The 10 Greatest Running Backs of All Time
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- Опубликовано: 21 ноя 2024
- The 10 Greatest NFL Running Backs of All Time (Our picks, let us know yours)
10. Tony Dorsett
9. Gale Sayers
8. Eric Dickerson
7. Adrian Peterson
6. Marshall Faulk
5. LaDainian Tomlinson
4. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
2. Jim Brown
1. Emmitt Smith
If this list really annoys you (for some reason) please let us know in the comments what YOUR Top 10 is... we'd love to hear it.
The original piece is here thesporting.bl...
Smith over Barry, Sweetness, and Jim Brown? Put down the crack pipe!
Smith is not top 5.
@@crackerjack9320 Yeah, Smith had an O-line. Barry had, well...not much. Also Barry's college records are absurd.
This is why stats can't tell the full story. No. 1: Jim Brown, period.
I’m sorry, I like Emmitt, but if I’m being unbiased, I would say Jim brown, Walter Payton or Barry sanders over him. The Dallas Cowboy offensive line during that time period was beastly.
Emmitt didn't get touched till he gained 4 yards. That O-line was amazing. He had longevity and greatness but Barry was much more talented. If Barry had Cowboys line and Cowboys passing attack to keep things honest, he would have been staggering.
Seems to be the general consensus
You are absolutely correct. No way should Smith be 1. In fact I would not even put him in the top 5.@dougnewman3935
If prime Mike Tyson would have fought prime Muhammad Ali......😂. Speculation. Emmitt rushed for 164 TD's and caught 11 more. That's 175 touchdowns. Look that up and see how good that is. His career rushing yds and rushing td records will never be beaten. It's a pass first league now, sorry.
@jerrygoldfarb7739 Barry had a good line. That narrative is old and tired and just flat out ain't even close to true. He had at least 2 probowlers almost his entire career with a 3rd probowler for a couple years. He also had Herman Moore who was an all-time great receiver.
Emmitts line was no doubt great but there's 3 things that make that argument dumb. 1) he had 2 rushing titles before that line was great. 2) when Emmitt held out after the 1st superbowl the Cowboys went 0-2 and couldn't run the ball for shit. Emmitt comes back and they finish 12-2 with Emmitt leading the league in rushing again even after missing 2 games and he goes on to be the superbowl mvp.
3) the line was only great for a max of 4 years, after that drugs, injuries, and a car wreck decimated that line.
You saying the All-time rushing champ in the regular and post season and TD champ in regular and post season isn't even top 5 shows you know absolutely nothing about football.
If the line was as good as people claim when the backups got their chance they would have at least looked as good as Emmitt. Emmitt is the best back in football history and his stats and wins back that up.
@bigred9991 Lions had Brett Perriman too. Herman Moore and Brett became the first duo with 100 catches in the same season. And they had Morton as a 3rd WR who became a pro bowler. I agree the narrative of Barry had no o line is old for sure.
He wasn’t on a bad team. Lions had a good team in the late 90’s and a top offense. Their defense killed em. If they had a better D Lions would have been scary
Eric Dickerson had one of the most beautiful running styles. All you had to do was watch him doing a long run and see that his gait was a thing of beauty.
Genuine phenom.
His name is one that I'll always remember my Dad eulogising about...
You wouldn't be able to tell from the runs shown on the video.
First of all it's gait, not gate.
As far as running style, you DEFINITELY would not teach it as a coach.
He ran straight up. The only thing that kept him from being obliterated was his incredible speed, which he maintained even while making cuts. Think about that. Someone so fast who can change direction and lose no momentum? Amazing. The incredible timing of his cuts and ability to take angles against defenders was extraordinary. When he hit open field? GONE! Add to that the protective gear he used and he looked like
ROBO-RUNNING BACK!
@@mikilynne4558 yeah I agree with you about Eric Dickerson. It was really weird that none of the highlights showed any of his better runs. He got a lot of his yards out running the 3rd level of the defense. I'm glad Gale Sayers was on the list. He was truly magic. Power, speed, elusiveness. Plus special teams returns. Just 5 more years would have been fun to watch.
