Robert Turner Jr.

Robert Turner Jr. is in his fourth season as the 49ers running backs coach after spending the previous two seasons (2015-16) in the same capacity with the Atlanta Falcons. A veteran of 24 NFL seasons, Turner is responsible for overseeing three of the top nine rookie rushing seasons in the NFL since 1970 [Alfred Morris – 1,613 rushing yards in 2012 (fourth); Clinton Portis – 1,508 rushing yards in 2002 (seventh); Mike Anderson – 1,500 rushing yards in 2000 (eighth)].

The 2019 San Francisco 49ers led the NFL with 23 rushing touchdowns and ranked second in rushing yards per game (144.1). The 49ers ground attack featured three players with 500-or-more rushing yards in a single season (RB Raheem Mostert – 772; RB Matt Breida – 623; RB Tevin Coleman – 544) for just the second time in franchise history (1954 - three players). In 1954, three of the four members of the "Million Dollar Backfield" had more than 500 rushing yards in Joe Perry (1,049), John Henry Johnson (681) and Hugh McElhenny (515). FB Kyle Juszczyk was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth-consecutive season. In the postseason, the 49ers averaged 204.0 rushing yards per game as Mostert led the way with 336 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries (6.3 average).

In 2018, the 49ers rushed for 1,902 yards and seven touchdowns on 423 carries. The team's 118.9 rushing yards per game ranked 13th in the NFL and seventh in the NFC in 2018. RB Matt Breida led the team with 153 carries for 814 yards (5.3 average) and three touchdowns. His 5.3 average ranked fourth in the NFL in 2018 and was the highest rushing average by a 49ers running back (minimum 100 carries) since 2006 (RB Frank Gore – 5.4 average). Additionally, FB Kyle Juszczyk earned Pro Bowl honors for the third-consecutive season.

In 2017, the 49ers rushed for 1,662 yards and 15 touchdowns on 408 carries. San Francisco ranked tied for seventh in the NFL in both rushing touchdowns (15) and carries of 10-or-more yards (53). FB Kyle Juszczyk was named to the Pro Bowl for the second-consecutive season and first time as a member of the 49ers and rookie RB Matt Breida averaged 4.43 yards per carry, ranking 10th in the NFL (minimum 100 carries).

In 2016, the Falcons ranked fifth in the league in rushing yards per game (120.5) and tied for third in the NFL with 20 rushing touchdowns. RB Devonta Freeman registered 1,079 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns, the fifth most among running backs, to earn his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Freeman also ranked fifth among running backs with 54 receptions for 462 yards. Part of a two-pronged attack, RB Tevin Coleman registered 520 rushing yards, 421 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns on the year.

In 2015, Freeman earned his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections as he was one of seven players to eclipse the 1,000 rushing yard mark (1,056) and tied for the NFL lead with 11 rushing touchdowns. Freeman's 1,634 total yards from scrimmage ranked fifth among all players during the 2015 season.

Prior to Atlanta, Turner spent four years (2010-13) as assistant head coach and running backs coach for Washington. In 2013, Washington ranked fifth in the NFL with 135.3 rushing yards per game and finished with 61 rushes of 10-or-more yards, the fourth most in the league. Morris finished the year ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,275 rushing yards to earn his first career Pro Bowl berth.

In 2012, Washington set a franchise record with 2,709 rushing yards, led the NFL 169.3 rushing yards per game and ranked second in yards per carry (5.22) and rushing touchdowns (22). Turner helped Morris set a franchise record with 1,613 rushing yards, as a rookie. Morris' 1,613 rushing yards were the fourth most by rookie in NFL history (Eric Dickerson – 1,808 yards in 1983; George Roberts – 1,674 yards in 1981; Ezekiel Elliot – 1,631 yards in 2016).

In 2011, Turner oversaw the development of rookie RBs Roy Helu and Evan Royster. Helu finished the year as the team's leading rusher with 640 yards, the second-highest yardage total among rookies that season. In Weeks 12-14, Helu became the first rookie running back in Washington history to post three consecutive 100-yard games. In weeks 16 and 17, Royster rushed for more than 100 yards in each game, making Helu and Royster the first rookie running back tandem in NFL history to each post consecutive 100-yard rushing games in a season.

During his first season in Washington, Turner helped develop RB Ryan Torain into a feature back as he posted career highs in attempts (164), rushing yards (742) and touchdowns (four). Under Turner, Torain ran for 172 yards against Tampa Bay in Week 14, the 10th-highest total in Washington's history.

