In his first four NFL seasons, running back Michael Turner was little more than an afterthought.
He’d been spectacular while playing for the Northern Illinois University Huskies in college, including two seasons where he racked up tons of yardage and touchdowns.
However, after getting selected in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Turner only started one game by 2007.
It just so happened that, during his time in San Diego, Turner was stuck behind all-world running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
However, he displayed enough talent that the Atlanta Falcons signed him as a free agent before the 2008 season and installed him as their lead back.
The move was a boon for Atlanta as Turner promptly set a franchise single-game rushing record in his first contest.
Happy 41st bday Michael Turner! Showed promise backing up Tomlinson, averaging 5.5 YPC in 4 seasons. Went to Falcons & ran for 1699 yards & 17 touchdowns in 2008! In 5 seasons he averaged 1216 yards rushing & 12 touchdowns, scoring double-digits all 5 years. pic.twitter.com/Dx4iseZemG
— Scott F (@TheFrizz87) February 14, 2023
He continued powering through opponents for nearly 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Turner churned out at least 800 yards or more for the next four years before retiring after the 2012 season.
This is the story of Michael “The Burner” Turner.
A Human Bulldozer for North Chicago Community High
Michael Turner was born on February 13, 1982, in North Chicago, Illinois.
Happy birthday to Falcons alumni running back Michael Turner! #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/5ZvJ0ENS39
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) February 13, 2016
Right out of the gate, Turner was in competition mode as one of six brothers.
Young Michael was the fourth of the six Turner boys and learned early to keep up or get left out.
“In our house, you had to get moving in the morning if you wanted your favorite cereal,” said Keith Turner, one of Michael’s younger twin brothers.
Keeping up with his siblings turned Michael into a special athlete.
By the time he was in high school, Turner was built like a bowling ball with legs and equipped with serious afterburners.
He had raced any and all challengers, inside and outside, before finally joining the North Chicago Community High School track team.
“I beat everybody in the school, so they asked me to come out for track … I was already like 200 pounds, so I was like 40 pounds heavier than most of the guys I ran against. They’d look at me and I knew they were thinking, ‘No way that guy is that fast,'” Turner said in 2008.
(Turner was a sectional 100-meter dash champion as a junior and senior).
Although he was bigger than most of his classmates, Turner’s speed and agility helped him become one of the best prep running backs in the state.
Rare Michael Turner high school film 🔴⚪️🦅🏈💪🏽 @NIU_Football @Chargers @AtlantaFalcons pic.twitter.com/5P5hKkDVci
— North Chicago Warhawks Football (@NC_Warhawks_FB) June 12, 2020
During his senior year, the Warhawks went 6-4 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade, mainly due to their running back’s epic dashes.
“Yeah, I hear it all the time, ‘You’re pretty fast for a fat guy,'” Turner said years later.
In ten games, he averaged 10.5 yards per carry on the way to 1,392 yards and 14 touchdowns.
His totals included a 295-yard, two-touchdown day against Zion-Benton Township High School.
One of Turner’s scores came on a 90-yard romp that set a school record.
That season, he was named the All-North Suburban Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Conference.
One Scholarship Offer
Possibly because North Chicago High lacked historical football credibility, or there were flashier names bandied about, but Turner didn’t have much college interest.
As he later claimed, the University of Northern Illinois was the only program to offer him a scholarship.
The lack of options led Turner to accept head coach Joe Novak’s offer.
During the Huskies’ 6-5 season in 2000, Turner was a backup who didn’t play like a second-teamer.
Instead, he proved to be a powerful force, rushing for 983 yards and seven touchdowns.
In back-to-back games against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, he pounded defenses with 230 and 281 yards, respectively.
.@NIU_Football great Michael Turner will be inducted into the @MACSports Hall of Fame this evening as part of its 2018 Class. Congratulations Michael! pic.twitter.com/T3aVBkJ88q
— NIU Athletics (@NIUAthletics) May 30, 2018
He also set program and conference records during the Central Michigan contest with 52 rushing attempts.
Turner led the country in average yards per game (89.4) as a freshman.
His sophomore year, unfortunately, wasn’t as productive.
Despite playing in 10 games, Turner had just 395 yards and three scores as NIU repeated a 6-5 record.
“The Burner”
In 2002 and 2003, Turner compensated for his down 2001 season.
The Huskies began the year 1-3 but Turner tore up large chucks of sod.
Let’s take a moment to remember a Northern Illinois player: Michael Turner#NIU #TheHardWay #MACtion #FightForEachOther #InBrotherhood pic.twitter.com/RKh0h4OwFW
— Crow Hop Brand (@CrowHopBrand) November 8, 2018
While Northern Illinois rebounded to finish 8-4, the junior churned out NIU records in yardage (1,915), second-most in the nation, and carries (338) and tied a school record with 19 touchdowns, bringing a nickname, “The Burner,” to the forefront.
