2005-2015 All-Mid-Decade Teams

OPINION
By John Turney

All-Decade Teams have been around a long time. In the Summer of '69 the Pro Football Hall of Fame named All-Decade Teams from the 1960s back to the 1920s and then, every ten years they have continued the practice until the present.

Andy Russell, in his book Andy Russell: A Steeler Odyssey made mention of a Mid-Decade All-Star team that he was named to, however, he didn't list the other selections with the exception of the linebackers who were Willie Lanier, Nick Buoniconti, Lee Roy Jordan, and Chris Hanburger. As of yet, we've not been able to locate any publication listing this team.

Nonetheless, it is a great idea in our view. Being named to an All-Pro team that spans a decade is certainly more difficult than being named All-Pro in a single season or even over a few seasons. Often, being All-Decade carries a lot of weight when determining a player's worthiness for being elected to the Hall of Fame. So, if there was a 1965-75 team we hope we can (a) locate it and (b) hope the HOF will continue the exercise of picking Mid-All-Decade Teams, even backdating, as was done in 1970, and what we are going to attempt here.

However, what about the players who come along mid-decade? Are they overlooked on All-Decade teams? And what about the odd selections that make an All-Decade team that don't seem to fit for that decade. Case-in-point—Earl Campbell got 8 votes and was Second-team All-Decade for the Official HOF All-Decade Team. He played in 1978 and 1979 of the Seventies. Two years? Yes, he was an MVP both seasons. But All-1970s?  Campbell would fit much better into a 1976-85 or 1975-84 All-Decade Team for the 1970s, no?

So, in that spirit, Pro Football Journal will be picking All-Mid-Decade Teams beginning from 1925-35 and through the present.

This is the first installment.

To not have as many repeated from the All-Decade teams we wanted 6 years of the experience to be eligible, therefore, no J.J. Watt, for example. And we were not super picky about the ten-year period. We view 2006-2015 as about the same as 2005-2014. There may, as always, be cases that are exceptions (Gale Sayers in the 1960s comes to mind), but in general, if someone played 6 years of 10 from the 06-15 years or the 05-15 years, they are eligible. 

Additionally, we will be posting the honorable mentions, but we have a series of five articles beginning tomorrow that are outstanding, written by NFL Films' Chris Willis so this will take a back burner for a while. 

As honorable mentions for the offense:  Jeff Saturday,  Steven Jackson, John Kuhn, Ryan Clady, and Brandon Marshall.

The defensive honorable mentions are as follows:  Mario Williams, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Trent Cole—a strong era for defensive ends/edge rushers—Jay Ratliff, Darnell Dockett, Brian Urlacher, Tamba Hali, Lance Briggs, Antonio Cromartie, Peanut Tillman.

Jacoby Jones is an honorable mention as both a kick- and punt-returner and Blake Costanzo is an honorable mention as a special teams player.

Agree, disagree? Post in the comment section below.

1995-2005 All-Mid-Decade Teams

OPINION
By John Turney

A couple of weeks ago we chose a  2005-2015 All-Mid-Decade Team to represent the best players from that era, realizing that just an All-Decade team that began in 1960, 1970, 1980, etc. was a bit arbitrary.

Now, here is our 1995-2005 All-Decade team:

Here is the reasoning behind the selections. You may or may not agree.

Warren Sapp was Second-team All-Decade for the 1990s. He didn't deserve it, for one, he only played five years in the decade and the first two seasons were not stellar. However, here he is right in his prime and deserves a First-team selection along with Bryant Young. Ditto Strahan (who didn't warrant first-ballot in HOF voting because he wasn't a two-time All-Decade choice and Sapp was). Well, Strahan was in his prime from mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. 

Simeon Rice feels he is a HOFer and in this decade, he was as good a blindside rusher as there was. Kevin Carter had great seasons, though he was a little up and down. According to one scouting firm, he was excellent for a few years prior to his 1999 All-Pro season and was a "blue" rusher for the Titans and Dolphins when he reduced to defensive tackle. So very close, though was Robert Porcher but he just didn't have any First-team All-Pro selections but he was at that level but others always edged him out. It was a good 10 years for edge rushers.

L'Roi Glover was the poor man's three-technique for this mid-decade and Ted Washington was the shade technique of this All-Decade team.

Ray Lewis was a no-brainer, two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and all the other credentials, Zack Thomas was next in the line of MLBers. Seau and Brooks were the every-down backers and in a decade where the 3-4 defense was less common, Gildon and Brown were the best pass rusher, though their sack totals were less than 80. Other decades previously had over 100 sacks for several rushbackers, but not this one.

Law and Williams were the top CBs, Deion Sanders retired, taking him out of the mix even though he came back as a nickel for the Ravens. Dawkins was the best safety with Lynch next/

We checked the stats and honors for the kicker and punters and these are the tops. Gardocki and Hentrich were the best placement punters, though you might find a couple with higher gross averages. The returners were the ones who could take it back all the way most often.

We realize Peyton Manning has a case for being here, but we went with Gannon, who was really excellent in this 10-year period, gaining lots of All-NFL and Player of the Year awards, Favre was an easy choice for First-team.

The fullbacks were based primarily on awards and long-term service. Fred Beasley was an honorable mention as a fullback. Marshall Faulk is an All-time great and this was his best 'decade'. 

The same goes for the receivers and tight ends. There was stiff competition for those spots. Jimmy Smith was hard to leave off, but the others were just slightly ahead in our criteria. We tried to decide what happened in those decades, based on honors, statistics, post-season success, key games, signature plays, and testimonials. Testimonials are the comments made about other players by other players and coaches. Ike Bruce was the "When he's well, he's hell". And his touchdown to win Super Bowl was key. 

Marvin Harrison had the most TDs (110) from 96-05 he's also first in catches and yards and was a six-time All-Pro. T.O. did most of his damage as a player so he takes a Second-team slot. Tim Brown, always a Steady Eddy. was excellent, but his "impact" just didn't seem as strong as the top two. The impact of Randy Moss got him on the Second-team over Brown who is an honorable mention.

Tony Boselli was a great tackle, and this was the decade that he played all of his football, but can picking him over Roaf be justified? Maybe. Over the three in front of Roaf? No. Larry Allen was a Second-team All-Decade guard for the 1990s and 2000s. However, when you go from 1995-2005 he is the best guard by far. Shields, Faneca, and Brown are very close, but none were the menace to defensive linemen and linebackers that Allen was in his prime. Mawae and Nalen were fairly easy.

If we were to pick one returner for both kicks and punts it would be Tamarick Vanover. He's an honorable mention for both punt- and kick returns. Darren Bennett is an honorable mention as a punter as is Jeff Feagles and Chris Gardocki. Matt Turk had the best net average for this period (37.6) and Craig Hentrich was second at 37.0 with Bennett third at 36.9. 

We don't feel that our selections are better than anyone else's. We hope that the AP, HOF, and PFWA will task their voters to pick their own mid-decade teams. We suppose that is a long shot, but feel strongly that it would be a worthwhile endeavor. 

Agree or disagree? Post below to let us know our mistakes.

Reassessing the 1920s' All-Decade Team

 By John Turney 

To commemorate the NFL's 50th anniversary, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's board of selectors embarked on an ambitious project in the late 1960s, designating all-star teams for every decade in league history. Its efforts were largely successful, though evaluating players from 40-50 years earlier posed challenges similar to what we face today when assessing events from nearly a century ago.

In short, while many of the selections were sound, a handful seemed ... well, dubious.

So that prompted a re-evaluation of all-decade teams, with the benefit of insights from historians who thoroughly studied the period. Among the experts were Dan Daly, Bob O’Donnell (author of retro all-decade teams in "The Pro Football Chronicle"), as well as Ken Crippen, PFRA founder Bob Carroll and author Richard Whittingham. Crippen’s version was featured on the Talk of Fame site three years ago, while contributions from Chris Willis, John Maxymuk, Jeffrey Miller and other scholars enriched the discussion. 