Turner came to Washington after spending the previous 15 seasons (1995-2009) as the running backs coach of the Denver Broncos, where he was part of teams that earned two Super Bowl championships (Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII), three AFC West titles (1996, 1998, 2005) and seven playoff berths (1996-98, 2000, 2003-05).

Turner worked with 2017 NFL Hall of Fame inductee RB Terrell Davis, who was named AP Most Valuable Player (1998) and AP Offensive Player of the Year (1996, 1998) while helping lead the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles. During his 7-year (1995-2001) NFL career, all under Turner's tutelage, Davis rushed for 7,607 yards and 60 touchdowns, while delivering 1,140 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in only eight playoff games.

Davis' 97.5 rushing yards per game in the regular season is the third-highest total in league history among running backs who recorded rushing attempts in at least 75 games, while his 142.5 rushing yards per game in the postseason is the highest average in league history for running backs who had registered rushing attempts in at least five playoff games.

During his 15 seasons in Denver, the Broncos produced the most rushing yards (32,829) and the most total yards (86,523) in the NFL. Over that span, six different running backs rushed for at least 1,000 yards in a single season, including Davis (four times), Tatum Bell, Reuben Droughns, Clinton Portis (twice), Mike Anderson (twice) and Olandis Gary. Additionally, Turner helped Denver become the only franchise since the inception of the common NFL Draft in 1967 to have two undrafted rookies reach 500 rushing yards in the first season with Selvin Young (2007) and Mike Bell (2008) accomplishing the feat in back-to-back seasons.

Turner helped the Broncos record 11 individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons during his tenure, a total that includes a four-year streak of having a different 1,000-yard rusher each year (2003-06). Under Turner, the Broncos ranked among the NFL's top five in rushing during 10 of his 15 seasons, with 16 different running backs posting at least one 100-yard rushing game in the regular season or playoffs.

In 2005, the trio of Mike Anderson, Tatem Bell and Ron Dayne helped Denver rank second in the NFL in runs of 50 yards-or-more (four) and fourth in the league in runs of 10 yards-or-more (60), while setting a franchise record for most rushing first downs (145).

Before his arrival in Denver, Turner was assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and running backs coach for four seasons (1991-94) at Purdue. During his tenure, the Boilermakers running game and entire offense improved each season, going from 106th in the nation in 1990 to 12th in 1994, a season in which the team rushed for a school record 36 rushing touchdowns. That year, Turner guided All-Big Ten second-team selection Mike Alstott (1,188 yards and 14 TDs), the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1976. In 1991, Turner coached the Big Ten Freshman of the Year RB Corey Rogers.

Prior to Purdue, Turner served as the running backs coach for two seasons (1989-90) at Ohio State University, during which time the Buckeyes went to two bowl games and had one of the most prolific running games in the Big Ten.

Turner's 1990 backfield was highlighted by Big Ten and National Freshman of the Year Robert Smith, who finished the season with 1,126 yards and eight touchdowns. In 1989, the Buckeyes led the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (241.0), total offense (418.1 yards per game) and scoring (29.5).

Before his stint at Ohio State, Turner coached the running backs at Fresno State (1983-88) and at his alma mater, Indiana State (1975-82). At Fresno State, he coached future pros RB Lavale Thomas (Packers), RB Anthony Mosley (Bears) and RB Aaron Craver (Dolphins, Broncos, Chargers, Saints).

Turner began his collegiate coaching career at Indiana State, where he spent eight years (1975-82) on staff. He began as running backs and quarterbacks coach while also working as the team's strength and conditioning coordinator in 1975. In 1976, Turner became defensive backs coach in addition to strength and conditioning coordinator for two seasons before working as the team's running backs coach and special teams coordinator for four years (1978-81). During his final year at Indiana State in 1982, he coached defensive backs and served as special teams coordinator.

During his tenure on Indiana State's coaching staff, Turner recruited and coached two All-American defensive backs in Wayne Davis (1984) and Vencie Glenn (1985), both of whom went on to be second round draft picks. He also helped ISU running back Vincent Allen post a 1,000-yard rushing season (1,022) in 1975.

Turner began his coaching career at Haworth (Kokomo, IN) High School as an assistant with the football and basketball teams from 1972-74.

A native of East Chicago, IN, Turner was an all-conference defensive back at Indiana State, where he played both football and basketball. Turner ranks tied for second in school history with 16 career interceptions (returning two for touchdowns), including nine in 1969, which is tied for second most in a single season in school history. He earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana State in health and physical education in 1972 before receiving his master's degree from the school in education/administration in 1976.

Turner attended East Chicago Washington High School, where he played four sports (football, basketball, baseball and track). In 1993 he was inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team and was selected to the East Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.