Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #45: Clem Daniels

Clem Daniels

Teams

Dallas Texans (1960)

Oakland Raiders (1961-1967)

San Francisco 49ers (1968)

Playoffs

Appearances - 1 (1967)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (1967)

Super Bowls - 1 (1967)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 2 (1963,1966)

Pro Bowl - 4 (1963,1964,1965,1966)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #49

Yards per Touch - #68

Yards per Reception - #91

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1963, #2-1966, #3-1964,1965, #4-1962, #7-1967)

Rushing Touchdowns (#2-1966, #3-1962, #5-1965, #7-1967)

Yards per Rush (#3-1963, #4-1964, #6-1962,1965,1967, #9-1966)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1963, #2-1966, #3-1964,1965, #4-1962,1967)

Receiving Touchdowns (#6-1965)

Yards per Reception (#1-1963, #8-1965, #10-1966)

Total Touchdowns (#3-1965, #5-1966, #6-1962, #7-1964, #10-1963)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1963, #2-1964,1965,1966, #5-1962)

Yards per Touch (#2-1963,1964, #3-1966, #5-1965,1967, #6-1962)

After leading Prairie View to the NAIA national championship in 1959, Clem Daniels went undrafted in both the AFL and NFL Drafts in 1960, eventually signing as a free agent with the Dallas Texans.

Daniels played only one year with Dallas, but hardly played due to Abner Haynes being entrenched as the starter. He ended the season with negative 2 yards, and was traded to the Oakland Raiders after his rookie year ended.

It took a little over a year for him to really catch on in Oakland, but he finally became the starter midway through the 1962 season, and by 1963, he was a star. He led the league that year with 1099 rushing yards and 1784 scrimmage yards, and he was also best in the league at yards per reception with 22.8, which is a huge number for a running back. He was voted to the All-Pro First Team that year and the Pro Bowl, which would become routine for him.

Over the next 3 seasons with the Raiders, Daniels made 3 straight Pro Bowls, gained over 800 yards on the ground, and 500 yards through the air each season, but the Raiders never broke through to reach the playoffs during that time. He broke his leg 9 games into the 1967 season, and that was the year when they Raiders won the AFL and went to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the Green Bay Packers with Daniels out with the injury.

He was released and moved across the bay to join the San Francisco 49ers for the 1968 season, but gained only 37 yards before calling it a career. He retired as the AFL's all-time leading rusher, and he was also a great receiver out of the backfield, and he is still in the top 100 in yards per reception, a rarity for a running back. His entire career came before the leagues merged, but he is still one of the best to have ever played the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #46: Ollie Matson

Ollie Matson

Teams

Chicago Cardinals (1952-1958)

Los Angeles Rams (1959-1962)

Detroit Lions (1963)

Philadelphia Eagles (1964-1966)

Playoffs

Appearances - 0

Conf Champ Games - 0

Champ Games - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 5 (1952,1954,1955,1956,1957)

Pro Bowl - 6 (1952,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958)

Hall of Fame - 1972

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #64

Yards per Touch - #72

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#2-1956, #3-1959, #6-1957, #10-1954,1958)

Rushing Touchdowns (#3-1957, #7-1959, #9-1956, #10-1952,1958)

Yards per Rush (#3-1959, #5-1956, #7-1954, #8-1957)

Rushing Yards per Game (#2-1956, #3-1959, #7-1957)

Yards per Reception (#6-1961, #10-1954)

Total Touchdowns (#3-1957, #4-1958, #5-1954, #6-1952, #8-1956)

Scrimmage Yards (#3-1957, #4-1954, #5-1956, #8-1958, #9-1959)

Yards per Touch (#2-1954, #3-1957, #6-1956, #7-1964, #8-1959, #9-1955,1958)

As a senior at the University of San Francisco, Ollie Matson led the entire nation in rushing yards and touchdowns, and led the Dons to an undefeated season, and he was then drafted #3 overall by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1952 NFL Draft. Before joining the Cardinals, Matson represented the USA in the Olympics, winning a silver and bronze medal in track events.

During his time with the Cardinals, Matson moved around between running back, wide receiver, and kick returner, and his play in all of these areas combined earned him 5 straight All-Pro First Team spots. He missed his entire second season due to serving in the Army, but didn't miss a beat when he returned.

In 1954,1956, and 1957, he gained over 1000 yards from scrimmage, and he gained at least 1200 all-purpose yards in each of his first 7 seasons. He led the league in kick return touchdowns 3 times, and punt return touchdowns twice, but he was also a very solid running back at the same time.

