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Tennessee football: 1997 team’s 2003 NFL presence is unprecedented

Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning in action against the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida November 2, 2003. The Colts defeated the Dolphins 23 to 17. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)

In 2003, the Tennessee football Volunteers established an NFL presence that remains unprecedented.

What if I told you that in one season, there was a 2,000-yard rusher who did not win the MVP because he lost to a quarterback who led the league in passing yards? Now imagine for a second if those two players played on the same team in college. Such was the case for the 1997 Tennessee football team during the 2003 NFL season.