Football is just no fun without the running backs. After all, their major role is to receive the handoffs from the quarterback, and are usually the ones receiving the ball and blocking opponents.
Source: Unsplash
A running back is a very versatile role. A good NFL running back must have great vision and balance. They also must be alert and aware so that they always know where to run. Read on to read a list of the greatest running backs of all time.
Frank Gore
Franklin Gore Sr. has been an NFL running back for 16 seasons. He has been switching teams throughout his career but he stayed longest with the San Francisco 49ers (2005 to 2014).
Source: Wikipedia
Gore currently holds third place in most NFL career rushing yards at 16,000. He also holds the NFL record for games played by a running back. His career has been admired by his peers for his longevity, which is quite rare for running backs.
Marshawn Lynch
Marshawn Terrel Lynch was an NFL running back for 12 seasons. The majority of his football career was with the Seattle Seahawks (2010 to 2015). He was given the nickname “Beast Mode” thanks to his playing style.
Source: Fox News
Lynch is a five-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. He has retired from football several times. The final one was in 2019. Now, he co-owns the Beasts of the Fan-Controlled Football (FCF) and the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander was an NFL running back for the Seattle Seahawks (2000 to 2007) and the Washington Redskins (2008). He has set several NFL and Seattle Seahawk records throughout his career and was recognized as the NFL MVP in 2005.
Source: Wikipedia
Alexander is the first athlete featured on the cover of the Madden NFL and NCAA Football video games. Alexander has been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.
Joe Perry
Fletcher Joseph Perry is the first African-American to be named NFL Most Valuable Player and one of American football’s first black stars. The majority of his career was with the San Francisco 49ers (1948 to 1960).
Source: Wikipedia
Perry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. Perry’s San Francisco 49ers jersey number 34 was retired in 1971. When Perry passed away in 2011, the San Francisco 49ers honored him by placing the number 34 on their helmet.
Edgerrin James
Edgerrin Tyree James was an NFL running back for 11 seasons. The majority of his football career was with the Indianapolis Colts (1999 to 2005). James was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year when he started his NFL career in 1999.
Source: Sportscasting
James has earned four Pro Bowl and four All-Pro selections. He is the Indianapolis Colts’ all-time leader in career touchdowns, rushing yards, and attempts. By the time James retired in 2011, he had a record of 12,246 rushing yards and 80 rushing touchdowns.
Derrick Henry
Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. is an NFL running back for the Tennessee Titans from 2016 up to the present. Because he has a larger build than most running backs and he has an imposing rushing game, he has earned the nickname “King Henry” in the field.
Source: Wikipedia
In 2020, Henry got the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He is a three-time Pro Bowl player. Henry is also the founder of Two All Foundation, an organization that levels the playing field for the youth so that their future success will not be limited.
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis is an NFL running back for the Denver Broncos (1995 to 2001). He is the team’s’ all-time leading rusher and currently holds the record for most postseason single-season touchdowns. He has two Super Bowl championships.
Source: New Arena
Davis is responsible for starting the “Mile High Salute” which is the Denver Broncos’ celebratory tradition after scoring a touchdown. Although he only played for four full seasons, Davis is often named one of the greatest running backs of all time.
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram Bettis Sr. is an NFL running back who played for 13 seasons. He primarily played for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1996 to 2005). Because of his large size and running style, he was given the nickname “The Bus” on the football field.
Source: New Arena
Bettis is considered to be one of the greatest power runners of all time and holds 8th place in NFL rushing yards. He is a six-time Pro Bowl player and a two-time first-team All-Pro player. In 2015, Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins is known for his productivity and powerful running style. At the age of 34, he had an NFL single-season record of 24 touchdowns and held that record again the next year.
Source: New Arena
Riggins was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bown XVII while he was playing for the Washington Redskins. Despite being a powerful runback, Riggins only had earned one Pro Bowl appearance in his career. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is an NFL running back who played for 13 seasons. He spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1972 to 1983). Harris is the all-time career rushing leader for the franchise history of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: VOA News
Harris is a four-time Super Bowl winner and was the MVP for Super Bowl IX. He also has the distinction of scoring the “Immaculate Reception” touchdown, which led the Steelers to their first Super Bowl win. Harris was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Thurman Thomas
Thurman Lee Thomas is an NFL played primarily with the Buffalo Bills (1988 to 1999) and then spent one final year with the Miami Dolphins in 2000. During his 12 seasons with the Bills, he qualified for the Pro Bowl five times and got first-team All-Pro honors twice.
