• 1992 Inductee, Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
  • Nine-Year NFL Veteran, San Francisco and Los Angeles
  • Two-Time Super Bowl Champion
  • Third-Team All-American, 1985
  • All-Big Eight, 1985

Senior (1985)
One of the top fullbacks in the nation in 1985, Rathman broke the school fullback record for rushing yards with 881 yards, smashing the record of 717 set by Dick Davis in 1967.  Rathman, an All-Big Eight pick by the Associated Press, gained those yards on 118 carries, averaging 7.5 yards a carry.  An outstanding blocker, Rathman also showed a penchant for the big play with touchdown runs of 60 yards vs. Florida State, 32 vs. Illinois, 84 to break a 7-7 tie late in the third quarter against Colorado, 37 vs. Kansas State, 32 vs. Iowa State and 44 vs. Kansas.  Rathman scored 12 touchdowns in his career, tying the school fullback record set by predecessor Mark Schellen in 1982 and 1983.  Rathman rushed for over 100 yards three times on the season--113 vs. Florida State, 115 vs. Colorado and a career-high 159 on nine carries vs. Kansas.  He was fifth in the Big Eight with his 80.1 rushing yards-per-game average. 

Junior (1984)
Rathman started nine of 12 games in his junior season and ended the year as Nebraska's third-leading rusher with 381 yards behind I-backs Doug DuBose (1,040) and Jeff Smith (935), who also ranked one-two in the Big Eight.  Tom averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 75 attempts and scored four touchdowns.  His top performance on the season was a 108-yard effort on 13 carries in the season opener against Wyoming, the top rushing performance by a Husker fullback in five years. 

Sophomore (1983)
Rathman rushed 143 yards on 26 carries as a sophomore backup alternate behind Mark Schellen and got a surprise starting assignment against Oklahoma State. 

Redshirt Freshman (1982)
Rathman redshirted in his second year in the program.

Freshman (1981)
The starting fullback for Nebraska's 5-0 freshman team, Rathman rushed 38 times for 235 yards (6.2 average) and one touchdown.  Rathman also carried four times for 20 yards for the varsity. 

At Grand Island HS
Rathman was an all-state fullback and linebacker at Grand Island High School for Coach Ken Fischer (brother of former NU offensive line coach Cletus Fischer).  A three-sport star, Rathman also lettered in basketball and was a state champion high jumper. 

Personal
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rathman, Tom was born Oct. 7, 1962.

Rathman's Career Stats

Year<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Att.

Gain

Loss

Net

TDs

1981 4 20 0 20 0

1983

23

143

0

143

0

1984

75

382

1

381

4

1985

118

884

3

881

8

Totals

220

1,429

5

1,425

12