“The feeling that all the hard work you put in, and the vision that Joe Novak preached to us, came to fruition. The pride in that will remain with me forever and I’m pretty sure the guys from the late 90s and early 2000s feel the same way,” said Turner.
He was named a first-team All-MAC and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in the country.
“Michael was a physical force and not only that, he was a lot faster than people gave him credit for,” said Novak. “He was deceiving, he was so thick, it didn’t look like he was moving as fast as he was. He was a physical, hard guy to tackle. For a kid as physical as he was, he doled out a lot of punishment, but he took a lot too. I don’t remember him ever missing playing time. His first year, he was a back-up, but he still rushed for 900-some yards.”
Turner’s spectacular junior campaign led the athletic department to start a “Turner the Burner” Heisman campaign for his senior year.
Led by his 1,648 rushing yards (fourth best in the nation) and 17 combined touchdowns, NIU became national darlings in 2003 as they beat the likes of Maryland, 21st-ranked Alabama, and Iowa State on the way to a 10-2 record.
“My favorite games of Michael’s starts at Alabama [in 2003],” Novak said. “Going in, we didn’t know if we could run the ball or not, we weren’t sure what we could do and he went for over 150 yards [156 yards on 27 carries]. The other is in 2002 against Miami (Ohio) when we beat [Ben] Roethlisberger’s team. We were losing 24-7 with about four minutes in the third [quarter] and Michael and Danny Sheldon took over the last quarter and a half and led us to the win.”
Turner was named a second-team All-American and a first-team All-MAC in ‘03.
During his college career, Turner had 4,941 yards on 940 carries (then a program record), 43 receptions, 451 yards and three receiving scores.
Michael Turner en su época con los Huskies de Northern Illinois: pic.twitter.com/gNCPP5Umpd
— NCAA Football – Esp (@ncaafesp) May 31, 2015
The Burner’s career stats are still in the top five or ten in several categories.
He also had 21, 100-yard games and an eye-popping seven games of 200+ yards.
“I loved all the records the same. I was fortunate enough to even get those records to begin with because technically I wasn’t the starting running back until my senior year,” said Turner. “Never been in a MAC championship game, which I would of loved to have the opportunity to play in…alongside a bowl game that followed. You know we had to be MAC Champs to be guaranteed a bowl birth. Times were hard back then.”
He was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015 and the MAC Hall of Fame in 2018.
Stuck Behind LT
It’s not like the San Diego Chargers needed any help at running back.
In 2001, the franchise drafted TCU phenom LaDainian Tomlinson.
During his rookie year, “LT” dashed for over 1,200 yards and the next two years produced over 1,600 yards and copious touchdowns in both seasons.
From @TCUFootball. To the @Chargers.
To the @nyjets. To the @ProFootballHOF.There was simply no stopping a force like LaDainian Tomlinson. (via @NFLThrowback) @LT_21 pic.twitter.com/HMaCWtMf1f
— NFL (@NFL) June 23, 2019
The net result for the Chargers?
A high of only eight wins in 2002 and four victories in 2003.
San Diego then selected Turner in the 154th spot in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, a pick that was met with shrugs from several football analysts.
“In college, everybody said the competition he played against in the [Mid-American Conference] wasn’t very good, but they never said that same stuff about Ben Roethlisberger or Byron Leftwich. Then he goes to the combine and runs a 4.4 and he’s still a fifth-round pick,” said Turner’s brother, Damon.
That season, while Tomlinson continued his blistering pace with over 1,300 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns, Turner started once and had all of 104 yards on 20 carries total as a rookie.
San Diego won 12 games but lost in the wild card round to the New York Jets.
In 2005, Turner had 335 yards and three touchdowns and the Chargers missed the postseason.
Then, Tomlinson had a season for the ages in 2006.
While San Diego won a franchise-best 14 games, LT humiliated defenses by rushing for 1,815 yards and a ridiculous 28 touchdowns with another three scores as a receiver.
He was promptly named the NFL’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
Michael Turner says…
Only 33 days to go until free agency, Bolt fans! 💪🏈⚡️ pic.twitter.com/GhlaFjpfaI
— Brian Rick (@ChargersWin2025) February 7, 2025
Turner was still stuck to the bench but added 502 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
“It might have been frustrating if we hadn’t been winning,” Turner said in 2008. “But I figured, this team has a real good chance to win a Super Bowl, so just be patient. Let it happen. My time was going to come and LaDainian was always really supportive, telling me how good he thought I was and how I was going to get my chance.”
