best running backs not in the hall of fame

No. He rushed for over 1,000 yards (while averaging 5 yards per carry) for theDolphinsin 2011. Many football historians believe Jim Brown to be the greatest running back ever. Oh wait, you don't have to wonder at all. 2021 stats:332 carries, 1,811 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 51 targets, 360 receiving yards, 20 total TDs. The postseason success is obviously there, helping Seattle win its first-ever Super Bowl. 2: Eddie George -- He opened his career with five consecutive 1,000-yards campaigns, and then added two more over the course of his career. MORE Top 50 Players in BYU Football History Nos. Lynch's greatest stretch was with the Seattle Seahawks. A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Johnson is 11th all-time in receptions and receiving yards. And really, if Jackson was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame would anybody question it? The NFL's leader in yards-per-carry average in 2009, Jones' best season took place in 2010, when he amassed 1,250 all-purpose yards for the Cowboys. He also could handle a bigger role in the passing game if needed, which might be the case if the team moves Kareem Hunt. Taylor's transition to the NFL was seamless after the two leagues merged in 1970. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell), That's right, Bo Jackson is the greatest running back not in the Hall of Fame. He led the league with 73 receptions in 1975. Lynch ran through his opponents (See: Beast Quake vs. Saints) and made the Seahawks one of the scariest rushing attacks during their heyday. He topped 1,500 yards back in 2000, when he finished third in the MVP vote. However, he only spent three of those years with the . All Rights Reserved. Join our linker program. Ultimately, Green's inconsistency (he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry for his career) and off-field issues led to him being out of the NFL after just four seasons. One of the NFL's most versatile backs, McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors in 2019 after becoming the third player in league history to tally 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. While Chicago just wasn't a good fit, Benson still helped lead theBearsto the Super Bowl in 2006. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Tre's uncle is legendary Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2008 while helping Miami capture the AFC East title. Hayes is a member of the NFL's All-1980s Team. But a serious knee injury derailed a potential Hall of Fame career. Simpson and Marcus Allen. 4: Fred Taylor -- He has more yards rushing yards than any eligible back not in the Hall of Fame. Freeman McNeil, New York Jets: 1981-1992 1 of 10 9. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli), Andrews went to four consecutive Pro Bowls for the Atlanta Falcons from 1980-83. 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. ARIZONA CARDINALS: QB Jim Hart (1966-1983). Thomas received just 18 starts during his first four NFL seasons. I have five benchmarks that I use -- and I've written about them before -- to decide whether a running back is worthy of a gold jacket: Each of the players discussed below check a number (if not all) of these boxes and, in my opinion, deserve Hall of Fame recognition. Since 1980, there have been 19 Modern-Era Running Backs honored by the Hall of Fame, with an average Legends Score of 41. During that span, Tasker helped the Bills become the first franchise to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls. (National Football League), Before there was Kurt Warner, Curt was a pretty fair running back for the Seattle Seahawks. Simpson. Cincinnati Bengals (1997-2003), New England Patriots (2004-06). The player Riley is often compared to isCharles Woodson, who will receive a gold jacket this summer. The league's leading receiver on two separate occasions, Holt was the Rams' No. He is a good finisher in the red zone and can take any carry the distance. A 2009 Pro Bowler, Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2008 and in 2015. Although this rumor sounds too strange to be made up, lets discuss if there is any validity to this. The owner of the iconic "Beast Quake" run in the 2010 playoffs, Lynch was among the league's best running backs from 2011-14. 225), a three-star recruit who is rated the 42nd-best athlete in the nation in the . The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Jackson is 18th on the NFL's career rushing list, just ahead of Hall of Fame running backs John Riggins and O.J. After a somewhat slow start, Ingram has put together an impressive pro career. The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! Brian Branch, S, Alabama. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Williams retired with 10,202 all-purpose yards and 70 total touchdowns. But he also made an impact on every team he played for -- on the field and in the locker room. He also led the NFL in tackles on four different occasions. The players listed below are the top 250 HOFm-rated players who played RB starting in 1955 or later for at least 50 career games. Now he's still in recovery mode in a much more crowded backfield and his receiving aspect is set to be curbed. Tasker's brilliance was on display during the opening minutes of Super Bowl XXVII. He is a different runner, based more on speed and quickness for the open field to live up to his last name. I mean, they just let Sanders walk, which I dont really understand, but here we are, so good luck with that! He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. Ranking the NFL's best running backs for the 2022 season from 1-30, Bills look Super Bowl-serious at top; 49ers, Broncos, Eagles on the rise. Brown, to the Eagles nonetheless, would be putting it lightly. He was instrumental in helping the Pats win their third Super Bowl in four seasons. And while a hip injury slowed his roll at the end of the season, Edwards-Helaire still managed to gain 1,100 all-purpose yards in 13 regular-season games. Maurice Jones-Drew says yes. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them . That doesn't get you in the Hall of Fame. Injuries to Holmes opened the door for Johnson, who rushed for over 3,500 yards and 37 touchdowns during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. One of the league's best running backs during his heyday, Alexander averaged 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns per season from 2001-05. However, Roseman has a proven track record. 2021 stats: 188 carries, 870 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 40 receptions on 50 targets, 228receiving yards, 8 total TDs. 2021 stats:307 carries, 1,200 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 74 receptions on 94 targets,467 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. 26-50 6. Injuries and off-field issues led to a significant drop in production after the 2006 season. Formerly the Panthers' career rushing leader, Williams enjoyed a late career resurgence in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers went 10-4 with Williams in the starting lineup. Running Backs (Not) in the Hall of Fame When you think of the best running backs in NFL history, names like Marshall Faulk, Emmitt Smith, and Walter Payton come to mind. Superstar quarterbacks undoubtedly headline the AFC Championship Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, but Maurice Jones-Drew explains why the running backs will actually decide who wins. If you want to recognize him for being a guy who hung around longer than most big backs, fine. He's been snubbed often, and it's a real shame that he's not a finalist this year. Teams:Patriots(1980);Bears(1981-93);Packers(1994). Williams might be the No. Has Lamar Jackson been supplanted as the NFL's most electric rusher? In 2001, Faulk was Top 5 in both rushing (12) and receiving touchdowns (9). Teams:Panthers (2001-13); Ravens (2014-16). And following an unceremonious end of his tenure with the Chiefs, Johnson had largely forgettable stops in Cincinnati, Washington and Miami. 's Top-5 best running backs not in the HOF, 1980s Jets wives walked out on learning fight song, OJ Anderson pleads for Hall of Fame nod 'while I'm above ground', Stern: Princeton's historic run has 'Revenge of the Nerds' feel, D.A. Maroney (following an injury-marred 2008 season) posted another solid season in 2009 before finishing his career with the Broncos. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton), Unfairly remembered for "The Fumble," which hurt the Cleveland Browns' chances for a Super Bowl bid. Jones is now sharing plenty with powerful A.J. (AP Photo/Al Golub), The H-Bomb was one of the most prolific running backs in pro football history. Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, is at the top of that list. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! A four-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL's All-1980s Team, Craig became the first player in league history to have 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season (1985). Jaguars (2017-19); Buccaneers (2020-Present). 