This juicy rumor all began on Saturday when ex-NFL player and fellow CAA client Akbar Gbajabiamila reported that the Eagles were looking to trade for Henry. Dobbins also saw his entire 2021 season wiped out by a torn ACL ahead of what felt like a potential big Year 2. MORE Top 50 Players in BYU Football History Nos. 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. Maurice Jones-Drew evaluated every running back who started a game during the 2022 NFL regular season to create a COMPLETE ranking, from 1 to 75. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey), Pittsburgh Steelers fans will whine until Bettis gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ARIZONA CARDINALS: QB Jim Hart (1966-1983). Despite his abbreviated prime, Alexander is 36th on the league's career rushing list. Lynch ran through his opponents (See: Beast Quake vs. Saints) and made the Seahawks one of the scariest rushing attacks during their heyday. Maurice Jones-Drew identifies five running backs who can save their teams' seasons down the stretch. When Barry Sanders arrived in Detroit, then-coach Wayne Fontes wanted him to wear No. Of the 31 runners to have done it, 16 are in the Hall and two more are locks (Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore). Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. He's still a powerful runner with some pop to finish drives and reel off some long runs, but he also has developed into a reliable short-area receiver for Tom Brady. Mixon had teased of a big season early in his career. 2020 stats: 145 carries, 625 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 11 receptions on 14 targets,123 receiving yards, 3 total TDs. The physical, bruising back was consistently great and a player defenses had to plan for throughout his career. 2021 stats: 119 carries, 517 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 19 receptions on 23 targets, 129 receiving yards, 6 total TDs. With Chicago also turning to a Green Bay-like rushing attack for more explosiveness, Montgomery's precarious lead role will be challenged by second-year man Khalil Herbert. A true workhorse who carried the ball 403 times in 2000 for the Tennessee Titans. 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. 1 spot? 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. 106. I can give numerous reasons why we shouldn't be devalued. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. A three-time Pro Bowler, Ingram enjoyed considerable success in New Orleans before rushing for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns for theRavensin 2019. Taylor was an extraordinary teammate who exemplified everything it meant to be a professional. I have five benchmarks that I use -- and I've written about them before -- to decide whether a running back is worthy of a gold jacket: Each of the players discussed below check a number (if not all) of these boxes and, in my opinion, deserve Hall of Fame recognition. It was worth it as the . (National Football League), Foreman was a perfect runner for those frigid days at the Met in Minneapolis. The Saints have had to lean more on Kamara's rushing on top of his consistent receiving in the past two seasons and he's proved to have the legs for it, even with some missed time. He won Offensive Player of the Year as a rookie in 1996, and then made four straight Pro Bowls. 2021 stats: 225 carries, 849 rushing yards, 3.8 yards per carry, 42 receptions on 51 targets, 301 receiving yards, 7 total TDs, Vinnie Iyer is an NFL writer at The Sporting News. Jones was only the third Lions rookie for rush for over 1,000 yards after gaining 1,133 yards in 2011. In 2011, the 30-year-old running back earned his second Pro Bowl selection while helping the Broncos advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. A neck injury flattened the rest of his career, and he remained quiet and elusive about his health and future. 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). He ran for a career-high 1,047 yards and 10 touchdowns that included a franchise-record 228 yards against the Rams. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He bolstered his rsum after being traded to the Patriots in 2004, racking up a career-high 1,635 rush yards and 12 TDs in his first season in New England. Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2003), New England Patriots (2004-06). But, a bronze Canton bust is far from a certainty, so let's look at the best backs not in the Hall. Do you have a sports website? 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). No. The Falcons won just 10 games during Jackson's two seasons in Atlanta, however, thus leading to Jackson signing with the Patriots with the hope of winning a championship. Riley retired with 65 interceptions, which is tied for the fifth-highest total in NFL history. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Marshall, who was still a starter at age 42, helped the Vikings win three NFC titles along with the NFL championship in 1969. Left and right arrows move across top level links and expand / close menus in sub levels. The speedy Johnson earned Pro Bowl honors during his first three seasons with theTitans. While healthy, Martin was a very good player. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Bush enjoyed more success after leaving New Orleans. Championship Rings: 1. He gained over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns during his first two seasons in Carolina. He was an impossible matchup for opponents at the height of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty in the 1980s. He doesn't offer much as a receiver but he gets the yards that are there with good burst. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He was a better receiver than he is given credit for and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XXV. Here is part of the last pair of teammates to make the cut. First, he's missed 10 games in his first two seasons. Craig's piston-pumping high knees were one of the signature styles of the decade, and he was the perfect weapon for Bill Walsh's creative offense. . The 14th overall pick in the 1974 draft, Gradishar earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1977 while leading Denver's "Orange Crush" defense, a unit that helped spearhead the Broncos' first Super Bowl appearance. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be revealed next Thursday during NFL Honors (airs live at 9 p.m. A severe spinal injury forced Wilson to retire after just 21 games. Many more would argue that he is the best football player . For a list of other positions, click here. Hall of Fame running back and Chargers legend LaDainian Tomlinson knows a thing or two about the trenches. 3: Roger Craig -- One of the best multi-purpose backs ever, he was the first to run for 1,000 yards and catch another 1,000 in the same season. As we remember Chuck Muncie, it's pertinent to reflect on the greatest running backs in NFL history who are not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Named the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1966 by Sporting News, Nobis recorded a whopping 294 tackles that season. On the field, he had speed, vision and the ability to shred through defenses. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. 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. Durability and conditioning are mild concerns as he might start to cede some key work to rookie Rachaad White. With that in mind, we decided to rank each running back that was selected in the first round between 2000-20. If you want to recognize him for being a guy who hung around longer than most big backs, fine. (National Football League), Before there was Kurt Warner, Curt was a pretty fair running back for the Seattle Seahawks. Tomlinson was named league MVP in 2006 after scoring an NFL-record 31 touchdowns. Would Henry thrive in Philadelphia? George was the league's best workhorse on the rugged Tennessee Titans teams of the late 1990s. In 2011, Brown ran for five scores while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. For whatever the reason, there are numerous deserving players who are still hoping to earn a spot in football immortality. While somewhat underwhelming, Green still managed to rack up 1,000 all-purpose yards while helping theBrownsmake the playoffs during this rookie season. The Doug Pederson-Press Taylor offense also caters well to Etienne's versatility. A 1,000-yard rusher for three different franchises, McGahee earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2007 as a member of the Ravens. Although this rumor sounds too strange to be made up, lets discuss if there is any validity to this. Injuries have considerably limited Michel's impact over the past two seasons. Marshall Faulk <br>1994-2005 Franco Harris Franco Harris<br>1972-1984 Frank Gifford Frank Gifford<br>1952-1960, 1962-64 Gale Sayers Gale Sayers<br>1965-1971 Hugh McElhenny Hugh McElhenny<br>1952-1964 Jim Brown Jim Brown<br>1957-1965 Jim Taylor Jim Taylor<br>1958-1967 Joe Perry Joe Perry<br>1948-1963 John Henry Johnson He hit the 1,000-yard mark again for theLionsin 2013. 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. Injuries to Holmes opened the door for Johnson, who rushed for over 3,500 yards and 37 touchdowns during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He's also one of eight players in league history with 10,000-plus career rush yards and 4,000-plus career receiving yards. (AP Photo/PKS), One of the big backs who burned out a little bit too quickly. Unlike most induction classes, there was not a single member of this year's class that got in on the first ballot. But for my money, I'd rather celebrate a guy who had a huge impact and was the best at his position instead of a guy who was all right for a number of years (looking at you, Bettis). Injuries, however, along with the eventual emergence ofLeGarrette Blountultimately contributed to Williams never duplicating his rookie success. Maurice Jones-Drew says yes. Teams: 49ers (1983-90); Raiders (1991); Vikings (1992-93). Although Elliott is still the lead in the Cowboys' eyes, it's become more of a 1-2 punch with the latter helping the former stay effective with less mid-career wear. He handled a high volume and earned everything he could despite a limited downfield passing