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Running Back is one of the most demanding and punishing positions in football, an athlete playing as an RB has to be extremely fit both mentally and physically to take on the opposition's defenders head-on while handling the team's heavy workload at the same.
Many a great RB's have graced the NFL since its existence but there have always been some players who captivated the mind of the fans like no other, with their unique style of running from making the defenders miss tackles to breaking down tackles to gain that extra yard. Watching these players feels like watching a fusion between ballet and heavy metal.
Here are 10 of the best RB's ever to grace the NFL:
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#10 Gale Sayers
Ever seen a comet which could move like a ballet, many would say no but if you ask any 60's football fan this question the name Gale Sayers would be a unanimous reply.
Sayers aka the "Kansas Comet", a Kansas native played college football for the University of Kansas where he amassed 4,020 yards across three seasons and was recognized as a consensus All-American twice.
Sayers was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the fifth overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft. His rookie season unravelled like a dream as he collected 2,232 yards with 22 touchdowns including a six-touchdown performance against the San Francisco 49ers.
In the same season on October 17, playing against Minnesota Vikings, Sayers scored a rushing, receiving and a kickoff return touchdown in the same game, it took about 50 years until 2016 when this unique was finally repeated by Tyreek Hill.
At the end of the season, he was unanimously selected as the rookie of the year.
In his next five seasons, Sayers earned four pro-bowl appearances and five first-team selections while also leading the NFL in rushing yards in a season twice, once in 1966 and the other in 1969.
In 1969, he also won the NFL comeback player of the year award for an NFL leading 1,032 rushing yards season, a performance he gave just after returning from a knee injury the year before which led to Sayers missing the final five games of the season.
Unfortunately, that was the last time the NFL saw Gale Sayers play a complete season of football as he suffered multiple knee injuries in '70 and '71 which led to his premature retirement from pro football.
In his seven years with the Chicago Bears, Sayers rushed for 4,956 yards at 5.0 yards per carry with 39 touchdowns. He also had 3,172 return yards with 8 return touchdowns.
Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 at age 34, still remains the youngest ever to receive the honor.
#9 LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson might be the perfect synonym for versatility, Tomlinson was one of the best dual threats the NFL had seen in a long time, apart from rushing and receiving he also had an occasional penchant for throwing the ball.
Tomlinson was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2001 NFL draft exactly a year after drafting bust QB Ryan Leaf.
In his rookie season, Tomlinson set his mark rushing for 1,236 yards with 10 TD at an average of 3.6 yards per carry while also hauling 59 catches for 367 yards.
In 2003, his third year in the pros, Tomlinson became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards and record 100 receptions in a single season.
On October 16, 2005, Tomlinson became just the 7th player in NFL to run, catch and throw a TD in a single game.
2006 was Tomlinson's career season as he won the NFL MVP award for rushing 1,815 yards with a record-breaking 28 TD's at an average of 5.2 yards per carry while also catching 56 times for 508 yards with three TD's. He also had two passing TD's to his name on three attempts. He also won the NFL offensive player of the year award that season.
He broke numerous record en route his MVP winning season like most touchdowns in a single season(31), most rushing touchdowns in a single season(28), most games with four touchdowns in a season (three).
In his 12-year career as a pro football player in the NFL, Tomlinson eclipsed the mark of 1,200 yards seven times in a season. He finished with 13,684 rushing yards(sixth on the all-time list), 18,456 total yards(seventh on the all-time list), 145 rushing TD's (second on the all-time list) and 164 total TD's (third on the all-time list).
Overall in his career, Tomlinson made it five times to the Pro Bowl and three times to the first team all-pro. He was also two times NFL rushing yards leader in 2006 and 2007 while also leading the league in rushing TD's in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
#8 OJ Simpson
OJ Simpson was one of the most dynamic backs the NFL had seen but initially, his transition from college to the pros was not as smooth as he would have liked.
A Heisman trophy winner in 1968, OJ could only rush for 697 yards for two TD's while catching 30 of his targets for 343 yards in his rookie season. An underwhelming display by 1969 draft's first overall pick.
Things did not get any better the following year when he became the Bills primary ball carrier, as he could only amass a paltry 488 rushing yards with five TD's. The year after too he fell short of expectations rushing for 742 yards with five TD's.
Coming into his fourth year in the league, things were looking bleak for OJ as he had failed to put in a commanding display in any of his first three seasons and a change was required to stop the slide.
Therefore, before the start of the 1972 season, Bills made a change in the coaching department bringing in Lou Saban for Rauch, who immediately made OJ the focal point of his offence.
It worked wonders as OJ rushed for 1000+ yards for the first time in his career and led the league in rushing yards with 1,251 yards.