1 at the top of his RB rankings. Barkley is looking to reclaim his spot as arguably the NFL's top running back after an injury wiped out most of his 2020 season. Marshall Faulk <br>1994-2005 Franco Harris Franco Harris<br>1972-1984 Frank Gifford Frank Gifford<br>1952-1960, 1962-64 Gale Sayers Gale Sayers<br>1965-1971 Hugh McElhenny Hugh McElhenny<br>1952-1964 Jim Brown Jim Brown<br>1957-1965 Jim Taylor Jim Taylor<br>1958-1967 Joe Perry Joe Perry<br>1948-1963 John Henry Johnson He was an impossible matchup for opponents at the height of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty in the 1980s. As Warren Sharp pointed out, Swift won't exactly have . Did he win (or compete for) a league MVP award? He's still a powerful runner with some pop to finish drives and reel off some long runs, but he also has developed into a reliable short-area receiver for Tom Brady. He has a good shot to break the trend and make it two team titles in a row with 1,000-plus yards to boot. All Rights Reserved. Andrews rushed for a career-high 1,567 yards in 1983 before his injury. One of Matthews' best seasons did not result in a Pro Bowl selection. HIs major foot injury cost him nine games and the Titans need to be wary about overworking him. 5: Ricky Watters -- In his first five years in the NFL, he garnered Pro Bowl nods every season. And the fact that the city was thisclose to a second consecutive Lombardi -- a debate that never ends well for Pete Carroll -- helps his case. Don't be surprised if several of these players receive a bronze bust in Canton sometime in the near future. He averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in 29 games with theColts. A former fifth-round pick, Thomas was one of the NFL's most productive players during his dozen seasons in Miami. Maurice Jones-Drew ranks each team's primary starting running back for the 2022 NFL season. Championship Rings: 1. That said, he has some freakish physical qualities for his big frame. A Lisfranc injury in 2012 (his only season with thePackers) limited him to just five games in what would be his final season. Chiefs (2003-2009); Bengals (2009); Washington (2010); Miami (2011). A powerful running back, the 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett spend his first three NFL seasons as part of a talented Falcons backfield that featured Michael Vick and fellow running back Warrick Dunn. Now the Chiefs are caught between featuring and fading him into a complementary role. of winning the Lombardi Trophy, and if they had beaten the Rams in that game, I'm confident George would've been named game MVP after having 28 carries for 95 rush yards and two rush TDs. (AP Photo/Al Golub), You think of the great "Air Coryell" offenses in the late 1970s and early 1980s, you often forget Muncie was a huge part of the ground attack. Watters was dynamic in the 1994 run to the Super Bowl title, with a touchdown in the NFC Championship and two scores in the blowout win over the San Diego Chargers. Singletary emerged as a reliable workhorse down the stretch to complement the high-volume passing game. But yeah running backsaredevalued. Willis packed a lot into a relatively short career. Shady will be remembered as one of the toughest players to tackle in the open field and one of the best at the position in his prime. Even though, you know, the USFL was pro football. Atlanta's first draft pick, Nobis played on just two winning teams during his 11-year tenure with the Falcons. Anderson was a true stud in every sense of the word. Gore's career production alone merits a gold jacket. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke), I don't get this one. Henry is every bit his generations version of Adrian Peterson, but even he had a definite shelf life. He is smart and. The fifth-leading rusher in NFL history, Peterson is a three-time rushing champion and member of the NFL's All-2010s Team. The Best Running Backs of AllTime. All HOFm Positions: QB RB WR TE G T C DT DE ILB OLB DB K P RB HOFm Leaders Bold indicates HOF player See full explanation here Share & Export Another torn ACL injury in 2014 -- his only season in Miami -- prematurely ended his career. Eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025, Lynch's impact was felt everywhere he went. Barkley hasn't had much support from blocking and the passing game, but he's still looked limited and worn at times. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images). 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. And while his touches were somewhat limited during his first season in Denver, Gordon still managed to rush for nearly 1,000 yards while scoring 10 touchdowns for the fourth time in his career. Like another receiver who cracked the list, Johnson was not selected to the Hall of Fame in 2022, his first year of eligibility. One of best players on the Bears' vaunted 46 defense, McMichael earned his first of two first-team All-Pro honors in 1985 while helping Chicago capture its only Lombardi Trophy. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius), Brooks was a four-time Pro Bowl selection for the Cincinnati Bengals. On the field, he had speed, vision and the ability to shred through defenses. 