Whoever made this list, never saw OJ Simpson play
Granted oj was the best got away with a double murder
Notable omissions: OJ Simpson and Earl Campbell
I would’ve had OJ there instead of Dorsett
You have to have Earl Campbell in the top 3 & OJ is in too 10 without knowing he’s a murderer off the field!
Absolutely. This list did not specify "the 10 greatest running backs who did not commit murder," so how could OJ be left off? And Campbell didn't even kill anybody. What was his great sin?
Thurman Thomas...don't sleep
@@jmac4271Earl Campbell only had like 3 great seasons. Maybe top 10 but no way top 3, you need some longevity in your greatness.
Jim Brown over and out
Without Earl Campbell, this list is meaningless.
No, it's a list, someone's opinion that differs from yours.
@@thesportingblog23 yup and a shitty one without Earl!!!!
@@davidwilliamson2341 Enter the intellectual.
@@thesportingblog23 none needed you already inserted yours I didn't even watch the video I was actually looking to see where you had Earl Campbell! Don't worry I won't waste my time now that I know that you're a Dallas Cowboys fan anyone that puts Dorset ahead of Earl is definitely a Cowboys fan! Good luck with your site!
Agreed
The dumbest remark was when you said Dickerson beat OJ's record by a mile or something like that. Well OJ got his record in a 14 game season, his avg per carry was 6.0 and Eric's was 5.6, also OJ avg 143 ypg and Eric 131.6 I think people need to look at how these records are for eras not years. I'm not a fan of him personally, but OJ was a great RB.
Facts. Just like these QBs of today and their ridiculous numbers. These QBs don’t see real defenses that could hit hard, low and blitz with full force. Then the DBs can’t do anything either. Watered down game.
You're not a fan of OJ's personally? You mean you wouldn't hang out with him, have some brews?
OJ did it in 14 games Eason should be noted, him and Dickerson definitely in top 5
Jim Brown my #1 all time.
Any real football fan knows Barry was hands down the best ever. That's like asking best receiver..duh...Jerry
Emmitt had the greatest career but, if I’m being honest, I dont have him as a top 5 back and could argue 10 RB were better.
Trade Emmitt and Barry and see what their careers look like
Barry behind that o-line👀 that woulda been a sight to see.
Yeah but he got injured. Cuz he played for Detroit, which is going for ........ 31 seasons in a row without winning a playoff game ....... is it?
Megatron
Well, Emmitt himself said if Barry would have played even 3 more years,,he could've had over 20,000 yards, which I could agree with? But, if Jim Brown played another 3 or 4 years, then who knows,,he could've had 30,000 yards? Jim never played a 16 game season in his career
Jim Brown was and is the greatest running back who ever put on a pair of cleats. People always compare by saying, "Well, if he was playing today ... bla bla bla. I compare by saying, "Well, if they were THEN, they would not have lasted 3 years." Remember, they would not have had all the nutritional, training, medical, and steroid advantages that they have available today, not to mention much shorter seasons then. And they did not have all the TV and referee time outs as the game has today.
100 yards per game average over 9 years. 5.2 yards every time he got the ball. Never be equaled.
👍👍👍👍
And todays players are sissys compared to the time Jim Brown played were dirty play was a norm.
My Dad loves Emmitt Smith and even he said Jim Brown should be number one.
.... what they don't say about Emmitt is that he ran behind what was regarded as one of the best O-lines in NFL history.... the joke in the 90s was "Damn! I coulda run thru that hole!!!". Compare that to Barry or Payton who were putting on one-man shows.... but just outright overall talent and prowess, no one comes close to either Walter or Barry ...... oh, and tell your Dad that comes from an old Cowboy fan from '63 when endzone tickets at the Cotton Bowl for Cowboy games were $2 ......
@@No1Armadillo My dads first memory of when he became a Cowboys fan was when he was a kid he watched them lose the Super Bowl to the Colts and fell in love with the Star then. He grew up in Cincinnati and was never a Bengals fan after that. He agrees with you about Sweetness and Barry Sanders.
Your Dad is a wise man
Emmit is the most overrated RB ever. Just like Favre as a QB.
The old guys somehow need at least mention. Marion Motley. Bronko Nagurski,. George Halas before his death in 1983 was asked who his greatest player was. Everyone knew that he felt Sid Luckman was his favorite ballplayer ever. Their loyalty to each other was like Gorilla Glue. But Halas said that the greatest ballplayer who ever lived or ever will live was Jim Thorpe: greatest running back, greatest passer, greatest punter, greatest place kicker, greatest linebacker, greatest defensive backfield, greatest pass interference. Halas said it would never be surpassed. For one thing Thorpe was bigger than listed; about 6’1” 212-215. He was the greatest Olympian ever with a pentathlon and a decathlon both. Aside from being a tough nasty Indian warrior, he was a proud and serious competitor. He also played for the Giants and Reds. He was the intercollegiate track star, football star, intercollegiate golf champion, boxing champ, wrestling champ. Bowling champ, tennis champ, ping pong champ, billiards champ. Darts champ. Bowling champ, and Ballroom Dancing Champ. He was the greatest athlete any time any place anywhere…..EVER
No doubt, next time.
You forgot Tiddly Winks.
@@aspenrebel if it were on the athletic event he’d have won that too, not to mention jacks and marbles
How about Chutes and Ladders?@@brucedalwin2184
who was that old time player, "Crazy Legs .... Somebody"? was that Hirsch?
I'd remove Sayers and insert Earl Campbell. But that's the fun and frustration with these lists. Someone always gets left out and others get offended.
Not sure how anyone chooses between Jim Brown, Sanders, Payton, or Emmitt Smith for #1.
Good work and keep them coming.
Only two players in NFL history averaged 100 yds per game. Any list of the greatest running backs should have these guys as 1 and 2 if not your list is bogus. Jim Brown and Barry Sanders. Jim Brown played when there was only 12 games per season and Barry Sanders retired in his prime. No OJ or Earl. come on.
Brown played 4 12 game seasons and 5 14 game seasons. He retired after 9 seasons, Sanders 10. In 1965, his last season, he rushed for 1544 yds, his 2nd best total ever. He averaged over 110 yards per game .I absolutely agree Brown and Sanders 1+2 (in whichever order you prefer although as a Cleveland native I go with Brown). Payton of course is a no brainer #3.
Dickerson still holds the All Time Rookie Rushing Record, The All Time Playoff Game Rushing Record, The All Time Single Season Rushing Record, and The Fastest to 10,000 yards at 91 games than any RB in NFL history. Eric Dickerson is The Greatest running back through 10,000 yards in NFL history period
1. Walter Payton
2. Barry Sanders
3. Jim Brown
Put those guys in a different order if you want, but those 3 HAVE to be at the top of the list. If you aren't named one of those guys, then you can't claim to be the best ever.
4. Eric Dickerson
5. Emmitt Smith
6. OJ Simpson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Marshall Faulk
9. LT
10. AP
Nice suggestions 👏
I agree with your top three.
Brown has a gap between him and the next best. Almost every player in the NFL that saw him said he was not only the best RB, but the best football player in the league.
#1 Barry Sanders #2 Jim Brown #3 Walter Payton #4 Adrian Peterson #5 Emmitt Smith
You must be a Cowboys fan...to have Emmitt Smith as the best running back of all time is an absolute joke. I wouldn't put him in my top 5.
I don't think the writer is a Cowboys fan.
Not in my top 10! Dorsett Maybe top 15, people are to scared to mention OJ!
Agreed! Not in top 10 on my list.