The 1954 season was his best, with 506 yards on the ground, 611 through the air (a career-best), and 449 on kick returns. He tied with Otto Graham for second in the MVP voting that year, behind Joe Perry of the 49ers. After 6 seasons with the Cardinals, Matson was traded to the Rams for 9 players.

He had one of his best seasons in that first year in Los Angeles. He gained 863 yards on the ground and scored 6 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, but failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He played 3 more seasons with the Rams, but was used less and less as he entered his thirties. He later finished his career with one season in Detroit and 3 with the Eagles.

When Matson retired, he was #2 on the all-time list for all-purpose yardage, behind only Jim Brown. He had gained over 5000 yards rushing, and over 3000 each receiving and returning kicks. He never made the playoffs in his career, despite playing 14 seasons, but was named to 6 Pro Bowls and 5 All-Pro Teams, and needs to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #47: Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones

Teams

Green Bay Packers (2017-2023)

Minnesota Vikings (current)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (2019,2023,2021,2023)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (2019,2020)

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Pro Bowl - 1 (2020)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #10

Rushing Yards per Game - #82

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-2020, #10-2022)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2019)

Yards per Rush (#1-2018, #5-2020, #6-2022, #10-2021)

Rushing Yards per Game (#4-2020)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2019)

Scrimmage Yards (#7-2020, #8-2019, #9-2022)

After setting UTEP's all-time rushing record, and gaining 1773 yards on the ground as a senior, Aaron Jones was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Jones spent his first two seasons as a backup in Green Bay, getting better as time passed. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in both of those seasons, which made him the league leader in that category in 2018, which helped him earn the starting job heading into 2019.

In his first season as a starter, Jones gained 1084 yards on the ground, along with 474 through the air, and led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns and 19 overall. He also helped the Packers make the playoffs for the first time in his career, and he scored 2 touchdowns in each of their playoff games, though they lost in the NFC title game.

He had his best season so far in 2020. He scored fewer touchdowns, with only 9, but he gained 1104 rushing yards, and once again averaged 5.5 per carry, and as a result he was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. The Packers again reached the NFC Title Game, but this time Jones was injured during the game, and they fell short of the Super Bowl by a game again.

Jones was still the team's starter in 2021, but started splitting the backfield load with AJ Dillon, and he ended the season with only 799 yards. He bounced back in 2022, gaining a career-high 1121 yards, but scoring only twice on the ground.

Jones missed 6 games in 2023 with hamstring issues, and it resulted in him gaining only 656 rushing yards in 11 games, the lowest since his rookie season. After the season, he was released by the Packers, and has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones has not been a volume rusher during his time in the NFL so far, but he gains a lot of yardage each time he touches the ball. He is #10 on the all-time list for yards per carry, averaging 5 yards each time he carries the ball. He has led the league in that category once, and has been near the top 3 other times, and scored the most touchdowns of any player in 2019. He's currently 29 years old, so he could have several more good years to go, but he's already proven to be one of the best to play the game.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #48: Keith Lincoln

Keith Lincoln

Teams

San Diego Chargers (1961-1966,1968)

Buffalo Bills (1967-1968)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (1961,1963,1964,1965)

Conf Champ Games - 4 (1961,1963,1964,1965)

Champ Games - 4 (1961,1963,1964,1965)

Championships - 1 (1963)

Awards and Honors

AFL Championship MVP - 1 (1963)

All-Pro First Team - 2 (1963,1964)

Pro Bowl - 5 (1962,1963,1964,1965,1967)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #49

Yards per Touch - #72

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-1963, #6-1964,1967, #7-1962)

Rushing Touchdowns (#4-1963, #7-1964,1967)

Yards per Rush (#1-1963, #5-1962, #7-1964, #10-1967)

Rushing Yards per Game (#4-1963, #6-1964, #8-1962, #9-1967)

Receiving Touchdowns (#10-1967)

Total Touchdowns (#8-1967, #9-1965, #10-1963)

Scrimmage Yards (#6-1967, #7-1963)

Yards per Touch (#1-1963,1965, #3-1967, #6-1962, #9-1964)

After switching from quarterback to running back after his freshman season at Washington State, Keith Lincoln gained 1500 yards on the ground over 3 seasons, then was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 5th round of the 1961 NFL Draft and the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd round of the 1961 AFL Draft, choosing the latter.