The following season OJ became the first player in NFL history to cross the 2,000 rushing yards barrier with 2,003 yards and 12 TD's. He won the MVP award for his inhuman displays on the field.
In two out of the next three seasons, OJ led the league in rushing and during the 1975 season he led the league TD's scored too with 23 of them.
OJ eventually finished with 11,236 rushing yards in his career with 61 TD's, he led the NFL four times in total rushing yards and was the rushing TD's leader twice in 1973 and '75. He was a five-time pro-bowler and a five-time first-team all-pro member.
Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
#7 Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson was drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1983 NFL draft and is one of the six Hall of Famers selected from the first round in that year.
Dickerson set the NFL on fire in his rookie season by leading the league in rushing yards with 1,808 yards alongside 18 TD's (second highest for the season). He was selected as the rookie of the year for his superlative performances.
He continued his rushing prowess the following season by entering the exclusive 2000-yard club as he rushed for 2,105 yards at an average of 5.2 yards per carry and thereby breaking the record of most rushing yards in a season which still stands to this day. He also broke the record for most games with 100 rushing yards in season (12).
In 1987, after representing the Los Angeles Rams for four fruitful years he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts due to a contract dispute. He played the first three games of the season for the rams where he rushed for 277 yards before moving to the Colts where he collected an extra 1,011 yards and finished as the league's leader in rushing yards.
In 1988, he rushed for 1,659 yards and became the first colt since Alan Ameche in 1955 to lead the league in rushing yards. The following year he rushed for 1,311 yards in the process crossed the 10,000-yard mark, that too in the fewest games played (91).
Dickerson finished with 13,259 yards and is currently 8th on the all-time list. He was a six-time pro-bowler and a five-time first-team all-pro member, he also led the NFL four times in rushing yards.
Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
#6 Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk was as versatile as a running back could be at the highest level of football. He was an elusive back with the ball and a skillful pass catcher.
He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with a second overall pick in 1994 NFL draft, Faulk made an immediate impact in his rookie season rushing for 1,282 yards with 11 TD's and improved the colts to a .500 team, an upgrade from .250 from the previous season. He was elected the NFL offensive rookie of the year for his spectacular on-field performances.
The following year Faulk rushed for 1,078 yards with 11 TD's and took the colts to the playoffs with a 9-7 record where they lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game.
In 1998, during his final season with the colts, Faulk rushed for 1,319 yards with six TD's and caught 80 of targets for 908 yards and four TD's to lead the lead NFL in total yards from scrimmage.
Before the 1999 season began the Indianapolis Colts traded Faulk to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for draft picks.
This was where Faulk put in the "Greatest Show on Turf" as he rushed for 1,381 yards with seven TD's and caught 86 balls for 1,048 yards and five TD's to break the then NFL record for most yards from scrimmage.
His performances were pivotal in Rams winning the Super Bowl XXXIV and was the NFL offensive player of the year.
In 2000, Faulk rushed for 1,359 yards with a league-leading 18 TD's along with 830 receiving yards. The Rams could not reach the Super Bowl but Faulk was awarded the NFL MVP award for his exploits in the season.
The following year he again rushed for 1,300+ yards along with 765 receiving yards to set an NFL record for the most seasons with 2,000+ yards from scrimmage. For the third year in a row was awarded the NFL offensive player of the year award.
Faulk finished with 12,279 rushing yards with 100 rushing TD's along with 6,786 receiving yards and 36 TD's. He is the only player in NFL history to have 70+ rushing TD's and 30+ receiving TD's.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
#5 Earl Campbell
There are backs who make defenses miss and there are backs who defenses 'want' to miss. Earl Campbell fell in the latter category because of his bruising and hard-hitting style of running which usually left many defensive players grimacing in pain.
Alumni of the University of Texas, Campbell won the Heisman trophy in 1977 and was drafted by the Houston Oilers with first overall pick in the 1978 draft.
Campbell's rookie campaign was worthy of the first overall pick, as he rushed for 1,450 yards with 13 TD's and led the league in total rushing yards. He was selected as the NFL offensive rookie of the year for his blistering performance.
He again led the league in rushing yards with 1,697 yards while also leading the league in rushing TD's with 18 during the 1979 season. He elected the NFL MVP award for his dominating performances.
Again in the 1980 season, Campbell led the league in total rushing yard for the 3rd consecutive time with 1,934 yards while also leading the league in total rushing TD's for the second time in a row with 13.
Campbell rushed for 1300+ yards in two of his last three seasons along with 10 and 12 TD's respectively.