Drawing on their research and contemporary papers from the era, I decided to compile my own 1920s all-decade team. The difference between official team selections and mine stem from the time players spent in the decade, as well as the periods when they were dominant, as determined by All-NFL teams. Additionally, my selections are influenced by valuable statistics uncovered by dedicated researchers.

Some of the official all-decade players participated in a handful of seasons during the 1920s and are better suited for the 1930s' team. However, my list operates under the assumption that there should be a hypothetical 1925-35 all-mid-decade team, designed for players whose careers don’t align with the 1920-29 or 1930-39 time frames. Players who excelled in the late 1920s and early 1930s are better grouped in this mid-decade category.

Got it? Good. Let's first take a look at the Official Pro Football Hall-of-Fame Team of the 1920s:

ENDS: Guy Chamberlin, Lavvie Dilweg and George Halas.

TACKLES: Ed Healey, Wilbur “Pete” Henry, Cal Hubbard and Steve Owen.

GUARDS: Hunk Anderson, Walt Kiesling and Mike Michalske.

CENTER: George Trafton.

QUARTERBACKS: Jimmy Conzelman and “Paddy” Driscoll.

Paddy Driscoll

HALFBACK: “Red” Grange, Joe Guyon, “Curly” Lambeau and Jim Thorpe.

FULLBACK: Ernie Nevers.

Now, here is my take on who should have been picked:

ENDS: Guy Chamberlin, Lavvie Dilweg and Tillie Voss.

Halas is out. Put him in as a founder, executive and coach if you want. But, as a player, he didn't leave a trail of All-NFL selections. Tillie Voss did. So he gets the nod.

Chamberlain and Dilweg are two that were no-brainers as first-unit players. 

TACKLES: Ed Healey, Wilbur “Pete” Henry, Duke Slater and “Link” Lyman.

Link Lyman

Gus Sonnenberg earns an honorable mention but doesn’t crack the top four. Cal Hubbard fits better on a 1925-35 all-decade team, while Steve Owen's elite status as a player is questioned by many historians. I’ve opted for Slater and Lyman instead. Both were standout performers squarely in the 1920s.

GUARDS: Swede Youngstrom, Jim McMillen and Al Nesser.

Al Nesser

I scrapped all three of the guards and replaced them with three I thought more deserving. Youngstrom and McMillen were perennial All-NFL, while Nesser - who wasn't recognized as often as those two- was solid for nearly the entire decade.

Duke Osborn and Rudy Comstock deserve honorable mentions and could claim the third spot. But I chose Nesser for his consistent excellence across most of the decade. 

Like Hubbard, Mike Michalske and Walt Kiesling belong in a 1925-35 framework. Michalske, in particular, shines as a 1930s' candidate with seven years and four All-NFL nods in that decade. His three years in the '20s don’t qualify him here.

CENTER: George Trafton and Doc Alexander.

The official team only chose one center, but Alexander had a career deserving of a second-unit. So I added him. Trafton is the only choice as a first-unit center.

QUARTERBACK/TAILBACKS: “Paddy” Driscoll and Jimmy Conzelman.

Driscoll was a no-brainer. He would be on the shortlist for Player of the Decade. Some might ask why Benny Friedman isn't on my team, and here's my answer: His career began in 1927 and included five years in the 1930s. He's a 1925-35 guy.

So, who then? I almost went with little Joey Sternaman who was a star despite his size (he was 5-feet-6 inches tall). He was All-NFL three times and twice consensus. But then I realized I was shorting Jimmy Conzelman.

He was the Hall's official pick, and he should be. According to researchers and historians, Conzelman was a cut above. He had his best years in the early 1920s but played through 1929. And, looking at stats, he was among the league leaders in many categories, with an unofficial total of 26 interceptions. As a player, he was a step up from other legendary player/coaches like Halas and Curly Lambeau.

HALFBACK: “Red” Grange, Verne Lewellen and Tony Latone.

Verne Lewellen

Grange was a superstar, even if a knee injury dulled his early brilliance. He remained great and could double-dip—fitting both the 1920s and 1925-35 teams, thanks to his standout defensive play in the '30s.

Like Halas, whom I snubbed at end, Lambeau was a leader as well as a player/coach. But Verne Lewellen outdid him as a runner and punter, so he earned the spot. Jim Thorpe, a legendary Hall of Famer, suits a 1915-25 All-Pro/Decade team with pre-NFL years included. But his 1920s' play didn’t match his earlier heights. So he’s out.

The "Human Howitzer" -- Tony Latone -- was listed as both a halfback and fullback on the All-NFL teams he made. But encyclopedias also have him as a tailback and wingback, so it's impossible to know which position he played most. Based on available statistics, he was a top runner and terrific defender, credited with 22 career interceptions --  with 20 in the 1920s. All I know is that he had a better decade than some of the backs on official teams. 

The Akron Pros were the first champions of the new pro league, called the APFA (it wasn't the NFL yet), and Pollard probably its best player. He only made All-League that year but played so well in subsequent years that he deserves an honorable mention.

FULLBACK: “Rip” King and “Doc” Elliott.

The official team chose one fullback, but I picked two. Ernie Nevers was the official pick, but he could slide to a 1925-35 "mid-decade" team. Giants' fullback Jack McBride fits the 1920s, too, but he's another overlap guy. He had elite years in the early 1930s, so I am pushing him back, too.

For my picks, I took two overlooked stars: Rip King and Doc Elliott. 

King earned All-NFL honors in 1920-22. played fully in '23, and appeared in parts of two more seasons. Though listed as a fullback, he was the Akron Pros’ primary passer ... which illustrates how positions could be misleading. Elliott mirrors him, grabbing three All-NFL nods in the early 1920s with the champion Canton/Cleveland Bulldogs. Both deserve recognition, so I picked them and left Nevers and McBride for the next era.

Players of the Decade—1955-65

OPINION
By John Turney

This is the ninth in a series of picking players of the decades. We began with 1915-25, the 1920s, the 1925-35 period, the 1930s, 1935-45, the 1940s, 1945-55, the 1950s, and now we go after 1955-65.

Here are the picks:

1955-65 Player of the Decade
Jim Brown

Brown was a multiple MVP/POY (1957, 58, 63 and 65) winner, a Rookie of the Year, an eight-time All-Pro, won a championship and many other accomplishments including statistical achievements from 1955-65. There was no other choice for the best player for this period as he beats out Unitas who had an amazing 1955-65 period.

1955-65 co-Defensive Players of the Decade
Gino Marchetti and Joe Schmidt

Marchetti and Schmidt were too close to separate. They both won titles, were Linemen of the Year winners and many time All-Pros in this mid-Decade period.

Both are on the "Mr. Rushmore" for their positions. Marchetti with Deacon Jones, Reggie White, and Bruce Smith. Schmidt with Dick Butkus, Ray Lewis, and Jack Lambert.

So, maybe it is a cop-out, but when players for an award come down to a coin flip, we tie them and honor both.

1955-65 Player of the Decade Runner-Up
Johnny Unitas

Unitas was a clear second to Brown for this mid-decade. He was a three MVP awards (1957, 59, and 64) and won a pair of championships and was in his prime by the end of this mid-decade.

Unitas' teammate Jim Parker is an honorable mention behind Unitas.

1955-65 Defensive Player of the Decade Runner-Up
Night Train Lane

Lane was the Defensive Player of the 1950s and he kept his skills up through the early 1960s and other than Marchetti and Schmidt he was the top defensive player from 1955-65. He follows up his 1950s Defensive Player of the Decade with a runner-up for this time frame.

Bill George is a very close honorable mention behind Lane. He had Defensive Player of the Year-quality seasons in 1961 and 1963 and maybe even others.

Next up: the 1960s

Top Running Backs in NFL History—T-Formation Era

OPINION
By John Turney

As we near the end of our series of profiling the best modern-day players in NFL history we now turn our sights on the running backs, those who 'lug the leather'. 

We prefer peak performance over long and steady, though both are valuable. Stats are more important than in other positions because there are so many flavors of running backs but their job is simple—move the ball up the field by running and catching. And when asked—block.

