The position has evolved over time, but who are the best running backs of all time? It’s a position that helps keep defenses honest and opens up space with defenders in coverage.
Best Running Backs of All Time
The NFL has changed over time from the smash-mouth ground and pound grind, to an upright battle through the skies. The battering rams are still an important part of the game. Who are the best running backs of all time?
10. Earl Campbell
The only player on the list with less than 10,000 career rushing yards, Earl Campbell is one of the best running backs of all time. He was able to dominate his era with his explosive running. Campbell was one of the best when healthy.
Drafted in 1978, he led the league in rushing each of his first three seasons with career highs of 373 attempts, 1934 yards, and 5.2 yards per carry in 1980. Campbell surpassed 1,000 yards in a season five times, won league MVP in 1979 and was named First Team All-Pro three times.
9. Gayle Sayers
The explosive Gayle Sayers doesn’t have the career numbers of others on this list due to his short career of only 68 games due to injuries. However, that doesn’t diminish Sayers’ overall talent and his accomplishments on the field, and he’s one of the best running backs of all time.
Sayers scored 14 touchdowns as a rookie, led the league in rushing two times, won Rookie of the Year, in 1965 and averaged 6.2 yards per carry in 1968. He was named All-Pro for five consecutive years and averaged 5 yards per carry during his career. Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
“Give me 18 inches of daylight. That’s all I need.”
One of the greatest to ever play the game. Rest in peace, Gale Sayers. (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/lWoEdLGGS4
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2020
8. Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett was one of the fastest backs in league history and was a threat to take it the distance every time he touched the ball. Although he never led the league in rushing yards, Dorsett surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in a season eight times and was Rookie of the Year in 1977.
Dorsett was named to four Pro Bowl teams, was Super Bowl XII champion, and was named First-Team All-Pro once.
He retired as one of the best Dallas Cowboys players ever with 12,739 yards rushing and holds the record for longest touchdown run of 99 yards which he holds with Derrick Henry. Dorsett was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
7. O.J. Simpson
Despite notable off field issues, there’s no denying the ability of OJ Simpson on the football field. The 1968 Heisman Trophy winner was the first player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, accumulating 2,003 yards in only 14 games in 1973.
He did it all on bad teams, making the playoffs only once in his career. Simpson led the league in rushing four times and had five consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards before injuries set in.
Simpson was the NFL MVP in 1973 and retired with 11,236 rushing yards in 135 games. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and despite his off field issues, is one of the best running backs of all time.
6. Eric Dickerson
At just over 6’3″, Eric Dickerson was very tall for a running back and ran with an unusual upward style. He burst on the scene in 1983, leading the league in rushing as a rookie with 1,808 yards, and crushing the 2,000-yard barrier the following year with 2,105 yards rushing, the most in a single season.
Dickerson surpassed 1,800 yards again two seasons later. He led the league in rushing four times, and scored over 10 rushing touchdowns in a season five times.
A workhorse back, he retired as one of the best running backs of all time with 13,259 yards rushing, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
5. LaDanian Tomlinson
LaDanian Tomlinson is one of the best running backs of all time. He led the league in rushing twice and had at least 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first eight NFL seasons.
He led the league in rushing touchdowns three times. In his NFL MVP year in 2006, Tomlinson set the record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 28. He was named to the All-Pro team three times and to the Pro Bowl five times.
L.T gained 13,684 yards rushing during his career which spanned 170 games. He earned 18,456 total yards from scrimmage and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Prime LaDanian Tomlinson was a walking highlight reel 🔥⚡️ pic.twitter.com/5hLuoHFm9E
— Playmaker TD 🏈 (@playmakerTD) June 15, 2021
4. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders made the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 NFL seasons. Although his career was relatively short, Sanders was one of the most exciting, explosive and best running backs of all time.
He led the league in rushing four times, including 2,053 yards in 1997, the year he won NFL MVP. When Sanders retired he did so in second place for career rushing yards.
Sanders led the league in yards per carry in 1994 at 5.7, and averaged an incredible 6.1 yards per carry in 1997. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
If you remember Barry Sanders, you’re welcome. If you don’t, get educated.
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) November 27, 2022
3. Emmitt Smith
Another Dallas Cowboys superstar, Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher and played 226 games in thirteen seasons with the Cowboys, and two for the Cardinals. Smith is one of the best running backs of all time, able to find the end zone with ease.
He led the league in rushing touchdowns three times and total rushing yards four times. Smith is a three-time Super Bowl champion, and ran for an NFL record 18,355 yards.
He totalled 21,579 yards from scrimmage, scored 164 total touchdowns and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
2. Walter Payton
Second on the list of best running backs of all time is workhorse Walter Payton. Payton led the league in carries for four straight seasons.
He played 190 games during his career and missed just one game, leading the league in rushing in 1977 and surpassing 1,000 yards in a season 10 times.
Payton was league MVP in 1977 and retired as the league’s all-time leading rusher, second only to Emmitt Smith who surpassed him in 2002. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
1. Jim Brown
Jim Brown is the best running back of all time. He was able to dominate in an era that relied heavily on defense, averaging more than a touchdown a game.
His average yards per game is the highest in league history at over 104.3, and his 12,312 yards was the most in NFL history for two decades.
Brown led the league in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and averaged 5.2 yards per carry during his career. He won the NFL MVP award three times as well as Rookie of the Year in 1957. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.