Lincoln didn't get a lot of playing time as a rookie, but he had the longest reception in the league that year, with a 91-yard touchdown catch that accounted for almost half of his yards that year. He had an 86-yard rush for a touchdown the next season, which was also the longest in the league.

In 1963, he had his best season by far. He rushed for 6.5 yards per carry, the only time he would average over 5 in his career, and he also led the league in yards per touch at 7.6. He led the Chargers to the AFL Championship Game, where he gained 206 yards on the ground and 123 through the air, for a total of 329 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 51-10 blowout of the Patriots. The rushing yards and total yards were records at the time, with the total record standing for 8 years, and the rushing record for 22. His performance won him the game's MVP award.

He got the Chargers back to the title game the next season, but in the first quarter he was the recipient of a monstrous hit that broke one of his ribs and knocked him out of the game, and the Chargers failed to repeat. 

He led the league in yards per touch again in 1965, and again took San Diego to the championship game, but once again they fell short, and Lincoln only gained 23 yards in the game. He played one more season with the Chargers before he was traded away to the Buffalo Bills.

He played one full season in Buffalo, and played well enough to be named to the Pro Bowl for the 5th time in his career, setting a career high with 1159 scrimmage yards, but after struggling at the beginning of the 1968 season, he was released by the Bills, signing back with the Chargers to appear in a single game before retiring.

Lincoln never piled up big yardage, but he always gained a lot of yards each time he touched the ball, leading the league in yards per carry once and yards per touch twice. His performance in the 1963 Championship Game is one of the greatest of all time, and is the biggest reason he is this high on the list of the greatest backs of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #49: Shaun Alexander

Shaun Alexander

Teams

Seattle Seahawks (2000-2007)

Washington Redskins (2008)

Playoffs

Appearances - 5 (2003,2004,2005,2006,2007)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (2005)

Super Bowls - 1 (2005)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

MVP - 1 (2005)

Offensive Player of the Year - 1 (2005)

All-Pro First Team - 1 (2005)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2004)

Pro Bowl - 3 (2003,2004,2005)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Touchdowns - #8

Total Touchdowns - #17

Rushing Yards per Game - #22

Rushing Yards - #37

Yards per Rush - #86

Scrimmage Yards - #87

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-2005, #2-2004, #6-2001, #8-2003)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2001,2005, #2-2002,2004, #3-2003)

Yards per Rush (#5-2004,2005)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-2005, #4-2004, #9-2001, #10-2003)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2004,2005, #2-2001,2002, #5-2003)

Scrimmage Yards (#3-2005, #4-2004, #6-2001, #8-2003)

After leaving Alabama as the school's all-time leading rusher (he's now #3), Shaun Alexander was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the #19 overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.

As a rookie, he played behind Ricky Watters, getting only 64 rush attempts on the season, but he averaged an impressive 4.9 yards per carry when he was in the game. When Watters missed most of the following season with injuries, Alexander moved into the starting role and held it for nearly 7 years.

In that second season, Alexander led the league with 14 rushing touchdowns, the first of 5 straight seasons where he would score at least that many times on the ground. He gained only 4 yards per carry in 2002, but made up for it with 16 touchdowns.

He made his first Pro Bowl in 2003, when he gained 1435 yards and scored another 14 touchdowns, then came within one yard of winning the rushing title in 2004, finishing with 1696, just behind Curtis Martin. Alexander did lead the league with 20 total touchdowns that season, and made his first All-Pro Team.

2005 was the season that defined his career. He led the league with 370 carries, 1880 rushing yards, and tied the league record with 27 rushing touchdowns, a record that would be broken the following season by LaDainian Tomlinson. He won the Offensive Player of the Year award, and also the league MVP, which is a rarity for a running back.

Not only did he have great individual achievements that year, he led the Seahawks all the way to the Super Bowl. He had 132 yards and 2 touchdowns in the NFC Title Game, then gained 95 yards in the Super Bowl, which Seattle lost 21-10 to Pittsburgh.

His career fell off immediately after that. He broke his foot early in the next season, and ended up with only 896 yards in 10 games. He opened the following season by breaking his wrist, then suffered knee and ankle injuries later in the season. After struggling through injuries for 2 straight years, he was released by Seattle after the 2007 season.

He joined the Washington Redskins for the 2008 season, but after appearing in only 4 games and gaining only 24 yards, he was released in the middle of the season, at which point he retired from football, less than 3 years removed from his amazing MVP season.