I'm with you my guy. Jim Brown #1
Top 3 (people can argue about the order) are Payton, Sanders and Brown-Smith as #1 is a joke
I respect everyones opinion but Barry Sanders Walter Payton and Jim Brown are the greatest
Jim Brown is forever number ONE in all-time greatest RB.
I have got to go with Payton as my #1
Dorsett was a beautiful runner, but damn he was a fumble machine
Jim Brown the greatest
Gets a lot of votes!
Jim brown, Walter Payton, Barry sanders, Eric Dickerson, emmitt smith, Adrian Peterson, Franco Harris, gayle sayers, OJ, and Marshall Faulk.
…Sorry Curtis Martin, LaDanian Thomlinson, Tony Dorsett and earl Campbell.
Edit: What?! No OJ? No Franco?
There are 2 running backs that had they not had career ending injuries would have been in the top 12, sandwiched somewhere in the middle. They were Bo Jackson and Terrell Davis.
Well if bo wouldn'tof got hurt he would of been
, no.1 but he at least should of got a shot out
@@frankbridges2171 It's hard to imagine a list of best backs without including Earl Campbell, Hershel Walker and Bo Jackson. Also, I happen to believe TD was as good as any of them. Curtis Martin has 14K yards and TD was better than him by a country mile.
Marcus dupree
I wouldn't put Smith on the top. He greatly benefited from having one of the best offensive lines ever put together. I would take Barry Sanders or Walter Peyton who usually had crappy lines over Smith. There a few backs left off the list I would take over Tony Dorsett.
In my humble opinion My Top5 🏈 Chronologically and Greatness not based on stats only ‼️ ‼️ 1
Jim Brown 2. Gale Sayers 3.O J Simpson 4. Tony Dorsett 5.Barry Saunders ‼️ Next 4 Earl Campbell Walter Payton Eric Dickerson Marcus Allen. 🎯🎈🎯🎈
E Smith #1?!?! no way! If so then Y A Tittle deserves to be on the list!
No way is right!
@@RockyWestbury-r6z ?
Without Earl Campbell and OJ Simpson, the list is invalid
Earl Campbell over Dorsett. Campbell was a beast in every way. Dorsett was very fast and made great cuts but couldn't break tackles and went down too easily.
Good suggestion 👏
@@thesportingblog23 He's right. Campbell is my personal number 1....the BEST combination of pure power and pure speed and pure heart
@@thesportingblog23❤
barry sanders is higher then 4 number 1 or 2 best
First of all, it's "than" not "then" . You hurt your arguement when you sound stupid. But without question, 1 & 2 are Sanders and Payton. I'm a Sanders fan myself, but find it hard to argue over Payton.
your wrong jim brown was the greatest of all time. he never missed a game in 9 years. walter payton is #2 he missed only one game in 13years and he played on mostly bab bears team.
Put OJ, Dickerson, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, etc. on the Dallas teams Smith played on and you'd see 2,500 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns
Walter Peyton was and is #1 !! A real class act, quiet, humble man who got it done !! RIP !!!
You must mean Walter Peyton Manning. I only remember Walter Payton.
Barry #1.
barry got tackled behind the line many many times where the Lions had to punt. eventually he'd rip off a run. but he didnt always move the chains.
He had no offensive line. Best runs were east and west for negative yardage. Lions destroyed Barry.
You put Barry at 4....😐😐😐 I 100% believe you've never watched a football game in your life.
How do you leave out Earl Campbell that is unheard of dam what was yall thinking on this one
Agreed, love Earl.
I would have had Smith behind Brown, Payton and Sanders.
Only reason to have Sayers so low is because his career was shortened by injury. Otherwise, he beats out Smith too.
How can you forget Earl Campbell?
Where would you put him?
@@thesportingblog23 in the top 5
Jim Brown must be #1. O.J. Simpson must be on the list.
Barry Sanders #4?? I'll stop watching now
Thanks for stopping by.
Totally agree.
Jim Brown and Barry Sanders. Where’s Earl Campbell?
