All-Time Best: Running Back (NFL)

In order to evaluate each running back in a comprehensive manner, only running backs who have retired are included in these rankings.

1.       Jim Brown (1957-1965), 6-2 232 lbs.

College: Syracuse
Team: Cleveland Browns
Draft: 1957 - #6
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

Super Bowl Wins: 1

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 1

League Rushing Yards Leader: 8

NFL MVP: 3

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 6

1^st Team All-NFL: 8

2^nd Team All-NFL: 0

Pro Bowls: 9

Career Stats: 12,312 rushing yards, 106 rushing TD’s, 5.2 yards per carry, 104.3 rushing yards per game, 2,499 receiving yards, 20 receiving TD’s

2.       Barry Sanders (1989-1998), 5-8 205 lbs.

College: Oklahoma State
Team: Detroit Lions
Draft: 1989 - #3
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 4

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 2

1^st Team All-NFL: 6

2^nd Team All-NFL: 4

Pro Bowls: 10

Career Stats: 15,269 rushing yards, 99 rushing TD’s, 5.0 yards per carry, 99.8 rushing yards per game, 2,921 receiving yards, 10 receiving TD’s

3.       Walter Payton (1975-1987), 5-10 200 lbs.

College: Jackson State
Team: Chicago Bears
Draft: 1975 - #4
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

Super Bowl Wins: 1

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 1

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 1

1^st Team All-NFL: 5

2^nd Team All-NFL: 3

Pro Bowls: 9

Career Stats: 16,726 rushing yards, 110 rushing TD’s, 4.4 yards per carry, 88.0 rushing yards per game, 4,538 receiving yards, 15 receiving TD’s

4.       Marshall Faulk (1994-2005), 5-10 210 lbs.

College: San Diego State
Teams: Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams
Draft: 1994 - #2
Super Bowl Appearances: 2

Super Bowl Wins: 1

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 0

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 3

1^st Team All-NFL: 3

2^nd Team All-NFL: 3

Pro Bowls: 7

Career Stats: 12,279 rushing yards, 100 rushing TD’s, 4.3 yards per carry, 69.8 rushing yards per game, 6,875 receiving yards, 36 receiving TD’s

5.       Emmitt Smith (1990-2004), 5-9 210 lbs.

College: Florida
Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals
Draft: 1990 - #17
Super Bowl Appearances: 3

Super Bowl Wins: 3

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 1

League Rushing Yards Leader: 4

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 0

1^st Team All-NFL: 4

2^nd Team All-NFL: 1

Pro Bowls: 8

Career Stats: 18,355 rushing yards, 164 rushing TD’s, 4.2 yards per carry, 81.2 rushing yards per game, 3,224 receiving yards, 11 receiving TD’s

6.       LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-2011), 5-10 221 lbs.

College: TCU
Teams: San Diego Chargers, N.Y. Jets
Draft: 2001 - #5
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 2

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 1

1^st Team All-NFL: 3

2^nd Team All-NFL: 3

Pro Bowls: 5

Career Stats: 13,684 rushing yards, 145 rushing TD’s, 4.3 yards per carry, 80.5 rushing yards per game, 4,772 receiving yards, 17 receiving TD’s

7.   O.J. Simpson (1969-1979), 6-2 212 lbs.

College: USC
Teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers
Draft: 1969 - #1
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 4

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 1

1^st Team All-NFL: 5

2^nd Team All-NFL: 0

Pro Bowls: 6

Career Stats: 11,236 rushing yards, 61 rushing TD’s, 4.7 yards per carry, 83.2 rushing yards per game, 2,142 receiving yards, 14 receiving TD’s

8.       Eric Dickerson (1983-1993), 6-3 220 lbs.

College: SMU
Teams: L.A. Rams, Indianapolis Colts, L.A. Raiders, Atlanta Falcons
Draft: 1983 - #2
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 4

NFL MVP: 0

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 1

1^st Team All-NFL: 5

2^nd Team All-NFL: 0

Pro Bowls: 6

Career Stats: 13,259 rushing yards, 90 rushing TD’s, 4.4 yards per carry, 90.8 rushing yards per game, 2,137 receiving yards, 6 receiving TD’s

9.       Terrell Davis (1995-2001), 5-11 210 lbs.

College: Georgia
Teams: Denver Broncos
Draft: 1995 - #196
Super Bowl Appearances: 2

Super Bowl Wins: 2

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 1

League Rushing Yards Leader: 1

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 2

1^st Team All-NFL: 3

2^nd Team All-NFL: 0

Pro Bowls: 3

Career Stats: 7,607 rushing yards, 60 rushing TD’s, 4.6 yards per carry, 97.5 rushing yards per game, 1,280 receiving yards, 5 receiving TD’s

