best running backs not in the hall of fame
(AP Photo/Al Golub), You think of the great "Air Coryell" offenses in the late 1970s and early 1980s, you often forget Muncie was a huge part of the ground attack. He handled a high volume and earned everything he could despite a limited downfield passing game and some blocking issues. Matthews' play was a major reason why the Browns appeared in three AFC Championship Games from 1986-89. In 2003, Lewis became the fifth member of the 2,000-yard rushing club while coming within 40 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record. The 10 Best Running Backs Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame While he helped the Steelers advance to the Super Bowl that season, Mendenhall's most infamous NFL moment occurred whenClay Matthewsjarred the ball loose from his arms during a pivotal moment in Super Bowl XLV (the Steelers ended up losing, 31-25). In the Super Bowl Era. 1: Priest Holmes -- Perhaps the most mysterious back of all-time, he burst upon the scene with three of the most productive seasons ever, and then disappeared, just as quickly. After holding off Zack Moss for key touches, he will need to do the same again vs. rookie James Cook. In fact, that 1994 season kicked off a seven-season stretch in which Watters had at least 1,500 scrimmage yards per year -- the second-longest streak in NFL history. While he was never a full-time starter, Duckett helped the Falcons clinch two playoff berths over that span that included a run to the NFC title game in 2004. After missing the entire 2001 season with an injury, Lewis rushed for over 1,000 yards in six out of the next seven seasons. Dillon scored 37 of his 82 rushing touchdowns during his three years in New England, which ultimately is the push his Hall of Fame case needed. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2008 while helping Miami capture the AFC East title. 9. 2021 stats (at Iowa State):253 carries, 1,472 rushing yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 36 receptions, 302 receiving yards, 23 total TDs. 11-25 Nos. Tre Hodges-Tomlinson's hopes to continue family's NFL legacy Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. A valued member of Minnesota's "Purple People Eaters" defensive line, Marshall holds numerous NFL records, including the most seasons played by a defensive player (20, along with Junior Seau and Darrell Green), most consecutive games by a defensive player (282), most consecutive starts by a defensive player (270), and most career fumble recoveries (30). 1 receiver when St. Louis made a return trip to theSuper Bowlin 2001. BYU Football's 50 Greatest Players Of All-Time: Nos. 1-10 NFL's top 20 players not in the Hall of Fame: Torry Holt, Zach Thomas Marshall Faulk (1994-2005) . Shady will be remembered as one of the toughest players to tackle in the open field and one of the best at the position in his prime. Jim Brown is a superb choice to start a list of top running backs of all time. Douglas' NFL Draft Resume Points to Running Back Pick or Possible UDFA In 2014, following teammateDeAngelo Williams' injury, Stewart gained nearly 1,000-purpose yards while receiving a then-career high eight starts. With that in mind, we decided to rank each running back that was selected in the first round between 2000-20. He is smart and. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings), He gets covered up a little bit because he split time with Warrick Dunn, but Alstott was able to do it all for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers didn't waste time putting a lot on Harris as a first-round rookie workhorse and he showed off his versatility and durability right away. A big, physical back at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jackson ripped off eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005-12. Harris and Etienne will try to change the narrative currently surrounding running backs. . While injuries ultimately cut his career short, Perry did help the Bengals win their first AFC North title in 2005. Sorry, but Frank Gore doesn't belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame A key member of the Bengals' 1981 AFC championship team, Riley returned a league-high three interceptions for touchdowns during his final two seasons. Teams:Patriots(1980);Bears(1981-93);Packers(1994). See the full pecking order. A key member of theBroncos' 2013 AFC championship team, Moreno rushed for over 1,000 yards that season after missing half of the 2012 campaign with a torn ACL. Was the running back the best player at his position for a multi-year span? This whole thing feels odd. A neck injury flattened the rest of his career, and he remained quiet and elusive about his health and future. 2021 stats: 203carries, 903 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 43 receptions on 53 targets, 316 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. Ultimately, Green's inconsistency (he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry for his career) and off-field issues led to him being out of the NFL after just four seasons. During that span, Tasker helped the Bills become the first franchise to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls. Two years later, Brown set career highs with six rushing touchdowns and 751 all-purpose yards. Gradishar earned five more Pro Bowl selections (as well as another All-Pro nod) during his final six seasons with the Broncos. (AP Photo/Al Golub), The "Nigerian Nightmare" emerged from obscure NAIA Azusa Pacific and became a force for the Kansas City Chiefs for a number of seasons. (AP Photo/Joe Giron), Perkins was one of the first offensive superstars of the Dallas Cowboys. 