| Number: | 37 |
| Position: | Running back |
| Birth Date: | 22 August 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Anniston, Alabama, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 10 |
| Weight Lb: | 225 |
| Draftyear: | 1981 |
| Draftround: | 2 |
| Draftpick: | 56 |
| High School: | Anniston (AL) |
| College: | Nebraska |
| Pastteams: | |
| Highlights: | |
| Statlabel1: | Rushing yards |
| Statvalue1: | 2,232 |
| Statlabel2: | Rushing average |
| Statvalue2: | 3.6 |
| Statlabel3: | Rushing touchdowns |
| Statvalue3: | 22 |
| Pfr: | FranAn00 |
From Anniston, Alabama, Franklin played at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1977 through 1980, rushing for 1,738 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft (56th overall) by the Dolphins, and played under head coach Don Shula.
Franklin led the Dolphins in rushing during the strike-shortened 1982 season, third overall in the NFL, with 701 yards in nine games. The Dolphins won the AFC title and met the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII in January 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated after Miami's win over the San Diego Chargers in the
His playing career was cut short by a his last game was on
| Legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Led the league | ||
| Bold | Career high | |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| MIA | 16 | 11 | 201 | 711 | 3.5 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| MIA | 9 | 9 | 177 | 701 | 4.0 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| MIA | 15 | 12 | 224 | 746 | 3.3 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MIA | 2 | 2 | 20 | 74 | 3.7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 42 | 34 | 622 | 2,232 | 3.6 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 15 | 2.5 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| MIA | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0.7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MIA | 4 | 3 | 78 | 301 | 3.9 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MIA | 1 | 1 | 6 | 28 | 4.7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | 5 | 93 | 335 | 3.6 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | |||