Michael Turner ( American football ) Michael Turner ( born February 13 , 1982 ) is an American football running back who last played for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Northern Illinois University . He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft . He is currently a free agent . College Career . He attended Northern Illinois University . As a junior , he finished second in the nation with 1 , 915 yards , including five 200 + yd games and two 5 TD games . In 2003 , he finished second in the NCAA in rushing , behind his future NFL teammate Darren Sproles , with 1 , 148 yards . He left NIU with the school records for rushing yards ( 1 , 941 ) , touchdowns ( 13 ) and all - purpose yards ( 1 , 038 ) . Since his departure from NIU , two records ( rushing yards and touchdowns ) have been broken by Garrett Wolfe . Professional Career . San Diego Chargers . Turner was drafted by the Chargers in the fifth round ( 154th overall ) of the 2004 NFL Draft . As a rookie , Turner played mostly on special teams , but started and ran for 87 yards in the regular - season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs . Turner had again spent most of 2005 on the bench as backup to Pro Bowl starter LaDainian Tomlinson . But in the December 18 game against the undefeated Indianapolis Colts , Turner came off the bench to run for 113 yards , including a game - clinching 83 - yard touchdown . During the 2007 off season , Chargers General manager A . J . Smith stated that the Chargers would be willing to trade Turner in exchange for both a first and third round draft pick . However , a day after 2007 NFL Draft concluded , A . J . Smith stated that Michael Turner would remain a Charger for the 2007 season . He would no longer be accepting trade offers from other NFL teams for Turner . On April 26 , 2007 , Turner signed the $ 2 . 35 million , one - year tender he received from the Chargers after becoming a restricted free agent . On January 13 , 2008 , Turner gained attention when he filled in ably for the Chargers ' injured starter Tomlinson early in an AFC Divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts , gaining 71 yards on 17 carries , including several key runs . Atlanta Falcons . On March 2 , 2008 , the Atlanta Falcons signed Turner to a six - year , $ 34 . 5 million contract with $ 15 million guaranteed . He was represented by agent James " Bus " Cook . In his Falcon debut , Turner broke the Atlanta Falcons single game rushing record against the Detroit Lions on September 7 , 2008 , rushing for 220 yards on 22 carries with 2 touchdowns . His 220 yards against the Lions marked the third - highest opening day rushing total behind O . J . Simpson ’ s 250 yards in 1973 and Arian Foster ' s 231 yards in 2010 and his rushing total is also the most in NFL annals by a player in his first game with a new team and surpassed the previous mark of 202 yards setting by running back Gerald Riggs on September 2 , 1984 . Coincidentally , Turner became the first Falcons offensive player of the week following an NFL season opening weekend since Riggs earned the honor after setting his record in 1984 . He was named NFC Offensive Player of the week for this performance . On November 23 , 2008 , he set a personal record with 4 rushing TDs in a victory over the Carolina Panthers . He compiled 117 yards rushing during that same game . His seventeen rushing touchdowns during the 2008 season broke the Atlanta Falcons ' single season record of 14 set by Jamal Anderson in 1998 , it is also the second - most in NFL history for a first season with a team behind only Eric Dickerson ( 18 ) . He finished the year with 1 , 699 yards ( a 4 . 5 ypc avg ) and 17 rushing touchdowns . He is the first Atlanta Falcon in history to start and finish a season with 200 yard rushing performances ( 220 against Detroit week 1 and 208 against St . Louis week 17 ) . On December 16 , 2008 , Turner was named to the 2009 Pro Bowl , along with fellow Falcon WR Roddy White . Turner and teammates Roddy White , Eric Weems , Ovie Mughelli , Brent Grimes , Tony Gonzalez , John Abraham , Tyson Clabo and Matt Ryan were voted to the 2011 Pro Bowl . On January 1 , 2012 , Turner broke Gerald Riggs ' franchise rushing touchdown record against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Turner rushed for 2 touchdowns , bringing his total rushing touchdowns as a Falcon to 50 . On March 1 , 2013 , Turner was released by the Falcons . Personal Life . On September 18 , 2012 , Turner was arrested and charged with DUI and speeding , only a few hours after the Denver Broncos vs . Atlanta Falcons game on September 17 , 2012 .