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Gil Brandt's 25 greatest NFL running backs of all time

NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best running backs in NFL history. Take a look at how they stack up.

Headshot_Author_Gil_Brandt_1400x1000
Gil Brandt
San Francisco 49ers, 1948-1960 and 1963; Baltimore Colts, 1961-1962 » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times » Led league in rushing yards twice and rushing touchdowns once » 8,378 career rushing yards, 53 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
1 / 25
25. Joe Perry

San Francisco 49ers, 1948-1960 and 1963; Baltimore Colts, 1961-1962
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» Led league in rushing yards twice and rushing touchdowns once
» 8,378 career rushing yards, 53 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Associated Press
Chicago Cardinals, 1952-1958; L.A. Rams, 1959-1962; Detroit Lions, 1963; Philadelphia Eagles, 1964-1966 » Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times » Traded in 1958 for nine players » 12,799 career all-purpose yards second only to Jim Brown when he retired » 5,173 career rushing yards, 40 career rushing touchdowns, 23 career receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
2 / 25
24. Ollie Matson

Chicago Cardinals, 1952-1958; L.A. Rams, 1959-1962; Detroit Lions, 1963; Philadelphia Eagles, 1964-1966
» Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times
» Traded in 1958 for nine players
» 12,799 career all-purpose yards second only to Jim Brown when he retired
» 5,173 career rushing yards, 40 career rushing touchdowns, 23 career receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

NFL/Associated Press
Green Bay Packers, 1958-1966; New Orleans Saints, 1967 » Four-time NFL champion, one-time Super Bowl champion » NFL MVP in 1962 » Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times » Led league in rushing yards once and rushing touchdowns twice » 8,597 career rushing yards, 83 career rushing touchdowns, 10 receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
3 / 25
23. Jim Taylor

Green Bay Packers, 1958-1966; New Orleans Saints, 1967
» Four-time NFL champion, one-time Super Bowl champion
» NFL MVP in 1962
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» Led league in rushing yards once and rushing touchdowns twice
» 8,597 career rushing yards, 83 career rushing touchdowns, 10 receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Tony Tomsic/Associated Press
Miami Dolphins, 1968-1974 » Two-time Super Bowl champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP » Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times » 8,081 career rushing yards, 64 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
4 / 25
22. Larry Csonka

Miami Dolphins, 1968-1974
» Two-time Super Bowl champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» 8,081 career rushing yards, 64 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Al Messerschmidt/Associated Press
L.A. Raiders, 1982-1992; kansas City Chiefs, 1993-1997 » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once » Led league in rushing touchdowns twice and rushing yards once » 12,243 career rushing yards, 144 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
5 / 25
21. Marcus Allen

L.A. Raiders, 1982-1992; kansas City Chiefs, 1993-1997
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once
» Led league in rushing touchdowns twice and rushing yards once
» 12,243 career rushing yards, 144 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Mark Avery/Associated Press
Cleveland Browns, 1946-1953; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1955 » One-time NFL champion » Voted First Team All-Pro twice » Led league in rushing yards in 1950 » 4,720 career rushing yards, 31 career rushing touchdowns, seven career receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
6 / 25
20. Marion Motley

Cleveland Browns, 1946-1953; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1955
» One-time NFL champion
» Voted First Team All-Pro twice
» Led league in rushing yards in 1950
» 4,720 career rushing yards, 31 career rushing touchdowns, seven career receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press
Denver Broncos, 1995-2001 » Two-time Super Bowl champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times » Led league in rushing one season, rushing touchdowns two seasons » 7,607 career rushing yards, 60 career rushing touchdowns » Elected to Pro Football hall of Fame
7 / 25
19. Terrell Davis

Denver Broncos, 1995-2001
» Two-time Super Bowl champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» Led league in rushing one season, rushing touchdowns two seasons
» 7,607 career rushing yards, 60 career rushing touchdowns
» Elected to Pro Football hall of Fame

Eric Lars Bakke/Associated Press
N.Y. Jets, 1971-1975; Washington Redskins, 1976-1979, 1981-1986 » One-time Super Bowl champion, one Super Bowl MVP » Voted to one Pro Bowl, one First Team All-Pro » Led league in rushing touchdowns twice » 11,352 career rushing yards, 104 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame
8 / 25
18. John Riggins

N.Y. Jets, 1971-1975; Washington Redskins, 1976-1979, 1981-1986
» One-time Super Bowl champion, one Super Bowl MVP
» Voted to one Pro Bowl, one First Team All-Pro
» Led league in rushing touchdowns twice
» 11,352 career rushing yards, 104 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame

Paul Spinelli/Associated Press
L.A./St. Louis Rams, 1993-1995; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996-2005 » One-time Super Bowl champion » Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times » 13,662 career rushing yards, 91 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame
9 / 25
17. Jerome Bettis

L.A./St. Louis Rams, 1993-1995; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996-2005
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times
» 13,662 career rushing yards, 91 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame

Kevin Terrell/Associated Press
Buffalo Bills, 1988-1999; Miami Dolphins, 2000 » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times » 12,074 career rushing yards, 88 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame
10 / 25
16. Thurman Thomas

Buffalo Bills, 1988-1999; Miami Dolphins, 2000
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» 12,074 career rushing yards, 88 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame

Doug Mills/Associated Press
San Francisco 49ers, 1954-1956; Detroit Lions, 1957-1959; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1960-1965; Houston Oilers, 1966 » Two-time NFL champion » Voted to four Pro Bowls » 6,803 career rushing yards, 48 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame
11 / 25
15. John Henry Johnson

San Francisco 49ers, 1954-1956; Detroit Lions, 1957-1959; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1960-1965; Houston Oilers, 1966
» Two-time NFL champion
» Voted to four Pro Bowls
» 6,803 career rushing yards, 48 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame

NFL/Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings, 2007-2016; New Orleans Saints, 2017; Arizona Cardinals 2017 » One-time NFL MVP » Seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Four-time First Team All-Pro » Three-time NFL rushing yards leader, two-time NFL touchdowns leader » NFL-record 296 yards in single game » 12,276 career rushing yards, 99 career rushing touchdowns
12 / 25
14. Adrian Peterson

Minnesota Vikings, 2007-2016; New Orleans Saints, 2017; Arizona Cardinals 2017
» One-time NFL MVP
» Seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Four-time First Team All-Pro
» Three-time NFL rushing yards leader, two-time NFL touchdowns leader
» NFL-record 296 yards in single game
» 12,276 career rushing yards, 99 career rushing touchdowns

Mike Stone/Associated Press
New England Patriots, 1995-1997; N.Y. Jets 1998-2006 » Five-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time First Team All-Pro » NFL rushing yards leader in 2004 » 14,101 career rushing yards, 90 career rushing touchdowns, 10 career receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame
13 / 25
13. Curtis Martin

New England Patriots, 1995-1997; N.Y. Jets 1998-2006
» Five-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL rushing yards leader in 2004
» 14,101 career rushing yards, 90 career rushing touchdowns, 10 career receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football hall of Fame

Paul Spinelli/Associated Press
Indianapolis Colts, 1994-1998; St. Louis Rams, 1999-2005 » One-time Super Bowl champion » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to Pro Bowl seven times; First Team All-Pro three times » 12,280 career rushing yards, 100 career rushing touchdowns, 767 career receptions, 36 career rushing touchdowns » Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
14 / 25
12. Marshall Faulk

Indianapolis Colts, 1994-1998; St. Louis Rams, 1999-2005
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to Pro Bowl seven times; First Team All-Pro three times
» 12,280 career rushing yards, 100 career rushing touchdowns, 767 career receptions, 36 career rushing touchdowns
» Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Kevin Terrell/Associated Press
Dallas Cowboys, 1990-2002; Arizona Cardinals, 2003-2004 » Three-time Super Bowl champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP » Voted to Pro Bowl eight times; First Team All-Pro four times » NFL career leader in rushing yards (18,355) and rushing touchdowns (164) » Led league in rushing four times and rushing touchdowns four times » Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
15 / 25
11. Emmitt Smith

Dallas Cowboys, 1990-2002; Arizona Cardinals, 2003-2004
» Three-time Super Bowl champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP
» Voted to Pro Bowl eight times; First Team All-Pro four times
» NFL career leader in rushing yards (18,355) and rushing touchdowns (164)
» Led league in rushing four times and rushing touchdowns four times
» Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Kevin Terrell/Associated Press
Buffalo Bills, 1969-1977; San Francisco 49ers, 1978-1979 » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to Pro Bowl five times, First Team All-Pro five times » Led league in rushing four times, rushing touchdowns two times » 11,236 career rushing yards, 61 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
16 / 25
10. O.J. Simpson

Buffalo Bills, 1969-1977; San Francisco 49ers, 1978-1979
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, First Team All-Pro five times
» Led league in rushing four times, rushing touchdowns two times
» 11,236 career rushing yards, 61 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Tony Tomsic/Associated Press
Dallas Cowboys, 1977-1987; Denver Broncos, 1988 » One-time Super Bowl champion » Voted to Pro Bowl four times; First Team All-Pro once » NFL-record 99-yard run from scrimmage » 12,739 career rushing yards, 77 career rushing touchdowns, 13 career receiving touchdowns » Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
17 / 25
9. Tony Dorsett

