The Top Ranked Running Backs of the 1940s Help Keep the Site Ad Free By Supporting us at Patreon
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The Top Ranked Running Backs of the 1940s
Notes: Ranking Explanation
| Rnk | Athlete | Overall Decade Rank |
| 1 | Steve Van Buren | 1 |
| 2 | Hugh Gallarneau | 2 |
| 3 | Marion Motley | 10 |
| 4 | Pug Manders | 13 |
| 5 | Chet Mutryn | 18 |
| 6 | Bill Paschal | 21 |
| 7 | Dick Todd | 23 |
| 8 | Ward Cuff | 25 |
| 9 | Ray McLean | 27 |
| 10 | Ted Fritsch Sr. | 28 |
| 11 | George McAfee | 29 |
| 12 | Andy Farkas | 34 |
| 13 | Pat Harder | 35 |
| 14 | Gary Famiglietti | 36 |
| 15 | Tony Canadeo | 37 |
| 16 | Bosh Pritchard | 39 |
| 17 | Wilbur Moore | 41 |
| 18 | Marshall Goldberg | 42 |
| 19 | Bob Seymour | 48 |
| 20 | Andy Uram | 55 |
| 21 | Lou Brock | 59 |
| 22 | Elmer Angsman | 60 |
| 23 | Bill Dudley | 62 |
| 24 | Merl Condit | 64 |
| 25 | Harry Clarke | 67 |
| 26 | Ernie Steele | 71 |
| 27 | Johnny Strzykalski | 74 |
| 28 | Dante Magnani | 75 |
| 29 | John Grigas | 78 |
| 30 | Spec Sanders | 84 |
| 31 | Frank Seno | 87 |
| 32 | Norm Standlee | 89 |
| 33 | Ray Nolting | 92 |
| 34 | Fred Gehrke | 96 |
| 35 | Elmer Hackney | 101 |
| 36 | Billy Hillenbrand | 108 |
| 37 | Lou Tomasetti | 109 |
| 38 | Charlie Trippi | 124 |
| 39 | Dick Riffle | 125 |
| 40 | Johnny Martin | 141 |
| 41 | Len Eshmont | 145 |
| 42 | Bob Davis | 146 |
| 43 | Johnny Hall | 153 |
| 44 | Joe Laws | 154 |
| 45 | Ray Hare | 156 |
| 46 | Edgar F. Jones | 161 |
| 47 | Tom Colella | 163 |
| 48 | Mickey Colmer | 165 |
| 49 | Buddy Young | 168 |
| 50 | Babe Dimancheff | 170 |
| 51 | Harry Hopp | 171 |
| 52 | Bill Osmanski | 172 |
| 53 | Ned Mathews | 178 |
| 54 | Jim Gillette | 182 |
| 55 | John Kimbrough | 191 |
| 56 | Howie Livingston | 194 |
| 57 | Bill Callihan | 195 |
| 58 | Ben Kish | 197 |
| 59 | Camp Wilson | 204 |
| 60 | Julie Rykovich | 207 |
| 61 | Walt Schlinkman | 208 |
| 62 | Steve Lach | 213 |
| 63 | Gene Roberts | 216 |
| 64 | Bob Margarita | 217 |
| 65 | Frank Akins | 219 |
| 66 | Jack Banta | 220 |
| 67 | Jim Castiglia | 221 |
| 68 | Johnny Drake | 227 |
| 69 | Hank Soar | 230 |
| 70 | Eddie Saenz | 234 |
| 71 | Bob Westfall | 235 |
| 72 | George Gulyanics | 237 |
| 73 | Johnny Butler | 240 |
| 74 | Joe Perry | 241 |
| 75 | Clarke Hinkle | 242 |
| 76 | Steve Bagarus | 248 |
| 77 | Whizzer White | 249 |
| 78 | Bill Boedeker | 256 |
| 79 | Joe Osmanski | 258 |
| 80 | Bob Thurbon | 264 |
| 81 | Lloyd Cardwell | 273 |
| 82 | Bus Mertes | 278 |
| 83 | Ray Ramsey | 280 |
| 84 | George Franck | 282 |
| 85 | Dick Hoerner | 285 |
| 86 | George Cafego | 291 |
| 87 | Joe Sulaitis | 309 |
| 88 | Gaylon Smith | 325 |
| 89 | Crazylegs Hirsch | 327 |
| 90 | Eddie Prokop | 332 |
