We all remember Eric Dickerson as a great running back who had a Hall of Fame Career with the LA Rams, Indianapolis Colts and LA Raiders. But there was one time where the hall of fame running back almost became a Packer.

The Backstory

Dickerson was traded in 1993 to the Atlanta Falcons for a sixth round pick. At this point in Dickersons career he was used mainly as a back-up Running Back. He only started 2 games with the Falcons in 1993 and had 91 yards rushing.

Jerry Glanville, who was the coach at the time with the Falcons, told Dickerson he would be waived because he wanted to start using younger players. There was a misunderstanding between the Falcons front office and Dickerson as he had not been put on waivers.

The Trade

The Falcons decided to trade Dickerson to the Packers along with third year cornerback Bruce Pickens for Packers running back John Stephens. Once Dickerson got to Green Bay, he failed his physical because of a spinal injury that would make it too risky for him to play. The trade never happened. Dickerson decided to retire that season ending his 11 year career in the NFL.

What if Dickerson became a Packer?

There is always the question of what if?

Clearly the Packers were looking for looking for some help at Running Back.

At that point the Packers didn’t have a running back rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since Terdell Middleton in 1978.

Stephens only had 173 yards through five games with the Packers and former first round pick Darrell Thompson wasn’t doing so well ether.

If Dickerson did pass his physical, he would’ve given a spark to the Packers offense even though he was in his 11th year at that point.

The season before he was traded to the Falcons, Dickerson had 729 yards and two touchdowns. He clearly had some gas left in the tank.

Dickerson would’ve had to share the backfield with ether Thompson or Edgar Bennett but at this point in Dickersons career he wouldn’t mind sharing the backfield.

The only question there would be is, how long does Dickerson play for the Packers? He was nearing the end of his career at that point.

I think Dickerson would’ve played a good 1 or 2 seasons with Packers before retiring had he passed his physical.

Do the Packers make it to the Super Bowl with Dickerson?

I think no, because even though now you have a dynamic offense that can run and pass, it still wouldn’t be enough to beat the top NFC teams in the 90’s like the 49ers or the Cowboys.

I think though Dickerson retires a year before the Packers actually made it to the Super Bowl XXXI.

But if the Dickerson trade goes through would the Packers even have thought to draft Dorsey Levens in 1994? Does Edgar Bennett develop to be the Packers top back in 1996?

There are a lot of questions that are left unanswered and we’ll probably never get to know because the trade never happened but at that time the trade would’ve been one Packers fan would’ve loved.

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Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.

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