In addition to stats, we think postseason honors like MVPs, Player of the Year Awards, All-Pros etc., also measure peak performances. We also read the literature of the day, looking for testimonials about players. Also, we talk to some scouts, and crib from Joel Buchsbaum's and Don Henrich's writings to assess. And Finally, yes the eye test. What we thought of players and their skills sets matters a lot. So we put all those things together and come up with the best list we can.

As with the quarterbacks, we won't bore you with too much prose. You've seen them all play and you can make your own narratives on this one.

The top 11 are elite. The next set are still great but not the best of the best. When you get into the 30s, please understand there is not much difference between someone there and someone in the 80s. It's a tight, tight grouping and many on the list are listing with 'like players'. One example is Lenny Moore, Paul Hornung, and Frank Gifford. There are together because they had similar skill sets. 

But here are some preamble lists:

Fastest Running backs (and reported 40 times)

1. Bo Jackson—4.18

2. Herschel Walker—4.22

3. Chris Johnson—4.24 (probably fastest this one was electronically timed)

4. Dri Archer—4.26

5. Ahman Green—4.25

6. Gaston Green—4.28

7. Keith Jones—4.29

8. Curtis Dickey—Olympic caliber sprinter

9. Ollie Matson—Olympic caliber sprinter

10. Darren McFadden

11. Buddy Young—Olympic caliber sprinter

12. Tony Dorsett

13. C.J. Spiller

14. Jamaal Charles

15. Eric Dickerson

16. Warrick Dunn

17. Marshall Faulk—4.35 (seen as low as 4.29)

18. O.J. Simpson

19. Michael Bennett—have seen various times from sub-4.3 to 4.38

20. Gale Sayers—Don't know 40 time but functional football speed was unreal

21t. Joe Delaney

21t. Essex Johnson

21t. Marcus DuPree—4.33 pre-knee injury

21t. Jim Jodat—4.35

We are sure they are plenty of others, this was kind of an off-the-top-of-head list and in no way complete.

Heaviest running backs

1. Craig Heyward—listed at 260. At times pushed 300.

2. Pete Johnson—listed 252. We think much higher, 280-295

3. Greg Jones—265

4. Brandon Jacobs—264

5. Le'Ron McClain—260

6. Nick Bell—255 (heavier)

7. Jermaine Fazande—255

8. Larry Kinnebrew—255 (heavier)

9. Lorenzo Neal—255

10. T.J. Duckett—254

11. Wayne Patrick—254

12. Christian Okoye—253

13. Jerome Bettis—252 (heavier)

14. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala—252 (heavier)

15. Cookie Gilchrist—251

16. John Kuhn—250

17. Eddie Lacy—250 (heavier)

18. Roosevelt Potts—250 (we think heavier)

19. Cullen Bryant—listed at 238, he was well into the 250s maybe low 260s.

Enjoy:

The Greats

1. Jim Brown

Rushing black ink = 21

Total yards black ink = 17

HOF

1960s All-Decade

All-1955-65 (PFJ mid-decade)

50th Anniversary Team

75th Anniversary Team

All-Century Team

MVP/POY—(1957*, 1958*, 1963*, 1965*)

1 Title

8 All-Pros

1 Second-team All-Pro

9 Pro Bowls

Still the best. We looked for a way to knock him from the top but he, like Brady, Jim Parker, and others at the top of their positions he just checks too many boxes. 

George Allen said in 1981, "Brown combines size, speed, strength, speed, power, and elusiveness better than any running back that the NFL has ever had." In 2019, it's still true.

Per 16 games he averaged 2,008 yards from scrimmage still the best-ever for players who played more than 65 games and is still 11th in rushing yards all time, after all these years. (He retired as #1 in most rushing categories).

2. Walter Payton

Rushing black ink = 7

Total yards black ink = 5

HOF

1970s All-Decade

All-1975-85 (PFJ mid-decade)

75th Anniversary Team

MVP/POY—(1977*, 1985)

NFC POY—(1976, 1977, 1985)

OPOY—(1977)

1 Title

7 All-Pros

2 Second-team All-Pros

9 Pro Bowls

We wanted to put him first, but Brown's numbers and honors were just too dominant. Walter did it all, a top-notch runner who could catch, could pass block, lead block for the fullback, early in his career would line up wide and rin a slant or go route, and could throw a good pass when asked. He was money on the goal line, was tough, and was always in amazing shape—everything you could want.

Payton is still second in rushing yards all-time and retired first in rushing yards and first in receptions among running backs. 

3. Emmitt Smith

Rushing black ink = 11

Total yards black ink = 9

HOF

1990s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(1992, 1993*)

NFC POY—(1993)

3 Titles

4 All-Pros

1 Second-team All-Pros

8 Pro Bowls

Emmitt has the jewelry, the rushing title, and like Walter Payton was not a physical freak like Jim Brown or Bo Jackson or even Eric Dickerson. Emmitt was all the things that Payton was except a lead blocker and maybe as a passer (he threw once and it went for a TD, though).

He would have been All-Pro in most NFL seasons using just his playoff stats (17 games) and that was against the best teams in the NFC/NFL.

He's the NFL's leading rusher and that record seems very safe, given short careers and other factors, it will take a lot for someone to challenge. Frank Gore gets a lot of credit for his longevity, and he's well over 3,000 yards behind Smith.

4. Marshall Faulk

Rushing black ink = 4 

Total yards black ink = 4

HOF

All-1995-05 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(2000*, 2001)

OPOY—(1999, 2000, 2001)

1 Title

3 All-Pros

3 Second-team All-Pros

7 Pro Bowls

Dick Vermeil once compared Faulk's speed and quickness to that of Barry Sanders. Jack Ham in a telecast said Faulk reminded him of Earl Campbell, due to the size of his lower body and his power when running. Hard to have a little of each of those guys in you, but Faulk did.

He was very football smart, a leader on the field. He was not quite the runner that Emmitt Smith or Walter Payton was, but he was close, very close as he had more speed (coming out of SDSU he ran a 4.35 forty). However, he far exceeded them in terms of receiving—he could play in the slot or out wide, and run receiver routes. Additionally, as everyone saw he was a top, top-level goal line and short-yardage runner.

Among running backs who have rushed for more than 2,500 yards in their career, Faulk is first in receptions and he's safe for a while with that record. He averaged 70 catches per 16 games and among running backs who played 100 games or more, Faulk is fourth in yards from scrimmage.

5. LaDainian Tomlinson

Rushing black ink = 5

Total yards black ink = 5

HOF

2000s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(2006*)

OPOY—(2006)

0 Titles

4 All-Pros (2 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls

Very similar to Faulk and even could throw the halfback option. He just didn't have the top-end speed that Faulk did. His speed was good, but more like Emmitt's or Walter's.

He's fifth all-time in yards from scrimmage among backs who played over 100 games.

6. Barry Sanders

Rushing black ink = 6

Total yards black ink = 4

HOF

1990s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(1991, 1997*)

OPOY—(1994, 1997)

0 Titles

8 All-Pros (4 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

10 Pro Bowls

A human highlight film, the 'highlight generation' loves him. And we will take some heat for not having Sanders in the top three. As a runner, he is top-three, maybe top-two. His runs were amazing. He'd take a 1-yard loss and take it to a 4-yard gain. Or a 4-yard gain and make it a 20-yard gain. Or a 20-yard gain into an 80-yard touchdown. 

However, he did put his team behind the sticks more than any of the others in the elite category (and others as well) with no gains or a 1- or 2-yard losses. Sure, it was absolutely worth it in the long run, but his runs could be a high risk, but an extremely high reward. Others above him were also high-reward, but a bit less risky. 

It was such a problem that at times during his career he didn't play in the goal line or short-yardage packages, they preferred using quarterback sneaks in those situations or they'd bring in a bigger back to perform in that role. Early in his career Sanders did a very good job in short yardage/goal line but waned after that.