2021 stats: 130 carries, 719 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 39 receptions on 46 targets, 337 receiving yards, 2 total TDs. Jaguars (2017-19); Buccaneers (2020-Present). He had seven seasons with at least 1,100 rushing yards (T-sixth in NFL history) and led the league in rush yards per game (107.6) in 2000. At age 36, the future Hall of Famer is hoping to land on a Super Bowl contender for the 2021 season. Definitely, but trading for him could compromise the Birds future. One of best players on the Bears' vaunted 46 defense, McMichael earned his first of two first-team All-Pro honors in 1985 while helping Chicago capture its only Lombardi Trophy. 249 pick in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick and the No. Some think he's prime to return to some early-career form playing off a more explosive passing game with the blocking also reset to be more in his favor. Ranking the NFL's best running backs for the 2022 season from 1-30, Bills look Super Bowl-serious at top; 49ers, Broncos, Eagles on the rise. He's also one of eight players in league history with 10,000-plus career rush yards and 4,000-plus career receiving yards. And while his career was short, Wilson did set aGiantsfranchise record for total yards gained in a game when he amassed 327 yards in a 2012 win over theSaints. McNeil was the stud running back for the team who made quarterback Richard Todd look good. Jones is now sharing plenty with powerful A.J. Hall of Fame RBs | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof I dont think he got bad intel because why would he lie and put his name on this? He's still a talented all-around back but his strength might be as a part-time version of Chubb. The 6-fo-6 Greenwood also had a penchant for batting down passes; he did that on three occasions during the Steelers' Super Bowl IX win over the Vikings. 1 spot? 6:28 pm ET, Matthews was inducted into the Browns' Ring of Honor, Ranking teams likely to land Williams in 2024 NFL Draft, Prisco's 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams, Exploring Titans' options at wide receiver, Cowboys' 'ship has not sailed' on bringing back Zeke, Best post-draft fits for top-remaining NFL free agents, The 20 greatest NFL players not in the Hall of Fame, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Winners, losers from the draft: Crafty Colts, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings, 10 veteran moves that should happen post-2023 draft, Report: Bucs star Barrett's daughter, 2, drowns in pool, NFL schedule release target date, plus 5 things we know, Steelers' draft haul one the team hadn't seen in 38 years. (Not So) New-Age Running Backs - Pro Football Hall of Fame Top speed? 2021 stats: 133 carries, 606 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 14 receptions on 18 targets, 5 total TDs. While somewhat underwhelming, Green still managed to rack up 1,000 all-purpose yards while helping theBrownsmake the playoffs during this rookie season. No. Owner of the greatest single rushing season in Penn State history, Johnson began his career as Priest Holmes' backup in Kansas City. The Bengals' all-time leading passer, Anderson's boom under Bill Walsh's "West Coast" offense set the stage for Walsh's success with Joe Montana in San Francisco. Ranked fifth in NFL history with 14,918 career rushing yards, Peterson wants to play in 2022 and perhaps beyond. His success that season ultimately led to the team parting with Williams during the 2015 offseason. The Doug Pederson-Press Taylor offense also caters well to Etienne's versatility. The rushing and scrimmage yardage leader from 2021 is a few notches above the field at only 23. Plus, see which team now has TWO players in MJD's top 15 RB rankings. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. It might have been a blessing for him not to be misused in that mess of an Urban Meyer-Darrell Bevell offense. Ironically, Dayne's best season was his last; he rushed for 773 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 4 yards per carry for the Texans. Stewart put up impressive career numbers despite sharing a backfield for the majority of his career. Cook has all the talent to be No. For a list of other positions, click here. For whatever the reason, there are numerous deserving players who are still hoping to earn a spot in football immortality. Gibson was disappointing as he didn't deliver as the complete big back in Year 2 while playing through some injury and fumbling issues. And while a hip injury slowed his roll at the end of the season, Edwards-Helaire still managed to gain 1,100 all-purpose yards in 13 regular-season games. Three years later, he helped the Saints win the franchise's only Super Bowl title. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. The Best Running Backs of AllTime. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Dillon had the size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and physical style similar to Eddie George. That's the big question, but the Rams have confidence that he can deliver effective lead rushing production with the right dash of receiving pop. The 14 Hall of Famers in this group averaged. In 2001, Faulk was Top 5 in both rushing (12) and receiving touchdowns (9). A powerful running back, the 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett spend his first three NFL seasons as part of a talented Falcons backfield that featured Michael Vick and fellow running back Warrick Dunn. at At 28, Henry is facing an important rebound year as the massive workload from 2019 and 2020 caught up to him last season. He hit the 1,000-yard mark again for theLionsin 2013. He also will be key in offsetting the passing game changes for Rodgers and the former Boston College runner has proved he can remain prolific in a favorable system. The four-time Pro Bowler even finished third in the MVP vote for his 2000 campaign, when he rushed for 1,509 yards and 14 scores. "From a running back's perspective, you build chemistry out here in practice first," Tomlinson reflected. Ultimately, the Eagles fit for Henry is not as perfect as we initially thought. A key member of Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense, Greenwood earned six Pro Bowl nods (and two first-team All-Pro honors) from 1973-79. 2023 NFL Draft: Who is the CAN'T-MISS prospect? In 2012, "AD" was named league MVP after rushing for 2,097 yards, the second-highest total in NFL history. A three-time Pro Bowler (and two-time All-Pro) during his first four seasons, Gurley led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in consecutive years while helping theRamsreach the Super Bowl in 2018. 20 in homage to Sims. Many deserving players have been passed over because they played for a small market team; other players were overshadowed by more celebrated teammates. He led the league with 73 receptions in 1975. . And despite Manning's departure in 2012, a 34-year-old Wayne earned Pro Bowl honors that season while catching passes from a rookie quarterback named Andrew Luck. Atlanta's first draft pick, Nobis played on just two winning teams during his 11-year tenure with the Falcons. Player Identification: Sweetness. After sharing a backfield with Marion Barber at the University of Minnesota, Maroney shared one with Kevin Faulk in New England. 's Top-5 Takeaways from Day 1 of March Madness, Stern: Panthers' trade up to No. All rights reserved. 1 spot? 2021 stats: 151 carries, 541 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 62 receptions on 78 targets, 452 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. Nobody considers him the best of his generation. Conner landed with the right team to return to reliable production after some fading seasons in Pittsburgh. Dillon in this backfield, but that's also helped him stay fresh and kept him in an explosive groove in Matt LaFleur's zone rushing attack. He is smart and reliable with a good balance of steadiness and explosiveness. 2021 stats:332 carries, 1,811 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 51 targets, 360 receiving yards, 20 total TDs. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. (AP Photo/PKS), One of the big backs who burned out a little bit too quickly. After rehabbing for the 2003 season, McGahee rushed for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2004 while leading the Bills to the precipice of the postseason. In 1985, he became the first running back in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in both receiving and rushing. Jones enjoyed a solid yet unspectacular six-year NFL career. Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2003), New England Patriots (2004-06). Minnesota Vikings (2007-2016), Arizona Cardinals (2017), New Orleans (2017), Washington Commanders (2018-19), Detroit Lions (2020), Tennessee Titans (2021), Seattle Seahawks (2021). A second-round pick by Cincinnati in 1997, Dillon was one of the few bright spots for a Bengals team that managed just 34 wins during his seven seasons with the franchise. He also led the NFL in passing yards in consecutive seasons. Plus, an updated ranking of his top 15 running backs ahead of Week 17. A member of theBroncos' Ring of Fame, Gradishar is credited with over 2,000 tackles during his 10-year career. The first of two Arkansas running backs taken in the first round of the 2008 draft (Felix Jones being the other), McFadden was the first former Razorback to register two 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL. Injuries are the reason why Mathews was out of football at age 29. Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin (He won his second in Tampa last season). The inconsistency tied to his efficiency puts him right in the middle. Smith was on the verge of having a long, prolific career, but he chose to walk away to study medicine. Green attempted a comeback in 2008 but was never signed to a contract. Did he reach 10,000 rush yards in his career? Taylor ranks 17th all-time in rushing yards (11,695), and every non-active running back above him in that list is already in the Hall. He doesn't offer much as a receiver but he gets the yards that are there with good burst. Barkley is looking to reclaim his spot as arguably the NFL's top running back after an injury wiped out most of his 2020 season. Part of Audacy. Hall of Fame RB and Chargers Legend LaDainian Tomlinson on How This New A first round pick by Oakland in 1970, Jack Tatum was brought in to be Dave Grayson's replacement. Saints (2011-18); Ravens (2019-20); Texans (2021). He topped 1,500 yards back in 2000, when he finished third in the MVP vote. "Yeah, it was extremely frustrating," Harris said of watching nearly two dozen players get selected before him, via DKPittsburghSports. In 2011, Brown ran for five scores while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Faulk, Tomlinson and Allen are the only full-time running backs who rank in the top 100 all-time for receptions. Here is part of the last pair of teammates to make the cut. In 12 seasons, he amassed 11,102 rush yards, 73 rush TDs and averaged a respectable 4.5 yards per carry. In 2015, Peterson became the second-oldest player in league history to lead the NFL in rushing. Browns RB Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns - clevelandbrowns.com He rushed for over 1,000 yards (while averaging 5 yards per carry) for theDolphinsin 2011. If you want to recognize him for being a guy who hung around longer than most big backs, fine. While he would never come close to duplicating his success of 2002, Bennett still managed to carve out a 10-year career. He is probably the top candidate to replace Ryan Day at his alma mater should Ohio State turn on Urban Meyers latest and greatest disciple. He also helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for a second straight year. D.A. Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. Leaning more toward 2022 upside than past performance, here's Sporting News' ranking of the top 30 running backs in the NFL, starting with the reigning rushing champion and including a double dose from several teams: MORE NFL RANKINGS: QBs | WRs| Coaches | Defense. All HOFm Positions: QB RB WR TE G T C DT DE ILB OLB DB K P RB HOFm Leaders Bold indicates HOF player See full explanation here Share & Export (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli), Andrews went to four consecutive Pro Bowls for the Atlanta Falcons from 1980-83. After rushing for 931 yards in 13 regular-season games as a rookie, Michel rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns during the 2018 postseason. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! Maurice Jones-Drew assesses the Hall of Fame candidacies of Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry, two running backs who could pass him on the all-time rushing leaderboard in Week 16. That season, Perry caught 51 passes, the most by a Bengals running back since James Brooks in 1986. A bruising 218-pound runner, Ameche is best known for his game-winning one-yard run in the famous 1958 NFL Championship Game. That being said, he didn't love seeing 23 players get selected before his name was called. Given Vrabels competitive nature and tenacity for winning, I doubt he will want Carthon to trade his best player to the Eagles. As far as the Titans are concerned, lets just hope Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel are on the same page and have owner Amy Adams Strunks blessing to do whatever is in the best interest of the Titans franchise. Top 10 Running Backs of All Time | Pro-Football-Reference.com The fifth running back selected in the first round of the 2000 draft, Canidate spent his first three NFL seasons playing behind future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk. The Bills drafted McGahee with the understanding that he would need time to heal a serious knee injury sustained during the 2003 national championship. George was one of the most physical backs ever. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. So, uh, can we put him in? Mitchell became the 49ers' fifth leading rusher in as many seasons under Kyle Shanahan last season, taking advantage of injuries to veterans and the lacking reliability of higher drafted rookie Trey Sermon. TD. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. Take a look at some of the best photos of Aaron Rodgers from throughout the years! With a score in the Bucs' Super Bowl LV win, "Lombardi Lenny" was born. In 16 seasons, he's third on the all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards, third in carries (3,735), third in touches (4,219) and fourth in scrimmage yards (19,985). Injuries and off-field issues led to a significant drop in production after the 2006 season. It finally came, thanks to durability and a top-flight passing game with Joe Burrow that opened things up for him to put it all together. Of the 31 runners to have done it, 16 are in the Hall and two more are locks (Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore). San Francisco 49ers (1992-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-97), Seattle Seahawks (1998-2001). of winning the Lombardi Trophy, and if they had beaten the Rams in that game, I'm confident George would've been