The 20 Greatest Running Backs in NFL History

Image via Complex Original

Years Played: 1999-2009

All Time Stats: 12,246 Rushing Yards, 80 TDs, 4.0 Yards Per Carry

Accolades: 4x Pro Bowler, 1x All-Pro

This one might be the surprise of the list, but Edgerrin James has some legit feats to back up our claim that he's one of the best running backs ever. He won a ton a of games with Peyton and Co, he's eleventh all time in rushing yards, he's top 20 in rushing TDs, and he gave us seven 1100 + rushing yard seasons. Plus he helped the Cardinals make an improbable Super Bowl run in the later stages of his career. Playing with Peyton for so long could have been potentially bad or good for his claim as an elite back, but either way he's at the very least in the conversation for one of the best ever because of his consistency.

Years Played: 1971-1985
All Time Stats: 11,352 Rushing Yards, 104 Rushing TDs, 3.9 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1982 Super Bowl MVP, 1975 Pro Bowler, 1983 All-Pro

Skin fans rejoice! A touch of your glory days and the tough nosed I don't give a fuck attitude having running back John Riggins. Riggins wasn't beating you with speed, he was going right at you and both sides knew it. He was a TD machine for the Redskins and the Jets throughout his career and most notably won a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP after his epic fourth quarter run against the Dolphins. The Diesel also rocked a fro and a mohawk before pretty much everybody. #coolpointsawarded

Years Played: 1993-2005
All Time Stats: 13,362 Rushing Yards, 91 Rushing TDs, 3.9 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1x Super Bowl Champion, 6x Pro Bowler, 2x All-Pro

The Bus went chugging along to a remarkably brilliant career in Pittsburgh. Bettis rushed for a ton of yards, ran over hundreds of dudes that entertained us all, got his 'chip, and managed to keep one of the cleanest shape up/beard combos in the history of the world at all times. Small eulogy for any corner that thought he was man enough to stop Bettis on the goal line. #baddecision

Years Played: 1972-1984
All Time Stats: 12,120 Rushing Yards, 91 Rushing TDs, 4.1 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1974 Super Bowl MVP, 4x Super Bowl Champion, 9x Pro Bowler, 1x All-Pro

Not too many people on this list have as many rings as Franco Harris, and it's with good reason. One of the lesser heralded pieces of the Steelers' dynasty, Harris was the face of consistency and toughness for their squad. He seemed to always get his 1,000 yards and when they needed him he came up super clutch in the '74 Super Bowl carrying the rock 34 times for 158 yards and a TD. You know that whole "Immaculate Reception" thing? Yeah, that was all him.

Years Played: 1988-2000
All Time Stats: 12,074 Rushing Yards, 65 Rushing TDs, 4.2 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1991 NFL MVP, 5x Pro Bowler, 2x All-Pro

Thurman Thomas' career will undoubtedly be marked by his four Super Bowl losses with the tortured Buffalo Bills, but outside of those defeats he had an incredible career. He was a do it all back who could run and catch with the best of them which helped propel him to become the only player to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons. Thomas' biggest accolade however has nothing to do with stats, in 1991, Thurman Thomas was unstoppable in Tecmo Super Bowl. We're not talking like "oh man he's really good" unstoppable, we're talking "we have to ban the Bills from this Tecmo Bowl tournament because he's unstoppable" unstoppable. Ain't no stoppin Thurman T!

Years Played: 1995-2001
All Time Stats: 7,607 Rushing Yards, 60 Rushing TDs, 4.6 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1997 Super Bowl MVP, 1998 NFL MVP, 2x Super Bowl Champion, 3x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro

Like many of the stars on this list, injuries brought an early end to Davis’ career. While John Elway gets most of the media love for winning two Super Bowls with the Broncos, Davis was the better player. In his four healthy seasons, he averaged 1,603 yards per season and won two Super Bowls with Denver. In his last healthy season, he ran for 2,008 yards. Sure, Barry Sanders retired too early, but at least we got to see him play 10 seasons first. Who know how many yards Davis would have piled up behind those Denver linemen if he had been healthy?

Years Played: 1977-1988
All Time Stats: 12,739 Rushing Yards, 77 Rushing TDs, 4.3 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 4x Pro Bowler, 1x All-Pro

Before Herschel and Emmitt's runs in big D, there was one, Tony Dorsett. The first thing that pops in your head when you think of Dorsett is probably the ridiculous 99 yard run for a score on Monday night. A feat that's amazing on it's own, but even better when you find out he did it without his fullback who screwed up on the play and left them with ten men, and that they had multiple attempts at getting him down. He definitely gave the world some highlights during his time in the NFL, and also was the first player to win an NCAA title and then immediately win the Super Bowl the year after. #respect

Years Played: 1995-2005
All Time Stats: 14,101 Rushing Yards, 90 Rushing TDs, 4.0 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 5x Pro Bowler, 1x All-Pro

Hey look everybody, it's something related to the Jets that's actually good! Curtis Martin bolted from the Pats after three solid seasons and a ROY trophy to the New York Jets and was a model of consistency for their rushing attack for the next eight seasons. He topped 1,000 yards in all but his final year including a 1,697 yard/12 TD year at age 31! Rarely did he break a big run off, Martin would be the guy you could depend on to get you those five yards you needed for the first down. He would also consistently catch 40 balls out of the backfield and block blitzes with some of the best of them. So yeah, he's pretty much everything the Jets need right now.

