Paul Palmer (American football)

Paul Woodrow Palmer (born October 14, 1964) is a former professional American football running back. He played in the National Football League for three seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys.

Early years
Palmer attended Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. He went on to starred at Temple University where he still holds several school records including career rushing yards: 4,895 (1983–86), single season rushing yards: 1,866 (1986), and single game rushing yardage: 349 (East Carolina 1986).

Palmer was the runner-up to Vinny Testaverde for the 1986 Heisman Trophy and holds rushing records during his college career at Temple University.

Kansas City Chiefs
He was drafted in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he led the AFC in kickoff return average (24.3 yards per attempt) as a rookie and rushed for 607 yards in 2 seasons. After not being able to take over the starting running back position from Christian Okoye, he was waived at the end of the 1988 season.

Detroit Lions
Palmer was claimed by the Detroit Lions and eventually traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a 10th-round draft choice, after just 5 games in Detroit without any rushing attempt.

Dallas Cowboys
He became the starting running back after Herschel Walker was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. Palmer led the Cowboys with 446 yards on 112 carries during 9 games, on a team that would finish with a 1–15 record for the 1989 season, and that had the second lowest 16-game rushing total in franchise history (after the 2012 season), with quarterback Troy Aikman as the team's second-leading rusher with 302 yards.

Cincinnati Bengals
In 1990 the Cincinnati Bengals signed him in Plan B free agency, but would not be able to make the team.

Barcelona Dragons (WLAF)
He finished his career in the World League of American Football (which would later be renamed to NFL Europe) with the Barcelona Dragons in 1991.