| 91 | Frank Sachse | 339 |
| 92 | Art Van Tone | 340 |
| 93 | Merle Hapes | 341 |
| 94 | Jim Fordham | 346 |
| 95 | Ed Justice | 349 |
| 96 | Lee Shaffer | 354 |
| 97 | Bob Cifers | 356 |
| 98 | Leo Cantor | 358 |
| 99 | Frank Martin | 365 |
| 100 | Bob Morrow | 376 |
| 101 | Joe Maniaci | 379 |
| 102 | Monk Gafford | 394 |
| 103 | Billy Stone | 398 |
| 104 | Kenny Washington | 399 |
| 105 | Bob Kennedy | 400 |
| 106 | Banks McFadden | 407 |
| 107 | Bob Hoffman | 415 |
| 108 | Joe Scott | 420 |
| 109 | Tom Harmon | 423 |
| 110 | Al Grygo | 424 |
| 111 | Mel Bleeker | 430 |
| 112 | Andy Marefos | 435 |
| 113 | Billy deCorrevont | 436 |
| 114 | Larry Craig | 438 |
| 115 | Art Jones | 441 |
| 116 | Don Greenwood | 446 |
| 117 | Vic Kulbitski | 447 |
| 118 | Howie Weiss | 449 |
| 119 | Paul Duhart | 455 |
| 120 | Bert Johnson | 460 |
| 121 | Ben Starret | 461 |
| 122 | Jack Hinkle | 463 |
| 123 | Chuck Sample | 466 |
| 124 | Bob Swisher | 468 |
| 125 | Don Perkins | 475 |
| 126 | Mike Holovak | 477 |
| 127 | Jerry Shipkey | 478 |
| 128 | Ted Williams | 479 |
| 129 | Dub Jones | 480 |
| 130 | Billy Grimes | 486 |
| 131 | Howie Yeager | 487 |
| 132 | Len Barnum | 503 |
| 133 | Dick Poillon | 505 |
| 134 | Joe Golding | 516 |
| 135 | Bob Pfohl | 518 |
| 136 | Harvey Jones | 520 |
| 137 | Bob Nussbaumer | 529 |
| 138 | Joe Bukant | 531 |
| 139 | Cece Hare | 533 |
| 140 | Dom Principe | 534 |
| 141 | Hosea Rodgers | 536 |
| 142 | Lloyd Madden | 538 |
| 143 | Tipp Mooney | 546 |
| 144 | Murray Evans | 549 |
| 145 | Don Kindt | 550 |
| 146 | Cecil O. Johnson | 555 |
| 147 | Sal Rosato | 556 |
| 148 | Gil Steinke | 559 |
| 149 | Hal Van Every | 574 |
| 150 | John Petchel | 581 |
| 151 | Joe Geri | 585 |
| 152 | Joe Margucci | 596 |
| 153 | Vic Spadaccini | 600 |
| 154 | George Papach | 602 |
| 155 | Doug McEnulty | 603 |
| 156 | George Kiick | 605 |
| 157 | Tony Falkenstein | 609 |
| 158 | Herm Wedemeyer | 610 |
| 159 | Walt Clay | 622 |
| 160 | Leo Stasica | 628 |
| 161 | John Hoffman | 635 |
| 162 | John Lucente | 636 |
| 163 | Verl Lillywhite | 637 |
| 164 | Lou Zontini | 644 |
| 165 | George Kracum | 649 |
| 166 | Olie Cordill | 651 |
| 167 | John Petty | 668 |
| 168 | Pete Stout | 669 |
| 169 | Walt Nielsen | 670 |
| 170 | Walter West | 671 |
| 171 | Len Janiak | 673 |
| 172 | Bill Leckonby | 676 |
| 173 | Carl Kinscherf | 684 |
| 174 | Pat West | 687 |
| 175 | Bob Fenimore | 689 |
| 176 | Sherman Howard | 691 |
| 177 | Tony Compagno | 694 |
| 178 | Buddy Parker | 697 |
| 179 | Bob Cowan | 699 |
| 180 | Ed Jankowski | 704 |
| 181 | Rob Goode | 707 |
| 182 | Earle Parsons | 709 |
| 183 | Mike Micka | 715 |
| 184 | Steve Juzwik | 716 |
| 185 | Sam Cathcart | 722 |
| 186 | Charlie McGibbony | 740 |