Years Played: 1982-1997
All Time Stats: 12,243 Rushing Yards, 123 Rushing TDs, 4.1 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1983 Super Bowl MVP, 1985 NFL MVP, 6x Pro Bowler, 2x All-Pro

Marcus Allen laid waste to the NFL for 15 years and consistently displayed the God given ability not many guys have as he ran his way towards the top of most record books. Allen was the heart and soul for the 1980 Raider teams that were, get this, good! He was what every coach wanted from their running back, versatile, breakaway speed, saw the holes, not a locker room problem, and stepped up big when they needed him. Marcus also had this ridiculous run in their Super Bowl win against the Skins. Yes, the Raiders and Skins actually met in the Super Bowl, it really happened.

Years Played: 1978-1985
All Time Stats: 9,407 Rushing Yards, 74 Rushing TDs, 4.3 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1979 NFL MVP, 5x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro

Campbell is another guy who's stats may not jump out at you, but when you realize he only played eight seasons with two of them plagued with injury, he was an all time great. Earl rushed for 1,934 yards his third season in the league, when he only played 15 games! Some even think he could have went to the NFL straight out of high school which is just a testament for how much of a phenom he really was. You can't watch old highlights and not wonder why he didn't do more in the league, but then you see Campbell dust off 4 dudes and instantly stop caring about anything else.

Years Played: 2007-Present
All Time Stats: 8,849 Rushing Yards, 76 TDs, 5.0 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 5x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro, 2012 MVP

AD has only played six seasons with the most recent being one of, if not the, greatest comeback from injury stories ever. He racked up 2,097 yards on the ground, nine shy of the record, post tearing his MCL and ACL one year ago. The kicker? MCL and ACL tears usually take 12 months, he came back in eight, didn't miss a game, and had his best season ever. Is he human? How do you comeback from a severe, at times, career altering knee injury when you play the position that requires leg strength more than any other, and actually play better?

Peterson's been making 300 pound men look like pee wee backups since he got to the Vikings and by the looks of it he's nowhere near done marking his legacy. He possesses the extremely rare combo of electrifying speed, brute strength, reckless abandonment for his body, and an incredible work ethic. Adrian Peterson is what a running back would be if you created him in a lab. Minus the whole hulking up thing when he gets arrested. Clone AP and the Vikings would be the ones hoisting the Lombardi trophy.

Years Played: 1965-1971
All Time Stats: 4,956 Rushing Yards, 39 Rushing TDs, 5.0 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 4x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro

Now we know the stats don't jump out at you, but it's hard to really gage just how good Gale Sayers was if we just look at him as a running back. Sayers was one of the best all around football players of all time where he was not only an elite running back, but also a solid pass catching receiver, and arguably the best kick returner ever (Devin Hester may disagree). He was the ultimate weapon for the Bears with his ridiculous speed and elusiveness which made him a human highlight reel before there were even highlights. Had he not suffered from some knee injuries who knows where Sayers would land all time as far as the numbers go, but if you run across some youtube clips of him you'll see why he's up here.

Years Played: 1969-1979
All Time Stats: 11,236 Rushing Yards, 61 Rushing TDs, 4.7 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1973 NFL MVP, 6x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro

Ok so a bunch of you just realized O.J. Simpson played football, and an even bigger number realized he was actually really good. Yes, before the whole white Bronco, "if the glove don't fit" stuff, OJ was sonning dudes on the field for the Bills. Nicknamed "The Juice" for obvious reasons, he led the league in rushing four times and even won an MVP during his playing days despite not having a lot of success in the playoffs. Now if only he didn't O.J. Simpson was a really good running back.

Years Played: 1994-2005
All Time Stats: 12,279 Rushing Yards, 100 Rushing TDs, 4.3 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 2000 Super Bowl Champion, 2000 NFL MVP, 7x Pro Bowler, 3x All-Pro

The centerpiece of the “Greatest Show on Turf” was a dual threat out of the backfield before it was the norm. During the Rams’ 1999 Super Bowl season, Faulk became only the second player ever to rush and catch for over 1,000 yards in the same season and set the single season yards from scrimmage record. He went for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four consecutive seasons during his peak and set the standard for versatility from a modern day running back.

