One-Hit Wonders: NFL Players That Had One Great Season

July 3, 2023

Geno Smith had an amazing season, and the Seahawks hope he doesn't end up on this list someday. Aidin Ebrahimi looks at some of the biggest one-season wonders in NFL history.

Three years, $75 million. Just 12 months ago, if you told anyone that Geno Smith would be getting around $25 million a year, you would have been laughed at. But somehow, here we are, with the former draft bust turning his career around in Seattle and winning the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Geno had an incredible season, throwing for 4282 yards and 30 touchdowns with a sparkling 100.9 passer rating while also leading the league in completion percentage. However, the Seahawks hope that Geno can keep up his elite production since there have been so many one-season wonders in NFL history.

With that in mind, this article will look at some of the most prominent one-season wonders in NFL history. Most of these players dealt with minor injuries, but players who suffered significant injuries (like RGIII) won't be on this list.

#5. Ladell Betts (RB, Redskins, 2006)

Ladell Betts had a fantastic career at Iowa, becoming the school's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage, a record he still holds today. Betts was the first Hawkeye to be drafted in 2002 (the only other Hawkeye to be drafted and start in a game that year was former Packers star, Aaron Kampman) when he was picked with the 56th overall pick by the Washington Redskins.

Unfortunately for Betts, the man who would start over him for most of his career, Clinton Portis, was drafted just five spots earlier by the Broncos. Betts looked poised to be the Redskins' starter after gaining experience prior to his third season, but the team traded legendary cornerback Champ Bailey for Portis, relegating Betts to being the backup once again. But his time would come in 2006, and he made the most of it.

After a questionable decision to play Portis in the 2006 pre-season, he got hurt and battled injuries all year long, opening the door for Betts. Betts rushed for 1154 yards and received 445 yards, while only starting in nine games. In his final six games, Betts rushed for 770 yards (which would translate to over 2000 yards in a full season) and became the only Redskin running back ever to record consecutive 150-yard rushing games, which he did against the Falcons and Eagles.

Despite looking poised to replace Portis for good, the Redskins still named Portis the starter for 2007, and he eventually became the team's third-string RB. In the 2009 preseason, he was mistaken for Jerome Bettis as his jersey misspelled his last name as "Bettis", showing how far he had fallen. He would only start in three more games in his NFL career after his great 2006 campaign.

#4. Larry Brown (CB, Cowboys, 1995)

Larry Brown was overlooked from day one. He did not receive any scholarships heading into college and had a higher chance of being a track and field athlete than a professional football player, as he had to decide which one to pursue when he was at Los Angeles Southwest Community College. He eventually stuck with football and transferred to TCU, having a solid career there.

He was seriously doubted by scouts, however, as he slipped to the 12th round of the draft, getting picked 320th overall by the Cowboys. At that time, he was the youngest player ever to be drafted by the Cowboys. Brown had a solid rookie year with Dallas, getting named to the All-Rookie team, but was nothing more than a serviceable starter until 1995.

Larry Brown ... Super Bowl XXX MVP #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/pNzsxzOFF2

— GSH (@gman416) October 26, 2019

In 1995, the NFL's power balance shifted when arguably the best player in the league Deion Sanders joined the Cowboys from the Niners. Deion couldn't play until week nine due to Arthroscopic surgery in the offseason, but when Deion returned against his former team the Falcons, Dallas' defense looked unstoppable and Brown benefitted the most. Brown got two pick-sixes and another extra pick in the nine games with Deion, picked off league MVP Brett Favre in the playoffs, and got two picks in the Super Bowl, winning an unlikely Super Bowl MVP.

Brown signed a five-year, $12.5 million deal with the Raiders that offseason, but no longer cared for the game. Brown would be suspended by the Raiders for four weeks due to detrimental conduct and only started one game in his career before being cut in 1998 and playing four more games with Dallas before retiring.

#3. Damon Huard (QB, Chiefs, 2006)

Damon Huard initially started his football journey as a tight end but moved to quarterback during his senior year in high school. He attended the University of Washington, winning a national championship in 1991, however, he wouldn't start for the team until 1993. Huard had a solid tenure with the Huskies and proved to be a capable signal caller, finishing as the team's all-time passing leader with 5692 yards. He has since been replaced by five other passers on that list, including his own brother Brock, who succeeded Damon in 1996.

Despite his collegiate accomplishments, Huard went undrafted in 1996, due to most teams viewing him as a limited "system quarterback", as his squad heavily relied on the running game. Huard spent his early years in Miami, building a friendship with the legendary Dan Marino. Huard looked poised to replace Marino when he retired in 1999, as he started five games in Marino's final season and went 4-1, but the team decided to move on from him and he joined the Patriots.

