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TT Greatest Running Backs of All-Time

Bulls on Parade said:
Scooter, I'm confused by your mention of the Buccs? Did you mean the Raiders, Royals or White Sox? What other pro teams did Bo Jackson play for? Or perhaps I am reading your post wrong.
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Jackson was drafted #1 overall by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986, didn't sign and re-entered the draft in 1987 where he was taken by the Raiders.
 
Jackson may have been the greatest athlete to play RB in the NFL. But one of the greatest RBs? I didn't see it. Yes, you need physical gifts to succeed at RB. But the truly greats had vision and instincts I never saw Jackson possess. Even had Bo played a full career, I would have compared him more to Hershel Walker. Amazing power and speed. But lacked that special something the greats had.
 
#18t
Motley_Marion_05.jpg

Marion Motley
Born: June 5, 1920
Years Active: 1946-53, 55
Height: 6'1 Weight: 238
Stats: 4,720 yds, 5.7 ypc, 31 tds, 85 rec, 1,107 yds, 7 tds
1x NFL Rushing Leader, 1x AAFC Rushing Leader, 1x Pro Bowl, NFL Champion '50, 4x AAFC Champion, HoF

Points: 19
Votes: 1
Ranked Highest by: Heath Shuler (2nd)

 
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#18t
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Marshawn Lynch
Born: April 22, 1986
Years Active: 2007-2015, 17-present
Height: 5'11 Weight: 215
Stats: 9,112 yds, 4.3 ypc, 74 tds, 252 rec, 1,979 yds, 9 tds
2x NFL Rushing Leader, 5x Pro Bowl, NFL SB Champion (XLVIII)

Points: 19
Votes: 3
Ranked Highest by: Texecutioner (10th)

 
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Lucky said:
Jackson was drafted #1 overall by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986, didn't sign and re-entered the draft in 1987 where he was taken by the Raiders.
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How old must you be to know that?! I'm upset I missed it.
I was still wearing diapers in 1986. I didn't even know that.
Usually I am good at sports trivia. That one blew my mind.

And by the way, Emmitt Smith, was the greatest RB I had ever seen.
Longevity, vision, pass blocking, he was the total package.
He played for a stacked team, greatest O-Line, etc... etc...
But if he played on a bad team I think he would have still been good.

I liked Barry Sanders, also, but he ran backwards a lot as well.
He'd lose 3 or 4 yards and then gain 30 or 40 by dancing around.
North and south runners always impressed me more for some reason.

Eric Dickerson, I barely caught the end of his career.
He was amazing as well. I wish I was older to have seen his best days.
Ditto for Walter Payton. I saw the ending of his Hall of Fame career.
 
Nice work, Mollywhopper!

Really excited for the final list. Love the suspense you are keeping us in releasing them slowly. Look forward to following along.
 
#17
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Terrell Davis
Born: October 28, 1972
Years Active: 1995-2001
Height: 5'11 Weight: 210
Stats: 7,607 yds, 4.6 ypc, 60 tds, 169 rec, 1,280 yds, 5 tds
1x NFL Rushing Leader, 2,000-Yard Club, 3x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '98, 2x NFL SB Champion (XXXII, XXXIII), SB MVP (XXXII)

Points: 23
Votes: 3
Ranked Highest by: Double Barrel (10th)
 
Excellent idea for a thread. There were some guys I'd forgotten about.

Surprised there were few so mentions of Lenny Moore, Jimmy Taylor, or Paul Hornung (or basically anyone before 1970-ish).

I'll check back in a month to see the final list.

Hate being strung along.
 
Mollywhopper said:
#17
hwd57vY9hZxjWLKRrt9anD-Ct5x_7swbEG30ceiFsVg.jpg

Terrell Davis
Born: October 28, 1972
Years Active: 1995-2001
Height: 5'11 Weight: 210
Stats: 7,607 yds, 4.6 ypc, 60 tds, 169 rec, 1,280 yds, 5 tds
1x NFL Rushing Leader, 2,000-Yard Club, 3x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '98, 2x NFL SB Champion (XXXII, XXXIII), SB MVP (XXXII)

Points: 23
Votes: 3
Ranked Highest by: Double Barrel (10th)
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Mollywhopper said:
#17
B
hwd57vY9hZxjWLKRrt9anD-Ct5x_7swbEG30ceiFsVg.jpg