On third down, he was not as effective as he might have been. He was adequate as a receiver, but not a factor. One pro scout said he was 'unreliable on third down'. Ouch.

But overall he's an all-time great and what he did in the running game makes him part of the upper-upper echelon of running backs. Only Jim Brown averaged more yards rushing per 16 games than Sanders (Ezekiel Elliot is ahead of him but he's only played 40 games so far). 

7. Eric Dickerson

Rushing black ink = 8

Total yards black ink = 7

HOF

1980s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(1983)

NFC POY—(1983, 1984, 1986)

OPOY—(1986)

0 Titles

5 All-Pros (5 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

6 Pro Bowls

Tall, fast, smart. He was amazingly graceful and smooth. Could lower head and get tough yards, too. His only flaws were fumbling and, like Barry Sanders, was not a lot of help in the passing game in pass protection or catching balls.

In rushing yards per 16 games, he's fourth all-time with an average of 1,453 yards. His era of dominance was from 1983-89 at which time his production declined. He led the NFL in rushing in that seven-year period by over 4,000 yards and in total touchdowns scrimmage with 86 (20 more than the next player). 

He also led in yards from scrimmage with 12,895 and led Roger Craig by almost 2,000 yards. On the negative side, he led the NFL in fumbles that same seven-year period with 71 (29 more than Marcus Allen who is next on that list).

8. Gale Sayers

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 3

All-purpose yards black ink= 3

HOF

1960s All-Decade

0 Titles

5 All-Pros (5 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls

What could have been? At 6-2, 200, he could play today with maybe 15 pounds of muscle. He could have been an All-Pro flanker had he been used there. Speed, lighting cuts. A tough player, even.

From 1965-69 (during a time he had a major knee injury) he was All-Pro five times (2 more than any other running back in either league), rushed for more yards than anyone (by more than 400 yards) and had more yards from scrimmage than anyone (by more than 300 yards) and totaled 9,351 all-purpose yards, the most in either league and more than 1,800 yards than the next-closest. He scored 56 touchdowns, second-best in his "era of dominance."

Said George Allen, "Gale Sayers is the most exciting running back and long-gain back I ever saw. He wasn't big but he could run inside and outside with authority. He was the quickest to the hole ever, and if there wasn't a hole he would slide until he found an opening."

9. O.J. Simpson

Rushing black ink = 10

Total yards black ink = 6

HOF
1970s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(1973*, 1975)

AFC POY—(1972, 1973, 1975)

OPOY—(1973)

0 Titles

5 All-Pros (5 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls

Like Dickerson, tall, swift. Could break plays and take it 80 yards. Got tough yards, too. A knee injury cut his 1977 in half and he was not effective in 1978-79. It took three years for the Bills to figure out how to use him.

From 1972-76 they figured it out. In that span, he led the NFL in rushing yards (by over 2,500 yards), yards from scrimmage (by over 2,600 yards) and was consensus All-Pro every year.

One knock would be that in games the Bills were significantly behind in they'd run O.J. rather than throw. Either they were padding his stats or knew their best chance of winning was not to throw the ball. It was probably a bit of both.

One little-known fact is that among players with 30 or more kickoff returns, Simpson's yards per return is third all-time at 30.0 (Gale Sayers is second at 30.6—Sayers returned 91 kicks, Simpson about one-third of that total).

10. Steve Van Buren

Rushing black ink = 13

Total yards black ink = 8

HOF
1940s All-Decade
All-1945-55 (PFJ mid-decade)
2 Titles
6 All-Pros (4 consensus)
3 Second-team All-Pros
0 Pro Bowls (Pro Bowl not played for most of Van Buren's career)

A tough runner, Van Buren carried the Eagles to a pair of championships and also retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher. In touchdowns from scrimmage per game, he still ranks 4th all-time (65 or more games).

He was a power back, one who kept his head down and didn't have a lot of moves, but for his era that style worked well.

11. Earl Campbell

Rushing black ink = 7

Total yards black ink = 4

HOF

1970s All-Decade (Second-team)

All-1975-85 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1978*, 1979*, 1980)

AFC POY—(1978)

OPOY—(1978, 1979, 1980)

0 Titles

3 All-Pros (4 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls

An I-back when not a lot of teams used that formation in some ways he brought in the one-back era of the NFL that the Redskins, then the Rams and others followed. Campbell had ultimate power and early in his career, breakaway speed. 

However, he's a "10" in running and a "5" in blocking and a "1" in the passing game. He just didn't have the flexibility to be a good receiver. Sometimes it was even embarrassing watching him try and catch a pass outside the frame of his body.

12. Marion Motley

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 0

HOF

1940s All-Decade

All-1945-55 (PFJ mid-decade)

7 Titles

5 All-Pros (4 consensus)

A Paul Zimmerman special, Motley is the best blocking back in history. And he was a fine runner as well. (Played on the defensive line on goal-line defense, and some linebacker, too.) His 5.7 yards per carry is still tops all-time.

Oddly, Paul Brown would 'save' Motley for big games. We are not sure you'd call it 'resting' but Brown knew how important he was so he'd often hold him out. We would have him higher but his best work, his legendary work was in the AAFC and he tailed off towards the end.

In playoff/championship games, in which the Browns went 7-3, Motley carried 80 times for 571 yards for a 7.1-yard average and 5 touchdowns.

13. Adrian Peterson

Black ink = 6

Total yards black ink = 5

All-2005-15 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(2008, 2012*)

OPOY—(2012)

0 Titles

5 All-Pros (4 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

7 Pro Bowls

A dominant back, a very fast back with excellent power and sudden cuts. As his peak, was as good as the game has seen. Tremendous speed and elusiveness. A decent receiver, but not deluxe in that area. Blocks okay, but again, not one of the best but very.

14. Terrell Davis

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 2

HOF

1990s All-Decade (Second-team)

MVP/POY—(1998*)

AFC POY—(1998)

OPOY—(1996, 1998)

2 Titles

3 All-Pros (3 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls (plus one Second-team All-AFC selection)

Amazing stats based on a per-game basis (3rd all-time in yards per 16 games—65 of more games). Was the NFL's top back before getting hurt. Played in a favorable system, no doubt, but made the most of it. 

Davis was a good blocker, good receiver, but like Peterson not superior in those categories. His bones were made following the zone blocking, making his read, making his one cut and getting up the field.

15. Thurman Thomas

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 5

HOF

1990s All-Decade (Second-team)

All-1985-95 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1991*)

AFC POY (1991)

OPOY—(1991)

0 Titles

2 All-Pros (2 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls  (plus one additional Second-team All-AFC)

An all-around great back, runner, receiver and blocker, Thomas is likely the least spectacular great back ever. He didn't run over anyone (Bo Jackson), he didn't run away from anyone (O.J. Simpson), he didn't fake anyone out of their jock strap (Barry Sanders) he just made yards in small chunks. Oh, he could break one, it's just that he was more of a workhorse, a plodder that was someone how hard to defend. 

It's not that he was small or slow, he was talented but compared to others he just doesn't have a signature play.

When Thomas was coming out of college the Rams running back Greg Bell was asked by the Ram brain trust (John Robinson, and personnel man John Math) who they should take in the first round if they decided to take a back. 

The Rams had extra pick due to the Eric Dickerson trade so they were, we suppose, doing their due diligence. Bell said Thurman Thomas was the guy they should take. But, again we are conjecturing, that Thomas' knee scared them off and they didn't have a first-round grade on him.

The Rams took Gaston Green. And the rest is history. To be fair, six other teams took running backs between the Green at 14 and Thomas at 40.

16. Tony Dorsett

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

HOF

Second-team All-1975-85 (PFJ mid-decade)

NFC POY—(1981)

1 Title

1 All-Pros (1 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

4 Pro Bowls (plus one Second-team All-NFC)

One of the fastest backs was a great runner who could motor through a hole and take it all the way. Ranks 10th in rushing yards but only 23rd in rushing yards per game (65 or more games). And in yards from scrimmage per game, he's 25th. 

