Ten Best Running Backs of All Time in NFL

#8 OJ Simpson

Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985

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.