James Conner

James Earl Conner is an American football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. A 2-time Pro Bowl selection, he played college football at Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In 2014, he garnered AFCA All-American honors and was awarded the ACC Player of the Year.

James Conner’s Early Life and Background

Conner attended McDowell High School in Erie, Pennsylvania, where played running back and defensive lineman on the Trojans football team. As a senior, he rushed for 1,680 yards on 155 carries and 26 touchdowns before committing to play college football at the University of Pittsburgh in August 2012. Perhaps most well-known during this part of his life for his battle with cancer, Conner revealed that he was suffering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but thankfully, after 12 rounds of chemotherapy, during which he also met Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, an inspiration of his, on the Ellen Degeneres Show, he announced that he was cancer free.

James Conner Collegiate Career

After committing to the University of Pittsburgh, Conner started off his freshman year strong and continued that momentum throughout the season. He was named the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl MVP for his 226 yards on 26 carries to go along with a touchdown. He led the team with 799 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. His 229 rushing yards were a school record for rushing yards in a bowl game. His sophomore season was one for the ages. Conner totaled 1,865 yards rushed on 298 attempts and set an ACC record with 26 rushing touchdowns. He led the ACC in rushing yards and ranked 7th in the FBS. For his play, he was named the ACC Player of the Year, along with First-team All-American honors.

On September 5, 2015, Conner tore his MCL during the season opener. Further x-rays of the chest due to excessive fatigue and other symptoms, led to the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. James worked hard and continued his training during his rehab process and was finally cancer-free during the offseason. Upon returning for the 2016 season, James was as good as ever, rushing for 1,092 yards on 216 attempts with 16 rushing touchdowns with a far more effective receiving season, with 302 receiving yards and his first 4 career receiving touchdowns.

Who Drafted James Conner?

On December 10, 2016, Conner announced via Twitter that he intended to apply for early eligibility for the 2017 NFL Draft as an underclassman and forgo his senior year at Pitt. Underclassmen had to apply for the draft by January 16, 2017. Conner attended the NFL Scouting Combine but chose to perform only the 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical, and bench press. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Conner was projected to be a fifth or sixth-round pick by draft scouts and experts. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Conner in the third round with the 105th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the eighth RB selected. He had the top-selling NFL jersey throughout July, beating all rookies, along with NFL stalwarts like Marshawn Lynch, Dak Prescott, and Tom Brady.

James Conner’s NFL Journey

Conner has been the best-case example of making the best of what you have. While injuries have stalled some momentum for the RB, whenever healthy, Conner has been a consistent and effective answer at the running back position. In his 2 fully healthy seasons, Conner has made Pro Bowls both times. The injury bug has been particularly unlucky to the Pennsylvania resident, with injuries derailing his 2019 season and affecting his 2020 season. A consistent performer, Conner signed a three-year extension with the Cardinals over the summer and hopes to have a strong showing this season.

James Conner teams

Pittsburgh Steelers (2017-2020)

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Conner in the third round with the 105th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. On May 11, 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Conner to a four-year, $3.16 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $706,288. Conner was sidelined due to injury and finished the season with just 144 rushing yards on 32 carries. As a starter in his second season, Conner was more consistent with some strong performances culminating in a 146-yard, 24-carry, and two touchdowns rushing game paired with five receptions for 66 yards. His performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week and his continued excellence also earned him Offensive Player of the Month for October. Conner earned a Pro Bowl selection and was named the starting RB for the AFC Pro Bowl team. He tallied 973 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 55 receptions, 497 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown through the 2018 season.

In Week 8, Conner rushed 23 times for 145 yards and a touchdown before exiting due to a shoulder injury, somehow still earning the AFC Player of the Week. Overall, Conner recorded 464 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to go along with 34 receptions for 251 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns for the season. On November 28, 2020, Conner was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus. For the 2020 season, Conner finished with 169 carries for 721 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns to go along with 35 receptions for 215 receiving yards

Arizona Cardinals (2021-Present)

On April 13, 2021, Conner signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the season as the Cardinals leading rusher with 752 yards and was second in the entire league in rushing touchdowns with 15. He earned a Pro Bowl selection for his performance and signed up for a further three-year contract extension with the Cardinals worth $21 million on March 14, 2022.

James Conner Awards and Honours

James Conner's Net Worth

According to various sources, Conner has an estimated net worth of around $5 million, with a salary of around $2 million per year. When he joined the NFL his salary was somewhere near $1.5 million every year. Bonuses have also earned Conner an extra $1.5 million. He has also earned around $1.5 million from different brand endorsement deals.

James Conner family

James Conner was raised by his parents, Kelly Patterson and Glen Conner Sr., and is the youngest of five brothers. His brothers are Glen, Richard, Michael, and Rico. Glen, Richard, and Michael are blood-related, while Rico is a stepbrother from his mother's second marriage. Glen Jr. also plays football, as a defensive lineman with his local Erie Express professional team in the Gridiron Developmental Football League. To learn more about Conner’s parents, check out this article.