Preston James Pearson (born January 17, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Pearson played in five Super Bowls with three different teams. In describing the difficulties Pearson faced over the course of his 14-year NFL career, Pittsburgh sportswriter Phil Musick stated "Pearson has had more bad breaks than a glassblower with cold sores".
Early life Pearson was born on January 17, 1945, in Freeport, Illinois. He attended Freeport High School, where he received All-State honors as the 6 ft (1.83 m) center of the basketball team. As a senior in 1963, he was unanimously chosen Big Eight All-Conference in basketball, leading the conference in scoring and his team in rebounding. He also competed in football, and on the track team in the pole vault, high jump and broad jump. He played both offensive and defensive back in high school.
Pearson's older brother Rufus Pearson Jr. starred on the school's football and track teams. For most of their high school years, the brothers were the only African Americans on the school's sports teams. Rufus went on to college at the University of Southern Illinois.
College Pearson attended the University of Illinois. He played basketball at Illinois, but did not play on the football team there.
Pearson had a strong desire to go to Illinois, even though he was offered a basketball scholarship to attend Bowling Green University. After writing a letter to Illinois basketball head coach Harry Combes, Combes agreed to meet with Pearson; or in other reports responded to Pearson by mail. Combes told Pearson he did not have a scholarship to offer Pearson, but Pearson could try out for the freshman basketball team; and if he made the team, then it might be possible for Pearson to get a partial, half, scholarship. Pearson came to Illinois and made the team as a guard, but he had to work a number of jobs to make ends meet, sometimes going hungry, so he could attend Illinois. He received the partial scholarship the next season as a sophomore, and reportedly only received a full scholarship for his senior year.
At Illinois, he did not play center as he had in high school; rather, he was moved to guard and sometimes forward. He became a three-year player, and two-year starter, on the Illini varsity. At 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 193 lb. (87.5 kg), he was known for his tough defense and became the team's defensive stopper. He was assigned to defend other Big Ten teams top offensive players, such as Michigan's Cazzie Russell, Purdue's Rick Mount, and Indiana's Tom and Dick Van Arsdale. In possibly his biggest basketball moment, during a January 29, 1967 game against UCLA, the 6 ft 1 in Pearson became one of the few players who ever blocked a "skyhook" shot by the 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) future Hall of Fame center Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). United Press International featured a photo of Pearson's block with its story on the game.
Pearson played in 67 games over three years on the varsity basketball team, averaging 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Pearson started much of the time for the Illini as a junior, and was considered a regular guard on the team; though he has also been identified as playing forward that year. He showed flashes of greatness, but averaged only 4.8 points per game, to go along with 3.1 rebounds per game. It is alternatively reported, he finished his varsity career with a 6.7 points per game average, in 47 varsity games. As a senior, he was named a starter at guard, averaging 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game over the 1966-67 season. He was instrumental in the team's successes that year.
Although he possessed the athletic and leaping ability, and defensive skill, he never developed his offensive game, and this lack of offense precluded an NBA career.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame, along with Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player Kevin Garnett.
Professional career Although Pearson did not play college football, he was considered a professional football prospect at defensive back because of his great athleticism, leaping ability, quickness and desire for playing with physical contact. While still at Illinois, the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers contacted him about playing in the NFL.
Baltimore Colts Pearson was selected by future Hall of Fame coach Don Shula and the Baltimore Colts in the twelfth round (298th overall) of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft, despite never playing a down of college football, after the team was impressed with his speed and athleticism. He was first tried at defensive back and was promoted from the taxi squad to the regular roster on November 1, 1967, playing mostly on special teams. As a rookie, he learned the most from any player by observing the meticulous work and preparation of Colts Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry. Later in his career, in 1975, Pearson said his biggest thrill as a professional player came during his first training camp with the Colts, seeing Hall of Fame legends like quarterback Johnny Unitas and running back Lenny Moore up close.
In 1968, he was moved to running back, at least in part because of Lenny Moore's retirement. He became a captain of the special teams units, at least by 1969, after leading the league in kickoff returns in 1968 with a 35.1 yard per return average. (As Pearson only returned 15 kickoffs, Ron Smith's 27.6 yards per return average on 26 returns is recognized as high in the NFL's 1968 season.) He registered the longest kickoff return of the year in the NFL (102 yards). His two touchdown returns on kickoffs in 1968 also led the league.