17. Billy Sims

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 2

0 Titles

1 All-Pros (1 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Like Davis and Holmes, he was truly great before hurt. His only issue was he fumbled too much. On a per game basis, his stats compare with the best of the best. He averaged 1,914 yards from scrimmage per 16 games for players with 60 or more games (he played exactly 60) and that ranks third all-time. Yes, third.

He was a slashing-type runner and had a very good average on his receptions for a back (11.1 yards per reception) perhaps two yards more than most backs on this list. So, in the spirit of Terrell Davis, we submit Sims who didn't get the two rings Davis got, but he was very, very effective before he was felled by an injury.

19. Jim Taylor

Rushing black ink = 5

Total yards black ink = 4

HOF

1960s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(1962)

4 Titles

2 All-Pros (1 consensus)

4 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls 

A tough, hard-running fullback. From 1959-66 he averaged 1,202 yards per 16 games for a 4.5 rushing average and he averaged 28 catches as well. His 7,508 rushing yards were second to only Jim Brown in that span of seasons. 

George Allen said he was the best short-yardage back he ever saw and that Taylor's rough style included throwing knees and elbows at potential tacklers. According to Allen, he was a very good blocker but "not much of a pass catcher."

19. Franco Harris

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

HOF

1970s All-Decade (Second-team)

4 Titles

1 All-Pros (1 consensus)

5 Second-team All-Pros

9 Pro Bowls (plus one Second-team All-NFC)

Super steady, super consistent and a super winner. More athletic than people give him credit for. However, on this list, he's here because of the sustained production, not his peak performances. 

There is nothing, really, to criticize Harris about, but his 'peak' is not what the players ahead of him had. He's a steady Eddie.

20. Edgerrin James

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 3

HOF

2000s All-Decade 

0 Titles

3 All-Pros (1 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

4 Pro Bowls 

A knee injury early hurt him quite a lot, but he was a very good runner, great receiver and a great blocker, one of the top 5-7 all-time in our view. He won rushing titles in his first two seasons, then the injury occurred. He came back but it took a couple of seasons to regain his pre-injury form.

From 1999-07, his era of excellence, he rushed for 11,607 most in the NFL in that span and he was also first in yards from scrimmage with 14,867.

We expect him to be elected to the Hall of Fame in the next few years.

21. Priest Holmes

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 4

Second-team All-1995-05 (PFJ mid-decade)

OPOY—(2002)

0 Titles

3 All-Pros (1 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls 

A reasonable facsimile to Faulk and Tomlinson but his career was cut short. He did it all and produced amazing numbers—He's 20th all-time in yards from scrimmage per game and 7th all-time in touchdowns from scrimmage per game.

So, again, like Terrell Davis and Billy Sims, Holmes is an all-time great whose hip let him down.

22. Curtis Martin

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 1

HOF

All-1995-05 (PFJ mid-decade)

0 titles

2 All-Pro (consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls 

Not really a compiler like some have said - he had some great years - but was also never a guy that caused fear in opponents. Effective, steady. Like Thurman Thomas, he wasn't spectacular but was amazingly consistent as he had ten straight seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards. 

In six of his eleven seasons, he received post-season honors and in his second-to-last season, he won his first rushing title with 1,697 yards at age 31.

23. John Henry Johnson

HOF

1 Title

Second-team All-1955-65 (PFJ mid-decade)

0 All-Pros

2 Second-team All-Pros

4 Pro Bowls 

Outside of Marion Motley the best blocking running back ever. He could run and be a feature back as well. Just stoned people. He would play some wing back and could break long runs. Johnson was a special back whose greatness belies his pure "numbers".

Even so, from 1960-64 when he began to be a primary ball carrier he was third in rushing yards behind Jim Brown and Jim Taylor while also continuing to be a devastating lead and pass blocker.

24. Marcus Allen

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 5

HOF

MVP/POY—(1985*)

AFC POY—(1985)

OPOY—(1985)

1 title

2 All-Pros (Both consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

6 Pro Bowls 

Played flanker in nickel and was great in goal line and short-yardage situations. A near-great runner, but not in the elite group in that area, in our view. His skill set was right there with the Faulks or Tomlinson's, etc., but his production didn't quite keep up, ranking 59th all-time among players with 65 or more games played.

Ranks, however, can be deceiving because there are a lot of backs packed in with similar numbers. For example, the player who is 21st on yards from scrimmage per game totals about 76% of Jim Brown's total. Allen is 59th and he's at 63% of Brown's total. So, there is little difference between 21 and 59. And it's the same with our list.

Allen's 'era' was 1982-88 and in that six-year span, he was third in rushing yards, second in rushing touchdowns, tied for first in total touchdowns, and was second in yards from scrimmage.

Some will give us grief for Allen, a Hall of Famer, being so low. But his peak was short and he had a nice role later in his career, but like Kurt Warner, he had a donut hole in the middle of his career. Al Davies wearied of his fumbles in key situations. He spent time sitting on the bench then lead blocking for Bo Jackson before going to the Chiefs.

25. Ricky Watters 

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 2

1 title

5 Pro Bowls

Not unlike Craig. Got killed for the alligator arms incident "For who? For what?" but he was an excellent runner and a smooth elite pass receiver out of the backfield and would pass protect well, too. Watters' yards from scrimmage average, per 16 games is 13th best all-time. Always high rankings by Proscout. 

26. Roger Craig

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

1980s All-Decade (Second-team)

Second-team All-1985-95 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1988)

NFC POY—(1988)

OPOY—(1988)

3 titles

1 All-Pro (consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

6 Pro Bowls 

All-around back who would be even more valuable today than he was in his time. Tough high-knee runner, tough to bring down and outside Faulk and L.T. was as good a receiver as there was.

Craig began his career as a fullback and moved to tailback or one back with Tom Rathman as the lead blocker. From 1983-89 he was second in the NFL (behind Dickerson) in yards from scrimmage and was third in total touchdowns.

He was highly ranked by Proscout, Inc., year-in and year out. Really he (and Watters) likely belong in front of Marcus Allen but we gave Allen credit for the longevity and goal line prowess. 

27. Joe Perry

Rushing black ink = 9

Total yards black ink = 5

HOF

1950s All-Decade

MVP/POY—(1954)

3 All-Pro (3 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls 

Retired as the NFL's leading rusher, the "Jet' was effective for a long, long time. It was a different era, one where players shared carriers so his numbers might not look too impressive but they are when viewed in context.

He was more 'quick' than fast, especially quick starting, like Gale Sayers, even though he did have good speed.

28. LeSean McCoy

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 3

2 All-Pros (2 consensus)

6 Pro Bowls

In his ten NFL seasons, "Shady" has rushed for 10,606 and has a solid 4.5-yard average. He's also averaged 48 receptions a season.

29. Tiki Barber

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 3

0 titles

1 All-Pro (consensus)

3 Pro Bowls (Plus one more All-NFC)

Began as a third-down back and worked his way into a three-down back. Among backs who played 65 games or more, he's 14th in yards from scrimmage per game. Yes, fourteenth. And we rank him at 29th. 

30. Larry Csonka

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

HOF

Second-team All-1965-75 (PFJ mid-decade)

2 titles

2 All-Pro (2 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls 

Power personified. Excellent playoff runner, especially the 1973 playoffs. He played 12 years (one in the WFL) and was particularly effective early in his career.

Once, when talking Hall of Fame players, Will McDonough said, "Let me tell you about Csonka. His yards a carry at first was 4.5, 5.4, 5. Then, after he came back to the league, it was 3.5, 3.6 . . . " Essentially he was saying he didn't think Csonka was all that great for the entirety of his career.

We look at it as one of those 'tale of two careers'-type situations. Some players can still be great and have a front-loaded career. It was particularly true for tight ends like Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Mark Bavaro, and others and it's true of Csonka.

We loved Zonk's 1979 season when he scored 12 touchdowns, with only one being longer than seven yards. 