In week two of the 2001 season, Bill Belichick chose Tom Brady over Huard to replace the injured Drew Bledsoe, and the rest was history. Huard would win two rings as a Patriot before joining Kansas City. Huard suddenly got his big moment in 2006 when Trent Green got hurt in week one. At the age of 33, Huard made the most out of his new opportunity, going 5-3 as a starter and taking great care of the football, playing the game manager role to perfection.

That season, Huard set the record for the least interceptions thrown by a QB with at least 240 pass attempts, with just one pick. Green would return before the playoffs but looked washed and the Chiefs wouldn't have made the playoffs that year without Huard's contributions. Huard signed an extension with KC but couldn't replicate his success, as he retired in 2009. He now owns a winery with Marino.

#2. Derek Anderson (QB, Browns, 2007)

September 16, 2007: Shootout at the OK Lake Erie🏈
15 yrs ago OTD, 1 of best games since The Return, #Browns 51-45 W vs. #RuleTheJungle
Derek Anderson 5 TDs in Wk 2 start after Charlie Frye (Wk 1 starter) traded😂 96 pts 8th most NFL history #BattleOf #OH #IO #Fiddy #Bungles pic.twitter.com/YZp4CRoE6V

— Mr. Cleveland (@MrCleveland_216) September 16, 2022

Derek Anderson always wanted to play for his hometown Oregon State Beavers growing up, but unlike so many other kids with big dreams, Anderson's dream came true as he was offered a scholarship by the Beavers. Anderson was great for Oregon State, retiring as the team's all-time leader in yards and touchdowns, though his records have since been topped by former Rams and Vikings QB Sean Mannion. He also became the sixth QB ever to throw for over 10,000 yards in a career in the Pac-10. Anderson wasn't thought of as a serious NFL prospect however, as he was picked in the sixth round by the Ravens who cut him shortly after. Anderson signed with the Browns, and he didn't play a game in 2005. Anderson did get some action in 2006, as he took over from the injured Charlie Frye to lead a comeback win over the Chiefs.

He would start three games in 2006, most notably throwing a pick-six to Derrick Brooks, the last defensive TD of Brooks' career. He threw three other picks in that game against the Bucs, however, Anderson learned from his mistakes and started the 2007 season like a house on fire. After replacing Frye for good in week one, he cooked the Bengals for five TDs before continuing his success to finish the season. He passed for 3787 yards and 29 TDs while leading the Browns to a 10-6 record and earning Pro Bowl honors.

Though his completion percentage left a lot to be desired (56.5%), it was thought that the soon to be 25 year old Anderson would continue his growth. That was not the case, as Anderson fell off so hard that Browns fans cheered when he got hurt late in the 2008 season. He'd then become a journeyman QB, finishing his career with more picks than touchdowns.

#1. Peyton Hillis (RB, Browns, 2010)

Peyton Hillis got a little bit unlucky when he committed to his hometown Arkansas Razorbacks. He had received offers from many big-name schools like LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, and others, but he decided to stay close to home. He had a really good freshman season, scoring eight touchdowns and it looked like Hillis would be the star of Arkansas football until 2007, but then two of the best running backs in the country, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones committed to the Razorbacks, which forced Hillis to move to fullback in his next three seasons. Jones was a solid prospect who was drafted 22nd overall, but McFadden was just something else. He was Christian McCaffrey before Christian McCaffrey. A rushing/receiving/passing threat who was the talk of the nation. Naturally, the existence of these two players meant that Hillis was overlooked heading into the draft.

Peyton Hillis’ stats in 2010...

• 16 games
• 1,177 rush yards (4.4 YPC)
• 477 receiving yards (7.8 YPR)
• 103.4 scrimmage YPG
• 13 total TDs pic.twitter.com/24UlALMBLs

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) June 25, 2021

Despite a great combine performance, Hillis was drafted in the seventh round. He spent two years with the Denver Broncos, showing promise in limited playing time, before getting traded to Cleveland for Brady Quinn. Hillis was handed the keys to the offense and he dominated, carrying a very poor Browns team.

His style of play reminded NFL fans of Mike Alstott, but Hillis was even better as his end-of-season stats of 1177 yards on the ground, 477 yards through the air, and 13 total touchdowns were all better than Alstott's peak stats. He was famously named the cover athlete of Madden 12, one of the most beloved entries in the history of the Madden franchise. However, he was struck by the "Madden Curse" and was suddenly unwanted by the Browns after a shaky 2011 campaign. He would retire after just three more starts in the league, after falling out of love with the game of football.