Alfred Morris had the greatest season for a running back in the Washington NFL franchise’s over 90+ years. In 2012, the rookie sixth-round pick rushed for 1,613 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per rush and scored 13 touchdowns.
As you know, the then-Redskins ripped off seven consecutive wins to capture the NFC East and head into the playoffs. Morris was terrific, but was overshadowed by Washington’s first-round pick that year, quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Those 1,613 rushing yards are the fourth-most in NFL history for a rookie. Morris trails only Eric Dickerson, George Rogers and Ezekiel Elliott. That wasn’t Morris’ only productive season, as he would rush for over 1,000 yards the next two seasons for the Redskins. In his final Washington season in 2015, Morris rushed for 751 yards as the team was built around a prolific passing game, led by Kirk Cousins, Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.
After departing Washington, Morris would spend the next two seasons in Dallas, backing up Elliott. It was a move he never wanted to make.
“It’s funny because it was like one team I didn’t want to play for,” Morris told Bryan Colbert Jr. on the “Next Man Up” podcast. “But it’s how it happened. There are still unanswered questions on like what happened on me exiting out of Washington, which was hard because I gave so much. For four years, I gave it up, not only on the field but off the field as well. I did every community service event. I was immersed into the community.”
Morris then explains that while then-Washington GM Bruce Allen did offer him a contract, it was a lowball offer where Morris correctly believed he deserved more. After turning it down, Morris hoped it was a part of the negotiation process and Washington would come back with another offer, but it never happened.
Morris felt he would land in Denver, which he would’ve been happy with because it was in the AFC, but it didn’t work out. He said he was mad about signing with the Cowboys, as “it was the last team I wanted to play for.”
Colbert then asked Morris, who also played for the 49ers, Cardinals and Giants, if he still considers Washington his home team.
“Oh, without a doubt,” Morris said. “That’s where I started at, and I would love the end….someday….sometime…you know, maybe do like some of the other guys do, do a one-day contract, but we’ll work on that down the road.”
Morris would say he’s “Washington through and through.”
The Commanders have done an outstanding job bringing back some of the team’s former greats under this new ownership group. Could Morris be the next former Washington legend to return to the fold?