Ranking every 1,000 yard rushing season in Saints history

#5 Saints 1,000 yard rushing season: Dalton Hilliard - 1989

Now it's time to really get into it.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the Saints were blessed with a deep and well-rounded bag full of talented ball-carriers. Dalton Hilliard was one such player, and he seemed to be getting better and better with each passing year since coming into the NFL in 1986 as a second-round draft pick.

This reached its crescendo in 1989, when Hilliard ran for 1,262 yards and 13 touchdowns, which is tied for third-most in the history of the Saints (more on that later). It resulted in the lone Pro Bowl selection for Hilliard, and it was well earned to say the least.

Hilliard also toted the rock an astounding 344 times that season, which is the third-most carries any Saints back has ever had in one year. It's all the more astounding when you consider that Hilliard was on the shorter end of the spectrum, measuring at 5-feet-8-inches. Then again, perhaps tipping the scales at about 208 pounds helped even it out. Boy the Saints have always loved their #ShortKings haven't they?

It's also worth noting that Hilliard wasn't even expecting to be the starting running back that season. He was filling in the starting role for a teammate who had to miss the 1989 season with an achilles injury. Who was that teammate you ask? Well, he just so happened to clock in at number four on our list.