Ruggedly intense competitor is slated to take over Kansas City’s starting running back duties on a full-time basis in 2006 … Punishing Pro Bowl ball carrier enters his fourth season with Kansas City after putting on a dominating display to close out the 2005 campaign … Despite starting just nine games a year ago in place of an injured RB Priest Holmes, piled up a Chiefs single-season record 1,750 rushing yards, earning his initial Pro Bowl berth in the process … Also accumulated 20 rushing TDs, the third-highest seasonal tally in team history … Looking to expand on last season’s efforts which featured a pair of 200-yard rushing games, including a franchise-record 211-yard performance at Houston (11/20/05) ... Clearly has the ability to post even gaudier numbers over the course of an entire 16-game schedule should he continue the torrid pace he established down the stretch in 2005 … Should only continue to grow in 2006 under head coach Herm Edwards and newly-appointed offensive coordinator Mike Solari, who was largely responsible for the team’s running game in his previous role as offensive line coach … Despite his remarkable production a year ago, eschews talk of individual accomplishments and has repeatedly reiterated his primary goal of helping his veteran teammates win a Super Bowl in Kansas City … Possesses a genuine appreciation for some of the game’s all-time great running backs and has been flattered by comparisons that have likened his running style to a mix of Jim Brown’s power and Walter Payton’s athleticism … Developed his deep admiration for Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Earl Campbell, Ollie Matson, Lenny Moore and Marion Motley while watching hours of NFL Films tapes provided by his father – Larry Johnson, Sr. – who is entering his 11th season as an assistant coach at Penn State … Possesses an angry on-field demeanor and plays the game with the mentality of a linebacker, often initiating the contact with would-be tacklers … Frequently opts to simply run over defenders, but can quickly break away from the pack once he hits the open field … Former first-round draft pick in 2003 (27th overall), has firmly established himself as one of the NFL’s elite backs … Already ranks 11th in Chiefs history with 2,416 rushing yards and needs just 1,283 ground yards in 2006 to vault into the club’s all-time top five ahead of Pro Football Hall of Fame RB Marcus Allen (3,698) ... Is sixth in team annals with 30 rushing TDs and is 15 TDs shy of overtaking Allen (44) for second in that category behind only Holmes (76) ... Possesses tremendous power and strength, attributes that often wear down opposing defenses and help him pick up tough yards … Seemingly gets stronger as the game progresses, providing the perfect hammer to close out games and chew up the clock in the fourth quarter … Shifty between-the-tackles ball carrier also possesses breakaway speed … Voted by his teammates as the 2005 Derrick Thomas Award winner as the Chiefs MVP … Earned second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press and All-AFC accolades from Pro Football Weekly … Began 2005 season playing in every third series for the Chiefs before assuming the starting reins vs. Oakland (11/6/05). Became an instant hero in that contest, rushing for 107 yards with two TDs, including the game-winning score on a one-yard dive as time expired in a 27-23 victory … Quite simply enjoyed the greatest late-season surge in league annals, as his 1,351 rushing yards in games played on or after November 1st were the highest mark by any player in NFL history … Ranked first in the AFC and third in the NFL with 1,750 rushing yards a year ago, while his 336 attempts were the second-best single-season mark in franchise record books … Equally adept at catching the ball out of the backfield, racked up 33 receptions for 343 yards and a TD in 2005 … Led the AFC and finished second in the NFL with 2,093 yards from scrimmage … His 126 points were second behind Seattle RB Shaun Alexander (168) for the most points in the NFL among non-kickers … Earned AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors for November and also for games played in December/January, becoming the first Chiefs player to win the award twice in one season and the first player in the NFL to win back-to-back AFC Player of the Month accolades since ‘98 when both N.Y. Jets QB Vinny Testaverde and Denver RB Terrell Davis pulled off the feat … Posted 100-yard outings in all nine of his starts to finish out the season, shattering Holmes’ previous team record of five consecutive 100-yard outings … Carries that streak of 100-yard performances into the 2006 campaign, a mark that stands as the longest active streak in the league and is tied as the third-longest stretch in NFL history … In total, registered a franchise-record 10 100-yard rushing games during the 2005 campaign … Finished last season with a 26-carry, 201-yard performance with three TDs vs. Cincinnati (1/1/06), winning his third AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season in the process … First revealed his exciting potential at the NFL level when he produced a string of three straight 100-yard rushing games down the stretch of the 2004 campaign, beginning with a 118-yard effort at Oakland (12/5/04) ... Sparkled on the NFL’s biggest regular season stage when he was selected the Monday Night Football Player of the Game and had his picture affixed to the MNF “horse trailer†after racking up 104 yards and two TDs on just seven carries at Tennessee (12/13/04) ... Stepped into a starting role for the final three games of the 2004 season – filling in for an injured Holmes and RB Derrick Blaylock – and did not disappoint … Has played in 32 games (12 starts), rushing 476 times for 2,416 yards (5.1 avg.) with 30 touchdowns and catching 56 passes for 623 yards (11.1 avg.) and three TDs … Also has one special teams tackle.
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