31. Jerome Bettis

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

HOF

1 title

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

6 Pro Bowls 

A compiler, but early in his career would show some speed and be an All-Pro level back. His best season may have been his rookie season once the Rams decided to start him. But he was a legit All-Pro in 1996 as well. 

He was a closer—a back that was used to run out the clock when his team had a lead, a 4-minute offense guy. That was the the Bus's claim to greatness in our view.

32. John Riggins

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 1

HOF

1980s All-Decade (Second-team)

(Second-team) All-1975-55 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1983)

1 title

1 All-Pro (1 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pro

1 Pro Bowls  (plus one All-NFC)

The 'Diesel' was not a classic fullback, became a one-back runner and carried the Reskins on his back to the 1982 title (he rushed for more yards in the playoff tournament than he did in the strike-shortened season). Then, was a great All-Pro in 1983 when he rushed for 24 touchdowns. 

He was a decent receiver in the 1970s but was not used hardly at all in the 1980s. Early in his career he was sneaky fast (4.5 forty) but by the time he was doing what he's noted for (Redskins in the early-1980s) the speed was gone, just a smart runner who could read blocks and find a hole and get yardage consistently.

33. Lenny Moore

Rushing black ink = 5

Total yards black ink = 9

HOF

1950s All-Decade

All-1955-65 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1964)

2 titles

5 All-Pro (4 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

7 Pro Bowls

Flanked out a lot from the Colts backfield. Could run, and could also get deep. Didn't have great hands but was effective as a receiver. He was the best of the 'versatile' backs of his era. Raymond Berry said he could have been an All-Pro as a receiver if he did that full-time. 

34. Paul Hornung

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

HOF

All-1960s

All-1955-65 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1961*)

4 titles

3 All-Pro (2 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

All-around back, Hornung ran very hard, blocked for Taylor (Hornung began his career as a fullback) and was skilled at halfback option passes. He could catch out of the backfield and he was also a kicker. Was especially effective as goal line runner. Lombardi built a lot of the Packers offense around his versatility. 

35. Frank Gifford

Rushing black ink =  0

Total yards black ink = 1

HOF

All-1950s

Second-team All-1955-65 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1956*)

1 title

4 All-Pro (4 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

8 Pro Bowls

A precursor to Hornung. He did all the same things but didn't kick. He played cornerback instead. After he was on the receiving end of Chuck Bednarik's hit he sat out a year then came back to the Giants as a flanker. In the 1950s he was a halfback, but also flanked out a lot, lining up outside the tight end, just off the line of scrimmage. 

36. Ollie Matson

Rushing black ink =  0

Total yards black ink = 0

All-purpose yards black ink = 2

HOF

All-1950s

0 titles

5 All-Pro (4 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

6 Pro Bowls

Big-time speed and size (6-2, 220) and smooth. Along with Gale Sayers, one of few on this list who were real contributors in kick and punt returns. Was All-Pro on offense and also as a defender.

He was mostly a halfback but did play some fullback and also was moved to a flanker/wingback later in his career.

37. Hugh McElhenny

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

HOF

1950s All-Decade

1 title

3 All-Pro (2 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

6 Pro Bowls  

The "King" was an elusive back who played in an era where backs shared ball-carrying duties. His numbers are not all that impressive but he split carries with Joe Perry and John Henry Johnson for a time.

38. Leroy Kelly

Rushing black ink = 9

Total yards black ink = 6

HOF

1960s All-Decade

All-1965-75 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1968)

1 title

4 All-Pro (3 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pro

6 Pro Bowls

Excellent player, whose era of dominance was from 1966-71. He led NFL runners in most major categories during that six-year span and he was especially great from 1966-68.

39. Larry Brown

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 2

Second-team All-1965-75 (PFJ mid-decade)

MVP/POY—(1972*)

NFC POY—(1972)

OPOY—(1972)

2 All-Pros (2 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

4 Pro Bowls

Paul Zimmerman loved Brown's game. Said he ran 'too hard for his body'. His era of dominance was 1969-73 (same as Floyd Little's) and he was second in rushing in that five-year span, first in  yards from scrimmage, tied for first in touchdowns from scrimmage

40. Floyd Little

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 2

HOF

All-1965-75 (PFJ mid-decade)

2 All-Pro (2 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls

We pair him with Kelly is some ways but he didn't have the dominance. Part of that was poor offensive lines. Kelly had a good one with a couple of All-Pros and one Hall of Famer. 

His 'era' was 1969-73. In that five-year span, he was 4th in rushing and first in rushing touchdowns and was third in yards from scrimmage. 

41. Bill Dudley

Rushing black ink = 4

Yards from scrimmage black ink  = 2

Total yards black ink = 2

HOF
All-1940s

MVP/POY—(1946*)

4 All-Pros (3 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

And all-around back, typical of that era. Ran, caught balls, passed, returned kicks, kicked, punted and played defense.

42. Doak Walker

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

HOF

1 title

5 All-Pro (3 consensus)

0 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls

A short career, he was was another of the all-around stars of the 1950s. Like Dudley, he ran the ball, caught balls, passed, returned kicks, kicked, punted and played defense.

43. Tony Canadeo

HOF

All-1940s

Second-team All-1945-55 (PFJ mid-decade)

1 title

2 All-Pros

1 Second-team All-Pro

An all-around fullback who gained 1,000 yards in 1949.

44. Charley Trippi

Rushing black ink  = 1

HOF
All-1940s
1 title
1 All-Pro (consensus)
2 Second-team All-Pro

45. Shaun Alexander

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 2

All-2000s (Second-team)

MVP/POY—(2005*)

OPOY—(2005)

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

1 Second-team All-pro

3 Pro Bowls

A shifty back, not super speed, but fast enough. Seemed very smooth in our view. Led the Seahawks to an NFC Championship, was the MVP and All-Pro and led NFL in rushing. The next year he fractured a foot and it was the beginning of the end of his career.

46. Chuck Foreman

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 2

NFC POY—(1974, 1976)

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls

Spin move after spin move, Foreman was, in our view underrated. He could do a lot, good runner, better receiver. Seemed to be clutch, too. Foreman made big plays when they mattered.

His era of dominance was 1973-78 at which time he just ran out of gas. It was at a time when OJ Simpson was still the best running back in the game so it was tough to outshine him. However, Foreman and others did some great things,

In this six-year period, Foreman led all running backs in total touchdowns, he was fifth in rushing yards, was second among running backs in receptions and his 23 touchdown catches were first among running backs and was third in yards from scrimmage.

47. Lydell Mitchell

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 2

2 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls

A poor man's Chuck Foreman. Maybe even a bit better runner. Didn't have Foreman's speed. One of the NFL's slower backs. However, in his period of dominance, which was the same as Foreman, he put up some better numbers.

From 1973-78 he third in rushing yards, first among running backs in catches, and first in yards from scrimmage.

48. Jamaal Charles

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 1

2 All-Pros

1 Second-team All-Pro

4 Pro Bowls

Quick as a hiccup. He thinks he's Hall of Fame-worthy. We shall see. His 5.4 yards per carry is second all-time among running backs (behind Marion Motley and ahead of Jim Brown)

His 2013 year was truly special—he rushed for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns (5.0 a carry) and caught 70 passes and took seven into the end zone and who remembers it?

49. Marshawn Lynch

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 1

Second-time All-2005-15 (PFJ mid-decade)

1 title

1 All-Pro (consensus)

1 Second-team All-pro

5 Pro Bowls 

Beast Mode. Carries guys, is a leader by example. A lot of great things on his resume. Kind of a closer. The eye test puts him in the top 50

50. Bo Jackson

1 Pro Bowl

2 Second-team All-AFC

Lighting in a bottle. Could run you over or run away from you. A physical freak, no doubt. Not tons of wiggle, though, but with his skills, he didn't need it. Three times in four seasons he lad the NFL's longest run for that season.

AFL Greats

Abner Haynes

Rushing black ink = 6

Total yards black ink = 3

AFL All-1960s (Second-team)

MVP/POY—(1960*)

1 title

3 All-AFL

1 Second-team All-AFL

3 AFL All-Star games

The AFL's Gale Sayers-type, runner, receiver, kick- and punt returner.