To the exasperation of Chargers fans, the team once again lost in its first playoff game, a divisional round loss to the New England Patriots.
Moving to Atlanta
San Diego nearly had a breakthrough in 2007.
That season, the organization had arguably the best backfield in professional football.
Tomlinson had 1,474 yards and 15 touchdowns and Turner added 316 yards and one score.
Both ran behind fullback Lorenzo “Low Daddy” Neal.
I love all aspects of football, but if you all know me… you know I love a good running game!
The two on the left 😉 were a given, but I truly loved to watch Michael Turner run the football as well! 💪🏈⚡️ pic.twitter.com/9iSPDgstf4
— Brian Rick (@ChargersWin2025) June 20, 2022
For good measure, Darren Sproles, who primarily handled punt and kick return duties, was yet another threat as a runner and receiver.
All four helped the Chargers to an 11-5 record and advance through the postseason past Tennessee and Indianapolis.
In the AFC Championship game against the Patriots, the Chargers again came up short, 21-12.
A few months after the season ended, Turner was no longer a San Diego resident.
One year prior, the Titans and Packers tried to pry Turner away, but the Chargers held on to their precious commodity.
However, in March of 2008, Turner was once again a free agent.
He visited the Atlanta Falcons and the Dirty Birds didn’t let him leave without a fat, new contract.
Michael Turner. He WAS the Falcons!! pic.twitter.com/s7sS8mYptu
— Est1990 (@QueenEsther328) August 28, 2024
On March 2, 2008, Atlanta announced that The Burner had inked a six-year deal worth $34.5 million and roughly $15 million guaranteed.
“We are pleased to be able to add a very talented running back and a player who has produced at a high level in this league when given the opportunity,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We think he’s ready to take the next step and have a more prominent role in an offense, and we are happy he decided that opportunity is going to be here in Atlanta.”
New Atlanta head coach Mike Smith was excited to work with Turner after the coach had previously worked with Jacksonville running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.
“Besides being a quality football player, Michael Turner is a quality person,” Smith said. “He is the type of player we are looking for to help build our football team. I’m excited that he is joining the Atlanta Falcons.”
Turner Proves He Belongs in His First Game
Now that he was no longer behind Tomlinson, Turner was more than ready to kick the tires and light the fires.
In Week 1 of the 2008 season, the Falcons met the Detroit Lions at home.
Before the contest began, Smith had a message for his starting running back.
“It’s your turn,” the coach said. “You’ve earned the right to have this opportunity. Enjoy it and see what you can do with it.”
He would do a lot with it, as it turned out.
September 7th 2008
Michael Turner's first game as a Falcon:
22 carries
220 yards
2 TDUnbelievable!#Falcons #RiseUpATL pic.twitter.com/odCYzZPYXz
— Antwon Smitty Smith (@FatboiSlim_21) September 4, 2021
Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan handed off to Turner 22 times, and by the end of the afternoon, the Falcons’ new addition rushed for a franchise-record (for a single game) 220 yards and a 66-yard touchdown.
“I was very excited,” Turner said. “I wanted to show the world what I had. And I wanted to test myself to see what I had. It was my first game really being a starting running back in this league.”
https://twittercom/Lakitu886/status/1808980637719671197
Following Atlanta’s 34-21 win, Turner was the player the NFL world was suddenly talking about.
“He’s physical,” said rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. “That’s a good attribute to have as a running back. He hits the hole well, but he can shove off tacklers, too.”
Throughout the remainder of the Falcons’ 11-5 season, Turner kept Atlanta in the thick of it with an NFL-leading 376 carries for a career-high 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns, also a career-best.
He was the runner-up in NFL MVP voting.
After four seasons backing up LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael “The Burner” Turner signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 2008 and did not disappoint.
In his 1st season as a full-time starting RB, Turner ran for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning him First-Team All- pic.twitter.com/vjwhv9vKXp
— HOTTOPIC SPORTS (@Moore256D) April 11, 2023
In Week 13, the Falcons met Turner’s former team, the Chargers, and prevailed, 22-16, with Turner gobbling up 120 yards.
“It was a physical game,” Turner said. “I expect that every week, especially from those guys. I practiced with them and I know what they do, and they know what I can do.”
The Falcons lost in the wild card round to Arizona, but Turner was cemented as one of the best backs in the league.
“Michael can break people down, not just run them over,” Dimitroff said during the offseason. “I don’t think he’s one of those power backs who’s going to have a short career and then be done. He has a combination of skills.”
The conclusion of the season brought Turner his first Pro Bowl and a first-team All-Pro nod.