Alexander was a touchdown machine, especially in his first 5 seasons as the Seahawks' starter. He scored 100 rushing touchdowns in his career, which is #8 on the all-time list. He had one immortal season, along with a couple of other very good seasons with Seattle, but injuries prevented him from doing more. Still, he was so great, especially in 2005, that he has to be remembered as one of the best of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #50: Abner Haynes

Abner Haynes

Teams

Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (1960-1964)

Denver Broncos (1965-1966)

Miami Dolphins (1967)

New York Jets (1967)

Playoffs

Appearances - 1 (1962)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (1962)

Champ Games - 1 (1962)

Championships - 1 (1962)

Awards and Honors

Player of the Year - 1 (1960)

Rookie of the Year - 1960

All-Pro First Team - 2 (1960,1962)

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (1964)

Pro Bowl - 3 (1961,1962,1964)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #49

Yards per Touch - #70

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#1-1960, #2-1962, #3-1961, #5-1964)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1960,1961,1962, #7-1963,1964)

Yards per Rush (#1-1961, #2-1960, #3-1964, #7-1962, #10-1963)

Rushing Yards per Game (#1-1960, #2-1962, #3-1961, #5-1964)

Receptions (#5-1960)

Receiving Touchdowns (#7-1962)

Total Touchdowns (#1-1962, #2-1960, #3-1961, #7-1964)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1962, #2-1960, #3-1961, #7-1964)

Yards per Touch (#2-1964, #3-1961,1962, #4-1963, #5-1960)

After becoming one of the first players to integrate college football at the University of North Texas and gaining 1864 rushing yards over 3 seasons, Abner Haynes was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 5th round of the 1960 NFL Draft, and in the initial AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, which did not have rounds, just names drawn from a hat. After the Raiders declined to sign him, he signed with his local Dallas Texans of the AFL.

In the AFL's first season, Haynes led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, finishing with 875 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also had 576 yards receiving, which gave him 1451 scrimmage yards, and he was named both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the AFL.

In his second season, he led the league in touchdowns again, and this time also led the league with 4.7 yards per carry. He topped both of those seasons in 1962, when he reached 1049 rushing yards, led the league with 13 touchdowns, his third straight season with the most in the league. He also led the league with 1622 scrimmage yards and 19 total touchdowns, making the All-Pro First Team for the second time.

Dallas reached the AFL title game that season, where they faced the Houston Oilers, winning 20-17 in double overtime, with Haynes scoring both of the Texans' touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. He gained 71 yards in the game and went home a champion in the only playoff appearance of his career.

The Dallas Texans moved after that season, relocating to Kansas City and renaming themselves the Chiefs, and he remained with the team for 2 more seasons. His first season as a Chief was a bit disappointing, but he bounced back in 1964, gaining 1259 scrimmage yards and being named to the AFL All-Star Game. 

Because he participated in a boycott of that season's All-Star Game in New Orleans due to mistreatment of black players in the city, the Chiefs traded him to the Denver Broncos after the season. He played two seasons with the Broncos, only gaining 470 rushing yards during that time, then moved on to play partial seasons with the Dolphins and Jets before retiring after his 8th season.

Haynes' career fell off kind of quickly after a hot start, but he was definitely one of the top rushers in the game in each of his first 3 seasons, and was a big reason for his team's championship in 1962. He was nearly always among the league leaders in yards per carry, and still ranks among the top 50 of all time in that category, and his play in those early days of the AFL made him one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #51: Ricky Watters

Ricky Watters

Teams

San Francisco 49ers (1992-1994)

Philadelphia Eagles (1995-1997)

Seattle Seahawks (1998-2001)

Playoffs

Appearances - 6 (1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1999)

Conf Champ Games - 3 (1992,1993,1994)

Super Bowls - 1 (1994)

Championships - 1 (1994)

Awards and Honors

Pro Bowl - 5 (1992,1993,1994,1995,1996)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Touchdowns - #23

Rushing Yards - #24

Scrimmage Yards - #27

Rushing Yards per Game - #29

Total Touchdowns - #35

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-1996, #6-1995, #9-1998,1999, #10-1997)

Rushing Touchdowns (#2-1993, #3-1996, #4-1995, #5-1992,1998)

Yards per Rush (#2-1992, #7-1993, #9-2000)

Rushing Yards per Game (#4-1996, #7-1995, #9-1992,1993)

Total Touchdowns (#4-1993, #6-1992,1994, #7-1996)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1996, #5-1994,2000, #7-1995,1997, #8-1992,1998, #9-1999)

Yards per Touch (#9-1992)

Ricky Watters was switched from wide receiver to running back halfway through his college career, right after winning a national championship, and though he only rushed for 1814 in 4 college seasons, he was drafted in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Watters missed the entire 1991 season due to injury, but moved right into the starting role when he returned in 1992. He gained 1013 rushing yards as a rookie, and gained 4.9 yards per carry, and the 49ers reached the NFC title game, where they fell to the Cowboys.

