Marion Stevenson Butts Jr. (born August 1, 1966) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was a

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offense ...

for seven seasons in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) for the

San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...

, the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...

and the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1960 Houston Oilers season, 1960 to 1996 Houston Oilers season, 1996. The Houston Oilers began play as a charter member of the Ame ...

from 1989 to 1995.

Professional career

Butts was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He was immediately used as a starter, for the Chargers. On December 17, 1989, late in his rookie season, he rushed for 176 yards against the

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Established in 1959 ...

on a Chargers record 39 carries. He led the team (Chargers and Patriots) in rushing his first six seasons. He gained a career-best 1,225 yards in 1990, finishing third in the NFL in rushing yards, despite missing the final two games of the season due to injury. He was elected to the 1990 Pro Bowl. In the 1992 playoffs, Butts rushed 15 times for 119 yards and 1 touchdown against the Chiefs, setting the franchise records with 7.9 yards per carry. In 1994, citing the new salary cap, as well as declining numbers due to a string of injuries, the Chargers traded Butts to the Patriots for a third- and a fifth-round pick.

NFL career statistics

References

1966 births Living people American football running backs Florida State Seminoles football players San Diego Chargers players New England Patriots players Houston Oilers players American Conference Pro Bowl players Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state) People from Sylvester, Georgia Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen football players 20th-century American sportsmen {{runningback-1960s-stub