best running backs not in the hall of fame

APRIL 29 ROSCHON TO BEARS The Cowboys want to take a running back somewhere in this Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but that guy won't be a favored Longhorn. Barkley hasn't had much support from blocking and the passing game, but he's still looked limited and worn at times. 2021 stats: 171 carries, 799 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 52 receptions on 65 targets, 391 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. Freeman McNeil, New York Jets: 1981-1992 1 of 10 9. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. NFL running back rankings 2022 1. He tallied an insane 24 total touchdowns in 2002, and then topped that with 27, a year later. After sharing a backfield with Marion Barber at the University of Minnesota, Maroney shared one with Kevin Faulk in New England. The player Riley is often compared to isCharles Woodson, who will receive a gold jacket this summer. In 2009, Johnson became the sixth member of the NFL's 2,000-yard club after rushing for a league-high 2,006 yards. While I have you: Put Coryell in the Hall of . His cultural impact is through the roof. Johnson led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards on multiple occasions. At age 36, the future Hall of Famer is hoping to land on a Super Bowl contender for the 2021 season. Who is the best NFL running back in history? - NBC Sports Bay Area 1 on this list and he should be headed to his biggest all-around season yet with his expanded role in a Kevin O'Connell offensive scheme tailored to his rushing and receiving strengths. Mendenhall finished his career in Arizona before retiring after just six seasons. He led the league with 92 receptions back in 1985, and was the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, with 1,500 rushing yards. In 1983, his final NFL season, the 36-year-old Riley recorded eight interceptions (returning two for scores) while earning his first career All-Pro selection. Not hating on any of those guys. Warner was selected to three Pro Bowls during the 1980s, and rushed for 1,449 yards with 13 touchdowns as a rookie. A three-time Pro Bowler, Elliott averaged 1,668 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns per season during his first five years in Dallas. . Teams:Patriots(1980);Bears(1981-93);Packers(1994). Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996-2003), Dallas Cowboys (2004). Listing each NFL team's best all-time non-Hall of Fame player 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Harris was one of just two running backs taken in the first round, with Clemson's Travis Etienne-- taken by the Jaguars with the 25th pick -- being the other. . A seven-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL's All-2000s Team, Holt played an integral role on theRams' 1999 championship team. 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Dillon was one of the best of his era and checks most of the boxes, but it'll likely be a waiting game for him because guys who become eligible in the coming years will get in before him. He averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in 29 games with theColts. 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. There is no quit in this guy. Eagles Trade for Lions RB D'Andre Swift - NFL Tracker No would be surprised if he boosted his Hall of Fame credentials with another massive campaign as the centerpiece of his team's offense. Definitely, but trading for him could compromise the Birds future. He averaged better than 4.5 yards per carry during his peak years. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Part of Audacy. Jaguars (2017-19); Buccaneers (2020-Present). They traded LeSean McCoy in his prime to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso, but even that may have been more to do with Chip Kelly being in the building than anything. In what would be his final NFL game, Jackson scored a touchdown in New England's 20-18 loss to Denver in the 2015 AFC Championship Game. Hall of Fame RBs | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof 1 pick has boom-bust potential. Marshall Faulk 1994-2005 Franco Harris Franco Harris 1972-1984 Frank Gifford Frank Gifford 1952-1960, 1962-64 Gale Sayers Gale Sayers 1965-1971 Hugh McElhenny Hugh McElhenny 1952-1964 Jim Brown Jim Brown 1957-1965 Jim Taylor Jim Taylor 1958-1967 Joe Perry Joe Perry 1948-1963 John Henry Johnson Nobis' early success earned him a place on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s. Top 10 Running Backs of All Time | Pro-Football-Reference.com Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 1 now, but there's a reason why Denver decided late to bring back Gordon as a savvy No. Despite his team's lack of success, Nobis earned the recognition of his peers, earning five Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro nod during his first seven seasons. A member of theBroncos' Ring of Fame, Gradishar is credited with over 2,000 tackles during his 10-year career. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. He won Offensive Player of the Year as a rookie in 1996, and then made four straight Pro Bowls. There's a bevy of top-end defensive players sitting atop the draft board Friday night. A true workhorse who carried the ball 403 times in 2000 for the Tennessee Titans. He also helped lead the Seahawks to two NFC titles as well as a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. He's also one of eight players in league history with 10,000-plus career rush yards and 4,000-plus career receiving yards. Spiller's career had an uphill trajectory during his first three seasons. Don't be surprised if several of these players receive a bronze bust in Canton sometime in the near future. The National Football League's Top 5 Running Backs of All Time 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. 26-50 6. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Gurley's production has decreased on recent seasons, however, as he is currently a free agent after averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in Atlanta. 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). 11:15 am ET. No. 6. Addai is currently seventh on the Colts' career rushing list. With theCowboyspunting from their own 16-yard line, Tasker was lined up against linebacker Robert Jones, a rookie who filled in for an injured starter. In 1965, Taylor spurned the NFL (he was drafted by theEagleswith the 203rd pick in theNFL draft) to play for the AFL'sKansas City Chiefs. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Richardson averaged just 3.3 yards per carry during his three-year career. A 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing two times and rushing touchdowns three times. As a rookie, Bush caught 88 passes to help lead the Saints to their first NFC Championship Game. Who has the best hands? Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? A four-time Pro Bowler, Anderson led the NFL in completion percentage three times. Tomlinson is tied for 80th with 626 catches and Allen is 100th with 587. Can Akers pick up his promise as a rookie following a season mostly lost to suffering a torn Achilles' last summer? 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. Cook has all the talent to be No. Pro Bowls: 9. A former fifth-round pick, Thomas was one of the NFL's most productive players during his dozen seasons in Miami. A neck injury flattened the rest of his career, and he remained quiet and elusive about his health and future. Did he win (or compete for) a league MVP award? Bills (2007-10); Seahawks (2010-15, 2019); Raiders (2017-18). He then resurfaced in Arizona, where he was theCardinals' leading rusher before an injury prematurely ended his 2015 season. Thomas, who led the NFL in tackles on two separate occasions, retired with 1,734 career tackles, 20.5 sacks, 17 interceptions, 48 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. BYU Football's 50 Greatest Players Of All-Time: Nos. 1-10 (He won his second in Tampa last season). The postseason success is obviously there, helping Seattle win its first-ever Super Bowl. After four years in Atlanta, Duckett spent one season a piece in Washington, Detroit and Seattle. Craig was a four-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time champion. Smith was on the verge of having a long, prolific career, but he chose to walk away to study medicine. Thomas, who finished his career with the Chiefs, is 26th all time on the league's career rushing list. 2021 stats:249 carries, 1,159 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 34 receptions on 49 targets, 224 receiving yards, 6 total TDs. But he's not given enough credit for being a great receiver out of the backfield. In his second-to-last game, Best rushed for a career-high 163 yards (on 12 carries) that included an 88-yard touchdown run. An integral member of the 2007 Patriots team that started 18-0, Maroney rushed for 122 yards in the Patriots' postseason wins over the Jaguars and Chargers. Matthews' play was a major reason why the Browns appeared in three AFC Championship Games from 1986-89. Johnson's 9,651 rushing yards are good for 35th on the all-time list, ahead of Hall of Famers Earl Campbell, Jim Taylor and Larry Csonka, among others. 's Top-5 best running backs not in the HOF, 1980s Jets wives walked out on learning fight song, OJ Anderson pleads for Hall of Fame nod 'while I'm above ground', Stern: Princeton's historic run has 'Revenge of the Nerds' feel, D.A. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. Three years earlier, Tomlinson became the first running back to catch 100 passes in a single season (incredibly, Tomlinson was not named to the Pro Bowl that year). Stevenson was touted as a power back out of Oklahoma but showed he could be complete as a rookie, to the point he may pick up injured James White's key receiving snaps in 2022 to split more of the work with Harris. Player Identification: Sweetness. Smith's extreme competitiveness more than made up for his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. 