In his second season, he again helped lead the 49ers to the NFC championship game, setting an NFL record in the Divisional round with 5 touchdowns against the Giants, a postseason record that still stands. They fell one game short of the Super Bowl again, but not because of Watters.

In his 3rd season with the 49ers, his yardage dropped to only 877 on the season, though he made up for it with 719 receiving yards, the best of his career. That year the 49ers finally broke through and beat the Cowboys to reach the Super Bowl, and in that win Watters scored 3 touchdowns, which is tied for the most in a single Super Bowl with 5 other players.

He left San Fran after the championship to join the Eagles as a free agent. He set new personal bests in rushing yards and scrimmage yards in each of his first two seasons with Philadelphia, leading the league in scrimmage yards in 1996 with 1855 yards. That season was his 5th in a row in which he made the Pro Bowl, starting from his rookie season. It would also be the last time it happened.

Watters played one more season with the Eagles before leaving for Seattle. While he continued to pile up yardage with the Seahawks, gaining just over 1200 yards in 3 straight seasons with the team, he was requiring more carries to reach those numbers, gaining under 4 yards per carry in the first two years with the team. He ended up retiring after the 2001 season after only being able to play in 5 games.

Ricky Watters holds the records for most touchdowns in a playoff game and in a Super Bowl, and led the league in scrimmage yards once, and was among the top 10 eight different times in his career. He is #24 all-time in rushing yards, but was not efficient in getting there, averaging just 4.1 yards per carry for his career. Even with the low yards per carry, the sheer volume of what he did in his career makes him one of the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #52: Frank Gore

Frank Gore

Teams

San Francisco 49ers (2005-2014)

Indianapolis Colts (2015-2017)

Miami Dolphins (2018)

Buffalo Bills (2019)

New York Jets (2020)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (2011,2012,2013,2019)

Conf Champ Games - 3 (2011,2012,2013)

Super Bowls - 1 (2012)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2006)

Pro Bowl - 5 (2006,2009,2011,2012,2013)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards - #3

Scrimmage Yards - #4

Rushing Touchdowns - #20

Total Touchdowns - #23

Rushing Yards per Game - #57

Yards per Rush - #86

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#3-2006, #6-2011, #9-2013,2014,2015, #10-2012)

Rushing Touchdowns (#6-2013, #9-2009)

Yards per Rush (#3-2006, #7-2005, #10-2012)

Rushing Yards per Game (#3-2006, #9-2009, #10-2010,2012,2014)

Total Touchdowns (#6-2009)

Scrimmage Yards (#4-2006, #6-2007, #7-2009)

Yards per Touch (#6-2006)

Frank Gore suffered 2 torn ACLs in college at Miami, and ended his college career with only 1975 total rushing yards, but was still selected in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

During his rookie season, he was slowed by injuries to his groin and both shoulders, which required surgery after the season, but he still played in 14 games and ended up with 608 rushing yards, which would be the lowest total he would gain in the next 14 years.

He returned from surgery stronger, won the starting job, and had the best season he would have in his career, rushing for 1695 yards and 8 touchdowns, and finishing with 2180 scrimmage yards. Both of those yardage marks broke Garrison Hearst's franchise records for a single season, and he also gained 5.4 yards per carry, which earned him a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.

Over the next several seasons, he was never able to replicate the performance of his second season, but he was always solid and dependable, gaining at least 1000 rushing yards in 7 of his 8 remaining seasons with the 49ers, though his high for that period was 1214. He was named to 4 more Pro Bowls during those years in San Francisco, as he was always good but never great.

Gore didn't experience the playoffs until the 7th season of his career, but in a three year run from 2011 to 2013, the 49ers reached at least the NFC title game each year, playing in the Super Bowl after the 2012 season. In that game, Gore ran for 110 yards and a touchdown, but the 49ers lost 34-31 against the Baltimore Ravens.