named game MVP after having 28 carries for 95 rush yards and two rush TDs. His absence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame might be most egregious when you look at the length of his career and the impact he had on one of the greatest teams of all time. But his production plummeted after breaking his collarbone during the 2014 season. Falcons (2002-05); Washington (2006); Lions (2007); Seahawks (2008). (National Football League), Craig was a huge part of the San Francisco 49ers' success during the 1980s. Ward is considered the most physical receiver of his era. The greatest NFL running backs of all time - Simplemost He's since been eclipsed by some dude named Peterson or something. And while his touches were somewhat limited during his first season in Denver, Gordon still managed to rush for nearly 1,000 yards while scoring 10 touchdowns for the fourth time in his career. Williams might be the No. Still, I think they are more likely to draft Texas Bijan Robinson if the Atlanta Falcons pass on him. And the fact that the city was thisclose to a second consecutive Lombardi -- a debate that never ends well for Pete Carroll -- helps his case. Five quarterbacks, five offensive linemen, four receivers, one tight end, and eight defensive players were selected before Harris, the first running back taken in the draft. (National Football League), Before there was Kurt Warner, Curt was a pretty fair running back for the Seattle Seahawks. While he never became a full-time starter, Brown managed to put together a semi-productive seven-year career. . One of the league's best running backs during his heyday, Alexander averaged 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns per season from 2001-05. Jones didn't have a chance against Tasker, who beat Jones on an inside move before blocking Mike Saxon's punt. Nobis' early success earned him a place on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s. 10 running backs that barely missed the cut (in alphabetical order): Ottis Anderson Larry Csonka Corey Dillon Priest Holmes Bo Jackson Steven Jackson Fred Taylor Herschel Walker Ricky Watters. Lynch's greatest stretch was with the Seattle Seahawks. He was a key contributor to a powerful Colts team that won back-to-back NFL titles to close out the decade of the 1950s. One of the NFL's most versatile backs, McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors in 2019 after becoming the third player in league history to tally 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. Through three seasons, the former San Diego State standout has rushed for just 823 yards on 161 carries for theSeahawks. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. That said, he has some freakish physical qualities for his big frame. Jackson is 18th on the NFL's career rushing list, just ahead of Hall of Fame running backs John Riggins and O.J. He's been a semifinalist for three straight years but has yet to be named a finalist. While I have you: Put Coryell in the Hall of . His best season came with the Eagles in 2013, when he led the league in attempts (314), rush yards (1,607), rush yards per game (100.4), touches (366) and scrimmage yards (2,164). Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! Montgomery makes this list based on his cumulative production vs. his limited efficiency as a runner and pass-catcher. Like McCaffrey, Barkley's early career boom has been derailed by injury woes, but he also never reached the same level of all-purpose dominance. He does a little of everything well and gives them what's needed in the rushing and receiving game. Although 2022 is no different with Kenyan Drake and Georgia rookie Zamir White behind him in the new Josh McDaniels' offense, his more steady than spectacular play may turn out to be the best complement for a more dangerous passing game featuring Davante Adams. Take a look at some of the best photos from the thirteenth day of Chargers Training Camp 2021. The upside is there to become a top-10 back. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic), Cribbs was a dominating running back who followed in the footsteps of O.J. Conner has been a great power running fit with his size and quickness in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, playing well off Kyler Murray. The prototype running back for today's NFL, Gordon earned two Pro Bowl nods during his first four seasons in the NFL. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans. Hayes is a member of the NFL's All-1980s Team. He has a good shot to break the trend and make it two team titles in a row with 1,000-plus yards to boot. A player who was truly ahead of his time, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Taylor was one of the first receivers to fully use his physicality to his advantage. Smith's extreme competitiveness more than made up for his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. Henry is every bit his generations version of Adrian Peterson, but even he had a definite shelf life. 2021 stats: 203 carries, 918 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 28 receptions on 38 targets, 213 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. D.A.'s Top-5 best running backs not in the HOF - Audacy
