Franklin played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers; he died at age 47 from heart failure in 2006.

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.

He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated after Miami's win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC semifinals.

This biographical article relating to an American football running back born in the 1950s is a stub.