History UsefulNotes / NFLRunningBacks

All of these players were well-known stars in their day; many spun that stardom off into roles in other works, and even those that were more camera-shy are still likely to be referenced in works released during and after their playing careers, so it's worth knowing why they were famous to begin with. For more examples of those notable for other reasons, see UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeagueNotoriousFigures. For notable players at other positions, see UsefulNotes/NFLOffensivePlayers and UsefulNotes/NFLDefensiveAndSpecialTeamsPlayers. For notable non-players, see UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeagueNonPlayerFigures. For backs who saw more success at the collegiate level, see UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootballNamesToKnow.

* '''Ezekiel Elliott''' was drafted #4 overall in 2016 by the Dallas Cowboys. Already renowned for his role in winning a college national championship at Ohio State, Elliott led the league in rushing yards in his rookie season (and helped to popularize a midriff-baring trend for [=RBs=] in the late 2010s). A suspension related to a domestic violence investigation interrupted his second season, but he again led the league in rushing the following year and remained one of the NFL's more prominent rushers. The Cowboys rewarded him with one of the biggest contracts ever for a running back, but while he remained a red zone threat, his overall production steadily receded. He was released in 2023 and signed with the Patriots.

* '''Calvin Hill''' was one of the most successful athletes in UsefulNotes/IvyLeague history. Drafted #24 overall in 1969 out of Yale by the Dallas Cowboys, he immediately broke out as one of the NFL's standout backs, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and four Pro Bowl nods. He was one of the most high-profile players to leave the NFL for the WFL in 1974, which turned out to be a poor decision when he got injured and that league folded. He bounced around a few more NFL teams before retiring after 1981. Somewhat {{overshadowed|ByAwesome}} by his son [[UsefulNotes/NotablePlayersOfTheNBA Grant]], a basketball Hall of Famer with the Duke Blue Devils and multiple NBA teams.

Before the rise of TheQuarterback and the passing game, the most important player on most UsefulNotes/AmericanFootball teams was the running back, responsible for carrying the ball down the length of the field. Even today, a prime running back can be a major asset and gain great fame for long runs and touchdowns, though the market for just one main back has largely waned in the modern NFL in favor of committee systems.

* '''Derrick Henry''' is a star power back for the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him in the 2nd round in 2016 after a Heisman-winning career at Alabama (and, before that, setting the all-time career rushing record for high school football). Listed at 6'3" 245 lbs, "King" Henry is larger than many linebackers and has a bruising, battering ram rushing style which makes him [[NoSell extremely difficult to tackle]]. Henry's success as a power runner is especially notable as the NFL in TheNewTens saw offenses shift towards being much more pass heavy, with teams using smaller and speedier backs who often double as receivers. He is one of two players in NFL history to pull of a 99-yard run (the other being Tony Dorsett, see above). He led the league in rushing in 2019 and '20, joining a list of exclusively Hall of Fame players to do so in back-to-back years; in the latter season, he became only the eighth to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season and won Offensive Player of the Year. Injuries have slightly slowed his production since, but he still tied Creator/OJSimpson and Adrian Peterson for most career games with over 200+ rushing yards in 2022 while becoming the Titans all-time leader in rushing and total [=TDs=] (an impressive feat considering the quality of his RB predecessors) as well as the leader in rushing yards and [=TDs=] among all active players. Outside of football, he's one of the ever-increasing number of celebrities who have invested in [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball soccer]] teams; he's one of several minority investors in UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueSoccer's Nashville SC.

* '''Austin Ekeler''' is one of the great UDFA success stories of the current NFL. Widely overlooked by NFL scouts at D-II Western Colorado due both to the program and his small size, he was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. He quickly emerged as one of the NFL's most prolific scorers thanks to his dual-threat use as both a runner and receiver, leading the NFL in total [=TDs=] in 2021 and '22.

* '''Josh Jacobs''' was drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders #24 overall in 2019. Though his production in college at Alabama had been somewhat limited by injury, he immediately emerged as a productive RB for the Raiders as they moved to Las Vegas. In 2022, he responded to not being given the fifth-year option on his contract by posting his best season, leading the NFL in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage.

