In charge of the Vikings’ running backs this year will be NFL coaching veteran James Saxon, entering his 11th season in the League. A former NFL RB himself, Saxon joins the Vikings after spending time with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and most recently the Miami Dolphins. Saxon has guided RBs to 8 Pro Bowls during his 11 seasons coaching the position and has had a RB break the 1,000-yard mark 6 times.
While in Miami for the past 3 seasons Saxon tutored Pro Bowlers Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. In 2009, the Dolphins had the NFL’s 4th ranked rushing attack with 139.4 yards per game. Williams and Brown added a wrinkle into the Dolphins offensive game plan by using the Wildcat formation as a change-of-pace. Williams posted 1,121 yard rushing to lead the team in 2009.
In charge of the Vikings’ running backs this year will be NFL coaching veteran James Saxon, entering his 11th season in the League. A former NFL RB himself, Saxon joins the Vikings after spending time with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and most recently the Miami Dolphins. Saxon has guided RBs to 8 Pro Bowls during his 11 seasons coaching the position and has had a RB break the 1,000-yard mark 6 times.
While in Miami for the past 3 seasons Saxon tutored Pro Bowlers Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. In 2009, the Dolphins had the NFL’s 4th ranked rushing attack with 139.4 yards per game. Williams and Brown added a wrinkle into the Dolphins offensive game plan by using the Wildcat formation as a change-of-pace. Williams posted 1,121 yard rushing to lead the team in 2009.
In Kansas City, Saxon found tremendous success with 3 of the franchises top backs. During Saxon’s 7 years in KC he helped 3 players (Priest Holmes, Tony Richardson and Larry Johnson) to 7 total Pro Bowls. Holmes and Johnson combined to break the 1,000-yard mark 5 times during his tenure. Holmes and Johnson are ranked #1 and #2 in Chiefs career yardage at 6,070 and 6,015 yards respectively and the duo have the top 4 single-season rushing yardage totals in franchise history- led by Johnson’s team-record 1,789 yards in 2006. Holmes holds the team mark for single-season TDs with 27 in 2003 and career TDs with 83 (76 rushing, 7 receiving). His 27 TDs set an NFL record at the time, which has since been topped. Holmes played his entire career, 2001-07, under Saxon with the Chiefs. Johnson set the franchise record for 100-yard rushing days with 30, edging Holmes’ 24.
Saxon entered the NFL in 2000 and was a running backs coach with the Buffalo Bills. Saxon spent time with Menlo College (1999) and Rutgers University (1997-98) before making the leap to the NFL.
Saxon entered the NFL in 1988 as a 6th round draft choice by the Kansas City Chiefs. Saxon would suit up for the Chiefs (1988-91), Miami Dolphins (1992-94) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1995) during his 8-year playing career. The South Carolina native played in 111 career games and rushed for 533 yards with 5 touchdowns on 145 attempts. Saxon added 69 receptions for 515 yards during his career.
Saxon began his collegiate career at American River Junior College in California (1984-85). He would go on to spend the final two seasons at San Jose State (1986-87) where he compiled 609 rushing yards adding 9 TDs on 118 carries. He also collected 78 receptions for 732 yards and 4 TDs. While with the Spartans for two seasons Saxon also managed to throw 4 TD passes.
He attended Battery Creek High School in Burton, South Carolina. Saxon is married to his wife Shannon and their son, Devin, attends Harvard University and plays football.