Terrell Davis
Born: October 28, 1972
Years Active: 1995-2001
Height: 5'11 Weight: 210
Stats: 7,607 yds, 4.6 ypc, 60 tds, 169 rec, 1,280 yds, 5 tds
1x NFL Rushing Leader, 2,000-Yard Club, 3x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '98, 2x NFL SB Champion (XXXII, XXXIII), SB MVP (XXXII)

Points: 23
Votes: 3
Ranked Highest by: Double Barrel (10th)
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Big Terrell Davis fan here (to the chagrin of my brother & sons who are big Chiefs fans and hate all things Broncos), but TD maybe the greatest ZBS back ever as he excelled with the one cut and go philosophy of Line coach Gibbs. Shorter career do to knee injury but made it to the HOF anyway, or will go in this summer as I recall.
 
IDEXAN said:
Big Terrell Davis fan here (to the chagrin of my brother & sons who are big Chiefs fans and hate all things Broncos), but TD maybe the greatest ZBS back ever as he excelled with the one cut and go philosophy of Line coach Gibbs. Shorter career do to knee injury but made it to the HOF anyway, or will go in this summer as I recall.
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Am also a big fan... but Mike Anderson had a phenomenal year with the same team around him so I wonder...

He was a sight to see tho
 
I might take heat for this but I don't think Davis stacks up with the historically great at his position. He did have a great three year prime but that was basically his career. I think he is more an example of the right guy finding the perfect situation at the perfect time. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Same thing could be said about Arian Foster.

Honestly, I think people only remember him in this kind of light because of his playoff performances in 97-98 (which were indeed great). I'd argue that Priest Holmes had a better prime. But he isn't remembered the same way because he didn't get to play on a great team like Davis did. He only got to play in one playoff game with the Chiefs (ran for 176 and 2 TDs but the defense gave up 38 points) and they lost.

Here is comparing the three-year prime of the three guys I mentioned (defense rank is average of three seasons):

Davis:
6110 Yards and 53 TDs from scrimmage
3x All-Pro
John Elway and #7 Defense

Holmes:
6566 Yards and 61 TDs from scrimmage
3x All-Pro
Trent Green and #23 Defense

Foster:
5702 Yards and 47 TDs from scrimmage
2x All-Pro
Matt Schaub and #14 Defense

Nothing wrong with that three year run at all. I don't think there is any debate that he was a great player, but top 20 all time? I definitely wouldn't have him ranked above Holmes. To each their own though. Different perspectives is what makes things like this fun.
 
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I'll just say that I have a big problem with Terrell Davis being higher than Lynch. I'm not even a Lynch fan, but he had success for a lot more years than Davis did, and Lynch was a hair away from winning two SB's as well and still got one. They both went to back to back SB's, but Lynch was more productive for a lot longer.
 
Texecutioner said:
I'll just say that I have a big problem with Terrell Davis being higher than Lynch. I'm not even a Lynch fan, but he had success for a lot more years than Davis did, and Lynch was a hair away from winning two SB's as well and still got one. They both went to back to back SB's, but Lynch was more productive for a lot longer.
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Heck, I don't see him rated above Alexander and Thomas for that matter
 
bah007 said:
Davis:
6110 Yards and 53 TDs from scrimmage
3x All-Pro
John Elway and #7 Defense

Holmes:
6566 Yards and 61 TDs from scrimmage
3x All-Pro
Trent Green and #23 Defense
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What about pure rushing yards? How does Priest Holmes stack up with TD in that three-year period? Yards from scrimmage is nice and all, catching out of the backfield is a nice luxury, but I enjoy those pure rushers a lot more.

Not that Terrell Davis couldn't catch out of the backfield but I don't recall him being a 600-yard+ receiver like Priest Holmes was. He'd get you only 200 to 300 if my memory is correct. That was when Gary Kubiak was his offensive coordinator in Denver.

I was a Dallas Cowboys fan at the time because the Oilers left Houston (1997 and 1998) when Terrell Davis produced arguably two of the best rushing seasons in NFL History. He sort of made me jealous as an Emmitt Smith fan, who was on the downside of his Hall of Fame career.
 
Texecutioner said:
Thurman had a much better career than Davis.
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Agreed. But my cousin called me a fool for saying that just now. He says Thurman lost four straight Super Bowls and wasn't a champion, while Terrell Davis is a back-to-back Super Bowl champion. I can't argue with those facts even though I tried to reason that it's a team game.