* '''Marcus Allen''' was a star in the league [[LongRunner for 16 seasons]] through the '80s and '90s. Drafted #10 overall in 1982 by the Los Angeles Raiders after a Heisman- and national championship-winning season at USC, Allen immediately broke out as a star on his local team, leading the league in touchdowns during the strike-shortened season and being named Offensive Rookie of the Year. The following year, he led the Raiders to a Super Bowl XVIII victory, winning game MVP after setting then-records in the Big Game. Allen co-led the league in total [=TDs=] in 1984, was named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1985 after leading the NFL in rushing yards, and eventually claimed most Raiders franchise rushing records. However, his relationship with the team and owner Al Davis began to deteriorate when the team brought in two-sport superstar Bo Jackson (see below) to play for the Raiders part-time, cutting into Allen's playing time and preventing him from a getting a higher-paying contract. After several seasons of being mostly relegated to the bench during the prime of his career, Allen took advantage of the NFL's new free agency system in 1993 to leave the Raiders, sign with the hated division rival Kansas City Chiefs, and immediately rebound, leading the league in rushing [=TDs=] once again while winning Comeback Player of the Year. He played effectively for five more seasons until retiring at the ripe age (especially by running back standards) of 37, holding the then-record for career rushing [=TDs=] (he's now #3). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, joining Tony Dorsett (see below) as the only players to win a Heisman, a college national championship, a Super Bowl, and be enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.[[note]]Incidentally, his younger brother Damon, a QB out of the now-defunct program at Cal State Fullerton, played for 23 seasons in the CFL, retiring with the most passing yards in North American pro football (a record now held by Tom Brady).[[/note]]

* Atiim '''"Tiki" Barber''' was a three-time Pro Bowler who played ten seasons with the New York Giants after they drafted him in the second round in 1997 out of Virginia. He became a star in the early '00s, setting the Giants all-time rushing yards record and coming very close to breaking Marshall Faulk's single-season yards from scrimmage record in 2005. However, he was likely more famous for his interactions with the media, an entity he expressed interest in joining rather than being the subject of. Barber openly criticized his teammates (especially coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning) and blamed them for the Giants' inability to win a Super Bowl. After retiring in his prime following 2006 and signing a lucrative deal with NBC Sports and ''Series/{{Today}}'', Barber earned a press box seat to the next Super Bowl and got to interview its winners... the New York Giants. Tiki lost his ''Today'' gig after a highly-publicized divorce where he [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor left his pregnant wife for a young NBC intern]]; he attempted an NFL comeback afterwards but came up short and soon reentered broadcasting. His abbreviated career and post-retirement controversies likely cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame (not to mention caused vocal boos from Giants fans when he was added to the team's Ring of Honor) despite having more career yards from scrimmage than anyone eligible not in Canton. Tiki's [[AlwaysIdenticalTwins identical twin]] Ronde, the [[RedOniBlueOni Blue Oni]] to Tiki's Red, ''did'' had a Hall of Fame career as a defensive back for the Buccaneers; see his entry in the "Defensive and Special Teams Players" page.

* '''Marshall Faulk''' was a first-ballot Hall of Famer best known for his time as one of the key members of the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams. Originally drafted #2 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1994 out of San Diego State, he was traded to the Rams after his fifth season when he demanded a new contract. [[JackOfAllTrades A well-rounded back]] capable of carrying the ball, catching passes, and pass blocking, he was an incredible fit in the Rams' wide-open passing attack offense. In the Rams' Super Bowl-winning season of 1999, Faulk became only the 2nd player in NFL history to have a 1,000/1,000 rushing yards/receiving yards season[[note]]The first being Roger Craig in 1985, since accomplished a third time by Christian [=McCaffrey=] in 2019.[[/note]] while his 1,048 receiving yards are the single-season record for a RB. He tied Earl Campbell's record by winning Offensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons (1999-2001) and won league MVP in 2000 after setting a then-record for single season [=TDs=] (he'd lead the NFL again the following year), and he was featured on the cover of ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL 2003''. The seven-time Pro Bowler retired in 2006, had his #28 retired by the Rams (he remains the franchise's all-time TD leader), and moved into a career as an analyst.