2021 stats: 130 carries, 719 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 39 receptions on 46 targets, 337 receiving yards, 2 total TDs. In 2015, Peterson became the second-oldest player in league history to lead the NFL in rushing. Austin Collie Who knows, honestly? Heading into the Divisional Round, Maurice Jones-Drew ranks the top 10 rushers remaining in the NFL playoffs, a list that includes three teams with two players apiece. Harris was one of just two running backs taken in the first round, with Clemson's Travis Etienne-- taken by the Jaguars with the 25th pick -- being the other. A key member of theBroncos' 2013 AFC championship team, Moreno rushed for over 1,000 yards that season after missing half of the 2012 campaign with a torn ACL. Chubb is known for his chunk running and special burst that comes out of his powerful style. But for my money, I'd rather celebrate a guy who had a huge impact and was the best at his position instead of a guy who was all right for a number of years (looking at you, Bettis). The rushing and scrimmage yardage leader from 2021 is a few notches above the field at only 23. 2021 stats:202 carries, 752 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, 37 receptions on 39 targets, 375 receiving yards, 18 total TDs. Pitta piled up 2,901 receiving yards on 221 receptions in his four years with the Cougars. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. While he would never come close to duplicating his success of 2002, Bennett still managed to carve out a 10-year career. 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. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews spent 16 of his 19 NFL seasons with the Browns, helping Cleveland win five AFC Central division titles during the 1980s. Tasker's play set up the game's first touchdown. Of the 31 runners to have done it, 16 are in the Hall and two more are locks (Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore). A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Sharp led the league in receptions three different times. 1 on this list and he should be headed to his biggest all-around season yet with his expanded role in a Kevin O'Connell offensive scheme tailored to his rushing and receiving strengths. Now with James Robinson recovering from a torn Achilles', Etienne is flashing all his explosive college skills again to vie for key work to support long-time teammate Trevor Lawrence. With Chicago also turning to a Green Bay-like rushing attack for more explosiveness, Montgomery's precarious lead role will be challenged by second-year man Khalil Herbert. He rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of his first five seasons -- joining Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson and LaDainian Tomlinson as the only other two players to do so in NFL history. Given Vrabels competitive nature and tenacity for winning, I doubt he will want Carthon to trade his best player to the Eagles. Jackson is 18th on the NFL's career rushing list, just ahead of Hall of Fame running backs John Riggins and O.J. Nobody considers him the best of his generation. Take a look at some of the best photos from the thirteenth day of Chargers Training Camp 2021. As far as the Titans are concerned, lets just hope Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel are on the same page and have owner Amy Adams Strunks blessing to do whatever is in the best interest of the Titans franchise. Elliott is polarizing in a different way at 27. He led the league in yards per rushing attempt and will start off leading what will be a much run-heavier attack without Russell Wilson. When you look at the 30 running backs with 10,000 or more rushing yards, Gore doesn't even stand out among the nonmembers of the Hall of Fame. PART OF AUDACY SPORTS. He can be an older Dillon to Williams' younger Jones. For whatever the reason, there are numerous deserving players who are still hoping to earn a spot in football immortality. Did he reach 10,000 rush yards in his career? The 10,000-yard plateau is a good one to cross for that gold jacket. Nobis' early success earned him a place on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1960s. 2023 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Of the 31 runners to have done it, 16 are in the Hall and two more are locks (Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore). Look, all 15 finalists are absolutely deserving of the honor. Barkley quickly became a household name after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018. 219 pick. Do you have a blog? That's the big question, but the Rams have confidence that he can deliver effective lead rushing production with the right dash of receiving pop. The Falcons won just 10 games during Jackson's two seasons in Atlanta, however, thus leading to Jackson signing with the Patriots with the hope of winning a championship. After sharing a backfield with Marion Barber at the University of Minnesota, Maroney shared one with Kevin Faulk in New England. George was one of the most physical backs ever. Smith's extreme competitiveness more than made up for his 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame. Ingram -- who is entering his first season with the Texans -- is currently 60th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. For