As the first inductee to the Smyth Ravens' Ring of Honor, Earnest Byner left no doubt at the end of his playing career that he is one of the elite running backs in NFL history. His versatile skill as a running back with sure hands can be mentioned in the same breath as Herschel Walker and Thurman Thomas. In his playing days, Byner ran on pace with Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith as the fourth-leading rusher (3,845 yards) for four seasons (1989-92). A 10th-round (280th-overall) pick of the Browns in the 1984 NFL Draft, he was traded to the Redskins in 1989, but was able to re-sign with Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 1994 season. He became a Raven in 1996 when the franchise moved to Baltimore.
Career Highlights
- Back-to-back Pro Bowler (1990-91)
- Career stats include: 8,261 rushing yards on 2,095 carries and 56 rushing TDs. Add to that 15 receiving TDs, plus one from a recovered fumble, which equals 72 total career TDs.
- Ended his career after the 1997 season as one of six active players with 8,000 career rushing yards (Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Herschel Walker and Emmitt Smith), and No. 16 on the NFL's all-time rushing list, just 117 yards behind Joe Perry
- As of 1997, he was one of only 11 players in NFL history to gain over 1,000 yards rushing on two different teams (1985 with the Browns, and 1990-91 with the Redskins).
- Caught 512 career passes for 4,605 yards, which upon his retirement was sixth among all-time running backs in receptions.
- Was the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December in 1990
- Still owns the Browns' top-two single game postseason rushing marks (166 yards @ Miami, 1/4/86; 122 yards vs. Colts, 1/9/88).
- 1991 AP and College and Pro Football Weekly All-Pro selection
- As a rookie in 1984, his 5.9 yards per carry average (426 yards on 72 attempts) was the highest among any AFC back and second in the NFL to the Saints' Hokie Gajan's 6.0 average.
- Led Cleveland in receptions and first downs in 1995