After 10 seasons with the 49ers, Gore left as a free agent to sign with the Indianapolis Colts. While with the Colts, he never reached 4 yards per carry in a season, a number he had surpassed in every year with San Francisco. After 3 mediocre years in Indy, he signed with his hometown Dolphins.

His lone season in Miami was the only one in his career in which he didn't score a rushing touchdown. After that season, he moved on to one season in Buffalo, followed by a final season with the Jets. After being unable to find a team for the 2021 season, he retired in 2022.

Gore had one of the longest careers of any running back in history, which enabled him to reach #3 on the all-time rushing yardage list, despite finishing in the top 5 in a season only once in his career. He had one star-level season and a couple of other very good years, but for the most part he was just a decent back who could be depended on to show up and gain his yardage every week, and that is what puts him among the greatest of all time.

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #53: Wilbert Montgomery

Wilbert Montgomery

Teams

Philadelphia Eagles (1977-1984)

Detroit Lions (1985)

Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (1978,1979,1980,1981)

Conf Champ Games - 1 (1980)

Super Bowls - 1 (1980)

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

All-Pro Second Team - 2 (1978,1979)

Pro Bowl - 2 (1978,1979)

All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #64

Rushing Yards per Game - #72

Rushing Yards - #72

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-1979,1981, #5-1978)

Rushing Touchdowns (#5-1982, #7-1978, #8-1980, #9-1979)

Yards per Rush (#2-1981, #6-1982, #7-1978)

Rushing Yards per Game (#3-1978, #4-1979,1981, #8-1980)

Total Touchdowns (#4-1982, #5-1979, #7-1980, #8-1978)

Scrimmage Yards (#1-1979, #3-1981, #7-1978)

Yards per Touch (#4-1982, #5-1981)

After 4 seasons at Abilene Christian in which he set the NAIA record for career touchdowns with 76, including 37 as a freshman while leading the Wildcats to a national title, Wilbert Montgomery was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 6th round of the 1977 NFL Draft.

Montgomery got very little playing time as a rookie, but in his second season he earned the starting job and made an immediate impact. He gained 1220 rushing yards and scored 9 touchdowns, and was named to the Pro Bowl.

He was even better the next season, gaining 1512 rushing yards, and leading the league in scrimmage yards with 2006, which earned him votes for MVP and got him into his second straight Pro Bowl. He unfortunately also led the league with 14 fumbles that season.

In 1980, his production dropped off significantly, with only 778 yards on the ground, but the Eagles were able to reach the Super Bowl, where they faced the Oakland Raiders. Montgomery gained 135 total yards in that game, but it wasn't enough for Philly, who lost 27-10.

Montgomery bounced back with his strongest season in 1981, with 1402 yards and an average of 4.9 yards per carry, his career best. He finished with 1923 scrimmage yards, which put him in third place for the season, but the Eagles fell in the first round of the playoffs.

His next two seasons were marred by injuries, allowing him to appear in only 13 games over that time, but he was finally healthy again in 1984 and returned to his starting role, but time had taken its toll, and he only rushed for 789 yards before being released. When he left, he was the Eagles' all-time leader in most rushing categories.

He signed with Detroit for one final season, but he was a shell of his former self, and decided to retire from playing. In later years, he spent 19 seasons as a running backs coach in the NFL, coaching some great backs and winning two Super Bowl titles in the process.

LeSean McCoy has broken Montgomery's Eagles rushing yardage records, but Montgomery was still a very good running back for many years. He was near the top of the league in scrimmage yards 3 times, leading the league once, and always averaged at least 4 yards per carry through his first 7 seasons. Not too many people today recall his name, but he is one of the all-time greats.

NBA All-Time Top 100 Players - 2024 Update

With the conclusion of the 2024 NBA season last night, it's time to update the list of the 100 greatest players of all time. 3 new players joined the list, with Joel Embiid jumping in early in the season, Luka Doncic during the last week of the regular season, and Jrue Holiday during the early part of the playoffs. Nikola Jokic reached the top 30 this year, James Harden joined the top 20, and Kevin Durant reached the top 15. There are once again several players who look poised to make the jump into the top 100 next season, with Jayson Tatum a virtual guarantee to make it (he's at 101 right now). Mike Conley should make it next year, and DeMar DeRozan has a very good chance as well. Others with a chance of making it include Kyle Lowry, Paul George, Trae Young, Devin Booker, and Rudy Gobert.

