Jerious Norwood
A lightning-fast NFL running back whose explosive breakaway speed provided the Atlanta Falcons with a constant home-run threat out of the backfield.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American gridiron football player·Birthday: July 29·Millennials
Biography
Jerious Norwood's professional football career was defined by one electrifying trait: pure, unadulterated speed. At Mississippi State, he left defenders grasping at air, finishing as the school's second all-time leading rusher. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, he never became a traditional every-down workhorse, but he carved out a vital role as a change-of-pace dynamo. Any time he touched the ball, the stadium held its breath, knowing he was one cut away from a game-breaking, long-distance touchdown. He led the NFL in yards per carry as a rookie and maintained a stunning average throughout his time in Atlanta. While injuries eventually limited his contributions, his highlight-reel runs—often 70-yard bursts where he simply outran entire defenses—remain a vivid memory for Falcons fans, embodying the thrilling possibility of a single play.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jerious was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jerious Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Jerious's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the NFL in yards per carry (6.4) during his rookie season in 2006.
- Finished his career with the Atlanta Falcons averaging 5.2 yards per carry, one of the highest marks in franchise history.
- Ranks second on Mississippi State's all-time career rushing list with 3,212 yards.
- Recorded a 69-yard touchdown run in his very first NFL preseason game.
Did You Know?
He was a standout track athlete in high school, competing in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
Norwood wore jersey number 32 for the majority of his career with the Atlanta Falcons.
He finished his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams in 2012.
“When they give me the ball, my only thought is the end zone.”