game and some blocking 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. I expect for the Green Bay Packers to figure out a fair-enough trade package to get Aaron Rodgers out of their building. While he failed to live up to pre-draft expectations, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner did have several productive seasons that included helping the Giants reach the Super Bowl during his rookie season. Multiple concussions resulted in Best appearing in just 22 NFL games. The 10,000-yard plateau is a good one to cross for that gold jacket. Cook just needs to come through with full health for his Age-27 season. Jacksonville Jaguars (1998-2008), New England Patriots (2009-2010). Nobis' early success earned him a place on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s. I only remember him from NFL Films footage because he's another great running back whose career was cut short by injuries. Little (1967-75) was. Holmes was absolutely unstoppable for those three seasons in the Kansas City Chiefs' high-powered attack. A menacing pass rusher, Greenwood sacked Roger Staubach a record four times in the Steelers' Super Bowl X victory over theCowboys. The Browns will lean on Chubb a lot again until Deshaun Watson can boost them at QB. But his production plummeted after breaking his collarbone during the 2014 season. 2021 stats: 151 carries, 541 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 62 receptions on 78 targets, 452 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. Definitely, but trading for him could compromise the Birds future. The Titans came within 1 yard(!) Plus, how far did Josh Jacobs climb in MJD's top 15 RB rankings after a huge performance last week? (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. He also led the NFL in passing yards in consecutive seasons. 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. From 2011 to '14, he had at least 1,200 rush yards and 11 rush TDs per season -- leading the league in rush TDs in both 2013 (12) and 2014 (13). The fourth-year running back was traded today to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for draft picks. However, he only spent three of those years with the . A Pro Bowler each season from 1983-86, Jacoby's blocking helped John Riggins rush for a then Super Bowl record in Washington's win over Miami in Super Bowl XVII. I agree to receive the "With The First Pick Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Smith's extreme competitiveness more than made up for his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. A four-time Pro Bowler, Anderson led the NFL in completion percentage three times. Freeman McNeil, New York Jets: 1981-1992 1 of 10 9. 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. He was the last running back to win MVP, and there's a chance we may not see it happen again for a very long time with how pass-happy the league has become. "Yeah, it was extremely frustrating," Harris said of watching nearly two dozen players get selected before him, via DKPittsburghSports. Hall is a great fit for the zone blocking scheme of Mike LaFleur and will benefit from a further upgraded offensive line and the downfield passing game getting more attention. Ward is considered the most physical receiver of his era. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Faulk's statistics weren't just gaudy numbers for a bad team. Simpson and Marcus Allen. He rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of his first five seasons -- joining Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson and LaDainian Tomlinson as the only other two players to do so in NFL history. But Taylor's quietexcellence was the central part of the Jags' identity for years. In 1984, Matthews led the league with 126 tackles while also posting 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. 2021 stats: 130 carries, 719 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 39 receptions on 46 targets, 337 receiving yards, 2 total TDs. 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. Chubb is known for his chunk running and special burst that comes out of his powerful style. Thomas received just 18 starts during his first four NFL seasons. At 26, MIxon should maintain that momentum of production. There are still a slew of eligible former players who are still waiting for their call to Canton, Ohio. Knee problems may ultimately keep Gurley from going down as an all-time great. 219 pick. That season, Perry caught 51 passes, the most by a Bengals running back since James Brooks in 1986. 2021 stats:202 carries, 752 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, 37 receptions on 39 targets, 375 receiving yards, 18 total TDs. 2021 stats:332 carries, 1,811 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 51 targets, 360 receiving yards, 20 total TDs. A four-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL's All-1980s Team, Craig became the first player in league history to have 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season (1985). His 46-yard touchdown sealed Kansas City's 23-7 win over theVikings, the last game ever played between the rival leagues. In a Hall-of-Fame career . He also could handle a bigger role in the passing game if needed, which might be the case if the team moves Kareem Hunt. Ultimately, the Eagles fit for Henry is not as perfect as we initially thought. He then resurfaced in Arizona, where he was theCardinals' leading rusher before an injury prematurely ended his 2015 season. 