* '''Lenny Moore''' was a Hall of Fame halfback and seven-time Pro Bowler who played for the Baltimore Colts in the '50s and '60s. Moore won Rookie of the Year after being drafted #9 overall out of Penn State in 1956 and quickly developed a reputation as one of the league's toughest players, leading the NFL in touchdowns in his second season. After helping the Colts to win two Championships, Moore won MVP and Comeback Player of the Year honors in 1964 for playing through appendicitis and scoring a then-record 20 [=TDs=] the year after a knee injury cost him his starting position. This peak came in the midst of Moore setting one of the NFL's longest standing records, as he reached the end zone in 18 straight regular season appearances (since tied by Christian [=McCaffrey=]). He was also an incredibly versatile player; he often lined up as a receiver and is the only NFL player ever to score more than 40 rushing ''and'' receiving touchdowns. He retired in 1967, and his #24 was retired by the Colts.

* '''Clinton Portis''' was a notable and [[CloudCuckooLander interesting]] RB throughout the 2000s. A second round pick in 2002 out of Miami by the Denver Broncos, Portis was part of Mike Shanahan's series of 1,000 yard rushers. He exploded onto the scene, rushing for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons at 5.5 yards per carry, an NFL record for that span. Following his second season, he was traded to Washington in exchange for Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey (see below), one of the rare "elite player for elite player" trades in recent NFL history. While still productive, his performance regressed in his first year with Washington. He still ran for 1,200+ yards in four of his first five years there, but injuries and ineffectiveness derailed the final two seasons of his career (though his 87.8 yards per game sits in the top ten all-time and is the highest of any eligible player not in the Hall of Fame). Beyond his on-field production, Portis was known for the bizarre outfits he wore to press conferences and interviews, looking something like a cross between a prop comic and a pro wrestler with a healthy dose of RummageSaleReject--[[http://sportsmatter.blogspot.com/2005/11/many-faces-of-clinton-portis.html Behold!]] Following his retirement, Portis admitted to playing through at least 10 concussions, joining a lawsuit against the NFL over the league's concussion handling. Five years after his retirement, he was forced to declare bankruptcy due to poor money management.
* '''John Riggins''', nicknamed "the Diesel" for his semi-truck running style (or simply "Riggo"), was a Hall of Fame power back most famous for his time in Washington in the '70s and '80s. Originally drafted by the New York Jets #6 overall in 1971 out of Kansas, Riggins made the move to Washington in 1976, where he won Comeback Player of the Year in 1976 and Super Bowl MVP in XVII (1982) after setting a record for most carries in the Big Game. Known for his incredible [[LongRunner longevity]] for a running back at 15 seasons, he was in some ways a late bloomer; in 1983, at age 34, he set a single-season rushing TD record (24) that stood for over a decade. The next year, he became the oldest player to ever rush for more than 1,200 yards, carry the ball 300+ times, and have 10+ touchdowns. His eight games of 100+ rushing yards over the age of 35 are the most of any player, as are his three rushing [=TDs=] in a single game. He is also the only player over 35 to have 30+ carries in a single game. He retired holding most of the Washington franchise rushing records (and still holds them). Bizarrely, [[AwardSnub he was only selected to one Pro Bowl]], which may have had to do with his off-field persona: Riggo was famous for his [[BunnyEarsLawyer eccentric]] personality that veered from {{Fratbro}} to ElectiveMute, his various wild hairstyles, and a tendency to go OffTheGrid (Joe Gibbs once had to go out into the wilderness to find him after he sat out the 1980 season over a contract dispute). He had a modest acting career following his retirement in 1985.

* '''Barry Sanders''' currently sits fourth on the all-time rushing list. Drafted #3 overall by the Detroit Lions in 1989 after winning the Heisman at Oklahoma State, Sanders is unquestionably one of the greatest players in that team's history, if not ''the'' [[TheAce greatest ever]] (especially in recent memory). In a game that often focuses on size, strength, and durability, the 5'8" Sanders relied on [[PintSizedPowerhouse speed, elusiveness, and incredible athleticism]]. Thus, despite frequently being the smallest man on the field, he often produced mind-blowing plays that made him seem impossible to stop or tackle. When he was active, it was an oft-repeated cliché that fans could watch him run for a loss and come away convinced that he was the greatest running back of all time. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in '89, Offensive Player of the Year in '94 and '97, and League MVP in '97, spent four seasons as the NFL's rushing yards leader and two as the total TD leader, recorded the most games with over 150 rushing yards (25), and made the Pro Bowl every season of his career. His immense success and accolades are all the more notable because of the length of his career--he retired suddenly in 1999 when he was in striking distance of the all-time rushing yardage record.[[note]]He was less than 1,500 yards short of then-record holder Walter Payton and was averaging more than that per season. His 5.0 yards per carry average was and still is better than anyone else in the top 25 of career rushing yards.[[/note]] He didn't retire because of old age or health issues--he later confessed that he was just [[LosingTheTeamSpirit tired of playing for such a perennially losing organization.]][[note]]Though he has never said it, some at the time speculated that Sanders [[HumbleHero wanted the terminally ill Payton to keep the record]] until he died; the fact that people thought that highly of his character speaks to his general reputation as a NiceGuy.[[/note]] Despite the shorter length of his career, Sanders was a first-ballot inductee to the Hall of Fame and had his #20 retired by the Lions.

