Who is the best running back in NFL history?

Question

this I am sure will raise a lot of contoversy, but i am thinking it is between Bo Jackson (4.12 40 time), and Jim Brown (1,000 yards consistently in 12 game seasons).

Answer 1

You have to give it to Barry Sanders. He did so much with so little. He averaged 1,500 yards a season with an awful Lion team over the course of ten years. Andd 1993 was the only season where he didn't reach 1,500 total yards and he gained 2,000 yards rushing 2 years before he retired.

Then I would go with Emmitt Smith. 11 straight 1,000 yard seasons. But what really catches ones eye is his 174 career touchdowns to along along with his incredible durability. He also helped lead the Cowboys to 3 championships while performing exceptionally well during the playoffs. Durability is an extremely important component to runningbacks in the NFL and that's what propelled him to 18,000 career rushing yards.

Jim brown is definately next with 12,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in 9 seasons. His finess and power made him one of the most feared backs of all time. He was 6'2" and 230 pounds in the 60's when that was the size of lineman! He was an amazing physical specimen who will always be inthe debate as one of the best of all time.

Walter Payton- Over 20,000 total career yards. Sweetness.

Eric Dickerson- Had 2,000 yards in his second season. He got worn down after that and still managed 13,000 career rushing yards with a 4.4 YPC.

O.J. Simpson- First 2,000 yard rusher, with 1,000 in 6 straight seasons

Gale Sayers- The most elusive runner until some guy named Barry. Could have been the greatest had it not been for 2 injuries . . . that could have been treated with todays medicine.

Then . . . .
Tony Dorsett
LaDainian Tomlinson- Will eventually be top 5.
Jim Taylor
Franco Harris
Earl Cambell
Marcus Allen

Bo Jackson-
"One of the best runnin' backs there never was
Movin' like Barry Sanders, leavin' you in the dust"

That's all there is to it . . . d12 "My Ballz"

Answer 2

Walter Payton
There has never been – nor will there ever be – another Walter Payton. The aptly named “Sweetness” was, in my mind, the best running back to ever lace up a pair of cleats in NFL history.

Not only did Payton retire as the league’s all-time leading rusher, but he accomplished the feat by being a model of consistency that has only been matched by one other runner in NFL history.

The fourth player chosen in the 1975 NFL draft, the 5-10 Payton retired with 16,726 total yards and 10 seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards, 275 yards rushing in one game against Minnesota in 1977, 77 games with more than 100 yards rushing, and 110 rushing touchdowns. He also scored an extraordinary 750 points on 125 touchdowns – in an era when offenses weren’t nearly as potent – or liberal.

One thing I think most people may not remember is that Payton carried the Chicago Bears’ offense for several years when they were absolutely atrocious. The Bears’ favorite – and best – play during those lean years before they finally broke through and won a Super Bowl title in 1985, was to run Payton to the left, to the right or up the middle. They were that bad.
Payton however, still managed to win the NFC rushing title five straight years from 1976 to 1980. He was named both, All-Pro and All-NFC, seven times and played in nine Pro Bowl games. Payton was selected as the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1977 and 1985, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1977 and 1985 and the NFC Most Valuable Player in 1977.

One of the things I loved about Payton was his durability. Payton missed one game in his rookie season and then played in 186 consecutive games over the remaining 12 seasons of his career. I loved the way he delivered more punishment to would-be tacklers than he received himself and the fact that he was always the first player up off the field after a tackle. Payton set the standard for every running back to follow in his immense footsteps. However, as I said in my opening sentence – there will never be another “Sweetness” – the best running back in NFL history.

Answer 3

my list would be:

1. Walter Payton. Even as a lifelong Lions fan, and as much as I love Barry Sanders, I don't think I could justify selecting Sanders over Payton in a mock draft. Payton had something Barry didn't. The ability to choose how to hurt defenses. With Sanders, you knew he was gonna try to go around you...but with Sweetness, he had the ability to either go around you, or go OVER you. He was quick and agile, but, he was also incredibly strong, and could barrel over people as well.

2. Barry Sanders. Nobody was more feared as a RB than Barry, no other RB in NFL history was worth watching a terrible team play, just so you had the chance to see one of his runs. Barry Sanders was the feature attraction in Detroit, and people watched, just because of him.

3. Jim Brown. Like Sanders, more one dimensional than Payton, but the other way. While Sanders went around you and made you look like a fool, Brown ran over you like a Mack truck making you look like a little boy. Brown lacked the elusiveness factor though, so like Sanders, not quite the total package.

4. Emmitt Smith. Based on his owning the rushing title, you would think he would be higher, but he is lucky he even makes my list. Ask yourself a simple question...flip his and Barry Sander's teams around. If Barry were a Cowboy, and Smith a Lion, who would own the rushing title? Would Emmitt even be in the discussion? Put Barry Sanders behind the Cowboys line, he sets the rushing title so high, its doubtful anyone could ever catch him. Put Emmitt Smith behind the Lions offensive line, Emmitt is lucky to break 10,000 for his career.

5. Bo Jackson. This is based more on potential than anything else. After watching him play his short NFL career, I firmly believe that had Bo not played baseball, and not wrecked his hip, with his speed and strength, he WOULD have set the bar so high it would be untouchable. Bo was a faster, stronger Walter Payton. Had he been able to play a full career, he would be a unanimous #1 choice. However, his career was cut short, so, its just wouldacouldashouldadidn't. But, I can respect his pure talent enough to include.


In a few years, LaDanian Tomlinson could be high on my list though...he is having a Hall of Fame career...

Answer 4

Thanx to all that said Mr. Barry Sanders. I'm a Detroit Lions fan...no, seriously, i am...i ain't jokin'. I've been bleeding on the inside for years, my Lions are the laughing stock of the NFL, we are pathetic. Thas cool, imma stick with my team, i'm a loyal fan. Barry Sanders without a doubt. Just look at what he did with the line he had. And he had to touch the ball like 30 to 40 times a game. We never had a "great" quaterback or a "great" reciever, all we had was Barry and look at what this guy did. Imagine Barry with the line of somebody like the Chargers, Seahawks, or the Steelers...it would've been crazy. My man, Barry Sanders, thanx for the good times bcuz the bad times are killin' me right now, lol.

Answer 5

I think that the best overal running back in the history of the NFL would have to be between Barry sanders and Emitt smith

Barry sanders--- had 1500 yards in 8 straight seasons

Emitt Smith---- Record for most Rushing yards in a career

Answer 6

There is 3 that I put in the same class....
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Jim Brown
They all had diffrent styles yet the were all very affective and dynamic to watch......Stats...They all have them ..............I can't even believe that you would put Bo Jackson even in the same room 4 that matter as these 3 players.....He couldn't even hold on to any 3 of these players jock strap with out drooling.........Be REAL Bo don't know what it is like to be at the top of the running back chain.......

Answer 7

barry sanders of course. Most yards from scrimmage and most yards lost (never had a O-line). If he had not lost half those yards only image what the totals would be. On top of all that he retired about 3 or 4 years to soon.

Answer 8

Barry Sanders

Answer 9

Jim Brown? maybe. Bo Jackson? f*ck no. 40 time has nothing to do with it. I would put walter payton and barry sanders into that mix as well.

Answer 10

Walter Payton