a list of other positions, click here. A neck injury flattened the rest of his career, and he remained quiet and elusive about his health and future. Matthews retired with 69.5 career sacks, 27 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. Vikings (2001-05); Chiefs (2006-07); Buccaneers (2007-08); Chargers (2008-09); Raiders (2010). Fournette has reinvented himself in the transition from Jacksonville to Tampa Bay. 2021 stats: 237 carries, 1,002 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry, 47 receptions on 65 targets, 287 receiving yards, 12 total TDs. The Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame Monitor (HOFm) is a metric designed to estimate a player's chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame using AV, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, championships, and various stat milestones. See the full pecking order. 2021 stats: 203 carries, 918 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 28 receptions on 38 targets, 213 receiving yards, 10 total TDs. A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. A six-time Pro Bowler from 2006-10 and in 2012, Wayne led the NFL in receiving yards in 2007. McCaffrey is looking to bounce back after an injury sidelined him for all but three games in 2020. There's a bevy of top-end defensive players sitting atop the draft board Friday night. Part of Audacy. In his second season, Taylor led the AFL in average yards per catch while helping lead the Chiefs to the first-ever Super Bowl. He also led the NFL in touchdown receptions on two separate occasions. Injuries limited the former Georgia star to just 63 NFL games. He helped the Eagles reach the postseasons three times, but had to wait until Year 11 to win his first ring, when he reunited with Andy Reid in Kansas City. 39 in league history among all pass-catchers. From 1998-2001, Faulk recorded at least 1,319 rushing yards and 81 receptions. Being available allowed Watters to put up these kind of numbers year over year, and he should be rewarded for it. While he has yet to receive the call to Canton,Matthews was inducted into the Browns' Ring of Honorin 2019. 2021 stats: 133 carries, 606 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 14 receptions on 18 targets, 5 total TDs. 2021 stats:228 carries, 1,259 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 20 receptions on 25 targets, 174 receiving yards, 9 total TDs. 1 receiver when Pittsburgh defeated theCardinalsthree years later in Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes was absolutely unstoppable for those three seasons in the Kansas City Chiefs' high-powered attack. An extremely productive player at Alabama, Richardson's lack of big-play ability hindered his NFL production. . 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. In 1985, he became the first running back in NFL history to top 1,000 yards in both receiving and rushing. He led the league with 92 receptions back in 1985, and was the AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, with 1,500 rushing yards. While his career may not have lived up to his pre-draft hype, Bush nonetheless enjoyed a fruitful NFL career. He'll have to wait his turn, but should get a gold jacket one day. Beyond being dynamos in the rushing attack, the most talented players at the position are also key contributors as receivers and pass blockers. His success that season ultimately led to the team parting with Williams during the 2015 offseason. Gurley's production has decreased on recent seasons, however, as he is currently a free agent after averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in Atlanta. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Tomlinson is tied for 80th with 626 catches and Allen is 100th with 587. A 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Tomlinson led the NFL in rushing two times and rushing touchdowns three times. Williams can be a reliable supporting cog for Russell Wilson in every capacity, taking the Jones role in the Packers-like system. "Yeah, it was extremely frustrating," Harris said of watching nearly two dozen players get selected before him, via DKPittsburghSports. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. section: | slug: nfls-top-20-players-not-in-the-hall-of-fame-torry-holt-zach-thomas-ken-anderson-headline-all-time-list | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Brooks excelled at running, receiving and kickoff returns. During his seven full seasons in San Francisco, Willis earned Pro Bowl honors each year while also receiving five first-team All-Pro nods. He was never the same after that. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The fifth running back selected in the first round of the 2000 draft, Canidate spent his first three NFL seasons playing behind future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk.

Tomekia Reed Birthday, Articles B