2. You saw the ESPN doc on him, so you can't deny this. He is the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award winner, given to the nation's best defensive back. Tre's uncle is legendary Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. (Seriously, Google it.) Plus, see which team now has TWO players in MJD's top 15 RB rankings. Its college, but its also Ohio State. Maurice Jones-Drew spotlights three teams who will be looking for a new primary RB in 2023. All Rights Reserved. His 143 total yards helped the Colts defeat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. He finished his career with nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns. But yeah running backsaredevalued. Plus, an updated ranking of his top 15 running backs ahead of Week 17. (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. Hayes is a member of the NFL's All-1980s Team. Among those players are former offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg, receivers Mark Duper andMark Claytonand running back Ricky Williams. Watters was dynamic in the 1994 run to the Super Bowl title, with a touchdown in the NFC Championship and two scores in the blowout win over the San Diego Chargers. ARIZONA CARDINALS: QB Jim Hart (1966-1983). As a rookie, he started over future All-Pro Priest Holmes. But he's currently 19th all time in rushing yardage. More than deserving of a gold jacket, George holds many Titans/Oilers franchise records, including for career rushing yards (10,441). He had seven seasonsof 1,000 yards on the ground, including 1,572 in 2003. Jones is now sharing plenty with powerful A.J. In 1992, Brett Favre's first season as the Packers' starting quarterback, Sharpe led the NFL in receptions (108), yards (1,461) and touchdowns (13). . Saints (2011-18); Ravens (2019-20); Texans (2021). 4: Fred Taylor -- He has more yards rushing yards than any eligible back not in the Hall of Fame. 2021 stats: 203carries, 903 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 43 receptions on 53 targets, 316 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. Swift has some good Kamara-like assets and is now helped by strong blocking and a better complementary passing game. He also helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for a second straight year. Giants (2000-04); Broncos (2005); Texans (2006-07). Faulk's statistics weren't just gaudy numbers for a bad team. Gradishar earned five more Pro Bowl selections (as well as another All-Pro nod) during his final six seasons with the Broncos. Through three seasons, the former San Diego State standout has rushed for just 823 yards on 161 carries for theSeahawks. San Francisco 49ers (1992-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-97), Seattle Seahawks (1998-2001). 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius), Brooks was a four-time Pro Bowl selection for the Cincinnati Bengals. 2021 stats:228 carries, 1,259 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 20 receptions on 25 targets, 174 receiving yards, 9 total TDs. He also could handle a bigger role in the passing game if needed, which might be the case if the team moves Kareem Hunt. Wayne wasPeyton Manning'sNo. One of the league's best running backs during his heyday, Alexander . The fourth-year running back was traded today to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for draft picks. Second, he hasn't build on being a top-flight receiving back at LSU, which what he was expected to do in the Chiefs' pass-first offense. Dupree did give it a go with the Los Angeles Rams, but he just couldn't make it happen. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara), Dupree was injured for most of his pro career, the majority of which was wasted in the USFL. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown (32) is pictured in Cleveland, circa 1960s. He also led the NFL in tackles on four different occasions. Ranked fifth in NFL history with 14,918 career rushing yards, Peterson wants to play in 2022 and perhaps beyond. The AFL's leader in touchdown catches the following season, Taylor helped the Chiefs capture their first Super Bowl win at the end of the 1969 season. A key member of the Bengals' 1981 AFC championship team, Riley returned a league-high three interceptions for touchdowns during his final two seasons. Can the Eagles improve their No. Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, is at the top of that list. Still, I think they are more likely to draft Texas Bijan Robinson if the Atlanta Falcons pass on him. He is also a member of the NFL's All-2000s Team. