Who Has The Most Yards In NFL History?

Jerry Rice has the most yards in NFL history with 22,895.

Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for fifteen seasons. Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, with 18,355 yards. He is also the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, with 164.

Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys selected Smith in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft with the seventeenth overall pick. Despite Smith’s outstanding collegiate career at Florida, where he was a two-time All-American and had set numerous school rushing records, many draft experts questioned his ability to transition to the professional game, due to his size. Upon joining the Cowboys, Smith primarily served as a backup to veteran running back Herschel Walker. He did not start until December 23, against the New Orleans Saints, where he ran for 63 yards on thirteen carries and scored his first career touchdown.

Won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys

Emmitt Smith was born in Pensacola, Florida, on May 15, 1969. He played running back for the University of Florida Gators before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. Smith spent his entire 15-year career with the Cowboys and helped lead the team to three Super Bowl titles. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Rushed for a then-record 18,355 yards

On October 27, 2002, Smith broke Walter Payton’s all-time NFL rushing record of 16,726 yards during a Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished the game with 21 carries for 55 yards and two receptions for eight yards, giving him a total of 18,355 career rushing yards. He also rushed for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Jerry Rice

With 22,895 yards, Jerry Rice is the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks during his 20 year career. Rice was a 3-time Super Bowl champion and was named the Super Bowl MVP in 1989. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers

In the 1985 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Jerry Rice with the 16th overall pick. As a rookie, he caught 49 passes for 927 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also returned 22 kickoffs for 536 yards and a touchdown. In 1986, Jerry Rice had 86 receptions for 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns, as well as returning 34 kickoffs for 758 yards and another touchdown. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Year.

Won three Super Bowls with the 49ers

Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is a former American football wide receiver who played his entire 20-year career in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and often called the greatest player in NFL history.

Caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards

During his 20 NFL seasons, Jerry Rice amassed an incredible number of records. He is the league’s all-time leader in catches (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and touchdown receptions (197). He was selected to 13 Pro Bowls and named first-team All-Pro 10 times. He was also named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year three times and the Super Bowl MVP once.

Walter Payton

Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Payton is the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards and attempts, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards, and was the first player to rush for over 1,000 yards in 10 NFL seasons. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Drafted by the Chicago Bears

Payton was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft. In an era when NFL teams primarily relied on running the ball to move the offense, Walter Payton became one of the league’s most prolific running backs. He led the league in rushing yards four times (1976, 1977, 1979, 1980), and his 16,726 career rushing yards is second only to Emmitt Smith.

Won one Super Bowl with the Bears

Walter Payton is a former professional American football player who was a running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. Payton is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in NFL history. He played college football for Jackson State University, and was drafted in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Bears. He was named to nine Pro Bowls during his NFL career and won a Super Bowl with the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Rushed for 16,726 yards

Walter Payton, also known by his nickname “Sweetness”, is a former professional American football player who was a running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Payton is remembered as one of the greatest football players of all time. He led the league in rushing yards for four seasons, including a then-record 1,852 yards in 1977, and he remains the NFL’s all-time leader in career rushing yards. A nine-time Pro Bowler and five-time First Team All-Pro, Payton holds the NFL record for most career combined net yards gained (23,546), and he was the first player to have more than 200 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards in the same game. He was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

LaDainian Tomlinson

LaDainian Tomlinson is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian University.

Drafted by the San Diego Chargers

In the 2001 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers selected LaDainian Tomlinson with the fifth overall pick. L.T., as he was nicknamed, After being drafted, Tomlinson would go on to spend 11 seasons with the Chargers, becoming one of the most prolific runners in NFL history. In his time with San Diego, Tomlinson rushed for over 12,000 yards and 145 touchdowns, both of which are franchise records. He was also named to five Pro Bowls and was the league MVP in 2006.

Rushed for 13,684 yards and 162 touchdowns

In eleven seasons with the San Diego Chargers and one with the New York Jets, LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 13,684 yards and162 touchdowns, which are both the most in NFL history. He also caughtAnother 624 passes for 4,772 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Tomlinson was born on June 23, 1979, in Rosebud, Texas. He played collegiately at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time consensus All-American. Tomlinson was drafted fifth overall by the Chargers in 2001 NFL Draft.

He was selected to eight Pro Bowls, was an eight-time All-Pro selection, and won two AFC rushing titles. In 2006, he was named the NFL Most Valuable Player after leading the league with 1,815 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns. With these accomplishments, Tomlinson is considered one of the greatest running backs of all time

Barry Sanders

In 1997, Sanders became just the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He also set the single-season record for yards from scrimmage with 2,358.

Drafted by the Detroit Lions

In the 1988 NFL Draft, the Lions drafted Sanders with the third overall pick. He was the highest drafted running back in the history of the NFL at that time. He joined a team that had finished last in the league in rushing the previous season. Sanders was so talented that he immediately became the starter, and he ended up leading the team in rushing his rookie year.

Rushed for 15,269 yards

In his 10 NFL seasons, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns. He was selected for the Pro Bowl every year he played and was named first-team All-Pro six times. He won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1997 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.