PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eangles during an NFL football game September 15, 1996 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sanders played for the Lions from 1989-98.(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Football fans love to argue over who is the best at each position. It’s so hard to determine greatness in a game that has been played for so long. Here is a list of the 25 greatest running backs to have ever played. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and let us know!
25. Shaun Alexander (2000-2008)
Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander runs the ball in the second half of the NFL game on Monday Night Football November 27, 2006 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Casey/NFLPhotoLibrary)
9,453 rushing yards, 100 TDs
3x Pro Bowl
Had 27 TDs in 2005
24. Priest Holmes (1997-2007)
INDIANAPOLIS – NOVEMBER 18: Priest Holmes #31 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball during the game against the Indianapolis Colts on November 18, 2007 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Chiefs 13-10. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
8,172 rushing yards, 86 TDs
3x Pro Bowl
Had 27 TDs in 2003
23. Jerome Bettis (1993-2005)
Pittsburgh Steeelers running back Jerome Bettis runs upfield in a 20 to 3 win over the New York Jets on October 8, 2000 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images)
13,662 rushing yards, 91 TDs
6x Pro Bowl
The “Bus” was one of the best power running backs of his generation
22. Larry Csonka (1968-1978)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 15: A general view of the Miami Dolphins throwback logo midfield prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
8,081 rushing yards, 64 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
Super Bowl VIII MVP and Dolphins Legend
21. Terrell Davis (1995-2001)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 25: Terrell Davis #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Broncos won the Super Bowl 31-24. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
7,607 rushing yards, 60 TDs
2x Super Bowl Champion
Had 2,008 rushing yards in 1998
20. Franco Harris (1972-1984)
12,120 rushing yards, 91 TDs
9x Pro Bowl
The lead RB for the Steelers’ Super Bowl dynasty
19. Edgerrin James (1999-2009)
Colts runningback Edgerrin James leaves the field with the ball after scoring late in the game as the Indianapolis Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 28 to 3 at Monster Park, San Francisco, California, October 9, 2005. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)
12,246 rushing yards, 80 TDs
4x Pro Bowl
13th in yards gained on the ground and member of the HOF
18. Frank Gore (2005-2014)
FOXBORO, MA – DECEMBER 16: Running back Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
16,000 rushing yards, 81 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
Only player to have 1200 yards from scrimmage in 12 consecutive seasons
17. Marcus Allen (1982-1997)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 22: Marcus Allen #32 of the Los Angeles Raiders carries the ball against the Washington Redskins during Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 38 – 9. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
12,243 rushing yards, 123 TDs
6x Pro Bowl
Twice named MVP of the Super Bowl
16. John Riggins (1971-1985)
LANDOVER, MD – JANUARY 01: A general view of the Washington Commanders logo on the stadium concourse before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Browns at FedExField on January 1, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
11,352 rushing yards, 104 TDs
Had a resurgence in his career going from the Jets to Washington, culminating with him winning MVP of Super Bowl XVII
15. Jim Taylor (1958-1967)
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame running back Jim Taylor carries the ball in the famed “Green Bay sweep” against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Packers’ 35-10 win in Super Bowl I played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by James Flores/Getty Images)
8,597 rushing yards, 83 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
4x NFL Champion and TD machine for the Packers
14. Curtis Martin (1995-2005)
CLEVELAND, OHIO–NOVEMBER 21: Running Back Curtis Martin #28 is shown in action during the New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
14,101 rushing yards, 90 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
Had 10 straight 1000-yard seasons
13. O.J. Simpson (1969-1979)
Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1985, in 1974. (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images)
11,236 rushing yards, 61 TDs
5x NFL rushing leader
“Juice” was the first RB to have a 2000-yard rushing season
12. Thurman Thomas (1988-2000)
2 Jan 1999: Thurman Thomas #34 of the Buffalo Bills carries the ball during the AFC Wild Card Game against the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Dolphins defeated the Bills 24-17.
12,074 rushing yards, 65 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
Led the Bills to four Super Bowl appearances
11. Gale Sayers (1965-1971)
CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 26: The Chicago Bears “C” logo at the North end of Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears football team in Chicago on November 26, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
4,956 rushing yards, 39 TDs
4x Pro Bowl
Would have been much higher on this list had his career not been cut short by injury.
10. Tony Dorsett (1977-1988)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 21: Tony Dorsett #33 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XIII on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Steelers won the Super Bowl 35-31. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
12,739 rushing yards, 77 TDs
4x Pro Bowl
His 99-yard TD run is one of the greatest ever.
9. Adrian Peterson (2007-2016)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 4: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings rushes for a 48 yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 4, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
14,918 rushing yards, 120 TDs
7x Pro Bowl
3x NFL rushing leader
8. Earl Campbell (1978-1985)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 2: Running back Earl Campbell #34 of the Houston Oilers looks on from the field before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on October 2, 1983 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Oilers 17-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
9.407 rushing yards, 74 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
Tremendous power running back
7. Marshall Faulk (1994-2005)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 30: Kurt Warner #13 of St. Louis Rams turns to hand the ball off to Marshall Faulk #28 against the Tennessee Titans during Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome on January 30, 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Ram won the game 23-16. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
12,279 rushing yards, 100 TDs
3x Offensive player of the year
Dual-threat RB who retired with 6,875 receiving yards
6. Eric Dickerson (1983-1991)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 14 : Los Angeles Rams Eric Dickerson runs against San Francisco 49’ers Ronnie Lott (42) during Los Angeles Rams against San Francisco 49’ers game, September 14, 1986 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
13,259 rushing yards, 90 TDs
7x Pro Bowl
Holds the single season record for rushing yards with 2,105
5. LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-2011)
LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers during a game against the Oakland Raiders at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 11, 2006. San Diego won 27-0. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)
13,684 rushing yards, 145 TDs
5x Pro Bowl
Set the single-season TD record with 31
4. Emmitt Smith (1990-2004)
Emmitt Smith #22, Running Back for the Dallas Cowboys in motion running the football during the National Football Conference East Division game against the Arizona Cardinals on 13th October 1996 at the Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas, United States. The Dallas Cowboys won the game 17 – 3. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Allsport/Getty Images)
18,355 rushing yards, 164 TDs
All-time rushing leader
Helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls
3. Barry Sanders (1989-1998)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 10: Barry Sanders #20 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game December 10, 1989 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Sanders played for the Lions from 1989-98.(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
15,269 rushing yards, 99 TDs
10x Pro Bowl
Many believe that Sanders retired too soon. He could have easily surpassed Payton had he continued.
2. Walter Payton (1975-1987)
American football player Walter Payton (1953 – 1999), of the Chicago Bears, pictured in uniform, Chicago, Illinois, November 21st 1977. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
16,726 rushing yards, 110 TDs
9x Pro Bowl
Known as “Sweetness”, Payton was as great a man off the field as he was on the field.
1. Jim Brown (1957-1965)
(Original Caption) Jim Brown (32) has just taken hand off from Quarterback Frank Ryan (13) in game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
12,312 rushing yards, 106 TDs
3x NFL MVP
9x Pro Bowl
Dominated the league with his power and speed. Had he played longer his statistics might have been untouchable.
