Randy McMillan obit

Former Colts RB Randy McMillan dies at 67

 

He was not on the list.

Former Colts running back Randy McMillan died Wednesday, the team announced. He was 67.

The Baltimore Colts made McMillan the 12th overall pick in 1981, and he spent his entire six-year career with the franchise. McMillan made the move with the team from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984.

In 88 career games — 87 of them starts — McMillan rushed 990 times for 3,876 yards and 24 touchdowns. He added 164 receptions for 1,356 yards with two receiving touchdowns.

McMillan, who played two years of college ball at Pitt with future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL debut. He helped the Colts beat the Patriots 29-28.

It was the second-most rushing yards for a Colts player in his NFL debut. Hall of Fame fullback Alan Ameche has the record with 194 rushing yards in his first game in 1955. Only Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk scored more rushing touchdowns among Colts players in their NFL debut when he had three in 1994.

From 1984-86 — the Colts' first three years in Indianapolis — McMillan led the team in rushing with 705, 858 and 609 rushing yards, respectively. In the spring of 1987, McMillan was struck by a car and left with a significant leg injury that cut short his NFL career at the age of 28.

He was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft with the 12th overall pick. McMillan played collegiately for Harford Community College, earning All-American junior college honors, before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh.

Randy McMillan was born on December 17, 1958 in Havre De Grace, Maryland and was raised in Jarrettsville, Maryland. McMillan first attended The John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland where he played football during his freshman and sophomore years. Before his junior year, he transferred to North Harford High School, where he played football, basketball, and ran track and field. As a senior, McMillan led North Harford in rushing and earned a selection to the 1976 All-American Team.

As a sophomore at Harford, McMillan again led the Owls to an undefeated season. His impressive stats of 187 carries for 1,546 yards (8.2 yard average) and 20 touchdowns earned him All-Region, All-State, and National Junior College All-American honors. Following his sophomore year at Harford, McMillan received a scholarship to continue his college football career at the University of Pittsburgh.

In his Pitt debut, McMillan recorded 12 carries for 141 yards to defeat Kansas 24-0. McMillan and freshman quarterback Dan Marino led the Panthers to an 11-1 record and finished the season ranked number seven in the AP poll. The Panthers defeated Arizona 16-10 in the 1979 Fiesta Bowl. McMillan finished his junior year with 721 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns.

Pitt had high expectations coming into McMillan's senior season, with the Panthers ranked #3 in the AP preseason poll. Pitt and McMillan had a poor opening game to the season. McMillan fumbled twice and Marino threw five interceptions in close-call win against Boston College. The Panthers recovered from their slow start to go 11-1 for the second consecutive season. The team's final regular season game was a matchup against #5 ranked Penn State, which they won 14-9. Pitt earned a spot in the 1980 Gator Bowl against #18 ranked South Carolina, winning 37-9. In the Gator Bowl victory, McMillan had one touchdown run and one touchdown reception from quarterback Rick Trocano. McMillan again led Pitt in rushing with 633 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned an Honorable Mention in the 1980 All-America voting.

In the lead up to the 1981 NFL draft, McMillan was projected as the first fullback to be selected.

McMillan joined a Colts backfield occupied by 1980 first round draft pick Curtis Dickey. Baltimore hoped to combine Dickey's speed with McMillan's toughness. In his rookie season, McMillan and the Colts went 2-14 with their only two wins coming in the first and last weeks of the season against the New England Patriots. Despite the team's poor performance McMillan started all 16 games and amassed 149 rushes for 597 yards and three touchdowns, adding 50 receptions for 466 yards and one touchdown. Dickey and McMillan combined for the majority of the lowly Colts' offensive production.

The 1985 season was another disappointing output for the Colts. Under first-year coach Rod Dowhower, the team finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. McMillan posted his best statistical season, leading the team in rushing for the third time, with 190 carries for 858 yards and seven touchdowns. He split rushing duties with running back George Wonsley, as Curtis Dickey was sidelined with injuries before being released mid-season.

McMillan's final season in Indianapolis saw the team start at 0-13 before winning their final three games under interim coach Ron Meyer. McMillan had a poor start to the season, and did not score until week eight against the Miami Dolphins. His best game of the season came in the Colts' week 10 loss to the New England Patriots. McMillan had 20 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown. McMillan led the team in rushing for the second straight year, with 189 attempts for 609 yards and three touchdowns.

On April 26, 1987, McMillan was struck by a car while trying to cross the road near his home in Timonium, Maryland. He fractured his leg and received lacerations on his face. His injuries required surgery, with a rod being placed in his leg.

McMillan missed the entire 1987 NFL season due to his injuries. Throughout the season, McMillan and his agent feuded with Colts owner Robert Irsay over payments and access to the Colts training complex for rehabilitation. While McMillan was away, the Colts traded with the Los Angeles Rams for star running back Eric Dickerson. The combination of Dickerson's arrival and McMillan's injury led to him being cut by the team in August 1988.

McMillan left the Colts as their then-fifth all-time leading rusher, with 3,876 rushing yards.

After being released by the Colts, McMillan was signed by the Miami Dolphins on August 11, 1988. He spent two weeks with the Dolphins before he was released on August 25, 1988.

Following the end to his professional football career, McMillan managed a health club in White Marsh, Maryland.

In 2002, McMillan fell asleep at the wheel of his car, crashing into a guardrail. He suffered a spinal injury. Randy was elected to the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as North Harford High School, Harford Community College, and the Harford County Hall of Fame. He was also chosen as one of the Top 50 Athletes in the 250-year History of Harford County, MD. McMillan died on January 7, 2026, aged 67