100 (97) Shawn Kemp - PF - SEA - 1990s

99 (96) Walter Davis - SG - PHX - 1980s

98 (95) Vince Carter - SG - NJN - 2000s

97 (94) Bob Lanier - C - DET - 1970s

96 (93) Amar'e Stoudemire - PF - PHX - 2000s

95 (92) Wes Unseld - C - WAS - 1970s

94 (NR) Jrue Holiday - PG - NOP - 2010s*

93 (90) Gus Williams - PG - SEA - 1980s

92 (89) Dennis Rodman - PF - DET - 1990s

91 (88) Tom Heinsohn - PF - BOS - 1960s

90 (87) John Wall - PG - WAS - 2010s

89 (86) Rod Strickland - PG - POR - 1990s

88 (85) Cliff Hagan - SF - STL - 1960s

87 (84) Walt Frazier - PG - NYK - 1970s

86 (83) Ray Allen - SG - MIL - 2000s

85 (91) Jimmy Butler - SF - MIA - 2010s*

84 (82) Alonzo Mourning - C - MIA - 1990s

83 (81) Terry Porter - PG - POR - 1990s

82 (80) Dikembe Mutombo - C - ATL - 1990s

81 (NR) Joel Embiid - C - PHI - 2020s*

80 (79) Louie Dampier - PG - KEN - 1970s

79 (78) Tracy McGrady - SG - ORL - 2000s

78 (77) Tim Hardaway - PG - GSW - 1990s

77 (76) Chris Webber - PF - SAC - 2000s

76 (75) Sam Cassell - PG - MIL - 2000s

75 (74) Dominique Wilkins - SF - ATL - 1980s

74 (73) Carmelo Anthony - SF - DEN - 2010s

73 (71) Alex English - SF - DEN - 1980s

72 (70) Maurice Cheeks - PG - PHI - 1980s

71 (69) Deron Williams - PG - UTA - 2000s

70 (68) Ben Wallace - C - DET - 2000s

69 (NR) Luka Doncic - PG - DAL - 2020s*

68 (67) Bob McAdoo - C - BUF - 1970s

67 (65) Sam Jones - SG - BOS - 1960s

66 (63) Manu Ginobili - SG - SAS - 2000s

65 (62) Reggie Miller - SG - IND - 1990s

64 (66) Draymond Green - PF - GSW - 2010s*

63 (61) Kevin McHale - PF - BOS - 1980s

62 (60) George McGinnis - PF - IND - 1970s

61 (72) Kyrie Irving - PG - CLE - 2010s*

60 (59) Paul Pierce - SF - BOS - 2000s

59 (64) Kawhi Leonard - SF - SAS - 2010s*

58 (58) Chauncey Billups - PG - DET - 2000s

57 (55) George Gervin - SG - SAS - 1970s

56 (54) Pau Gasol - C - LAL - 2010s

55 (53) Scottie Pippen - SF - CHI - 1990s

54 (56) Damian Lillard - PG - POR - 2010s*

53 (57) Anthony Davis - PF - NOP - 2010s*

52 (52) Clyde Drexler - SG - POR - 1990s

51 (51) Mark Jackson - PG - IND - 1990s

50 (50) Rajon Rondo - PG - BOS - 2010s

49 (49) Kevin Johnson - PG - PHX - 1990s

48 (48) Elvin Hayes - PF - WAS - 1970s

47 (47) Dolph Schayes - PF - SYR - 1950s

46 (46) Gary Payton - PG - SEA - 1990s

45 (45) Dan Issel - C - DEN - 1970s

44 (44) Robert Parish - C - BOS - 1980s

43 (42) Dwight Howard - C - ORL - 2010s

42 (41) John Havlicek - SF - BOS - 1970s

41 (40) Bob Pettit - PF - STL - 1960s

40 (39) Allen Iverson - SG - PHI - 2000s

39 (38) Artis Gilmore - C - KEN - 1970s

38 (37) Rick Barry - SF - GSW - 1970s

37 (35) Isiah Thomas - PG - DET - 1980s

36 (34) Patrick Ewing - C - NYK - 1990s

35 (33) Charles Barkley - PF - PHI - 1990s

34 (32) Elgin Baylor - SF - LAL - 1960s

33 (31) David Robinson - C - SAS - 1990s

32 (36) Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF - MIL - 2020s*

31 (30) George Mikan - C - MNL - 1950s

30 (43) Nikola Jokic - C - DEN - 2020s*

29 (29) Tony Parker - PG - SAS - 2010s

28 (28) Kevin Garnett - PF - MIN - 2000s

27 (27) Dirk Nowitzki - PF - DAL - 2000s

26 (26) Moses Malone - C - HOU - 1980s

25 (25) Steve Nash - PG - PHX - 2000s

24 (24) Dwyane Wade - SG - MIA - 2010s

23 (23) Jason Kidd - PG - NJN - 2000s

22 (21) Oscar Robertson - PG - CIN - 1960s

21 (20) Larry Bird - SF - BOS - 1980s

20 (22) James Harden - SG - HOU - 2010s*

19 (19) Russell Westbrook - PG - OKC - 2010s*

18 (18) Chris Paul - PG - LAC - 2010s*

17 (15) Bob Cousy - PG - BOS - 1950s

16 (17) Stephen Curry - PG - GSW - 2010s*

15 (14) Julius Erving - SF - PHI - 1970s

14 (13) Karl Malone - PF - UTA - 1990s

13 (16) Kevin Durant - SF - OKC - 2010s*

12 (12) John Stockton - PG - UTA - 1990s

11 (11) Jerry West - PG - LAL - 1960s

10 (10) Hakeem Olajuwon - C - HOU - 1990s

9 (9) Kobe Bryant - SG - LAL - 2000s

