NFL Rushing Yards Year-by-Year Leaders

For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
+ Indicates Hall of Famer, season age in parentheses

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Leaders

Leaders Table
Year Player Yds Tm
2025James Cook (26)1,621BUF
2024Saquon Barkley (27)2,005PHI
2023Christian McCaffrey (27)1,459SFO
2022Josh Jacobs (24)1,653LVR
2021Jonathan Taylor (22)1,811IND
2020Derrick Henry (26)2,027TEN
2019Derrick Henry (25)1,540TEN
2018Ezekiel Elliott (23)1,434DAL
2017Kareem Hunt (22)1,327KAN
2016Ezekiel Elliott (21)1,631DAL
2015Adrian Peterson (30)1,485MIN
2014DeMarco Murray (26)1,845DAL
2013LeSean McCoy (25)1,607PHI
2012Adrian Peterson (27)2,097MIN
2011Maurice Jones-Drew (26)1,606JAX
2010Arian Foster (24)1,616HOU
2009Chris Johnson (24)2,006TEN
2008Adrian Peterson (23)1,760MIN
2007LaDainian Tomlinson+ (28)1,474SDG
2006LaDainian Tomlinson+ (27)1,815SDG
2005Shaun Alexander (28)1,880SEA
2004Curtis Martin+ (31)1,697NYJ
2003Jamal Lewis (24)2,066BAL
2002Ricky Williams (25)1,853MIA
2001Priest Holmes (28)1,555KAN
2000Edgerrin James+ (22)1,709IND
1999Edgerrin James+ (21)1,553IND
1998Terrell Davis+ (26)2,008DEN
1997Barry Sanders+ (29)2,053DET
1996Barry Sanders+ (28)1,553DET
1995Emmitt Smith+ (26)1,773DAL
1994Barry Sanders+ (26)1,883DET
1993Emmitt Smith+ (24)1,486DAL
1992Emmitt Smith+ (23)1,713DAL
1991Emmitt Smith+ (22)1,563DAL
1990Barry Sanders+ (22)1,304DET
1989Christian Okoye (28)1,480KAN
1988Eric Dickerson+ (28)1,659IND
1987Charles White (29)1,374RAM
1986Eric Dickerson+ (26)1,821RAM
1985Marcus Allen+ (25)1,759RAI
1984Eric Dickerson+ (24)2,105RAM
1983Eric Dickerson+ (23)1,808RAM
1982Freeman McNeil (23)786NYJ
1981George Rogers (23)1,674NOR
1980Earl Campbell+ (25)1,934HOU
1979Earl Campbell+ (24)1,697HOU
1978Earl Campbell+ (23)1,450HOU
1977Walter Payton+ (24)1,852CHI
1976O.J. Simpson+ (29)1,503BUF
1975O.J. Simpson+ (28)1,817BUF
1974Otis Armstrong (24)1,407DEN
1973O.J. Simpson+ (26)2,003BUF
1972O.J. Simpson+ (25)1,251BUF
1971Floyd Little+ (29)1,133DEN
1970Larry Brown (23)1,125WAS
1969Gale Sayers+ (26)1,032CHI
1969Dickie Post (24)873SDG
1968Leroy Kelly+ (26)1,239CLE
1968Paul Robinson (24)1,023CIN
1967Jim Nance (25)1,216BOS
1967Leroy Kelly+ (25)1,205CLE
1966Jim Nance (24)1,458BOS
1966Gale Sayers+ (23)1,231CHI
1965Jim Brown+ (29)1,544CLE
1965Paul Lowe (29)1,121SDG
1964Jim Brown+ (28)1,446CLE
1964Cookie Gilchrist (29)981BUF
1963Jim Brown+ (27)1,863CLE
1963Clem Daniels (26)1,099OAK
1962Jim Taylor+ (27)1,474GNB
1962Cookie Gilchrist (27)1,096BUF
1961Jim Brown+ (25)1,408CLE
1961Billy Cannon (24)948HOU
1960Jim Brown+ (24)1,257CLE
1960Abner Haynes (23)875DTX
1959Jim Brown+ (23)1,329CLE
1958Jim Brown+ (22)1,527CLE
1957Jim Brown+ (21)942CLE
1956Rick Casares (25)1,126CHI
1955Alan Ameche (22)961BAL
1954Joe Perry+ (27)1,049SFO
1953Joe Perry+ (26)1,018SFO
1952Dan Towler (24)894RAM
1951Eddie Price (26)971NYG
1950Marion Motley+ (30)810CLE
1949Steve Van Buren+ (29)1,146PHI
1949Joe Perry+ (22)783SFO
1948Marion Motley+ (28)964CLE
1948Steve Van Buren+ (28)945PHI
1947Spec Sanders (29)1,432NYY
1947Steve Van Buren+ (27)1,008PHI
1946Spec Sanders (28)709NYY
1946Bill Dudley+ (25)604PIT
1945Steve Van Buren+ (25)832PHI
1944Bill Paschal (23)737NYG
1943Bill Paschal (22)572NYG
1942Bill Dudley+ (21)696PIT
1941Pug Manders (28)486BKN
1940Whizzer White (23)514DET
1939Bill Osmanski (24)699CHI
1938Whizzer White (21)567PIT
1937Cliff Battles+ (27)874WAS
1936Tuffy Leemans+ (24)830NYG
1935Doug Russell (24)499CRD
1934Beattie Feathers (25)1,004CHI
1933Jim Musick (23)809BOS
1932Cliff Battles+ (22)576BOS