All you have to say is their first name, and NFL fans know exactly who you are talking about.
For much of the history of the NFL, star running backs equaled–and sometimes exceeded–the level of adulation accorded to quarterbacks. While that may no longer be true today, there’s no question that the NFL has been blessed with many truly exceptional rushers over the years. Pundits and bettors know that to be a fact because running back quality figures prominently into their NFL picks.
So, who were the NFL’s best of the best–the G.O.A.Ts.–at running back? Here are my eight picks.
What a workhorse! (photo courtesy Dallas Cowboys)
Emmitt Smith: A star player with a claim to be the greatest of all time, Smith almost seemed to come from a different universe to the players around him. The all-time rushing yards and rushing touchdown leader, he also recorded 515 receptions during his career. His sheer talent and mastery of the position made him an integral part of the Dallas Cowboys franchise, with whom he won three Super Bowls in the 1990s.
Marcus Allen: Allen finished his career with a huge total of 12,243, achieving an astonishing level of longevity in performing at the top level for 16 seasons. He also finished his career with over 5,000 receiving yards and 144 touchdowns. A key player for the Los Angeles Raiders, he was a Super Bowl winner in 1984.
Eric Dickerson: Dickerson burst onto the NFL scene with an incredible rookie season, rushing for 1,808 yards. Then he backed up that success with an even more impressive second season of 2,105, which is still an NFL record. He couldn’t maintain that astonishing performance level, but he finished his career with 13,259 rushing yards and 96 touchdowns. He was also the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1983, the Offensive Player of the Year in 1986, and a six-time Pro Bowl pick.
Curtis Martin: A consistent presence in the running back position throughout his career, Martin passed the 1,000 rushing yards mark in 10 seasons, missing that target only once. With a career total of 14,101 rushing yards and 100 total touchdowns, he was a five-time Pro Bowler and, like Dickerson, was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, starring for both the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.
LaDanian the Great (photo courtesy Chargers)
LaDainian Tomlinson: A true NFL phenomenon, Tomlinson hit 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first eight seasons, achieving a peak of 1,815 yards, along with 31 touchdowns and the MVP award at the age of 27 in 2006. He is ranked second in the list of all-time rushing touchdowns and seventh in the all-time rankings of rushing yards. He also made an enormous contribution with his passing game, boasting a 71.9% catch record and 4,772 receiving yards during his career with the San Diego Chargers and the New York Jets.
Marshall Faulk: A once-in-a-generation talent, Faulk finished his 12-season NFL career with 12,279 rushing yards, as well as 136 touchdowns. He also holds the record as the running back to have achieved the most receiving yards, 6,875. A Super Bowl winner with the St Louis Rams, he was MVP in the 2000 season and a seven-time Pro-Bowler during his illustrious career.
Barry Sanders: Without question, Sanders is one of the greatest running backs ever to play in the NFL, and each of his ten seasons in the league was outstanding. His consistency was astonishing; even in his final season, he recorded a total of 1,491 rushing yards. He finished with more than 15,000 yards and 99 touchdowns. Though the relatively uncompetitive Detroit Lions franchise could not take him to the Super Bowl, he was named Offensive Player of the Year twice.
Walter Payton: Second only to Emmitt Smith in the list of all-time rushing yards, Payton finished his career with 16,726, along with the fifth highest number of touchdowns, 110. His all-round excellence in the running back position was emphasized by his career total of 4,538 receiving yards. Named in the Pro Bowl nine times, Payton was awarded MVP in 1977 and was part of the Chicago Bears team that won Super Bowl XX. Tragically, Payton passed away at 45 due to a rare liver disease, but his NFL legacy lives on through the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
