During his 13 seasons with the Patriots, Faulk helped the team win three Super Bowl while also setting numerous team records including all-purpose yards (12,349) and return yardage (5,041). A true dual-threat running back, the former LSU Tiger is a member of the Patriots’ team of the 2000s and 50th anniversary team and was enshrined in the franchise’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
Kevin Troy Faulk (born June 5, 1976) is a former American football running back who spent his entire 13-year professional career playing for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University.
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Faulk attended Carencro High School in Carencro, Louisiana, where he helped his team win the 1992 State Championship (Class 5A). In high school, Faulk rushed for 4,877 yards on 603 carries (8.1 yards per carry). He also had 7,612 all-purpose yards and 89 touchdowns. He was twice chosen as Louisiana’s Most Valuable Player (Class 5A). He was also given All-American Honors by USA Today and Parade.
On September 7, 1996, in the game against the Houston Cougars, LSU trailed at halftime 34–14. Many LSU fans left Tiger Stadium before the game ended in anticipation of defeat. Faulk, however, took over the game in the second half and rushed for a school record of 246 yards on 21 carries and returned four punts for another 106 yards. The result was an LSU win by one point, 35–34; Houston scored nothing in the second half of the game.
Faulk ran for 1,144 yards on 205 carries in 1997, scoring 15 touchdowns. He improved on those numbers as a senior in 1998 when he ran for 1,279 yards on 229 carries and scored 12 rushing touchdowns. He added 287 yards receiving and three receiving touchdowns.
Faulk finished his LSU career with 4,557 yards rushing in 41 games, which was second best in SEC history behind Herschel Walker of Georgia (5,259 yards in 34 games). Faulk also finished his career with 6,833 career all-purpose yards and 53 total touchdowns, which tied him for fifth in NCAA history and first in SEC history. His SEC record was surpassed on November 21, 2009 by Tim Tebow of Florida. In 1999, Faulk graduated from LSU with a degree in kinesiology.
| Year | Team | GP | Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | TD | ||||||
| 1995 | LSU | 10 | 174 | 852 | 4.9 | 6 | 5 | 86 | 17.2 | 1 | 179 | 938 | 7 | |||
| 1996 | LSU | 11 | 248 | 1,282 | 5.2 | 13 | 10 | 134 | 13.4 | 0 | 258 | 1,416 | 13 | |||
| 1997 | LSU | 9 | 205 | 1,144 | 5.6 | 15 | 16 | 93 | 5.8 | 0 | 221 | 1,237 | 15 | |||
| 1998 | LSU | 11 | 229 | 1,279 | 5.6 | 12 | 22 | 287 | 13.0 | 3 | 251 | 1,566 | 15 | |||
| College totals | 41 | 856 | 4,557† | 5.3 | 46† | 53 | 600 | 11.3 | 4 | 909 | 5,157 | 50† | ||||
| Ht | Wt | 40‑yd dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20‑ss | 3‑cone | Vert jump | Broad | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
4.47 s | 1.61 s | 2.62 s | 4.09 s | 7.14 s | 34 in (0.86 m) |
9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
||||
| All values from NFL Combine[4] | ||||||||||||
In 2000, Faulk shared a starting role with rookie J. R. Redmond, with Faulk starting 9 of 16 games played. He led the team with 570 yards rushing on 164 carries with four rushing touchdowns. He added 51 catches for 465 yards and one touchdown. He was also active on special teams, leading the team with 38 kickoff returns for 816 yards while also returning six punts for 58 yards.
In 2002, Faulk finished the regular season with 1,440 all-purpose yards in 15 games, all as a reserve behind Smith. He ran 52 times for 271 yards and two touchdowns, caught 37 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns, returned 26 kickoffs for 725 yards and two touchdowns, and added 8 punt returns for 65 yards. His seven total touchdowns ranked second on the team.
He also finished second in the NFL in 2002 with a 27.9-yard kickoff return average. That same year, he broke the Patriots’ franchise record for total kickoff return yards, which had previously been held by Dave Meggett, who had 2,561 yards on kickoff returns. Also in 2002, Faulk returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, becoming only the second player in Patriots history to return more than one kickoff for a touchdown in a season. One kickoff return was an 86-yard return against the Oakland Raiders on November 17, the other was an 87-yard kickoff return against the New York Jets on December 22. He became the only player in franchise history and the only NFL player in the 2002 season to record multiple touchdowns in three different categories: rushing, receiving, and kick returns.
In 2003, Faulk compiled 1,351 all-purpose yards (including a team-high 1,078 yards from scrimmage) in 15 games, making eight starts in his final season with Smith. He finished the season with career highs of 178 carries for 638 yards as well as 48 receptions for 440 yards. He added 10 kickoff returns for 207 yards and 5 punts returns for 66 yards. Faulk also set a career-high in fumbles in 2003, with four.
