Top Ten NFL Running Backs of All Time

The Top Ten

Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent his entire professional career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was known for his elusive running style and explosive speed. Sanders won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 1997 and was inducted into the Pro... read more

Simply the best RB ever! It's not even a question in my opinion. Remember, Barry had one of the worst OLs run blocking for him (except for the '91 team) for the vast majority of his career and he still managed to put up GoaT stats. Not to mention, all you have to do is watch Barry play and watch his highlights to see that he was the most talented RB of all time. His running ability/skills were and are still unmatched. If he'd actually had a good line blocking for him during his 9yr career he would've easily put up well over 20,000 rushing yrds, not to mention his TDs and receiving yrds. The best RB ever! Period. The end.

I wasn’t even a Lions fan but would watch them to see Barry play. His balance, strength and speed was a thing of beauty. For a decade, he averaged over 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns per season. His OL was usually mediocre to bad and still he put up enormous numbers. If he would have played for Dallas, he probably would have ran for well over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns per season. Detroit coaches always cheated him near the goal line.
Walter Payton

Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1954, and died on November 1, 1999. He was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Nicknamed Sweetness, Payton is widely considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history... read more

To quote Madden NFL 2005: "Walter Payton was selected to 9 Pro Bowls in his 13-year career. The best ever! "

Also coming from a packer fan. I feel bad for Walter because of 1, He died so quick and 2, Fat Fridgey was the name for da Bears in 85 (The curse year( Again, coming from a packer fan).

Again people he could juke truck spin had speed and my opinion is WALTER IS 1!
Jim Brown

James Nathaniel Brown (February 17, 1936 to May 18, 2023) was an American professional football player and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 1957 to 1965. Brown led the league in rushing yards eight times, was selected to the Pro Bowl every year of his career, earned... read more

Jimmy Brown was the best running back of his, or any other time. At 6'2", 230 lbs. with 9.7 speed in the 100 yard dash, Brown was the best combination of size, power, balance, speed and durability (He never missed a game in 9 years) ever. When you consider he only played 12 game seasons... and retired still at the height of his powers, his records (per game) are still the best ever. And... He was a very good receiver, also. Sure, he did not block, but, he was not asked to. They did not ask him to kick field goals either, but, he was pretty good at that, too. (look it up)

Brown, Sanders, and Payton are the top three all-time. Anyone voting for Marshawn Lynch, Ezekiel Elliot, or Terrell Davis need to have their heads checked. Bo Jackson and Gale Sayers were excellent in their time, but didn't play long enough to be an "all-time" great.
Emmitt Smith

Emmitt James Smith III is a former American football running back who played both college and professional football. He became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 career yards and 164 rushing touchdowns. Smith played the majority of his professional career with the Dallas Cowboys before finishing... read more

Yes he also had Michael Irvin,Troy Aikman and the best offensive line in NFL history which included Larry allen. And he had jerry Jones as owner who is considered won of the best owners ever and he had a great coach the only reason he succeeded was because he was put into a great position to be great

If you have more yards gained than anyone else that makes you best. I know, he played in more games than others mentioned. That makes his rushing yardage even more impressive. He was able to play in more games, and stayed hyealthy.
Eric Dickerson

Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former college and professional American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for eleven seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. He is best known for setting the NFL single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards in 1984. Dickerson was inducted... read more
Marshall Faulk

Marshall William Faulk is a former college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for twelve seasons. He played for the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. Faulk won the NFL MVP award in 2000 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in... read more
Adrian Peterson

Adrian Lewis Peterson is a former American football running back who played primarily for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. He later joined several other teams, including the Washington Redskins. Peterson won the NFL MVP award in 2012 after rushing for over 2,000 yards that season... read more

Can't stay on the field on 3rd down, because he can't pick up a blitz, can't catch, can't block, and fumbles the ball in every big spot imaginable. Not top a top 10 RB. Maybe a top 10 RUNNER

"All Day" is the consummate running back with size, speed and strength. He can run by you or through you.

