 1,000-yard mark. The game was stopped, and Hampton was presented with the game ball and a special trophy. On the next play, Dave Hampton was thrown for a six-yard loss and finished the season with 995 yards.
Dave Hampton was born in Akron, Ohio, on May 7, 1947. Raised in Ann Arbor, Hampton was part of a legendary backfield at Wyoming with Jim Kiick. The Green Bay Packers chose Hampton in the ninth round in the 1969 NFL Draft. Playing for a Packers team in decline, Dave Hampton struggled, rushing for 787 yards in three seasons.
Before the 1972 season, Dave Hampton was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. Hampton proved to be a big pickup for a Falcons team coming off a 7-6-1 record that marked the first winning season in franchise history. Led by coach Norm Van Brocklin, the Falcons made their first serious run at earning a playoff spot. They had a 7-5 record entering the penultimate game of the season at Candlestick Park. However, a 20-0 loss had Atlanta needing a win and a 49ers' loss in Week 14 to get in.
With the playoff hopes dashed with the 49ers beating the Vikings 20-17 on Saturday, the Falcons entered the final game focused on individual pursuits. The Falcons hosted the Kansas City Chiefs in the last game of the season at Fulton County Stadium. Dave Hampton entered the final game with 930 yards on the season. With 70 yards, he would be the first player in Falcons' history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. With 14 games in a season, 1,000 yards was a big accomplishment.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had a 17-14 lead. The Chiefs, like Atlanta, had a 7-6 record and were out of contention for coach Hank Stram. It had been a back-and-forth game, with Ed Podolak catching a seven-yard pass from Len Dawson. Looking to get the lead and get Dave Hampton to 1,000 yards, the Falcons drove down the field with Bob Berry under center.
On his 18th carry of the game, Dave Hampton reached the 1,000-yard mark. The game was paused for the Falcons to celebrate Hampton's achievement. The Falcons rusher was interviewed and given a game ball and a trophy, but the game was not over. Atlanta had to win to have a winning season, and trailing gave the ball to Hampton again when he was thrown for a six-yard loss. It would be his final carry as the Chiefs held on to win 17-14. All the ceremonies were for naught, as Dave Hampton finished with 995 yards on the season.
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Dave Hampton would come close to 1,000 yards again in 1973, finishing with 997 yards. After struggling with injuries in 1974, Hampton finally broke 1,000 yards in 1975, finishing with 1,002 yards. This time he was kept out of the rest of the game.