Former Colts running back Randy McMillan died Wednesday. He was 67.
McMillan was a 1981 first-round pick (No. 12 overall) by the Baltimore Colts and spent his entire six-year career with the franchise, making the move from Baltimore to Indianapolis with the team in 1984. In 88 career games (87 starts), McMillan rushed 990 times for 3,876 yards with 24 rushing touchdowns; he added 164 receptions for 1,356 yards with two receiving touchdowns as well.
McMillan, who played two years of college ball at Pitt with future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, burst on to the NFL scene in 1981. He rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL debut, a 29-28 Colts win over the New England Patriots, on Sept. 6, 1981. Those 146 rushing yards are the second-most for a Colts player in his NFL debut (Hall of Fame fullback Alan Ameche has the record with 194 rushing yards in 1955), and only Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk scored more rushing touchdowns among Colts players players in their NFL debut (three in 1994).
From 1984-1986 – the Colts’ first three years in Indianapolis – McMillan led the team in rushing with 705, 858 and 609 rushing yards, respectively. In the spring of 1987, McMillan was struck by a car and sustained a significant leg injury, which ultimately cut his NFL career short at the age of 28.