The same reason why Eli Manning is likely a Hall of Famer. 2-0 in Super Bowls against the so-called GOAT in Tom Brady. He's beaten the best team of our generation, featuring the best quarterback and head coach, on the biggest stage. Even if it was the Giants defense that played a big part in that!

One of the reasons I tend to forget why Priest Holmes was so great. Not a lot of playoff success with the Kansas City Chiefs. I remember him more for his Super Bowl win with the 2000 Ravens even if he was just a young kid at the time, and even though that 2000 Ravens defense was stacked.
 
JB said:
Absolutely no way is Eli a HOF'er, likely or not
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I think he'll be a Hall of Fame for the reasons I mentioned.
But also he's still going to play a while longer... 36 years old.
He's already said if he feels good he'll play another 4 or 5 years.

He's going to keep climbing up the all-time passing list.
He's already 8th all time with 48,218 passing yards.
And he's 7th all time with 320 passing Touchdowns.

Again, the fact he's won two Super Bowls against the best team of our generation in the New England Patriots (2-0 record in Super Bowls), and both wins came against the so-called GOAT Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. That's just icing on the cake for his Hall of Fame credentials.

Honestly, I don't see how people think Eli Manning is not a Hall of Famer. Career stats are there. Big-game performances are there. He's got it all. And he's going to keep on playing. What if he wins a third Super Bowl?
 
Bulls on Parade said:
What about pure rushing yards? How does Priest Holmes stack up with TD in that three-year period? Yards from scrimmage is nice and all, catching out of the backfield is a nice luxury, but I enjoy those pure rushers a lot more.

Not that Terrell Davis couldn't catch out of the backfield but I don't recall him being a 600-yard+ receiver like Priest Holmes was. He'd get you only 200 to 300 if my memory is correct. That was when Gary Kubiak was his offensive coordinator in Denver.

I was a Dallas Cowboys fan at the time because the Oilers left Houston (1997 and 1998) when Terrell Davis produced arguably two of the best rushing seasons in NFL History. He sort of made me jealous as an Emmitt Smith fan, who was on the downside of his Hall of Fame career.
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Holmes literally doubled Davis in receptions over that span (206 to 103). Davis did have more rushing yards over that period but I'm not about to punish Holmes for being a stud in the passing game and adding versatility to his offense.

Only five of those TDs in that time span were receiving. Dude had consecutive seasons with 21-27-14 rushing TDs. That's 62 rushing TDs over a three year span. Davis had 60 over his entire seven-year career.

This isn't me hating on Davis at all. But Holmes had 24 total TDs in a season in which he missed two games. Then the next year he had 27. That's up there with the two year prime of anybody in history.
 
#16
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Edgerrin James
Born: August 1, 1978
Years Active: 1999-2009
Height: 6'0 Weight: 219
Stats: 12,246 yds, 4.0 ypc, 80 tds, 433 rec, 3,364 yds, 11 tds
RotY '99, 2x NFL Rushing Leader, 4x Pro Bowl

Points: 27
Votes: 4
Ranked Highest by: Double Barrel (11th)

Summary ...

16. Edgerrin James
17. Terrell Davis
18. Marshawn Lynch
18. Marion Motley
20. Thurman Thomas
20. Shaun Alexander​
 
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TD had a career somewhat like the career of former Bears back Gale Sayers because it ended prematurely due to severe knee injuries. Of course being on two SB winners was also a big factor for Davis being selected for the HOF.
I think the importance of SB victories when a HOF candidates qualifications are under consideration are very debatable.
 
#15
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Curtis Martin
Born: May 1, 1973
Years Active: 1995-2006
Height: 5'11 Weight: 210
Stats: 14,101 yds, 4.0 ypc, 90 tds, 484 rec, 3,329 yds, 10 tds
RotY '95, 1x NFL Rushing Leader, 5x Pro Bowl, HoF

Points: 67
Votes: 7
Ranked Highest by: chicagotexan2 (5th)
 
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Bulls on Parade said:
Honestly, I don't see how people think Eli Manning is not a Hall of Famer. Career stats are there. Big-game performances are there. He's got it all. And he's going to keep on playing. What if he wins a third Super Bowl?
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Simple, because he's "never" been an elite class QB in this entire career. He's had two to three season tops where he was close to some of the elite class numbers wise, but other than that he's been a top 10 to top 15 type of guy. He's also had some horrendous seasons in his career with around 20 INT's. He did play at amazing level of clutch in both post seasons where they won SB's, but barely made the playoffs both seasons. Overall he's always been a "good" QB. Why should just a good QB go to the HOF?
 