Source: NHL
Thomas was named as NFL Most Valuable Player in 1991. He was instrumental in making the Buffalo Bills get into the Super Bowl for four consecutive years. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin Jr. primarily spent his career with the New York Jets (1998 to 2006). Before joining the Jets, Martin was with the New England Patriots for three seasons (1995 to 1997) and he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year during the 1995 NFL Draft.
Source: The Knicks of the Nineties
Martin is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro. He ranks sixth in total NFL rushing yards. Martin retired after the 2006 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Marcus Allen
Marcus Lemarr Allen has the distinction of being the only player who won the Heisman Trophy, an NCAA national championship, a Super Bowl championship and be named a Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP.
Source: Las Vegas Chronicle
Allen is the first NFL player to reach more than 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards during his career. In 2000, Allen was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tony Dorsett
Anthony Drew Dorsett Sr. primarily played for the Dallas Cowboys (1977 to 1987) before switching to the Denver Broncos for his final season in 1988. He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year when he was drafted in 1997.
Source: New Arena
In his 12-year NFL career, Dorsett rushed for 12,739 yards and 77 touchdowns. 1994 was a good year for Dorsett – he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame and he was also enshrined in the Texas Stadium Ring of Honor.
Adrian Peterson
Adrian Lewis Peterson may be too tall for a running back but he has proven to be good at making him “small” while rushing through the field. He is currently the fifth all-time rusher with 14,918 yards on his record.
Source: Wikipedia
As a rookie, he set an NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game. Peterson has garnered All-League honors, including the Most Valuable Player title in 2012. In 2015, Peterson became the oldest running back to be named first-team All-Pro at the age of 30.
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell spent most of his career with the Houston Oilers (1978 to 1984) then switched to the New Orleans Saints. He is known for his aggressive and powerful running style and his capacity to break tackles.
Source: SI Photos
Campbell made it to five Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro. He was the AP NFL Most Valuable Player in 1979. Campbell is inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson holds the single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, which he got in 1984. Throughout his NFL career, he rushed for over 13,000 yards – an impressive feat considering that he wears prescription goggles the whole time due to his myopia.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019. He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. The Los Angeles Rams retired his jersey number 29 in his honor.
Gale Sayers
Gale Eugene Sayers played for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971. He is considered to be one of the most difficult players to tackle in NFL history. His agility and elusiveness were unmatched.
Source: Chicago Bears
Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 at the age of 34, making him the youngest person to receive the honor. He was inducted into the college football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Marshall Faulk
Marshall William Faulk is a member of the Greatest Show on Turf, a name given to the St. Louis Rams team that played in two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXIV. Before he played with the Rams, he started his career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Source: The St. Louis American
Faulk was named the Most Valuable Player of the NFL in 2000. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
O.J. Simpson
Orenthal James Simpson may be more known for his controversial trial and acquittal but there is no denying that he is an amazing running back. He is known as the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in one season.
Source: Bleacher Report
Simpson still holds the record for the single-season yards-per-game average of 143.1. After retiring, he pursued a career in broadcasting and acting. Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tarshane Tomlinson was named to five Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro, and had won consecutive rushing titles in 2006 and 2007. He has gone on to gather a lot of highlights and awards for the rest of his football career.
Source: Bleacher Report
Tomlison won NFL Most Valuable Player, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Walter Payton NFL Man of Year in 2006. Tomlison was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. He now works as an analyst on the NFL network.
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith III is the only running back to win a Super Bowl, NFL MVP award, NFL rushing crown, and Super Bowl MVP in the same season (1993). He is also a three-time Super Bowl champion and led the league in rushing in all three – a feat never done before.
Source: Yardbarker
Smith is recognized as the league’s all-time leading rusher with 164 rushing touchdowns and 18,355 rushing yards. Most running backs aim to mimic his career. Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was one of the most productive players in the league, holding numerous records for career rushing yards, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, carries, touchdowns, and many more categories.
Source: My Cast
Payton retired with the most receptions by a non-receiver and eight career touchdown passes. Peyton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is the running back for the Detroit Lions (1989 to 1998). Sanders may just be 5 ft and 8 in tall but his speed and agility made him one of the most elusive runners in NFL history. He led the league in rushing touchdowns once and in rushing yards four times.
Source: Vintage Detroit
Sanders won various league awards throughout his carreer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and College Football Hall of Fame.
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel Brown is unmatched as he made Pro Bowl appearances for every season of his nine-year football career. He was an important part of the Cleveland Browns’ achievements while he gathered quite a lot of highlights, titles, and awards for himself.
Source: New Arena
Aside from an impressive football career, Brown is known to be talented in other sports as well such as basketball, track and field, and lacrosse. In fact, he is also considered to be one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time.