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. He topped 1,500 yards back in 2000, when he finished third in the MVP vote. 2021 stats:202 carries, 929 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 18 receptions on 21 targets, 132 receiving yards, 15 total TDs. Gibson was disappointing as he didn't deliver as the complete big back in Year 2 while playing through some injury and fumbling issues. During his seven full seasons in San Francisco, Willis earned Pro Bowl honors each year while also receiving five first-team All-Pro nods. While he continuously battled through injury, McFadden still managed to amass 1,664 all-purpose yards for the Raiders in 2010. 1 receiver when St. Louis made a return trip to theSuper Bowlin 2001. Three of Ward's four consecutive Pro Bowl selections came with different quarterbacks: Kordell Stewart (2001), Tommy Maddox (2002-03) and a rookie namedBen Roethlisberger(2004). Simpson. Of the three hall-of-fame-caliber players who are potentially on the trade block heading into Thursday nights draft, Henry is the one I feel the least certain about him being dealt. Edwards-Helaire hasn't lived up to being a first-rounder in 2020 for multiple reasons. (AP Photo/David Drapkin), The aforementioned Dunn lost a lot of touchdown runs to Alstott. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Conner has been a great power running fit with his size and quickness in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, playing well off Kyler Murray. While the Birds do need to effectively replace Miles Sanders in their backfield, Henry is pushing 30 and why didnt they re-sign a cheaper and younger running back in Sanders in the first place?! I only remember him from NFL Films footage because he's another great running back whose career was cut short by injuries. Pitta was the best tight end in college football in 2009, but the Mackey Award voters opted to give the award to Aaron Hernandez from Florida instead. NFL's top 20 players not in the Hall of Fame: Torry Holt, Zach Thomas As Warren Sharp pointed out, Swift won't exactly have . Teams:Browns (1978-93); Falcons (1994-96). "The Assassin" was one of the hardest hitting safeties in league history. He led the league with 73 receptions in 1975. You have to wonder if his prickly personality is what is keeping him out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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. (National Football League), Craig was a huge part of the San Francisco 49ers' success during the 1980s. 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. 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. Running Backs (Not) in the Hall of Fame When you think of the best running backs in NFL history, names like Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, and Walter Payton come to mind. While injuries ultimately cut his career short, Perry did help the Bengals win their first AFC North title in 2005. In a Hall-of-Fame career . The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Best Running Backs of AllTime. 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. Anderson was a true stud in every sense of the word. Expect Jones' receiving prowess to take on critical importance given the remixed wideout corps around Aaron Rodgers. A bruising 218-pound runner, Ameche is best known for his game-winning one-yard run in the famous 1958 NFL Championship Game. Hall of Fame: Yes (1993) NFL MVP: 1. Though Gore's been seen in the boxing ring of late, he hasn't officially closed the door on an NFL return. 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. Thomas Jones was an outstanding running back who had a stellar 12-year NFL career in which he rushed for over 10,000 yards. 2021 stats: 130 carries, 719 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 39 receptions on 46 targets, 337 receiving yards, 2 total TDs. Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry could be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles by the first night of the 2023 NFL Draft. 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. Bush enjoyed more success after leaving New Orleans. Jackson is 18th on the NFL's career rushing list, just ahead of Hall of Fame running backs John Riggins and O.J. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. And while the running back position may no longer be king of the hill, several teams this century have benefited by selecting a running back in the first round. A Pro Bowler each season from 2003-05, Alexander won league MVP in 2005 after leading the league in rushing yards (1,880) and rushing touchdowns (27). I expect for the Green Bay Packers to figure out a fair-enough trade package to get Aaron Rodgers out of their building. Owner of the greatest single rushing season in Penn State history, Johnson began his career as Priest Holmes' backup in Kansas City. "Yeah, it was extremely frustrating," Harris said of watching nearly two dozen players get selected before him, via DKPittsburghSports. Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. RB Index: Eight running backs deserving of Hall of Fame recognition - NFL
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