#13t
Bo-02.jpg

Bo Jackson
Born: November 30, 1962
Years Active: 1987-1990
Height: 6'1 Weight: 230
Stats: 2,782 yds, 5.4 ypc, 16 tds, 40 rec, 352 yds, 2 tds
1x Pro Bowl

Points: 69
Votes: 5
Ranked Highest by: xtruroyaltyx (2nd)
 
#13t
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Marcus Allen
Born: March 26, 1960
Years Active: 1982-1997
Height: 6'2 Weight: 210
Stats: 12,243 yds, 4.1 ypc, 123 tds, 587 rec, 5,411 yds, 21 tds
RotY '82, 1x Rushing Leader, 6x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '85, SB Champion (XVIII), SB MVP (XVIII), HoF

Points: 69
Votes: 8
Ranked Highest by: Say Watt (5th)
 
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Earl Campbell and Ozzy Osbourne
This montage always wakes me up when I'm tired.

All aboard! Hahaha.... I, I, I, I..

Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe. it's not too late
To learn how to love, and forget how to hate

Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train

 
#12
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Gale Sayers
Born: May 30, 1943
Years Active: 1965-1971
Height: 6'0 Weight: 198
Stats: 4,956 yds, 5.0 ypc, 39 tds, 112 rec, 1,307 yds, 9 tds
RotY '65, 2x Rushing Leader, 4x Pro Bowl, HoF

Points: 94
Votes: 9
Ranked Highest by: TexasCowboy (4th)
 
#11
hi-res-5b36fa418e7cb25121a3b4d3ae80657d_crop_north.jpg

Tony Dorsett
Born: April 7, 1954
Years Active: 1977-1988
Height: 5'11 Weight: 192
Stats: 12,739 yds, 4.3 ypc, 77 tds, 398 rec, 3,554 yds, 13 tds
RotY '77, 4x Pro Bowl, SB Champion (XII), HoF

Points: 124
Votes: 10
Ranked Highest by: infantrycak, TexasCowboy (5th)

Summary ...

11. Tony Dorsett
12. Gale Sayers
13. Marcus Allen
13. Bo Jackson
15. Curtis Martin
16. Edgerrin James
17. Terrell Davis
18. Marshawn Lynch
18. Marion Motley
20. Thurman Thomas
20. Shaun Alexander
​
 
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Barry Sanders is the best RB I've ever seen. I've seen big strong guys come and go. I've seen fast guys come and go. I've yet to see anyone do what Barry Sanders did on the field. To me he is the best RB of all time.
 
PapaL said:
Barry Sanders is the best RB I've ever seen. I've seen big strong guys come and go. I've seen fast guys come and go. I've yet to see anyone do what Barry Sanders did on the field. To me he is the best RB of all time.
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In my opinion if he had a better team around him he may have been, but he did too much dancing around to put him at #1
 
JB said:
In my opinion if he had a better team around him he may have been, but he did too much dancing around to put him at #1
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Lions have been known for finding a true generational talent and screwing them over. I wish both Barry and Megatron had better teams. They were both very special individual players.
 
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#10
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O.J. Simpson
Born: July 9, 1947
Years Active: 1969-1979
Height: 6'1 Weight: 212
Stats: 11,236 yds, 4.7 ypc, 61 tds, 203 rec, 2,142 yds, 14 tds
4x Rushing Leader, 2,000-Yard Club, 5x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '73, HoF

Points: 138
Votes: 10
Ranked Highest by: Lucky (2nd)
 
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PapaL said:
Lions have been known for finding a true generational talent and screwing them over. I wish both Barry and Megatron had better teams. They were both very special individual players.
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They shouldn't have fucked over Bobby Lane. He got them good.
 
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Mollywhopper said:
#10
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O.J. Simpson
Born: July 9, 1947
Years Active: 1969-1979
Height: 6'1 Weight: 212
Stats: 11,236 yds, 4.7 ypc, 61 tds, 203 rec, 2,142 yds, 14 tds
4x Rushing Leader, 5x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '73, HoF

Points: 138
Votes: 10
Ranked Highest by: Lucky (2nd)
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It was tough putting that murdering fvck on my list.
 