Years Played: 1983-1993
All Time Stats: 13,259 Rushing Yards, 90 Rushing TDs, 4.4 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: Record for Rushing Yards in a Season (2,105), 6x Pro Bowler, 5x All-Pro

A true testament to how dominant he was, Dickerson's magical single season rushing record still stands today after 31 years. He set it in his second season with the Rams and it has stood as the seemingly insurmountable bar for rushing yards for all of the greats that have come after him. Dickerson was so good he was getting paid in college before Reggie Bush was even thought of and rocked one of the meanest athlete accessory combo's of a jheri curl and Kareem goggles like it was nothing. Not many will ever have the talent and skill Dickerson possessed, but even less will have that swag.

Years Played: 2001-2011
All Time Stats: 13,684 Rushing Yards, 145 Rushing TDs, 4.3 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 2006 NFL MVP, 5x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro

If a group of sports analysts were locked in a room and had to name the most productive back of the last 10-15 years, they'd probably give that title to LT. Tomlinson had the monster production, the hard worker attitude, and the all around likeability franchises dream of when they get a talent of his caliber. There wasn't a soul who disliked him and when defenses saw 21 coming at them with the black visor, they were petrified because he could beat you so many ways. Having recently retired, he sadly never got the chance to hoist up of the Lombardi trophy, but slowly working his way up to number five on the rushing yards all time list ain't too shabby. This suit though, not ok.

Years Played: 1990-2004
All Time Stats: 18,355 Rushing Yards (Holds Record), 164 Rushing TDs (Holds Record), 4.2 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 3x Super Bowl Champion, 1993 NFL MVP, 8x Pro Bowler, 4x All-Pro

The fact that Emmitt was able to play running back in the NFL for 14 years alone almost makes him an all time back, but this man balled out like few others during his time on the field. He's the current holder for the two most coveted running back records, rushing yards and touchdowns, and was a huge part of the Cowboys' epic '90s trio of Aikman, Irvin, and Smith. We're still trying to determine if he gets brownie points for winning DWTS, the man doesn't know how to lose but also rocked stuff like this.

Years Played: 1975-1987
All Time Stats: 16,276 Rushing Yards, 110 Rushing TDs, 4.4 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1986 Super Bowl Champion, 1977 NFL MVP, 9x Pro Bowler, 6x All-Pro

A life taken far too soon, Walter Payton represented everything that was good about the NFL while he graced this Earth. Oh and he was also a fucking monster on the field! Payton led his Bears to multiple winning seasons and an eventual Super Bowl as he tore the hearts out of defenses, pounding them all day on the ground. Sweetness was fearless when he ran and arguably reinvented the idea of a power back with his smarts and motor that just didn't stop. When he retired he was the all time leader in rushing yards and TDs, records that would later be broken, but Payton will never be forgotten in talks for the greatest backs in NFL history.

Years Played: 1989-1998
All Time Stats: 15,269 Rushing Yards, 85 Rushing TDs, 5.0 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1997 NFL MVP, 10x Pro Bowler, 6x All-Pro

We all know the story about how during one game after putting some ill moves on an opposing defense for a couple series', the referees checked Barry Sanders' jersey to see if he had a slippery substance that hindered him from being tackled. Well see, the thing about it is, it actually happened! #20 for the Lions was the most elusive back the NFL has ever seen and probably ever will. The only reason Barry Sanders isn't on the tops of any of the record books is because he retired prematurely. Sanders could out-juke an entire defense then run backwards for ten minutes and proceed to juke them all again before he scoring with ease. That's how good he was. Barry's worst season was one where he rushed for 1115 yards in just 11 games. He did this all without much of a team around him too so the defense's knew he would get it, but yet they still couldn't stop him. We'll always wonder where Barry would be if he played two more years, but even without it he's one of the best ever.

Years Played: 1957-1965
All Time Stats: 12,312 Rushing Yards, 106 TDs, 5.2 Yards Per Carry
Accolades: 1964 NFL Champion, 3x NFL MVP, 9x Pro Bowler, 8x All-Pro

Jim Brown is what every running back in the past 50 years has viewed as the bar for success. He only played nine seasons during his football career, opting to do other things early in life, but those nine seasons were ones unlike anything we've ever seen. Brown led the league in rushing eight of those seasons, had a record holding 104.3 rushing yards per game average, led his Cleveland Browns to a championship, and let the football world know that running backs could be dominant. The dude wasn't afraid of anything either, Brown never shied away from contact on the field but still never missed a game. He also had no problem voicing his opinion to the media and used his celebrity to fight for causes he believed in. There is no Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, or Walter Payton without Jim Brown. He is the greatest running back of all time.