The Burner Keeps Chugging Along
In 2009, Turner was limited by a high ankle sprain to 11 starts and ran for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Atlanta missed the postseason but returned in 2010 with a 13-3 record.
Before the season, Turner addressed the key issue he believed hampered him in ‘09.
“If you go back and look at some pictures of me from last year at this time, I probably looked big — a lot bigger than normal,” Turner said in 2010. “I was heavy, too heavy. It was hard for me to overcome. I feel great,” Turner said. “I’m out there running around and feel like I can run all day. I’m definitely out to prove that I’m not a one-year wonder. I don’t want to be one of those guys that people say, ‘Oh, yeah. He had one good year, but what happened to him after that?’ I want to keep putting back-to-back seasons together.”
The Burner proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder as he returned to form with 334 carries (which led the NFL), 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns.
During #MichaelTurner’s dominant and underrated run with the #Falcons, he AVERAGED 1,378 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns every 17 games.
Reads like a typo. It isn’t.
That was Turner.#Falcons | #Atlanta pic.twitter.com/sa0NXxgv40
— Ryan Michael (@theryanmichael) May 12, 2024
His stats led to Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro accolades.
The Falcons lost to the Packers in the divisional round then lost to the New York Giants in the wild card round in 2011 after a 10-6 record.
2011: Wild Card Week- Down 17-2 in 3Q & faced with yet another 3rd & short, the Falcons decided not to try a Ryan sneak. RB Michael Turner was a horse for Atlanta, rushing for 1340 yards but he was stuffed by @Blackburn5793 & #NYGiants defense & had to punt #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/vderSVfngl
— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) January 10, 2025
For the second year in a row, Turner slashed and dashed for over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns in ‘11.
Then, in 2012, Atlanta nearly reached the Promised Land with a talented offensive roster that included Turner, Ryan, receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Turner started all 16 games and garnered 800 yards, 10 touchdowns and another score as a receiver.
Armed with a 13-3 record, the Falcons beat Seattle by two points in the divisional round before losing to San Francisco by four in the NFC Championship game.
Turner Retires
Despite the fact that he was still productive, the Falcons released Turner in March of 2013.
He didn’t sign with any other team and retired.
In nine NFL seasons, Turner rushed for 7,338 yards and 66 touchdowns and caught 70 receptions for 528 yards and one score.
33 days ‘til 2023 #NFL season opener (#Lions at #Chiefs). And # of RB Michael Turner, 6,081 rushing yards, 60 rush TD in 5 seasons w/#Falcons (10-plus TD each season), 2-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro in 2008 (1,257 rushing yards, 6 rush TD in first 4 seasons w/#Chargers) pic.twitter.com/xUBEQBHgfL
— Russell S. Baxter (@BaxFootballGuru) August 5, 2023
His 60 career touchdowns and 17 touchdowns in 2008 set Falcons team records.
He was a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.
“I feel the same way about the Falcons that I do with NIU,” said Turner in 2020. “Seeing the Falcons turn in winning season after winning season and building a tradition where fans can get excited and really have some hope for playoff berths and everything that comes with it fills me up with some pride because I know where the foundation was laid.”
Life Since Retiring
After retiring, Turner worked in the media for the Falcons.
“I do media work for the Falcons now,” said Turner in 2020. “I’m a in-game host for them and I break down highlights of the game at halftime. I also give my keys to a Falcons victory before home games. I might do some scores around the league, depending on if it’s anything worth highlighting for the Falcons. It’s been pretty fun being on this side of the football business and not having to worry about recovering the next day from being on the gridiron. Even though I miss it at times.”
In 2022, he was arrested and charged for child abandonment and was previously charged with failure to pay child support.
4⭐️ RB Michael Turner Jr. has committed to #Baylor over offers from TCU, Florida, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas Tech, Utah, and SMU among others.
The composite four-star prospect is ranked as the No. 82 recruit in the nation per On3. #SicEm
🔗: https://t.co/RZHsgyEvtA pic.twitter.com/zufXc9nT38
— Grayson Grundhoefer (@GrayGrundhoefer) July 18, 2024
Turner’s son, Michael Turner Jr., was one of the top prep running backs in the nation in 2024 as a four-star recruit.
Turner Jr eventually chose to play at Baylor University.
References
https://baylorbears.com/sports/football/roster/michael-turner/13936
https://uwhuskieswire.usatoday.com
https://sports.yahoo.com/jc-fastturner111908.html
https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/06/22/michael-turner
https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/michael-turner-2.html
https://niuhuskies.com/honors/hall-of-fame/michael-turner/187
https://getsomemaction.com/hof.aspx?hof=89
https://www.augustachronicle.com
https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3273710
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurnMi00.htm
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