Barry is #1, no question and Bo should have gotten a shout out
Payton #3?!?! This list is crazy
Only Jim Brown and Barry Sanders averaged more yards per game for their careers than Terrell Davis during the regular season. Jim Brown averaged 7 more yards per game than TD, and Barry Sanders averaged 2 more. Terrell Davis averaged 143 yards per game when it mattered most...in the playoffs. That's a whopping 83 more yards per game than Jim Brown and 80 more than Sanders. None of the other guys on this list even came close. TD was the greatest playoff running back in NFL history, and it's not even close. In the four years he played before he blew out his knee, he rushed for over 6400 yards and added 1140 yards in the playoffs. 1140 yards in eight playoff games. NOBODY else ever came close to that. Plus league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, two rings, Offensive Player of the year twice, and top three for league MVP three times. Put that four year stretch up against ANY other running back in NFL history and tell me Gayle Sayers, Adrian Peterson and Marshall Faulk belong on this list, but TD doesn't. Save your breath.
You should make a video about it. Or just sit at home whining. Your choice
if berry sanders was on Dallas he would have over20000 yards
But he wasn't - should he still be number 1 though?
Every year !
Is this a joke? Emmitt Smith #1? I don't see anyway the top 3 can't be Brown, Sanders and Payton, not necessarily in that order (although as a Cleveland native I favor Brown). It should be noted that both Brown and Sanders retired in their prime, Brown after 9 years, Sanders after 10. In fact in Brown's last season, 1965, he rushed for 1544 yards (in a 14 game season), his 2nd best total ever. 2nd place was Gale Sayers with 867 yards. Brown averaged over 110 yards a game. In 1963 he ran for 1863 yards averaging an amazing 6.4 yds. per carry, and 133 yards per game.
I agree without Earl Campbell this list is .meaningless Earl Campbell was better than a lot of these running backs
Marcus allen missing????
Who does he replace?
I am big fan for champions. Alot of your pics have no superbowl rings. Allen should be right below or next to Marshall Faulk. Allen's ability to throw td passes made him an ultimate weapon. His graceful running unmatched. You might need to have a top 15 list.
@@edwardsinger4043 Funny as we've been told repeatedly in the Top 10 QBs video that Superbowl wins don't make great players! Agree on Allen, tough miss on that one by the author.
Jim brown number no way emmitt smith is number two walter payton and barry sanders over him. No earl campbell
The narrator said Payton won bears only championship a miss statement check records
For a lot of people, championships per AFL-NFL merger don’t count (but should).
NO EARL? 😮
Barry no 1. OJ was left off! It doest matter if he went to jail or what ever, him and Earl Cambell Left off.
One Barry Sanders would have smashed Browns record on any other team and would have played a few more year, OJ should be on this list but we know why, Sayers well see Barry Sanders, We were robbed from seeing what Bo Jackson would have done along with Dupree and Billy Simms. But any list has to have Jim Brown number 1 not even close .
True.
Despite his latter rep. OJ needs to be on this list,.
OJ told Jim Brown he was going to break his record as a teenager, he did just that. He was left off allegedly what he did off the football field!
Barry sanders number 1
Earl Canpbell and Billy Sims.
Thurman Thomas and John Riggins.
I'm right with you on Thurman Thomas. He doesn't get mentioned on all time great lists often enough but he was a special talent
I just don't see how you can leave Marcus Allen off that list.
Good call but who would you drop?
@@thesportingblog23 LaDamian Tomlinson
Marcus Allen,Earl Campbell,Franco Harris,OJ Simpson and John Riggins
Riggins no doubt
Emmitt Smith is not the best running back !!! . Earl Campbell should be on this list . We don’t want to include OJ Simpson because of his off the field incident and having to be trial for murder , but anyone who watch him play against the Steelers who had dominate defense be a success . I respect Gale Sayers accomplishments; however him being up here before Earl Campbell . OJ should be a head Marshall Faulk
Remove Dorset and Sayers . Add Earl Campbell and OJ
I don't think the author left him out because of the murder... But seems a fairly strong reason not to glorify someone's achievements in any field.