Lmao at the oj picture..

Sidenote: You are doing an amazing job with the presentation of the results MW. Kinda wished the results were in a different thread though (not that its bad in here) its just that you are presenting it so nicely that it'd have been nice to see them in a new thread. But this is really cool. I like the anticipation of seeing who will be listed next too.
 
Rather than posting that nauseating photo of O.J. Simpson, you should have displayed some photos of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. We should always remember them instead. They are the ones that will always be inside our hearts.

I refuse to acknowledge a savage murderer like O.J. Simpson. I don't believe he belongs on any all-time greatest running backs list. We shouldn't celebrate or even recognize this guy's achievements as an outstanding athlete for what he has become. The list on this thread loses a lot of credibility to me because he's on there. This thread was very interesting and a lot of fun up until then.
 
Bulls on Parade said:
Rather than posting that nauseating photo of O.J. Simpson, you should have displayed some photos of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. We should always remember them instead. They are the ones that will always be inside our hearts.

I refuse to acknowledge a savage murderer like O.J. Simpson. I don't believe he belongs on any all-time greatest running backs list. We shouldn't celebrate or even recognize this guy's achievements as an outstanding athlete for what he has become. The list on this thread loses a lot of credibility to me because he's on there. This thread was very interesting and a lot of fun up until then.
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This is purely about football. Not what kind of man he was or became decades later after his playing days. I never even thought about that until this post.

If you are taking that position, then include Jim Brown while you're at it and boycott him as well. He was the poster boy of domestic violence, but again this is about how guys performed on the field. Not against their wives and girlfriends.
 
Texecutioner said:
This is purely about football. Not what kind of man he was or became decades later after his playing days. I never even thought about that until this post.

If you are taking that position, then include Jim Brown while you're at it and boycott him as well. He was the poster boy of domestic violence, but again this is about how guys performed on the field. Not against their wives and girlfriends.
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Yep, lots of assholes in the Football and Baseball HOF's.
 
Bulls on Parade said:
Rather than posting that nauseating photo of O.J. Simpson, you should have displayed some photos of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. We should always remember them instead. They are the ones that will always be inside our hearts.

I refuse to acknowledge a savage murderer like O.J. Simpson. I don't believe he belongs on any all-time greatest running backs list. We shouldn't celebrate or even recognize this guy's achievements as an outstanding athlete for what he has become. The list on this thread loses a lot of credibility to me because he's on there. This thread was very interesting and a lot of fun up until then.
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Rather than belly aching from your sopping vagina you should start your own list.

OJ was an all time great running back. He was a murdering dbag. Anyone capable of walking and chewing gum without tripping over themselves should be able to compartmentalize the two.
 
#9
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Adrian Peterson
Born: March 21, 1985
Years Active: 2007-present
Height: 6'1 Weight: 220
Stats: 11,747 yds, 4.9 ypc, 97 tds, 241 rec, 1,945 yds, 5 tds
RotY '07, 3x Rushing Leader, 2,000-Yard Club, 7x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '12

Points: 147
Votes: 12
Ranked Highest by: Heath Shuler, xtruroyaltyx (6th)
 
Mollywhopper said:
#10
5c561f2d7e82afc13e89870efb18e512.jpg

O.J. Simpson​
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I think the jab at O.J. is kinda funny. To the rest ... this is a thread about runningbacks, not people. Through 1993 'Juice' was in the greatest of all time discussion. I get it. Pete Rose isn't allowed in the HoF, but every HoF voter has him on their best players list. I'll try to say it more delicately that Mollywhopper, but this vote is absolutely separate from the person - it's purely who was the best on the field.
 
#7t
ladainian-tomlinson.jpg

LaDainian Tomlinson
Born: June 23, 1979
Years Active: 2001-2011
Height: 5'10 Weight: 215
Stats: 13,684 yds, 4.3 ypc, 145 tds, 624 rec, 4,772 yds, 17 tds
2x Rushing Leader, 5x Pro Bowl, NFL MVP '06, HoF

Points: 152
Votes: 10
Ranked Highest by: Say Watt, xtruroyaltyx, Mollywhopper (3rd)
 
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