Some players dominate for a decade. Others have one magical season where everything clicks—then disappear faster than a Mark Sanchez comeback attempt. These are the ultimate “one-hit wonders,” guys who looked like future stars but never quite replicated their breakout year.
From quarterbacks who caught fire to running backs who ran wild, here are the 10 greatest one-hit wonder seasons in NFL history.
10. Derek Anderson (2007 – Cleveland Browns)
Cleveland hasn’t had much quarterback luck, but for one glorious year, Derek Anderson had Browns fans believing. He threw for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Browns to a shocking 10-6 record—almost making the playoffs.
Then, poof. Anderson regressed badly the next year, lost his starting job, and never came close to repeating his 2007 magic. Browns fans have been searching for a stable QB ever since.
9. Steve Slaton (2008 – Houston Texans)
As a rookie, Slaton looked like the next big thing at running back, racking up 1,282 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns for Houston. He was explosive, elusive, and a fantasy football legend.
Then came fumbling issues, injuries, and a quick decline. By 2011, he was out of the league entirely, leaving Texans fans wondering what could have been.
8. Billy Volek (2004 – Tennessee Titans)
Volek was never supposed to be the guy, but when Steve McNair got hurt in 2004, he went absolutely off. In just eight starts, he threw for 2,486 yards, 18 touchdowns, and had back-to-back 400-yard games—something only a handful of QBs have ever done.
Then? Back to the bench. He spent the rest of his career as a backup, never coming close to that ridiculous stretch again.
7. Gary Barnidge (2015 – Cleveland Browns)
Tight ends usually develop gradually, but Barnidge went from a career journeyman to an unstoppable force in 2015. He had 79 catches, 1,043 yards, and 9 touchdowns—outperforming Rob Gronkowski that season.
Then? Nothing. He disappeared just as quickly as he arrived, fading into obscurity after just one more year in the league.
6. Peyton Hillis (2010 – Cleveland Browns)
The third Brown on this list, because, well… the Browns. Hillis was an absolute beast in 2010, bulldozing defenders for 1,177 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. His bruising style and underdog story made him a fan favorite—so much so that he won the Madden cover vote in 2011.
Then, injuries and locker room issues derailed his career. He never cracked 600 rushing yards again, and the legend of the Madden Curse grew stronger.
5. Nick Foles (2013 – Philadelphia Eagles)
Before he became the Super Bowl hero of Philly, Foles had one of the most statistically ridiculous seasons ever. In 2013, he threw 27 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions and had a perfect 7-touchdown game. He even led the Eagles to the playoffs.
Then? He struggled to hold onto a starting job, bounced around the league, and looked like just another backup QB… until that 2017 Super Bowl run (which almost disqualifies him from this list).
4. Josh Gordon (2013 – Cleveland Browns)
Josh Gordon was unguardable in 2013. He led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in just 14 games and had back-to-back 200-yard performances. He looked like a generational talent.
But off-field issues and suspensions derailed his career. He never again played a full season and remains the biggest “what could have been” receiver of his era.
3. Chris Johnson (2009 – Tennessee Titans)
CJ2K was a human cheat code in 2009, rushing for 2,006 yards and setting the single-season yards from scrimmage record (2,509). His speed was terrifying, and he seemed destined for a long reign as the best RB in football.
Instead, his production dipped fast, and he was out of the league by 2017. His 2009 season remains one of the most electric ever, but he never came close to repeating it.
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2. Robert Griffin III (2012 – Washington Redskins)
RG3 revolutionized the quarterback position as a rookie, throwing for 3,200 yards, rushing for 815 more, and leading Washington to the playoffs. He looked like the future of the NFL.
Then Washington’s coaching staff left him in a playoff game on a bad knee, and he tore his ACL. He was never the same, lost his explosiveness, and quickly faded into backup roles. One of the biggest “what ifs” in football history.
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1. Earl Cooper (1980 – San Francisco 49ers)
Cooper’s rookie season was insane. As a fullback, he caught 83 passes for 567 yards and ran for another 720 yards. In an era where fullbacks weren’t supposed to do that, he looked like the future of the position.Then, Bill Walsh’s offense changed, and Cooper’s role disappeared. He never had more than 20 catches in a season again. From revolutionary to forgotten in just one year.
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