Dallas Cowboys, 1977-1987; Denver Broncos, 1988
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl four times; First Team All-Pro once
» NFL-record 99-yard run from scrimmage
» 12,739 career rushing yards, 77 career rushing touchdowns, 13 career receiving touchdowns
» Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Tony Tomsic/Associated Press
Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times » Led league in rushing three times, rushing touchdowns twice » 9,407 career rushing yards, 74 career rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
18 / 25
8. Earl Campbell

Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» Led league in rushing three times, rushing touchdowns twice
» 9,407 career rushing yards, 74 career rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Al Messerschmidt/Associated Press
Detroit Lions, 1989-1998 » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to five Pro Bowls 10 times, First Team All-Pro six times » Led league in rushing four times, rushing touchdowns once » 15,269 career rushing yards, 99 career rushing touchdowns, 10 career receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
19 / 25
7. Barry Sanders

Detroit Lions, 1989-1998
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to five Pro Bowls 10 times, First Team All-Pro six times
» Led league in rushing four times, rushing touchdowns once
» 15,269 career rushing yards, 99 career rushing touchdowns, 10 career receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Greg Trott/Associated Press
L.A. Rams, 1983-1987; Indianapolis Colts , 1987-1991; L.A. Raiders, 1992; Atlanta Falcons, 1993 » Voted to Pro Bowl six times; First Team All-Pro five times » Led league in rushing four times » Holds NFL record for most rushing yards in a season (2,105) » 13,259 career rushing yards, 90 career rushing touchdowns » Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
20 / 25
6. Eric Dickerson

L.A. Rams, 1983-1987; Indianapolis Colts , 1987-1991; L.A. Raiders, 1992; Atlanta Falcons, 1993
» Voted to Pro Bowl six times; First Team All-Pro five times
» Led league in rushing four times
» Holds NFL record for most rushing yards in a season (2,105)
» 13,259 career rushing yards, 90 career rushing touchdowns
» Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Paul Spinelli/Associated Press
San Diego Chargers, 2001-2009; N.Y. Jets, 2010-2011 » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to Pro Bowl five times; First Team All-Pro three times » Led league in rushing twice, rushing touchdowns three times » Holds NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a season (28) » 13,684 career rushing yards, 145 career rushing touchdowns, 17 career receiving touchdowns » Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
21 / 25
5. LaDainian Tomlinson

San Diego Chargers, 2001-2009; N.Y. Jets, 2010-2011
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times; First Team All-Pro three times
» Led league in rushing twice, rushing touchdowns three times
» Holds NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a season (28)
» 13,684 career rushing yards, 145 career rushing touchdowns, 17 career receiving touchdowns
» Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Denis Poroy/Associated Press
L.A. Raiders, 1987-1990 » One Pro Bowl selection » 2,782 career rushing yards, 16 career rushing touchdowns
22 / 25
4. Bo Jackson

L.A. Raiders, 1987-1990
» One Pro Bowl selection
» 2,782 career rushing yards, 16 career rushing touchdowns

NFL Photos/Associated Press
Chicago Bears, 1965-1971 » Voted to Pro Bowl four times; First Team All-Pro five times » Led league in rushing twice » 4,956 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns » Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
23 / 25
3. Gale Sayers

Chicago Bears, 1965-1971
» Voted to Pro Bowl four times; First Team All-Pro five times
» Led league in rushing twice
» 4,956 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns
» Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Vernon J. Biever/Associated Press
Chicago Bears, 1975-1987 » One-time Super Bowl champion » One-time NFL MVP » Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, First Team All-Pro seven times » 16,726 career rushing yards, 110 career rushing touchdowns, 15 receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
24 / 25
2. Walter Payton

Chicago Bears, 1975-1987
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» One-time NFL MVP
» Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, First Team All-Pro seven times
» 16,726 career rushing yards, 110 career rushing touchdowns, 15 receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Tom DiPace/Associated Press
Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965 » One-time NFL champion » Three-time NFL MVP » Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, First Team All-Pro eight times » Led league in rushing yards eight times and rushing touchdowns five times » 12,312 career rushing yards, 106 career rushing touchdowns, 20 receiving touchdowns » Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame
25 / 25
1. Jim Brown

Cleveland Browns, 1957-1965
» One-time NFL champion
» Three-time NFL MVP
» Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, First Team All-Pro eight times
» Led league in rushing yards eight times and rushing touchdowns five times
» 12,312 career rushing yards, 106 career rushing touchdowns, 20 receiving touchdowns
» Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Associated Press
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