List of NFL Top 100 Players of All Time Part 4

The greatest NFL rushers in history

 The NFL’s All-Time Top 100 list isn’t just a ranking; it’s a pantheon of legends – the running backs who carved through defenses like a hot knife through butter. This piece will delve into the dynamic rushers who graced the gridiron and displayed their offensive brilliance. We’ll meet the elusive running backs who left defenders grasping at air with their shifty moves and explosive speed. Prepare to be transported back through NFL history as we explore the careers of these offensive powerhouses. The running backs redefined the game and forever etched their names in the league’s most prestigious ranking.

This article takes a deep dive into the prestigious NFL Top 100 list, a dynamic ranking meticulously compiled by current and former players, coaches, and media experts mixed with the database values of Pro-Football-Reference. We’ll unravel the criteria distinguishing the elite from the exceptional, examining factors like on-field dominance, leadership qualities, and lasting impact on the game.

A few years ago, the NFL released its prestigious list. It was a media frenzy and stirred controversy and discussion as only the NFL can. For our list, we will consult the NFL’s choices but also use the power of the Stathead Football database and its Approximate Value and Fantasy rankings data to provide a top 100 of the NFL’s best players.

With so many deserving players, crafting a list of the NFL top 100 players is daunting. We’ll tackle it by position groups and in three separate posts. We’ll have a compelling 100 to discuss by the end, sparking lively conversations among NFL fans. We are entering the final leg to round out the top 100 players chosen.

So, please sit back, relax, and join us as we delve into Part 4 of the definitive NFL’s Top 100 list of players of all time. This exploration promises to ignite debates, rekindle memories of legendary plays, and solidify your understanding of the men who have truly shaped the game we love. Here, you will find the running backs that made many memories of significant chunk plays and extraordinary feats of football history.

Top Rushing Legends

The running back is the heartbeat of many offensive schemes, the player who shoulders the load and breaks tackles, and the elusive phantom leaving defenders grasping at air. In the NFL’s Top 100 annals, several running backs have etched their names in gridiron lore. This section delves into the pantheon of these ground game legends.

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Dubbed the “Galloping Ghost” for his elusive running style, Red Grange revolutionized pro football in the 1920s. He spurned the NFL for a lucrative contract, but his electrifying play drew massive crowds, boosting pro football’s popularity nationwide. Though his NFL career was brief, his impact on the sport’s national recognition and commercial success is undeniable.

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VanBuren led the NFL in rushing yards four times and touchdowns multiple times as well. Van Buren’s dominance helped the Philadelphia Eagles win their first two NFL championships, solidifying his place as one of the league’s greatest early running backs.

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To focus strictly on his NFL career, “The Juice” shattered records and revolutionized the running back position with his speed and power.

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Ernie dominated with a ferocious running style, amassing rushing yards in a pre-statistics era. Notably, he holds the NFL record for most points scored in a single game (40) – a feat achieved in 1929.  His impact transcended stats – Nevers was a versatile player who paved the way for the modern running back.

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Tony Dorsett dazzled as a blazing-fast running back. He broke the NFL’s rookie rushing record and the all-time long run mark (since tied). Dorsett’s electrifying speed and elusiveness made him a scoring threat every time he touched the ball, forever etching his name among the league’s most exciting runners.

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Moore defied categorization. He excelled as a rusher and receiver, amassing over 11,000 yards on the ground and scoring 40 touchdowns rushing – unheard of for a receiver then. This versatility made him a defensive nightmare and a pioneer for the dual-threat running back role.

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Though a collegiate and Olympic superstar, Jim Thorpe’s pro tenure was brief. Still, he’s hailed as one of the most gifted athletes ever. His time in the NFL was short, but his name brought recognition and credibility as its marquee first player and President of a struggling organization far from popular.

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Marshall Faulk redefined the running back position. His blend of power, elusiveness, and receiving ability made him a dual threat.

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Sanders’s electrifying vision and elusive cuts redefined the role of running back. Despite a short ten-year career, he amassed the third-most rushing yards ever, showcasing his remarkable breakaway speed and agility. His abrupt retirement at his peak stunned fans, but his impact on the game remains undeniable—he is a true rushing legend. 

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In the pantheon of top backs, Jim Brown stands on a pillar all his own. With an unmatched dominance, he terrorized defenses with his power and speed, averaging over 100 rushing yards per game for his entire career. Brown shattered rushing records and redefined the running back position. His electrifying play and early retirement left fans forever awestruck, solidifying his place as one of the greatest NFL players ever.

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Earl Campbell, the “Tyler Rose,” was a force of nature. He possessed a rare blend of power, speed, and breakaway ability with powerful thighs the size of tree trunks. Campbell shattered rushing records, racking up yards and touchdowns at an alarming rate. His punishing style revolutionized power running and paved the way for future bruising backs.

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“Sweetness” left a bad taste in the mouths of opposing defenses. His elusive agility and punishing power made him a nightmare for tacklers, and he amassed a then-record 16,726 rushing yards. He revolutionized the position with his receiving ability, adding another dimension to the running back role. Payton’s relentless work ethic and excellence cemented his place as one of the greatest running backs.

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This legend had finesse but also a punishing style to his rushing attack. Dickerson was a dominant running back who redefined the rushing game. He holds the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season (2,105 yards in 1984) and rushed for over 10,000 yards in just his first eight seasons. His power, speed, and relentless work ethic made him a nightmare for defenders.

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LaDainian Tomlinson, “LT,” was a dual-threat force for the San Diego Chargers. A dominant rusher with power and speed, he racked up rushing yards and touchdowns, even breaking the record for most touchdowns in a single season (31). His receiving skills added another dimension, making him a nightmare matchup for defenses. LaDainian is an all-time stud for fantasy football fans with these amazing stats. LT’s electrifying play and MVP season in 2006 cemented him as an NFL legend.

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Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, carved his legacy with unparalleled consistency and breakaway speed. He dominated for 15 seasons, amassing rushing yards in bunches and leading the Dallas Cowboys to multiple Super Bowl victories. Smith’s elusive moves and ability to find cutback lanes made him a nightmare for defenders, solidifying his place as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

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Marcus Allen, a powerful and elusive back, dominated the NFL in the 80s and early 90s. He won the Heisman Trophy at USC before a prolific career with the Raiders. Allen’s bruising running style and knack for finding the end zone made him a key part of the Raiders’ Super Bowl victories, including holding the record for most rushing yards in a single Super Bowl game (209). Later, he enjoyed success with the Kansas City Chiefs, solidifying his place as an all-time great running back.

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Conclusion

There have been so many deserving backs throughout the game’s history, but unfortunately, we cannot include all the greats on the list. You should check Part 3 of this series, where some players excelled at multiple positions, including running back.

There is still one position group to round out the Top 100. We will reveal the quarterbacks in Part 5 soon.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 4:20 pm and is filed under Top Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.