A Look Back: Ahman Green’s 2003 season

The Packers have no shortage of great players in the history of the NFL. One of the players that you do not hear people talk about as much is RB Ahman Green. However, looking back on his stats, he was one of the best running backs not just in Green Bay Packers history but in NFL history. His best season was clearly the 2003 season. Let’s take a look back on Ahman Green’s 2003 season.

Stats on the Season

In 2003, Green rushed for 1,883 yards on 355 attempts for a 5.3 yards per carry. On top of that, he caught 50 passes for another 367 yards. Green was also a scoring machine netting 15 touchdowns on the ground and adding another 5 receiving. This combination of rushing and receiving is not common. In NFL history, only three players have put up 1,800 yards, caught 50 passes and scored 20 or more touchdowns. Those three players are LaDainian Tomlinson, Eric Dickerson and Ahman Green. He still holds the franchise record for most rushing yards in a season and it isn’t even close. The next closest person has 1,474. Green’s 2003 season had some classic games.

Week 4 vs. Chicago

Ahman Green had started off the season so-so. A couple of 50 yard performances with one big week sandwiched in the middle. On Monday Night Football in Chicago, he went off. Green racked up 176 yards on just 19 carries (9.3 yards per carry). He showed off the full arsenal throughout the game. In the first quarter, Green goes off left tackle and stops on a dime to elude a defender. Then he turned on the jets and out ran the rest of the defense for a 60 touchdown run. For his second touchdown of the game, Green showed off his power. Near the goal line he goes up the middle and bowls over a Bears defender before scoring. All of Green’s skills were on display against the Bears.

Week 9 vs. Philadelphia

It is rare to see a player have this kind of stat line in a loss. Another Monday night matchup against the Eagles ended with a 17-14 loss but Green’s stat line was ridiculous. Green ran for 192 yards on 29 carries and caught 3 passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. Green also added a 45 yards touchdown run. On a 4th and 1 Green broke through the line and turned on the speed for the score. Ultimately, the weather was the reason the Packers had trouble in this game. It was raining hard and it definitely had an affect on the game as the Packers had 6 fumbles losing 2 of them. It makes sense that in the rain, the Packers would lean on Green and he delivered keeping them in the game.

Week 16 vs. Denver

Packers vs Broncos 2003: Ahman Green 98 yards to the house!

• Green that day: 20 carries | 218 yards | 2 TD
• '03 Ahman Green: 405 touches | 2250 yards from scrimmage | 20 TDs

(@AhmanGreen30) pic.twitter.com/yYeXqVb85z

— Four Verts 🏈 (@FourVerticals_) July 27, 2021

This is the one that Packers fans remember. The Packers needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Green had a pedestrian first half but delivered in the second half. After a goal line stop to keep the lead at 17-3, Green took the 1st and 10 snap from the Packers 2. Denver crowded the line knowing that a run was coming. It didn’t matter. Green hit the hole at full speed and outran the Denver defense for a Packers record 98 yard score. While there was still plenty of time left in the game, this sealed a Packers win. Green finished with a whopping 218 yards on just 20 carries for an average of 10.9 yards a carry.

What makes this moment stick in the memories of most Packers fans is that in order for the Packers to make the playoffs, the Vikings had to lose to the 3-12 Cardinals. It seemed unlikely but the Cardinals pulled it off on a last second touchdown that was called good due to the now extinct force out rule. (Watch the Vikings misery here). I still can remember watching Ahman Green’s 98 yard run and then later seeing the last second touchdown to put the Packers in the postseason. It was one of the great days to be a Packers fan.

Ahman Green’s Legacy

Green’s 2003 season was not the only great one but it was the most memorable. In terms of legacy, he still holds the Packers record for most rushing yards in a season and total career rushing yards. The 98 yard touchdown is still the longest in Packers history and only the great Jim Taylor has more touchdowns. He is also first in Packers history on yards per game average (min. 100 attempts) with 80 yards per game. Green was a truly special running back that made the teams of the early 2000s a forced to be reckoned with.

Will Anyone Come Close Green’s 2003 Season?

It will be hard to replicate Ahman Green’s 2003 season. In the age of running back committees, getting near 2,000 yards is a difficult task. However, it is not an impossible one. The Packers have high hopes for Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon this year. Aaron Jones will most likely be more involved in the passing game giving more opportunities. Whether we see it happen again or not, Green will go down as one of the Packers greats and hopefully, like Sterling Sharpe, will find his way on the Hall of Fame radar at some point.