Top 25 Players in AFL History: #17 Bob McMillen
May 3, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
CHICAGO - Continuing its countdown of the 25 Greatest Players in AFL History, the Silver Anniversary Committee has announced its selection for the 17th Greatest Player in AFL History: Bob McMillen.
A three-time ArenaBowl champion, McMillen began his AFL career in 1995 with the Arizona Rattlers. He played in 12 games as a rookie, debuting as a fullback and linebacker on May 12, 1995 against the San Jose SaberCats.
McMillen's promising first season in the League was followed by a disappointing early end to his sophomore campaign. In the first game of his 1996 year, McMillen tore his ACL, ending his season before it began. He returned to the field in 1997 to help lead the Rattlers to an ArenaBowl XI victory over Kurt Warner's Iowa Barnstormers.
The following season would harbor more heartbreak for McMillen, however. He played just five games in 1998 after tearing another ACL, this time in the other knee. But McMillen would come back stronger than ever in 1999, leading the League in rushing with 180 yards and scoring eight touchdowns on the ground. He also led the Rattlers with 2.5 sacks and earned Second-Team All-Arena honors for his efforts.
By 2000, McMillen had established himself as a premiere Ironman in the AFL and cemented his legacy as one of the best pass-protecting fullbacks ever. He led the Rattlers in rushing attempts, yards and fumble recoveries. He also recorded a career-high five sacks on the year, garnering a First-Team All-Arena selection.
The next season, McMillen left Arizona for a two-year stint with the team he debuted against, the San Jose SaberCats. During that span, he continued to put up respectable numbers and was a key contributor on the SaberCats ArenaBowl XVI championship team.
Upon winning his second ArenaBowl title, McMillen decided it was time to come home. The three-time All-America selection at Illinois-Benedictine signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Rush on November 14, 2002. The 2003 season was one of McMillen's best in terms of statistics. He played all 16 games for the first time in his career and posted a career-high in tackles with 27 on the year.
In 2004, McMillen became the first player in AFL history to rush for 100 yards or more in six consecutive seasons. That year, he was selected to the All-Ironman team after recording a career-high 285 rushing yards and a League-leading 22 touchdowns to go with 25 tackles and a sack on defense.
His final three seasons brought more accolades, including leading the Rush to an ArenaBowl XX victory, being selected as the 20th Greatest Player in AFL History by the AFL Historical Committee and 2006, and becoming the cover athlete on EA Sports' second AFL video game, Arena Football: Road to Glory. He retired in second-place all-time on the League's list of career rushing yardage leaders with 1,508 career yards and is one of only three players in League history to win an ArenaBowl title with three different teams.
Following his retirement as a player in 2007, McMillen joined the Rush as the team's Fullbacks/Linebackers coach. In 2010, he was introduced as the team's new Head Coach and finished the season as the runner-up for NFL Network's Coach of the Year award.
The League's Silver Anniversary Committee will continue to countdown its list of the 25 Greatest Players in AFL History each week throughout the 2012 regular season, with the announcements of the Top 5 during the postseason.
25 Greatest Players in AFL History
17. Bob McMillen
18. Mark Grieb
19. Darryl Hammond
20. Alvin Rettig
21. Durwood Roquemore
22. Chris Jackson
23. Ben Bennett
24. Clevan Thomas
25. Gary Mullen
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League message board...
Arena Football League Stories from May 3, 2012
- SaberCats Clash with Bitter Rival Arizona in the Desert in Significant Divisional Battle - San Jose SaberCats
- Sharks, VooDoo to Kick off Weekend on National Airwaves - Jacksonville Sharks
- Everett Named National Guard MVP of the Week - Milwaukee Mustangs
- HD Video Display System Coming to Tampa Bay Times Forum - Tampa Bay Storm
- Release - Storm Hosts Orlando Predators Saturday, May 5 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Milwaukee's Everett Voted Week 8 National Guard MVP - AFL
- Soul No. 1 in Coaches' Poll for Third Straight Week - Philadelphia Soul
- Top 25 Players in AFL History: #17 Bob McMillen - AFL
- Storm Announce Signed Football and Jersey GiveAway - Tampa Bay Storm
- Georgia Force to Host Second Annual Youth Football Camp - Georgia Force
- VooDoo Pick up Action, Travel to Jacksonville - New Orleans VooDoo
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