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. Though Gore's been seen in the boxing ring of late, he hasn't officially closed the door on an NFL return. A 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing two times and rushing touchdowns three times. The five-time Pro Bowl running back was a scoring machine in the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl XXIX win, with three TDs and 108 scrimmage yards on 18 touches. 1 pick has boom-bust potential. One of two former Auburn running backs selected in the first round, Williams won Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for nearly 1,200 yards. Among those players are former offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg, receivers Mark Duper andMark Claytonand running back Ricky Williams. I am on the fence over the Arizona Cardinals possibly moving on from DeAndre Hopkins. He should be in for a big Year 2 to put an offense in transition on his back. Did he reach 10,000 rush yards in his career? 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. The prototype running back for today's NFL, Gordon earned two Pro Bowl nods during his first four seasons in the NFL. The league's top prospects stepped into the NFL Photo studio for Draft portraits. Pitta piled up 2,901 receiving yards on 221 receptions in his four years with the Cougars. Dolphins (2005-10); Eagles (2011); Chargers (2012-14); Texans (2014). (National Football League), Craig was a huge part of the San Francisco 49ers' success during the 1980s. In 1985, he became the first running back in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in both receiving and rushing. Tomlinson is tied for 80th with 626 catches and Allen is 100th with 587. In fact, he was the first Cowboys player to be selected to the All-Pro list (1962). Bears (2005-07); Bengals (2008-11); Packers (2012). Simpson. In 12 seasons, he amassed 11,102 rush yards, 73 rush TDs and averaged a respectable 4.5 yards per carry. 2021 stats: 187 carries, 803 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 34 receptions on 37 targets, 313 receiving yards, 7 total TDs. The only running back on this list, Craig played an integral role in the 49ers' success during the 1980s. He was never the same after that. 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. He also led the NFL in touchdown receptions on two separate occasions. He has enjoyed a career resurgence with theBuccaneers, as Tampa Bay went 7-0 with Fournette in its starting lineup during the 2020 season. Spiller's career had an uphill trajectory during his first three seasons. 's Top-5 Takeaways from Day 1 of March Madness, Stern: Panthers' trade up to No. McAllister's 6,096 rushing yards remains the Saints' career rushing record. All Rights Reserved. No. Jim Brown is a superb choice to start a list of top running backs of all time. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. 1 spot? Or write about sports? Hayes helped the Raiders win their second Super Bowl that season. He also helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for a second straight year. Saints (2006-10); Dolphins (2011-12); Lions (2013-14); 49ers (2015); Bills (2016). 2021 stats: 171 carries, 799 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 52 receptions on 65 targets, 391 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. Now he's still in recovery mode in a much more crowded backfield and his receiving aspect is set to be curbed. Through three seasons, the former San Diego State standout has rushed for just 823 yards on 161 carries for theSeahawks. He was an absolute force out of the backfield, and I witnessed Taylor's greatness firsthand in Jacksonville over my first three seasons in the league (2006-08). 20 in homage to Sims. 2021 stats:207 carries, 963 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry, 19 receptions on 20 targets, 137 receiving yards, 6 total TDs. After sharing a backfield for two seasons, the former Ohio State Buckeye took advantage of his elevated role in 2011. Dillon had the size (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) and physical style similar to Eddie George. All-time Super Bowl QB rankings: Where do Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow slot in? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Jones didn't have a chance against Tasker, who beat Jones on an inside move before blocking Mike Saxon's punt. When you look at the 30 running backs with 10,000 or more rushing yards, Gore doesn't even stand out among the nonmembers of the Hall of Fame. By 2012, he earned Pro Bowl honors after rushing for 1,244 yards and averaging 6 yards per carry. 1 / 60 6. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli), Andrews went to four consecutive Pro Bowls for the Atlanta Falcons from 1980-83.
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