* '''Kyle Juszczyk'''[[note]]Pronounced "Yooz-Check"[[/note]] is a fullback for the San Francisco 49ers and is [[LastOfHisKind one of the last at his position]] to see regular use outside of blocking. Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 4th round in 2013 out of [[UsefulNotes/IvyLeague Harvard]], he has been an eight-time Pro Bowler and would likely have that many All-Pro nods as well if the league had not stopped including the dying position on its All-Pro teams in 2015. He joined the 49ers in 2017 and became an important part of Kyle Shanahan's creative offense, regularly being used as a receiver. He became the first Harvard alum to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, doing so in LIV. In 2021, he signed a record five-year, $27 million deal for a fullback, in spite of the fact that most teams don't even ''have'' a true fullback on their roster anymore.

* '''Adrian Peterson''' is the greatest rusher in the history of the Minnesota Vikings, which drafted him #7 overall out of Oklahoma in 2007. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year after setting a slew of NFL records, including most yards rushed in a single game (296), most yards rushing in the first eight games of a season (1,036), and most 200-yard rushing games for a rookie (2). He only continued to improve in following years, leading the NFL in rushing yards in his second season and total/rushing [=TDs=] in his third. In 2012, he was chosen as the league's MVP for falling nine yards short of the single-season NFL record for rushing yards after ''[[HandicappedBadass tearing his ACL]]'' the year before (an injury that typically takes ''at least'' a year to recover from). Peterson had become one of the most respected figures in the league, to the point of being featured on the cover of ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL 25''; it was thus sudden and unexpected when he was indicted for child abuse in 2014 after disciplining his son with a tree branch to cause injury. With the NFL already dealing with heavy criticism of its handling of domestic abuse cases (such as with [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeagueNotoriousFigures Ray Rice]]), the Vikings deactivated him within days. Although he accepted a plea deal that kept him out of jail in exchange for probation and community service, the NFL suspended him for the remainder of the season, stating that he had failed to show proper remorse for his actions. Peterson was reinstated in 2015, again led the league in yards and rushing [=TDs=], and tied Creator/OJSimpson for most career games with 200+ rushing yards (6). However, he suffered a torn meniscus the next year that took him out for most of the season and was released from the Vikings the next year. He subsequently bounced around to far less remarkable stints with six different teams and has not played since 2021.

* '''Shaun Alexander''' played for the Seattle Seahawks through the '00s and is the franchise's all-time leading rusher and TD scorer. A first round pick in 2000 out of Alabama, he put up a series of 1,000 yard rushing seasons starting in his second year, tied the single-season TD record in 2004, and put up a truly spectacular 2005 season where he broke said touchdown record and won league MVP (the first Seahawk to do so). Unfortunately, his solid career has been largely overshadowed by his reputation as one of the most prominent examples of the "Madden {{Curse}}". In 2006, while he adorned the cover of ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'' in recognition of his excellent prior season, he suffered a foot injury that nearly halved his playing time. That same year, [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter [=LaDainian=] Tomlinson]] broke Alexander's TD record and won MVP for himself. Alexander continued to struggle with injuries--Seattle released him to Washington after the next season, and he was out of football entirely the year after that. Despite the relative brevity of his career likely keeping him out of Canton (though he has the second-most career [=TDs=] of any eligible player not in the Hall[[note]]He had the most until Antonio Gates (see "Tight Ends") was snubbed in 2024. Adrian Peterson ("Running Backs") and Larry Fitzgerald ("Wide Receivers") have more [=TDs=] than either, but aren't yet eligible for Canton.[[/note]] and is in the all-time top ten for rushing [=TDs=]), he is a member of the Seahawks Ring of Honor.