8 (8) Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1960s

7 (7) Tim Duncan - PF - SAS - 2000s

6 (6) Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1980s

5 (5) Shaquille O'Neal - C - LAL - 2000s

4 (4) Wilt Chamberlain - C - PHW - 1960s

3 (3) Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1990s

2 (2) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - LAL - 1970s

1 (1) LeBron James - SF - CLE - 2010s*

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #54: Clinton Portis

Clinton Portis

Teams

Denver Broncos (2002-2003)

Washington Redskins (2004-2010)

Playoffs

Appearances - 3 (2003,2005,2007)

Conf Champ Games - 0

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0

Awards and Honors

Offensive Rookie of the Year - 2002

All-Pro Second Team - 1 (2008)

Pro Bowl - 2 (2003,2008)

All-Time Ranks

Rushing Yards per Game - #6

Rushing Touchdowns - #26

Rushing Yards - #32

Yards per Rush - #64

Scrimmage Yards - #66

Total Touchdowns - #71

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-2002,2005,2008, #5-2003, #6-2007, #8-2004)

Rushing Touchdowns (#3-2003, #4-2002,2007, #9-2005)

Yards per Rush (#1-2003, #3-2002)

Rushing Yards per Game (#2-2003, #4-2002,2008, #5-2005)

Total Touchdowns (#3-2002, #6-2003)

Scrimmage Yards (#3-2007, #4-2008, #6-2002,2005, #7-2003, #9-2004)

Yards per Touch (#8-2003, #9-2002)

Clinton Portis rushed for 1200 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior at Miami, then left school a year early to join the NFL, where he was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2nd round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Portis really burst onto the scene as a rookie. He rushed for 1508 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, making him the best back in the league in his first season. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season, and he was just as good the next year.

In 2003, he rushed for 1591 yards and 14 touchdowns, again averaging 5.5 yards per carry, which this time led the entire league. He was named to his first Pro Bowl and seemed ready to dominate the league for years. But before the 2004 season, he was traded to the Washington Redskins.

His first year in Washington was rough. He finished with 1315 yards, which seems good, but he only averaged 3.8 yards per carry, and he only scored 5 touchdowns, way below the standard he had set for himself in Denver.

He bounced back somewhat in 2005, gaining 1516 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns, becoming the third player ever to reach 1500 yards 3 times in his first four seasons. He hurt his shoulder in the 2006 preseason, then returned to play 8 games before breaking his hand and missing the rest of the season.

He was fully healthy in 2007, and led the league in carries, but averaged only 3.9 each time he was handed the ball. 2008 was better, with a 4.3 yard average per carry, a total of 1487 yards on the ground, and 9 touchdowns, which got him into the Pro Bowl for the second time.

His 2009 season started off pretty slowly, and then it ended just halfway through when he was knocked unconscious during a game. It took 4 months for him to be cleared to play again. He was ready for the 2010 season, but abdominal and groin injuries limited him to only 5 games and 227 yards, and he was released by the team after the season, leading to his retirement.

Portis was a workhouse back who gained a lot of yardage in his career, but other than in his first two seasons with Denver, his average per carry was at or below the league average. He is high on the list for total yards and touchdowns, but really only had 2 superstar seasons. Either way, Portis was so good during those first two seasons that he didn't need to do anything else to be recognized as one of the greatest backs of all time.