Cookie Gilchrist

Rushing black ink = 9

Total yards black ink = 2

AFL All-1960s (Second-team)

MVP/POY—(1962*)

1 title

3 All-AFL

1 Second-team All-AFL

4 AFL All-Star games (Plus 6 CFL All-Star selections)

Power back who was a dominant CFL runner before signing with the AFL's Bills. He is the AFL's fifth-leading rusher.

Jim Nance

Rushing black ink = 6

Total yards black ink = 4

MVP/POY—(1966*)

2 All-AFL

1 Second-team All-AFL (plus 1 Second-team All-WFL)

2 AFL All-Star games

Nance is the AFL's fourth-leading rusher and also the second-leading rusher in WFL history with 2007 yards.

Clem Daniels

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

All-AFL 1960s

MVP/POY—(1963)

2 All-AFL

2 Second-team All-AFLs

4 AFL All-Star games

Daniels is the AFL's leading rusher with 5,101 yards.

Paul Lowe

Rushing black ink = 5

Total yards black ink = 0

MVP/POY—(1965)

1 title

2 All-AFL

2 Second-team All-AFL

2 AFL All-Stars

Lowe is the AFL's second-leading rusher with 4,995 yards.

Keith Lincoln

Rushing black ink = 1

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 2

1 title

2 All-AFL

5 AFL All-Star games

In 1961 he had the longest reception and in 1962 and 1963 he had the longest run each season. He was a rare fullback who could take it all the way (He also had a 103-yard kickoff return in 1962). In the 1963 AFL title game, he rushed for 200 yards and had over 100 yards receiving.

He was also adept at the running back pass, completing 8 of 17 for 240 yards and 5 touchdowns with just one picked off. He even filled in as a kicker in 1964, he was, in many ways, the AFL's Paul Hornung-type.

Matt Snell

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 1

1 title

1 All-AFL

3 Second-team All-AFL

3 AFL All-Stars

Snell is the AFL's sixth-leading rusher. He played three years in the NFL after the merger but rushed for only 365 in those years (all in 1970).

Current Stars

Ezekiel Elliott

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 1

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

2 Pro Bowls

Le'Veon Bell

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

2 All-Pro (2 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Unique style. Hold out put his career on hold in 2018. Was the best all-around back last few years, but sitting out allowed Gurley to gain. 

Todd Gurley

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 3

OPOY—(2017)

2 All-Pros (consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Career is at a crossroads due to degenerative knee issues. Led NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2017 and in total touchdowns in 2017 and 2018.

Melvin Gordon

2 Pro Bowls

Jordan Howard

Devonta Freeman

Best of the rest

Chris Johnson

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 2

OPOY—(2009)

1 All-Pro (consensus)

0 Second-team All-pro

3 Pro Bowls

Speed and quickness. Maybe the fastest back ever except for, perhaps, Bo Jackson.

Eddie George

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

Second-team All-1995-05 (PFJ mid-decade)

1 All-Pro (consensus)

1 Second-team All-pro

4 Pro Bowls (Plus one more Second-team All-AFC)

Tough runner and supreme workhorse.

Clinton Portis

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 0

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Frank Gore

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

1 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls

A very good back, a compiler in our view. A back is supposed to gain 1,000 yards. His greatness is that he's able to to it for a long time. But only one great year when he was a Second-team All-Pro and had  1,695 yards rushing and 61 catches. His next best year was 1,214 yards rushing, which is good, but not stellar. Also, he had only one season double-digit touchdowns. Again, not stellar. 

Fred Taylor

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

1 Second All-Pro

1 Pro Bowls

Very fast for his size. 

Jamal Lewis

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

All-2000s (Second-team)

MVP/POY—(2003)

OPOY—(2003)

1 All-Pro (consensus)

0 Second-team All-pro

1 Pro Bowl

Ottis Anderson

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

NFC POY—(1979)

2 titles

1 All-Pro (consensus)

1 Second-team All-pro

2 Pro Bowls 

Two careers. One as an All-Pro back. Another as a plodder, a closer, powers teams away late in games.

Steven Jackson

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

2 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls

Caught on a bad team with a bad organization. When healthy could do a lot of  "beast" things. 

William Andrews

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

1 All-Pro

2 Second-team All-Pros

4 Pro Bowls

"The kn-ee. Al-ways th-e kn-ee", said, Howard Cosell. Was a dominant, low, hard running All-Pro capable of being an NFL MVP when felled by an injury. Was an excellent receiver, would block and lead block, too.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 1

2 All-Pro (one consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Arian Foster

Rushing black ink = 4

Total yards black ink = 5

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

4 Pro Bowls

DeMarco Murray

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 2

OPOY—(2014)

1 All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Ray Rice

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

1 title

2 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls

Very good all-around back. Off-field jerk. Led NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2011 with 2,068 yards and in 2009 he had 2,041 yards. Actually is 16th all-time in yards from scrimmage per game but averages only 7 touchdowns per 16 games. A good between the 20s player, not a player used in short yardage like Faulk or Tomlinson or Marcus Allen.

Warrick Dunn

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

3 Pro Bowls

Matt Forte

Rushing black ink =  0

Total yards black ink = 0

0 titles

0 All-Pros 

0 Second-team All-Pros

2 Pro Bowls

A classic 2000s back, good runner, excellent receiver, solid pass blocker.

George Rogers

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 1

1 title

1 All-Pro (consensus)

2 Pro Bowls

James Brooks

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

4 Pro Bowls

Corey Dillon

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

1 title

4 Pro Bowls

Gerald Riggs

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

1 title

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls (plus one Second-team All-NFC)

Herschel Walker

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 2

All-purpose yards black ink = 1

Second-team All-1985-95 (PFJ mid-decade)

0 MVP (1 USFL MVP)

0 All-Pros (2 All-USFL selections)

2 Second-team All-Pros

2 Pro Bowls

Wasted three years in USFL. Fast, could do a lot of things, would block. Not a lot of wiggle bit good size and great speed. 

Curt Warner

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

AFC POY—(1983, 1986)

1 All-Pro

2 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Another knee injury guy. Great wiggle, moves. Good speed.

Lawrence McCutcheon

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

1 All-Pro

1 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls

A workhorse. Might have been a better runner than Chuck Foreman and Lydell Mitchell, but the Rams didn't throw to 'Clutch' very often so he didn't have to total yards those two did (roughly the same era of dominance as them).

Don Perkins

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

1 All-Pro

2 Second-team All-Pros

6 Pro Bowls

Dick Bass

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

2 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls

Wilbert Montgomery

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

2 Second-team All-Pros

2 Pro Bowls

Dr. Z said he was like Larry Brown, he "ran too hard for his body" and he paid for it with a short career. Montgomery led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 1979.

From 1978-82, per 16 games Montgomery averaged 293 carries for 1336 yards (4.6 avg) and 10 touchdowns. On top of that, he averaged 48 catches for 462 yards (9.7 avg.) and 3 receiving scores. Those are impressive numbers for that era.

Charlie Garner

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 0

1 Pro Bowl

Hard runner, played like a big back

Chuck Muncie

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

3 Pro Bowls

Brian Westbrook

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 1

1 All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls (plus one All-NFC is kick returner)

Led the NFL in yards from scrimmage in 2007 and was just as good in 2006.

Ricky Williams

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 1

1 All-Pro

1 Pro Bowl

Stephen Davis

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 1

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Freeman McNeil

Rushing black ink = 2

Total yards black ink = 0

1 All-Pro

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

A classic slashing-type runner. Underrated.

Mark van Eeghen

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

2 titles

Garrison Hearst

Rushing black ink = 1

2 Pro Bowls

Twice Hearst was the Comeback Player of the Year (1996, 2001)

Ahman Green

1 Second-team All-Pro

4 Pro Bowls

Had great straight-line speed.

Earnest Byner

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls (Plus one Second-team All-NFC selection)

A workmanlike back, solid in all areas but not great in any of them.