10.       Thurman Thomas (1988-2000), 5-10 210 lbs.

College: Oklahoma State
Teams: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Draft: 1988 - #40
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 0

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 1

1^st Team All-NFL: 3

2^nd Team All-NFL: 2

Pro Bowls: 5

Career Stats: 12,074 rushing yards, 65 rushing TD’s, 4.3 yards per carry, 66.3 rushing yards per game, 4,458 receiving yards, 23 receiving TD’s

11.   Earl Campbell (1978-1985), 5-11 232 lbs.

College: Texas
Teams: Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
Draft: 1978 - #1
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 3

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 3

1^st Team All-NFL: 3

2^nd Team All-NFL: 0

Pro Bowls: 5

Career Stats: 9,407 rushing yards, 74 rushing TD’s, 4.3 yards per carry, 81.8 rushing yards per game, 806 receiving yards, 0 receiving TD’s

12.   Curtis Martin (1995-2005), 5-11 210 lbs.

College: Pittsburgh
Teams: New England Patriots, N.Y. Jets
Draft: 1995 - #74
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 1

NFL MVP: 0

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 0

1^st Team All-NFL: 1

2^nd Team All-NFL: 2

Pro Bowls: 5

Career Stats: 14,101 rushing yards, 90 rushing TD’s, 4.0 yards per carry, 83.9 rushing yards per game, 3,329 receiving yards, 10 receiving TD’s

13.       Marcus Allen (1982-1997), 6-2 210 lbs.

College: USC
Teams: L.A. Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs
Draft: 1982 - #10
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

Super Bowl Wins: 1

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 1

League Rushing Yards Leader: 1

NFL MVP: 1

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 1

1^st Team All-NFL: 2

2^nd Team All-NFL: 1

Pro Bowls: 6

Career Stats: 12,243 rushing yards, 123 rushing TD’s, 4.1 yards per carry, 55.1 rushing yards per game, 5,411 receiving yards, 21 receiving TD’s

14.       Franco Harris (1972-1984), 6-2 230 lbs.

College: Penn State
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
Draft: 1972 - #13
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

Super Bowl Wins: 4

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 1

League Rushing Yards Leader: 0

NFL MVP: 0

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 0

1^st Team All-NFL: 2

2^nd Team All-NFL: 1

Pro Bowls: 9

Career Stats: 12,120 rushing yards, 91 rushing TD’s, 4.1 yards per carry, 70.1 rushing yards per game, 2,287 receiving yards, 9 receiving TD’s

15.   Edgerrin James (1999-2009), 6-0 220 lbs.

College: Miami
Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks
Draft: 1999 - #4
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

Super Bowl Wins: 0

Super Bowl MVP Honors: 0

League Rushing Yards Leader: 2

NFL MVP: 0

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: 0

1^st Team All-NFL: 1

2^nd Team All-NFL: 2

Pro Bowls: 4

Career Stats: 12,246 rushing yards, 80 rushing TD’s, 4.0 yards per carry, 82.7 rushing yards per game, 3,364 receiving yards, 11 receiving TD’s

Best of the Rest
16. Tony Dorsett (1977-88)
17. Shaun Alexander (2000-08)
18. Gale Sayers (1965-71)
19. Leroy Kelly (1964-73)
20. Jerome Bettis (1993-2005)
21. Ricky Watters (1992-2001)
22. Eddie George (1996-2004)
23. Roger Craig (1983-93)
24. Tiki Barber (1997-2006)
25. Clinton Portis (2002-10)
26. Corey Dillon (1997-2006)
27. Jamal Lewis (2000-09)
28. Larry Csonka (1968-79)
29. Fred Taylor (1998-2010)
30. Ahman Green (1998-2009)
31. Brian Westbrook (2002-10)
32. Ottis Anderson (1979-92)
33. Lawrence McCutcheon (1972-81)
34. James Brooks (1981-92)
35. Herschel Walker (1986-97)
36. Lydell Mitchell (1972-80)
37. Warrick Dunn (1997-2008)
38. John Riggins (1971-85)
39. Ricky Williams (1999-2011)
40. Jamal Anderson (1994-2001)

Prior to the 1966-1967 NFL season, the “Super Bowl” was known as “NFL Championship” or “AFL Championship.” In order to keep comparisons between running backs consistent, players who won NFL or AFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl coming into existence are credited with “Super Bowl Wins” in this analysis.