James Cook led the entire league in rushing last season, absolutely blowing up for 1,621 yards. That monster performance came right after a hold-in during training camp, where he was pushing for a new contract, which he totally earned after more than a week of not practicing. He got that deal, and then he went out and ran wild. But listen, don’t even try to bring up last year to Cook, because he’s already moved on. “I don’t like to talk about last year, because last year is in the past,” Cook said, making it clear. “This year is a new year. Put last year behind me, and just come out here to do it again.”
“Do It Again” Is Easier Said Than Done
Doing it again, that’s the real challenge. Think about it: since 2001, only Derrick Henry in 2019-2020 and LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006-2007 have managed to snag back-to-back rushing titles. That’s some elite company, and Cook, at 26 years old, wants in on that club. New coach Joe Brady is definitely on board with the vision. He expects Cook to “take another step this year in different elements of his game and continue to be the workhorse as a runner.” Brady isn’t just handing out compliments though; he knows what’s up. He told Cook straight up, “He has got to get better. We can’t take steps backward.” And Cook is totally embracing it, saying he’s “looking forward to doing even bigger things.”
Ball Security: The Only Thing Holding Him Back?
For all the incredible things Cook did last year, there’s one glaring issue he’s gotta fix, and he knows it: ball security. This dude lost four of his seven fumbles last season, and you know that stings. One of those was at the Denver 30 in a brutal 33-30 overtime divisional round loss. You just can’t have those kinds of mistakes when everything is on the line. Cook isn’t shying away from it either. “I fumbled, so I just got to fix it,” he admitted. “The ball is everybody’s job, and that’s my job.” No excuses, just a commitment to getting better. That’s the mindset you want to see.
So, as the season kicks off, all eyes are going to be on Cook. Can he clean up those fumbles? Can he join that exclusive list of back-to-back rushing champs? He’s clearly ready to put the past behind him and hit the ground running. It’s all about “doing even bigger things,” and we’re ready to watch him try.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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