Mike Pruitt

2 Pro Bowls (Plus one Second-team All-AFC pick)

Chris Warren

Rushing black ink = 0

Total yards black ink = 0

2 Second-team All-Pros

3 Pro Bowls

Greg Pruitt

1 Second-team All-Pro

5 Pro Bowls (3 as a returner)

Buddy Young

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 1

1 All-Pro

2 Second-team All-Pros

1 Pro Bowl

Small, fast, quick. Quite a weapon. Excellent kick returner and punt returner with six total returns for scores to his credit.

Robert Smith

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Neal Anderson

1 Second-team All-Pro

4 Pro Bowls  (plus one All-NFC pick as a special teamer)

"A beautiful runner", said one NFC Scout.

Timmy Brown

Rushing black ink = 1

3 Pro Bowls (2 largely as a returner)

Wendell Tyler

1 title

1 Pro Bowl (plus one Second-team All-NFC)

Christian Okoye

Rushing black ink  = 2

Total yards black ink = 0

AFC POY—(1990)

1 All-Pro (consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Domanick Williams

Rushing grey ink = 3

Per sixteen games Williams averaged 308 carriers for 1278 yards and 9 rushing touchdowns and 62 catches for 510 yards and 2 touchdowns (1788 yards from scrimmage per 16 games) but he played just 40 games.

Larry Johnson

Rushing black ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

1 All-Pro (consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

James Wilder

Rushing back ink = 1

Total yards black ink = 1

1 Second-team All-Pro

1 Pro Bowl

Alex Webster

2 Second-team All-Pros

2 Pro Bowls

Dan Towler

Rushing black ink = 3

Total yards black ink = 0

1 title

3 All-Pro (1 consensus)

1 Second-team All-pro

4 Pro Bowls

Thomas Jones

1 Pro Bowl

Willis McGahee

2 Pro Bowls

Terry Allen

David Johnson

Chet Mutryn

DeAngelo Williams

Rushing black ink = 2

1 Second-team All-Pro

1 Pro Bowl

John David Crow

Rushing black ink = 1

All-1960s

3 Second-team All-Pros

4 Pro Bowls

Rick Casares

Rushing black ink = 5

MVP/POY—(1956)

1 All-Pro (consensus)

2 Second-team All-Pros

5 Pro Bowls

Alan Ameche

Rushing black ink = 4

1 All-Pro (consensus)

3 Second-team All-Pros

4 Pro Bowls

Pat Harder

MVP/POY—(1948)

3 titles

3 All-Pros

3 Second-team All-Pro

Terry Metcalf

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls (Plus one CFL All-Star)

Fred "Curly" Morrison

MVP/POY—(1955)

2 titles

1 All-Pro

1 Pro Bowl

Rodney Hampton

1 title

2 Pro Bowls

Mike Alstott

Rushing grey ink = 2

3 All-Pros

1 Second-team

6 Pro Bowls

1 title

LeGarrette Blount

Rushing black ink = 1

3 titles

Barry Foster

Rushing black ink = 1

AFC POY—(1992)

1 All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Kevin Mack

Mike Garrett

Billy Cannon

Curtis Dickey

Jon Arnett

Second-team All-1955-65 (PFJ mid-decade)

1 title

1 All-Pro

1 Second-team All-Pro

5 All-Pro

The 'Jaguar' was a good all-around back, a poor-mans Gifford or Hornung if you will. Ran, caught, threw, returned kicks and punts.

Tom Tracy

1 title

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Another of the versatile backs in the Hornung or Gifford mold. Tracy threw 67 career passes and in his [rime average 648 rushing yards and 23 receptions. He could even placekick in a pinch and return kicks in a pinch.

Joe Morris

Joe Cribbs

Deuce McAllister

Jamal Anderson

Natrone Means

Emerson Boozer

Travis Henry

Mel Farr

Marion Barber

Willie Galimore

1 title

2 Second-team All-Pro

1 Pro Bowl

Gallimore was a starter in 1957, as a rookie, then became one of the first third-down backs for a few years. Was the senior committee nominee for the Hall of Fame one year, but was also one of the few to be rejected by the committee as a whole.

Delvin Williams

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 1

1 All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Reggie Bush

1 title

1 All-Pro (as a returner)

Bush was never the all-around back he was touted to be. He had three seasons where he was very good—2011-13 when he averaged over 1,000 yards and 44 receptions. However, give his skills one would think he'd have done that more often. Was more of a change-up back from 2006-10.

Tony Collins

Ken Willard

John Brockington

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 1

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

1 Second-team All-Pro

3 Pro Bowls

Brockington exploded onto the NFL scene in 1971 with three straight 1,000 yard seasons and inspired the "Pack is back" slogan in 1972. Then, in 1975, Brockington claims the Packers quit running his favorite plays under Bart Starr. Whatever the reason his production dropped in half and in 1977 he was a Chief.

Ed Podolak

Calvin Hill

1 title

2 All-Pro (1 consensus)

4 Pro Bowls

Hill had two careers, one as a very good runner and then late in his career, with the Browns he was an even better third down back. He played 12 seasons in the NFL and one in the WFL.

Hill is one of the taller running backs you will find (6-4)—only three others have been as tall and have rushed for 2,500 yards in their careers.

Tom Matte

Rushing black ink = 1

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 3

1 All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Perhaps best known for playing quarterback for the Colts in 1965 when Johnny Unitas was injured but he was a solid back as well. Other than the 7 passes he threw as a quarterback he three 35 others halfback option passes, completing 11 and one going for a score.

Joe Washington

Dan Reeves

Antowain Smith

Jim Otis

Dexter Bussey

Paul Robinson

Willie Ellison

Walt Garrison

Bill Brown

MacArthur Lane

Rushing black ink = 1

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 1

1 All-Pro

1 Pro Bowl

Lane was a very good runner with the Cardinals and was traded to the Packers and paired with John Brockington. He went to the Chiefs and in 1976 he led the NFL in receptions with 66.

Tom Sullivan

Rushing black ink = 1

Silk was a solid back, not extremely talented in terms of speed and size, but did a fine job running and catching for Roman Gabriel from 1973-75. In 1973 he was played at a Pro Bowl level.

Johnny Roland

Rushing grey ink = 5

1 Second-team All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

Marv Hubbard

3 Pro Bowls

In the Raiders fullback-oriented offense, Hubbard averaged 934 yards from 1971-74 (1,067 per 16 games) and had a 4.8 yards per carry average in that span.

Charlie Tolar

Rushing black ink = 1

Yards from scrimmage black ink = 1

2 titles

2 Second-team All-AFL

2 AFL All-Star games

Dick Hoak

Ron Johnson

Rushing black ink = 2

1 All-Pro

2 Pro Bowls

In 1970 Johnson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage adding 487 yards to his 1,027 yards rushing. From 1970-73 he averaged 1,245 yards rushing per 16 games and 50 receptions and 14 touchdowns. All excellent for that era.

Joseph Addai

Pete Johnson

Marion Butts

Knowshon Moreno 

Ryan Mathews

1 Pro Bowl

Ted Brown

Tom Woodeshick

Greg Bell

Rushing black ink = 2

Yards from scrimmage black ink =1 

1 Pro Bowl (plus one Second-team All-NFC)

Led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 1988 and 1989. Played behind a good line so he had an advantage over a lot of backs. Still, he was solid and was 'above the line' in 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1989.

Mike Thomas

Mark Ingram

Eddie Lacy

Dave Hampton

Bob Hoernschemeyer

Howie Ferguson

James Stewart

Donny Anderson

Sam Cunningham

John L. Williams

James Jones

Hewritt Dixon

Roland Harper

Andra Franklin

Cullen Bryant

Ronnie Bull

Tucker Fredrickson

Rocky Bleier

Brian Piccolo

Sherman Smith

Joe Delaney

And there are many, many more we could have mentioned. remember the top 50 we ranked, the rest are for fun. If we forgot someone, let us know we will try and find art for them and post them.