Beating your children does not represent the talent you have out on the gridiron.
LaDainian Tomlinson

LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is a former professional American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League for eleven seasons, primarily with the San Diego Chargers. Tomlinson is considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and was inducted into the Pro Football... read more

Should easily be in top 10 at least
Earl Campbell

Earl Christian Campbell is a former American football running back who played professionally in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 while playing college football at the University of Texas. Campbell was inducted into the Pro Football... read more

Earl was a pleasure to watch, you could see the passion he had for the game in the way he carried himself day in and day out. No one person was going to stop Earl, he could run around you but what fun was in that he preferred to run through you and then over you and if he had to he could out run you. Show me a back that had a higher level combination of strength and speed and that played in his era with no offensive line against probably the best dynasty of all time in the Pittsburgh Steelers with 9 Hall of Famers to 0 for the Oilers and then I would concede that Earl should be second, but in my opinion there isn't one. But the most impressive thing to me was the person Earl was, never a showboat let his play on the field do the talking. He would never throw is teammates under the bus, he was the consummate team player.
Bo Jackson

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former professional baseball and American football player. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Jackson became a cultural icon in the late 1980s and early 1990s through the popular "Bo... read more

Best he is faster than marshawn lynch and he is better and stronger bigger and just better

The Newcomers

?
Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller is a former American football running back who played in the NFL from 2012 to 2021. He began his career with the Miami Dolphins and later played for the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Washington Football Team, and New Orleans Saints. He has not been signed to any NFL... read more
?
Derrick Henry

Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. (born January 4, 1994) is an American professional football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "King Henry," he is known for his imposing style of play and larger build compared to the average running back.... read more

The Contenders

O.J. Simpson

Orenthal James Simpson (July 9, 1947 to April 10, 2024), nicknamed "The Juice," was an American football running back, broadcaster, actor, advertising spokesman, and convicted felon. Once a popular figure with the U.S. public, he is best known for being tried for the murders of his former wife, Nicole... read more

Rating OJ Simpson as the best Running Back is Simply anyone who ever saw him rush knew that he was to Football as Muhammad Ali was to Boxing!
In his Era, He was the Biggest, Fastest, Smartest running back of the 60's & 70's! His movements and rushing patterns were emulated by the coming greats like Payton, Campbell,E. Smith, Sanders, Dickerson, Faulkner, Tomlinson and the contemporaries of today all derived their skills from what they watched OJ do on the Field! Off the Field is another story, but on the field is Football! James Orenthal Simpson was not just OJ, or just a running back in pro football! He was "The Juice", that made the NFL what it was & IS Today!
Gale Sayers

Gale Eugene Sayers, also known as "The Kansas Comet," was born on May 30, 1943, and passed away on September 23, 2020. He played college football at the University of Kansas and later joined the Chicago Bears in the NFL, where he played from 1965 to 1971. Despite a career shortened by injuries, Sayers... read more
Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Terrell Lynch is an American former football running back. He previously played for the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders, winning one Super Bowl with the Seahawks. Lynch initially retired from professional football in 2016 but returned in 2017 to play for the Raiders. He... read more

It is funny how everyone wants to compare him to other running backs too. Shows his talent there too.

He is the funnest running back to watch! Straight power, and entertainment!

Nobody can get his hands around him
LeSean McCoy

LeSean Kamel McCoy, also known as "Shady," is a former American football running back. He played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCoy won two Super Bowls, one with the Chiefs and one with the Buccaneers, and recorded over 11,000 rushing... read more
Jerome Bettis
Curtis Martin
Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen should be top 10. Super Bowl MVP and Broke all kinds of records despite being benched for 3 years.

Did everything well, definitely Top 10
Tony Dorsett

Anthony Drew Dorsett Sr. (born April 7, 1954) is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos. Before his professional career, he won the Heisman Trophy while playing for the University of Pittsburgh... read more
Franco Harris

Franco Harris was an American football player best known for his time as a running back in the NFL. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft as the 13th overall pick. Harris played the majority of his career with the Steelers and briefly joined the Seattle... read more
Terrell Davis

Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 1995 and won two Super Bowls, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in XXXII. Davis was inducted into the Pro Football... read more

I'm gonna guess your a Broncos fan he should not be at 4

Led broncos to Super Bowl along with elway

NO WAY Terrell is the man he should be at 4
Edgerrin James

Edgerrin Tyree James (born August 1, 1978) is a former American football running back who played eleven seasons in the NFL. He led the league in rushing yards as a rookie with the Indianapolis Colts and later starred for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. James was a four-time Pro Bowl selection... read more
Larry Csonka
Thurman Thomas
Le'Veon Bell

Le'Veon Andrew Bell is an American football running back who played for the New York Jets from 2020 to 2021 and returned to the team briefly in 2023. He is currently a free agent following his release in February 2024. Bell previously gained recognition for his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and his... read more

He is the most athletic and best running back in the whole world he is a beast

The best ever! Should be number 1 without a doubt

He is the most athletic he is a beast
Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elijah Elliott is an American football running back currently playing for the New England Patriots in the National Football League. He played college football at Ohio State University, where he earned second-team All-America honors in 2015. Elliott was drafted fourth overall by the Dallas Cowboys... read more

Absolute beast and who knows what he'll be in the future

Absolute beast and who knows what he'll do in the future

Absolute beast and who knows what he'll do in the future.