Former Indianapolis Colts running back Randy McMillan, selected 12th overall in the 1981 NFL Draft, passed away on Wednesday. The dependable backfield performer spent six seasons with the franchise and was 67 years old.
McMillan was the Baltimore Colts’ top selection that year after a successful college career at the University of Pittsburgh. He stepped straight into the starting lineup and wasted no time making his presence felt in the professional ranks.
His first NFL game came against the New England Patriots at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. In that contest, McMillan rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries, helping secure a close 29-28 victory for Baltimore.
That 146-yard outing remains the second-highest rushing total ever recorded by a Colts player in his league debut. Only Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk tallied more rushing touchdowns in a debut performance for the franchise, achieving three in 1994.
After the strong opening, McMillan did not surpass 100 rushing yards in a single game again for another two years. He concluded his rookie campaign with 597 yards on the ground, 466 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns. The Offensive Rookie of the Year award that season went to New Orleans Saints running back George Rogers.
McMillan appeared in 88 games for the Colts between 1981 and 1986, starting all but one, and followed the organization during its move from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. During the team’s first three seasons in its new city, he paced the squad in rushing each year, posting 705, 858, and 609 yards respectively.
A tragic accident ended his career prematurely in the spring of 1987 when he suffered a serious leg injury after being hit by a car. The incident forced him to retire at age 28. Over his professional tenure, he amassed 3,876 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, along with 1,356 receiving yards and two scores through the air.
McMillan’s path to the NFL began with an outstanding junior college stint at Harford Community College in Maryland. In 1978, he topped the national leaderboards in both scoring and rushing, guiding his team to a perfect season and earning All-American recognition that year.
His exceptional performance at the junior college level later earned him induction into both the Harford Community College Athletics Hall of Fame and the Harford County Sports Hall of Fame.
Though his time in the league was cut short by injury, McMillan’s reliability and production, especially during the Colts’ relocation era, ensured he left a meaningful legacy within the organization and among those who followed the team’s history.