In 2004, Faulk played in 11 games (starting one) as a reserve behind starter Corey Dillon. He recorded 255 yards on 54 carries for two touchdowns, 26 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown, 4 kickoff returns for 73 yards, and 20 punt returns for 133 yards. The Patriots would again post a 14–2 record and won Super Bowl XXXIX over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Faulk played in the first three games of 2005 before suffering a foot injury and not returning until Week 13 in December. In eight games played (two starts), Faulk had 145 yards rushing on 51 carries and 29 catches for 260 yards. He also returned 4 kickoffs for 81 yards.
In 2006, Faulk returned healthy to play in 15 games, making one start. He ran 23 times for 123 yards and one touchdown, and also had 43 receptions for 356 yards and two touchdowns. He returned 17 kickoffs for 364 yards and 31 punts for 330 yards.
On November 26, 2006, in a game against the Chicago Bears, Faulk surpassed Tony Collins on the Patriots’ all-time receiving list for a running back with his 262nd catch.
He finished the 2008 season with 83 carries for 507 yards and three touchdowns, as well as a career-high 58 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns. On special teams, he added 2 kickoff returns for 36 yards and 10 punt returns for 132 yards.
In 2009, Faulk started 7 of 15 games, rushing 62 times for 335 yards and two touchdowns, and making 37 catches for 301 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 6 kickoffs for 144 yards and returned 5 punts for 31 yards. During the season, Faulk became the team’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards, amassing 12,140 yards by the end of the season. He also became the 26th running back in NFL history with at least 400 receptions.
Faulk’s 2010 season ended in Week 2, when in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Jets, Faulk tore his ACL while being tackled. In two games, both starts, Faulk had eight carries for 45 yards and six catches for 62 yards. He was placed on injured reserve on September 22, 2010, ending his season.
On July 30, 2011, Faulk re-signed with the Patriots. He was placed on the “PUP” list but returned to practice after week six.
NFL statistics
| Year | Team | G | Att | Yds | Avg | Long | Rush TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Long | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | NE | 11 | 67 | 227 | 3.4 | 43 | 1 | 12 | 98 | 8.2 | 19 | 1 |
| 2000 | NE | 16 | 164 | 570 | 3.5 | 18 | 4 | 51 | 465 | 9.1 | 52 | 1 |
| 2001 | NE | 15 | 41 | 169 | 4.1 | 24 | 1 | 30 | 189 | 6.3 | 28 | 2 |
| 2002 | NE | 15 | 52 | 271 | 5.2 | 45 | 2 | 37 | 379 | 10.2 | 36 | 3 |
| 2003 | NE | 15 | 178 | 638 | 3.6 | 23 | 0 | 48 | 440 | 9.2 | 27 | 0 |
| 2004 | NE | 11 | 54 | 255 | 4.7 | 20 | 2 | 26 | 248 | 9.5 | 31 | 1 |
| 2005 | NE | 8 | 51 | 145 | 2.8 | 13 | 0 | 29 | 260 | 9.0 | 23 | 0 |
| 2006 | NE | 15 | 25 | 123 | 4.9 | 11 | 1 | 43 | 356 | 8.3 | 43 | 2 |
| 2007 | NE | 16 | 62 | 265 | 4.3 | 14 | 0 | 47 | 383 | 8.1 | 23 | 1 |
| 2008 | NE | 15 | 83 | 507 | 6.1 | 41 | 3 | 58 | 486 | 8.4 | 22 | 3 |
| 2009 | NE | 15 | 62 | 335 | 5.4 | 29 | 2 | 37 | 301 | 8.1 | 38 | 1 |
| 2010 | NE | 2 | 8 | 45 | 5.6 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 62 | 10.3 | 21 | 1 |
| 2011 | NE | 7 | 17 | 57 | 3.4 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 34 | 4.9 | 18 | 0 |
| Career | 161 | 864 | 3,607 | 4.2 | 45 | 16 | 431 | 3,701 | 8.6 | 52 | 15 | |
On October 9, 2012, Kevin Faulk announced his retirement at a ceremony at the Hall at Patriot Place. He currently appears on NESN every Monday and Friday for a game recap and preview respectively. He also appears on The Real Pre-Game Show on WEEI-FM 93.7FM every Sunday at 9am for a 1pm kickoff and Noon for a 4:25pm kickoff.
On May 18, 2016, Faulk was elected into the Patriots Hall of Fame, beating Raymond Clayborn and Mike Vrabel in a fan vote.
Kevin Faulk is married and has three children. He is a cousin of former NFL running back Marshall Faulk.