He eventually finished with 9,407 rushing yards and 74 TD's. He was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
#4 Emmitt Smith
When you are an NFL running back longevity in the sport is usually the last on the list but now and then there are some exceptions who go onto to play for a very long time, one such exception was Emmitt Smith who played in the NFL for 15 long and fruitful years.
Smith was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with a 17th overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft, in his rookie season, he rushed for 937 yards with 11 TD's to win the NFL offensive rookie of the year award.
Smith crossed the 1000 yard mark for the first time in his sophomore season when he rushed for 1,563 yards with 12 TD's and led the league in total rushing yards.
The Cowboys won the Super Bowl in the 1992 season riding on the back of Smith's over-the-top season where he rushed for 1,713 yards with 18 TD's to lead the league in both total rushing yards and TD's.
The Cowboys won the Super Bowl for the second time in a row during the 1993 season but this time Smith got recognition for his efforts on the field as he was elected the NFL MVP for his league-leading 1,486 rushing yards with nine TD's.
He is still the only RB to win the Super Bowl, NFL MVP, league rushing title and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season.
Smith crossed the 1000 yard rushing mark for the next eight seasons in a row during which he won his third Super Bowl and led the league in total rushing yards and TD's during the 1995 season.
Smith finally finished his career with 18,355 rushing yards and 164 rushing TD's both of which are NFL records to date.
He was eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time First Team All-Pro member, four-time NFL rushing yards leader and a four-time NFL rushing TD's leader.
Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
#3 Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders a Heisman trophy winner in 1988, was drafted by the Detroit Lions with a third overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft. He is one of the four Hall of Famers selected in the first five picks of the draft that year.
Sanders had a strong start to his NFL career as he rushed for 1,470 yards with 14 TD's in his rookie season and was awarded the NFL offensive rookie of the year award for his on-field exploits.
In his second year in the league, Sanders led the league in rushing yards for the first time in his career when he rushed for 1,304 yards with 14 TD's.
In 1994, he rushed for a league-leading 1,883 yards with 14 TD's and was awarded the NFL offensive player of the year award for his impressive display in the season.
In 1997, Sanders joined exclusive 2000 yard rushing club when rushed for 2,053 yards to become just the 3rd person in NFL history to achieve that feat. He was elected as the NFL MVP for his superhuman performances.
Sanders has the record for the most consecutive seasons with 1100+ rushing yards in a season(10). He was 10-time pro-bowler, 6-time first-team all-pro member, 4-time NFL rushing yards leader and one-time NFL rushing TD's leader.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
#2 Walter Payton
Durability is the perfect middle name for Walter Payton, playing in a position most susceptible to injuries, Payton holds the record for the most consecutive games played by a running back in the NFL(170).
Payton was drafted fourth overall in the 1975 draft by the Chicago Bears, he underwhelmed in his rookie season rushing for a paltry 679 yards with seven TD's.
He made a comeback the following year rushing for 1,390 yards with 13 TD's. In 1997 he rushed for a league-leading 1,852 yards and 14 TD's which helped him win the NFL MVP award.
In the remaining nine seasons from 1978 to 1987, Payton rushed for 1200+ yards in seven of them except for his last season and in 1982, when the league was shortened to nine games due to a 57-day player strike. He won the Super Bowl in 1985 when he rushed for 1,551 yards with nine TD's.
Walter Payton finished with 16,726 rushing yards and 110 TD's along with 4,653 receiving yards and 15 TD's.
He was nine-time Pro-Bowler, seven-time First-Team All-Pro member and one time NFL rushing yards and rushing TD's leader in 1977.
Walter was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
#1 Jim Brown
Jim Brown was a craftsman in his own right, he was a fullback who could make defenders miss but could also break tackles if required to.
Brown was a once-in-a-generation player who could do it all and his record does not lie.
Brown was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the fourth overall pick in the 1957 NFL draft, he set the ground running in his rookie season rushing for league-leading 942 yards and nine TD's. His on-field exploits won him both the NFL MVP and NFL Rookie of the Year award in the same season.
The following year he was again elected at the NFL MVP for his league-high 1,527 rushing yards and 17 TD's.
For the next six out of seven seasons, Brown led the league in total rushing yards which included his Super Bowl-winning season in 1964 and his third NFL MVP campaign in 1965.
Brown is still the holder of multiple records like most seasons leading the league in rushing yards(8), most seasons leading the league in TD's (five), highest career yards-per-game average(104.3).
He finished with 12,312 rushing yards and 106 rushing TD's. Brown was a nine-time Pro-Bowler, eight-time First-Team All-Pro, eight-time NFL rushing yards leader and five-time NFL TD's leader.
Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Did we miss someone on our list? Let us know your suggestions in the comments section below!
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