Who Is The Best Running Back In The Nfl History?
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The answer to this question is undoubtedly clear to most die-hard football fans. But, for those who don’t know, the best running back in NFL history is Jim Brown.
Jim Brown
Jim Brown is considered by many to be the best running back in NFL history. He was a dominant player for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. During that time, he led the league in rushing eight times and set the single-season rushing record in 1958. He was a Pro Bowl selection nine times and was named the NFL MVP in 1957 and 1958.
Brown’s dominance
Jim Brown is considered by many to be the greatest running back in NFL history. He was a dominant force on the field, leading the league in rushing eight times in his nine-year career. Brown was a big part of the Cleveland Browns’ success in the late 1950s and early 1960s, helping them to win an NFL Championship in 1964. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Brown’s impact
As a young man, Brown was very fast, powerful, downhill runner with exceptional vision and the ability to make people miss in the open field. He played for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965 and is considered by many to be the greatest running back in NFL history. He was a eight-time Pro Bowler, three-time First-team All-Pro, and the 1963 NFL MVP. Brown is also one of only four running backs in NFL history to average over 100 yards per game for his career.
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith is widely considered to be the best running back in NFL history. He played for the Dallas Cowboys for 15 seasons and is the all-time leading rusher in the NFL with 18,355 yards. Smith was a nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-team All-Pro, three-time Second-team All-Pro, and was named the NFL MVP in 1993. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Smith’s rushing yards
In his 15 NFL seasons, Smith rushed for 18,355 yards, more than any other player in NFL history. He also holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single season with 2,105, set during the 1995 season.
Smith’s touchdowns
In his 15 NFL seasons, Smith accumulated164 touchdownscontributing to the franchise records of most career rushing touchdowns and most touchdowns in a season. He also holds the NFL record for career rushing yards in the playoffs with 1,586 yards. Smith is the only running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons and scored a touchdown in each of those 11 seasons. In 1999, he helped lead the Cowboys to victory in Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is considered by many to be the best running back in NFL history. He was a ten-time Pro Bowler, a four-time First-Team All-Pro, and a two-time Second-Team All-Pro. He was also the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1997 and the NFL MVP in 1998.
Sanders’ elusiveness
What made Sanders so great was his rare combination of size, speed, and elusiveness. At just 5-foot-8 and 203 pounds, he wasn’t the biggest running back, but he more than made up for it with his agility and vision. He was able to make quick cuts without losing any speed, and he always seemed to find the smallest holes to run through. Even when there were no holes, he was often able to create one by making defenders miss.
Sanders’ consistency
From 1989 to 1997, Barry Sanders averaged 1,590 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns per season. In fact, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in all but his final season, when he played just eight games. His worst statistical season came in 1991, when he still managed to rack up 1,548 total yards and eight touchdowns.
Walter Payton
Payton’s versatility
During his career, Payton was not only a great runner, but also an excellent receiver out of the backfield and an outstanding blocker, making him the complete all-around running back. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, led the league in rushing yards four times, and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards.
Payton’s durability
In a 13-year career, Payton missed only one game due to injury. In that season, he was selected for the Pro Bowl and was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. He finished his career with 16,726 rushing yards, which remained the NFL record until 2002 when it was broken by Emmitt Smith. Payton is also the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing attempts (3,838), carries per game (29.8), and yards per carry (4.4).
Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. Dickerson was drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played professionally for the Rams (1983-1987), Indianapolis Colts (1987-1991), Los Angeles Raiders (1992), and Atlanta Falcons (1993). During his NFL career, Dickerson rushed for over 13,000 yards and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
Dickerson’s rookie season
Dickerson’s rookie season was incredible. He rushed for 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had 49 receptions for 587 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl.
Dickerson’s single-season rushing record
In 1984, Dickerson had one of the most prolific seasons for a running back in NFL history. He set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season with 2,105 yards. He also broke the record for most 200-yard rushing games in a season with seven 200-yard games. In addition, he tied O.J. Simpson’s record for most games rushing for 150 yards or more in a season with eleven 150-yard games.