John Riggjns
Barry is the best 🙌 down
I agree with the Earl Campbell comment!!!!
AS a bigtime Cowboy fan I would put #22 at the 4 spot moving the remaining 3up 1 spot
Fair play 👏
Jim Brown, for every one of his 9 years in the league, was the best football player in it. As a matter of fact, there was a gap between him and everyone else. No way could you say that about Smith.
Jim Brown is, was, and will always be #1. End of video
The mighty Earl Campbell... will Always be #2. #3 O.J Simpson...He is the only man in history to completely embarrassed the entire NFL.. THAT year he had 2000+ yards...the closes runner had 942... There was rarely such thing as a hundred yard game before the "juice" had that at half time...Even the greats at that time were wondering "could he get 2000" because at mid-season the Juice had 1000...
Who is your number 1?
U are right
2k yards in 14 games I might add.,,
I agree
@@thesportingblog23 The mighty Jim Brown #1
What happened to Earl Campbell you got to be kidding me
Smith 1????!!!😮
Love Smith, he’s not even the best in Cowboys history. Dorsey was better. But definitely not better than Payton, Sanders, and Dickerson and of course Brown.
If it's any consolation, the majority of our writers picked Sanders or Payton but this piece Smith made the cut. It's all just opinions.
Payton > Sanders > Brown > Smith > Peterson> everyone else
Nope !
Sweetness all day. Emmett Smith? SMH
WTF no Earl Campbell??
20 #4? Only 4?
What about O.J. Simpson?
Where would you put him?
Top 5 atleast
He dominated the 70's
Dallas Cowboy podcaster there's no way Emmitt Smith's number one running back of all time everyone knows it's Jim Brown and Barry Sanders one and two after that not to have Earl Campbell on the list is absolutely insane! Wasn't going to post anything else this will probably be my last post on here wasted time young and biased!
Ok bye David. We hope you come back.
@@thesportingblog23 l wont one-time looking at a site where you don't know what you're talkin about he pick your hero not who really is the best too many RUclips sites like this and I'm just a waste of time picking your own favorites one thing but when your favorite is not even close to the top it just to buy a stick your like Skip and Shannon it's called No knowledge use your brain not your heart good luck you're going to need it to keep that podcast opened up
I think OJ Simpson said that Walter Payton's straight arm was like a punch.
No Earl Campbell, list isn’t complete w/o him on it.
1) Barry Sanders
2) OJ Simpson
3) Bo Jackson
4) Tony Dorsett
5) Earl Canpbell
6) Thurman Thomas
7) Lenny Moore
8)Franco Harris
9) Lydell Mitchell
10) Jim Brown
Marshall Fulk?? I stopped watching after they kept referring to him by the wrong name 😠
Smith ain’t number one having the most rushing yards don’t make you that
One of these guys could’ve definitely been swapped out for Earl Campbell
Sorry, Jim Brown was the greatest runner of all time. Defenses were stacked against him, yet he succeeded. Obviously, you never watched him live, which is the reason that you have not ranked him #1.
Marcus Allen belongs here.
lots of fumbles
It's true, a 99-yard run may never be surpassed, unless a team manages to take possession of the ball on their own zero-yard line.
Ok, if this list is based completely based on how many yards one gets. Ok. Possible, but seriously at worst Barry Sanders is #2, he easily could have played at least another 3 to 4 or more years, Now Jim Brown is at the very worst, #1. No question he had five more high level years, He got bored.
What happened to Earl Cambell ?
no not emit smith
Then who is your Top 5?
This was a biased video. Emmitt Smith was not better than most of these running backs. Not better than O.J. , or Dickerson, or Sanders, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell,Payton, Peterson. The fact that he had a great O line gave that illusion.
solid list , emmitt must be #1 , hes the one with all the facts to back the claim , whos done better ? Ill wait
I don't think emit smith is even the best cowboy running back let alone the best ever . Dorsett in my opinion was a better back
It's all a game of opinions! Many agree with you
Oh heck DORSETT was the scariest back there was cause you know why !