In an October 1968 game against the San Francisco 49ers, Pearson returned the opening kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown. In the same game, he recovered a fumble while covering a kickoff, which led to a touchdown. It was the first time he ever returned a kickoff for a touchdown and his first fumble recovery as a professional. He was awarded the game ball by his teammates. On November 10, 1968, he returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions.
As a running back in 1968, Pearson averaged more than 4 yards per carry on 19 carries. He had two pass receptions, both for touchdowns, including a 61-yard touchdown reception on an Earl Morrall pass and a nine-yard reception of a Johnny Unitas pass. Both touchdown receptions came against the Los Angeles Rams on December 15, 1968. The Colts finished the season 13–1, winning the NFL's Coastal Division. They won the divisional round playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, with Pearson returning one kick for 31 yards. Pearson had started the game at fullback for an injured Jerry Hill, but Shula had to put Hill in for Pearson to block against the Vikings defensive line and blitzing defense.
The Colts next won the 1968 NFL Championship Game over the Cleveland Browns, 34–0, with Pearson returning one kick for 21 yards. Pearson played in Super Bowl III, with the Colts losing to the New York Jets, 16–7. He returned two kickoffs for 59 yards. This was the first of Pearson's five Super Bowl appearances.
In 1969, Pearson started in two games for the Colts at running back. On the year, he rushed 24 times for 81 yards and had four pass receptions for 64 yards. He returned six punts for 37 yards. Pearson led the NFL with 31 kickoff returns. His return average fell to 22.8. His rookie teammate Jim Duncan led the NFL with a 29.5 yards per kickoff return average, and had a 92-yard touchdown return.
On May 31, 1970, he was traded, along with defensive back Ocie Austin, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for linebacker Ray May and a twelfth-round draft choice (#294-Bobby Wuensch). Pearson wanted a trade as he saw the Colts were making Duncan their primary returner, and halfback Tom Matte was going to keep his starting role, limiting Pearson’s opportunities to play. Duncan led the NFL again in 1970, with a 35.4 yards per kickoff return average. Matte played only two games after suffering a knee injury and was replaced by Norm Bulaich, who led the 1970 Colts team in rushing with 426 yards in 139 attempts. The 1970 Colts went on to win Super Bowl V.
Pittsburgh Steelers In 1970, Pearson reunited with Chuck Noll who had become the Steelers head coach in 1969. Noll was Don Shula's defensive backfield coach with the Colts when Pearson joined the Colts in 1967, and filled that position until leaving the Colts after the Super Bowl loss. It has also been stated Noll was Shula's defensive coordinator.
Pearson's role changed in Pittsburgh, and he became the starter at running back in his first year with the team, with John Fuqua at fullback. Pearson started all 14 games for the Steelers with 503 rushing yards on 173 attempts (2.9 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 71 yards, but only returned four kickoffs that year. Fuqua had 691 yards on 138 attempts (5.0 yards per carry) and seven rushing touchdowns, as well as 289 yards on 23 pass receptions for two touchdowns.
Pearson and Fuqua were the starters again in 1971, with Pearson's numbers improving significantly. He averaged 4.6 yards per attempt, gaining 605 yards, and had 20 receptions for 246 yards and two touchdowns. His 605 yards ranked Pearson fifteenth among running backs in the American Football Conference (AFC) and 27th overall in the NFL, while he was second on the team to Fuqua's 625 yards (on a 4.0 yards per carry average). His 4.6 yards per attempt was sixth best in the entire NFL.
In 1972, he was the eighth leading rusher in the AFC through the first four games, until he tore his left hamstring against the Houston Oilers in the fifth game of the season on October 15, 1972. He had rushed for 242 yards through five games. He was replaced with rookie Franco Harris, who gained 115 yards in the Houston game, and ultimately gained over 1,000 yards on the season. Harris would not relinquish the position again on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Pearson missed three games with the hamstring injury, and returned to play in six more games that year, chiefly on special teams; and none as a starting running back.
In 1973, he was switched to wide receiver during training camp, but was moved back to running back before the start of the season. Harris was injured going into the season, and Pearson received considerable playing time at running back during the season opener against the Detroit Lions, rushing for 48 yards on 15 carries and catching two passes for 15 more yards. Pearson went on to start in 13 of 14 games that year, rushing for 554 yards in 132 carries, and catching 11 passes for 173 yards, while playing alongside Harris and Fuqua in the backfield during the year. Although only starting in eight games, Harris still led the team in rushing attempts and yards; though Pearson led the team with 4.2 yards per carry. Pearson and Harris started together in the Steelers backfield in their division round playoff loss to the Oakland Raiders that year.