George was one of the most physical backs ever. Since 1995, 11 running backs have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. NFL running backs are headed for a Hall of Fame drought Penny, who had been an injury-riddled disappointing first-rounder in 2018, exploded down the stretch as the sudden featured workhorse, shaking off plenty of past injury issues. Did rushing champion Josh Jacobs finish on top? the future hall-of-fame bell-cow back could be dealt to the . The first of two Arkansas running backs taken in the first round of the 2008 draft (Felix Jones being the other), McFadden was the first former Razorback to register two 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL. With theCowboyspunting from their own 16-yard line, Tasker was lined up against linebacker Robert Jones, a rookie who filled in for an injured starter. Marshall, who was still a starter at age 42, helped the Vikings win three NFC titles along with the NFL championship in 1969. The Browns will lean on Chubb a lot again until Deshaun Watson can boost them at QB. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke), I don't get this one. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. In 2009, Johnson became the sixth member of the NFL's 2,000-yard club after rushing for a league-high 2,006 yards. Mendenhall finished his career in Arizona before retiring after just six seasons. Predicting whether or not Derrick Henry will be traded by end of NFL Draft Derrick Henry has spent his entire NFL career out of Alabama with the Tennessee Titans, but there is a chance the future hall-of-fame bell-cow back could be dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles at some point in the 2023 NFL Draft. Top 10 Defensive Backs Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame With seven seasons of 1,000 yards rushing, Watters sits 24th all-time in yards on the ground. 20 in homage to Sims. 1 at the top of his RB rankings. He was a better receiver than he is given credit for and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XXV. The Steelers didn't waste time putting a lot on Harris as a first-round rookie workhorse and he showed off his versatility and durability right away. All HOFm Positions: QBRBWRTEGTCDTDEILBOLBDBKP, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Sunday, April 30, 2:31PM. And despite a solid 2003 season in Washington, Canidate was released after the team traded for former Broncos Pro Bowler Clinton Portis. Curt Warner, Seattle Seahawks/Los Angeles. The four-time Pro Bowler even finished third in the MVP vote for his 2000 campaign, when he rushed for 1,509 yards and 14 scores. If he didn't detour into the USFL, it's not hard to imagine him in Canton. Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2003), New England Patriots (2004-06). Smith's extreme competitiveness more than made up for his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. He also helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl for a second straight year. He's also one of eight players in league history with 10,000-plus career rush yards and 4,000-plus career receiving yards. In 1965, Taylor spurned the NFL (he was drafted by theEagleswith the 203rd pick in theNFL draft) to play for the AFL'sKansas City Chiefs. One of the league's best running backs during his heyday, Alexander . Simpson. Buffalo Bills (2007-2010), Seattle Seahawks (2010-15, 2019), Oakland Raiders (2017-18). He was a key contributor to a powerful Colts team that won back-to-back NFL titles to close out the decade of the 1950s. He also will be key in offsetting the passing game changes for Rodgers and the former Boston College runner has proved he can remain prolific in a favorable system. Gradishar earned five more Pro Bowl selections (as well as another All-Pro nod) during his final six seasons with the Broncos. Still, I think they are more likely to draft Texas Bijan Robinson if the Atlanta Falcons pass on him. Bills (2004-06); Ravens (2007-10); Broncos (2011-12); Browns (2013). He was a smooth fit in the system with his quick running and did fine as a receiver when needed there. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. Did the player and his team have postseason success. A 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing two times and rushing touchdowns three times. And while his 2020 season was not quite as good, Jacobs nonetheless was named to his first Pro Bowl last year on the strength of his 12 rushing touchdowns. Patience would be an appropriate word to describe the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class. Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has stated that his goal is to rush for 10,000 yards and collect a spot in the Hall of Fame. Edwards-Helaire hasn't lived up to being a first-rounder in 2020 for multiple reasons. Dolphins (2005-10); Eagles (2011); Chargers (2012-14); Texans (2014). While he helped the Steelers advance to the Super Bowl that season, Mendenhall's most infamous NFL moment occurred whenClay Matthewsjarred the ball loose from his arms during a pivotal moment in Super Bowl XLV (the Steelers ended up losing, 31-25). Maurice Jones-Drew says yes. Has Lamar Jackson been supplanted as the NFL's most electric rusher? 2196.8. 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. Hall of Fame: Yes (1993) NFL MVP: 1. Second, he hasn't build on being a top-flight receiving back at LSU, which what he was expected to do in the Chiefs' pass-first offense. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. As Warren Sharp pointed out, Swift won't exactly have . I can give numerous reasons why we shouldn't be devalued. McAllister's 6,096 rushing yards remains the Saints' career rushing record. Cardinals (2000-02); Buccaneers (2003); Bears (2004-06); Jets (2007-09); Chiefs (2010-11). While he never became a full-time starter, Brown managed to put together a semi-productive seven-year career. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at A player who was truly ahead of his time, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Taylor was one of the first receivers to fully use his physicality to his advantage. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Maurice Jones-Drew identifies five running backs who can save their teams' seasons down the stretch. APRIL 29 ROSCHON TO BEARS The Cowboys want to take a running back somewhere in this Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but that guy won't be a favored Longhorn. 1 now, but there's a reason why Denver decided late to bring back Gordon as a savvy No. The upside is there to become a top-10 back. Barkley quickly became a household name after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018. But again, his USFL career takes away from his Pro Football Hall of Fame credentials. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. "From a running back's perspective, you build chemistry out here in practice first," Tomlinson reflected. That season, Stewart earned his first and only Pro Bowl selection while helping thePanthersreach the Super Bowl. The 6-fo-6 Greenwood also had a penchant for batting down passes; he did that on three occasions during the Steelers' Super Bowl IX win over the Vikings. Maurice Jones-Drew assembles the perfect running back, combining the traits of some of today's top talent in the NFL. 4: Fred Taylor -- He has more yards rushing yards than any eligible back not in the Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius), Brooks was a four-time Pro Bowl selection for the Cincinnati Bengals. According to sources, the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift and the No. Or write about sports? Ekeler had been under-appreciated for his unique receiving-forward role for Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. Lynch ran through his opponents (See: Beast Quake vs. Saints) and made the Seahawks one of the scariest rushing attacks during their heyday. The National Football League's Top 5 Running Backs of All Time Saints (2006-10); Dolphins (2011-12); Lions (2013-14); 49ers (2015); Bills (2016). Matthews retired with 69.5 career sacks, 27 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. 2021 stats: 180 carries, 812 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 69 receptions on 84 targets, 454 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. Through three seasons, the former San Diego State standout has rushed for just 823 yards on 161 carries for theSeahawks. Falcons (2002-05); Washington (2006); Lions (2007); Seahawks (2008). In 2014, following teammateDeAngelo Williams' injury, Stewart gained nearly 1,000-purpose yards while receiving a then-career high eight starts. at Swift, like Chubb and others, keeps the pipeline strong for Georgia running backs in the NFL. Matthews' play was a major reason why the Browns appeared in three AFC Championship Games from 1986-89. The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Andrews rushed for a career-high 1,567 yards in 1983 before his injury. Plus, MJD updates his ranking of the top 15 running backs right now. 2021 stats: 130 carries, 719 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 39 receptions on 46 targets, 337 receiving yards, 2 total TDs. 26-50 6. A six-time Pro Bowler from 2006-10 and in 2012, Wayne led the NFL in receiving yards in 2007. . I expect for the Green Bay Packers to figure out a fair-enough trade package to get Aaron Rodgers out of their building. He helped engine the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999, and finished his career with over 10,000 yards on the ground. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. McCaffrey is looking to bounce back after an injury sidelined him for all but three games in 2020. There is no quit in this guy. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | He was putting up those numbers while helping the St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowls, winning one in 1999. Among those players are former offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg, receivers Mark Duper andMark Claytonand running back Ricky Williams. Faulk leads the bunch with 767 receptions, putting him at No. While somewhat underwhelming, Green still managed to rack up 1,000 all-purpose yards while helping theBrownsmake the playoffs during this rookie season. (AP Photo/Beth Keiser). Find out more. Freeman McNeil, New York Jets: 1981-1992 1 of 10 9. Tasker's play set up the game's first touchdown. In 2005, Ward won Super Bowl MVP honors while helping lead Pittsburgh to its fifth Super Bowl victory. He also helped lead the Seahawks to two NFC titles as well as a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. He also led the NFL in passing yards in consecutive seasons. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Jack Tatum. An incredibly consistent player throughout his career, Riley picked off at least four passes nine different times, tallying a career-high nine interceptions in 1976. Oh wait, you don't have to wonder at all. (National Football League), Before there was Kurt Warner, Curt was a pretty fair running back for the Seattle Seahawks. He earned Pro Bowl honors again in 1972 at the age of 30. All of these men are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but there are many talented running backs that are not enshrined in Canton for some reason. Conner should be treated as more of a workhorse with Chase Edmonds now playing for the Dolphins. The 10,000-yard plateau is a good one to cross for that gold jacket. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. George was the league's best workhorse on the rugged Tennessee Titans teams of the late 1990s. A former fifth-round pick, Thomas was one of the NFL's most productive players during his dozen seasons in Miami. Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is a former First-Team All-American defensive back for the TCU Horned Frogs and is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Top 10 Running Backs Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Vrabel was furious! He has enjoyed a career resurgence with theBuccaneers, as Tampa Bay went 7-0 with Fournette in its starting lineup during the 2020 season. Did he reach 10,000 rush yards in his career? Plus, see which team now has TWO players in MJD's top 15 RB rankings. A big, physical back at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, Jackson ripped off eight straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2005-12. Bills (2010-14); Saints (2015); Jets/Seahawks (2016); Chiefs (2017). That being said, he didn't love seeing 23 players get selected before his name was called. To say Vrabel blew a gasket when Carthons predecessor Jon Robinson traded wide receiver A.J. Named the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1966 by Sporting News, Nobis recorded a whopping 294 tackles that season. In 1984, Matthews led the league with 126 tackles while also posting 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. Craig was a four-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time champion. If his early years weren't languished in the football graveyard of St. Louis, he would no doubt be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A bruising 218-pound runner, Ameche is best known for his game-winning one-yard run in the famous 1958 NFL Championship Game. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. How good was Lewis? The lastSteelersrunning back taken in the first round before Najee Harris, Mendenhall won a Super Bowl as a rookie despite spending most of the season on injured reserve.