You don't know "shet" about football if you don't list Barry Sanders as either the number one or number two running back of all time. Also, where are O.J. Simpson and Earl Campbell?
Read the other comments...
@@thesportingblog23 doesn't change anything. You still don't know sh#t from Shinola.
@@melvinreed4136 thanks for the constructive input. Another intellectual marvel for us all to stand in awe of.
@@thesportingblog23 if only you were as smart as you THINK you are.
I'd say that this is exactly what i would have predicted a computer to say...... but anybody who knows football, or any sport for that matter, knows there is a lot more than stats...... if i were to pick a dream team today, no one but Barry Sanders is going to start.... and i would have Walter Payton on the ready..... Even an old Cowboy fan like me knows that Emmitt ran behind one of the best O-lines in NFL history and to rate him #1 is a travesty.... he would barely make my top-ten of "who do i want on the field?" .... and not their stats! The building of that line was the work of Jimmy Johnson, and sure 'nuf, as soon as he left, that line started deteriorating thanks to "any ol' college coach".....
hmmmm... people i'd rather have than Emmitt on the field..... Deuce Vaughn! Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, Walter and Barry, Earl Campbell, OJ Simson, AP, Tony D, Faulk.... i know i missed a couple but, given the same O-line, even Deuce could do better......
Don't believe Tony should even be on the list. Emmitt is prolly ranked to high do to the great O line he ran behind though no fault of his own. Tough list to put together. As a packer fan to play Walter 2 times a year then Barry 2 times a year was tough on me lol. I was in attendance when the Pack beat the Lions in a playoff game and held Barry to -1 yards rushing which was very satisfying :)
Marcus Allen in my top 5 all time.
He had it all. Great speed. Elusiveness. Change of direction to defy physics. Great receiver. Great hands. Picked up the blitz like no other.
And was statistically the best red zone runner of all time.
My all time team would have Marcus at tailback/flanker with Jim Brown at full back. Barry Sanders comes in when Allen plays in the slot.
I would have to convert Earl Campbell to linebacker. Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett wouldn't even make the cut.
@@mikilynne4558 You’re right. Allen was so versatile. He could run east/west eluding tacklers, run north/south up the gut at the goal line, play FB, and even throw the ball. Why him and Al Davis had problems, idk…. He could’ve been traded for some high draft picks. I’m a 49er fan, and the Niner and Raider fans can clash at times lol. That said, IMO, if you don’t recognize the talent Marcus had on the field, then you’re not a true football fan.
You need to put OJ Simpson's personal life aside when determining the best. OJ should be easily top 3 considering he played on an extremely weak Bills team much like Sanders played on horrible Lions teams. I can't even fathom how Eric Dickerson didn't make this list. Perhaps its time to start picking top 20 lists since each year there are more great players to choose from.
Punishing the defense. Campbell and Jim Brown on top. Maybe there was also Bronco Nagurski and Marion Motley. Campbell was the only back penalized for hitting defenders. Outrunning people is nice but knocking them down, that's football.
Best all-around: Walter Payton
Best and most talented pure runner: Barry Sanders
In big games there wasn't anyone better than Franco Harris.
A new contender!
B.S.
I totally disagree with this list, no disrespect to the players on this list but you left out 3 amazing backs. Earl Campbell, and come on no Bo Jackson who hands down would have been the best if not for his injury. And last but not least you lost credit and told on yourself by only mentioning O.J Simpson once but failing to add him to this list, everyone knows about his off the field issues, but if not for that people would still give him his recognition. And because of his off the field issues he’s the forgotten one. Which makes this list trash!
Not sure how bad your maths is but adding 3 to 10 makes 13.
It's a list of 10, someone's opinion. You can't just keep adding names and also... 'but if not for that' - you mean murder? If not for that minor mishap he'd be a stand up guy? Weird.