| 187 | Bob Keene | 748 |
| 188 | Marty Slovak | 754 |
| 189 | Ed Quirk | 760 |
| 190 | Andy Tomasic | 761 |
| 191 | Bob Forte | 764 |
| 192 | Harry Dowda | 768 |
| 193 | Mike Kabealo | 771 |
| 194 | Sam Francis | 775 |
| 195 | Jim Parmer | 783 |
| 196 | Boyd Brumbaugh | 784 |
| 197 | Milt Popovich | 787 |
| 198 | Jerry Nuzum | 788 |
| 199 | Noah Mullins | 790 |
| 200 | Dick Cassiano | 792 |
| 201 | Dick Erdlitz | 797 |
| 202 | Bronko Nagurski | 802 |
| 203 | Eddie Miller | 803 |
| 204 | Steve Belichick | 805 |
| 205 | Corby Davis | 809 |
| 206 | Joe Hoague | 810 |
| 207 | Charlie Gauer | 813 |
| 208 | Cloyce Box | 817 |
| 209 | Mario Tonelli | 819 |
| 210 | Frank Balasz | 822 |
| 211 | Johnny Knolla | 825 |
| 212 | Dick Booth | 829 |
| 213 | George Magulick | 830 |
| 214 | Ken Heineman | 832 |
| 215 | Steve Filipowicz | 841 |
| 216 | Billy Jefferson | 843 |
| 217 | Tom Farmer | 857 |
| 218 | Bill Daley | 860 |
| 219 | Bob Steuber | 881 |
| 220 | Dwight Sloan | 885 |
| 221 | Paul Patterson | 891 |
| 222 | Lloyd Cheatham | 900 |
| 223 | Frank Emmons | 922 |
| 224 | Rex Bumgardner | 934 |
| 225 | Bob Sweiger | 935 |
| 226 | Forrest Hall | 940 |
| 227 | Frank Grigonis | 941 |
| 228 | Charlie Seabright | 955 |
| 229 | Bill Kellagher | 957 |
| 230 | Frank Maznicki | 958 |
| 231 | Clyde Scott | 964 |
| 232 | Milt Crain | 971 |
| 233 | Ken Steinmetz | 984 |
| 234 | Ralph Earhart | 987 |
| 235 | Jimmy Strausbaugh | 996 |
| 236 | Bill Lazetich | 1009 |
| 237 | Ernie Bonelli | 1016 |
| 238 | Joe Setcavage | 1021 |
| 239 | George Morris | 1030 |
| 240 | Ray Coates | 1031 |
| 241 | Rhoten Shetley | 1032 |
| 242 | Al Drulis | 1038 |
| 243 | Dan DeSantis | 1041 |
| 244 | Ollie Cline | 1055 |
| 245 | Lew Mayne | 1056 |
| 246 | Len Calligaro | 1066 |
| 247 | Pres Johnston | 1068 |
| 248 | Curt Sandig | 1070 |
| 249 | Bob Gage | 1075 |
| 250 | Bull Karcis | 1078 |
| 251 | Emil Banjavic | 1079 |
| 252 | Joe Muha | 1090 |
| 253 | Tilly Manton | 1104 |
| 254 | Buzz Trebotich | 1110 |
| 255 | Frank Minini | 1111 |
| 256 | Bernie Semes | 1116 |
| 257 | Lu Gambino | 1129 |
| 258 | Bill Lund | 1134 |
| 259 | Jay Arnold | 1138 |
| 260 | Bill Dutton | 1141 |
| 261 | Joe Stringfellow | 1146 |
| 262 | Russ Mosley | 1150 |
| 263 | Bruce P. Smith | 1155 |
| 264 | Chuck Taylor | 1158 |
| 265 | Frank Ziegler | 1159 |
| 266 | Jim Meade | 1165 |
| 267 | Jodie Marek | 1166 |
| 268 | Vern Martin | 1169 |
| 269 | Jimmy Johnston | 1173 |
| 270 | Bob Livingstone | 1178 |
| 271 | Clint McClain | 1180 |
| 272 | Wally Triplett | 1187 |
| 273 | Jim Cason | 1189 |
| 274 | Ed Cody | 1191 |
| 275 | Kay Eakin | 1192 |
| 276 | Bob Adkins | 1196 |
| 277 | Joe Vetrano | 1207 |
| 278 | Dean Steward | 1209 |
| 279 | Hub Barker | 1212 |
| 280 | Kent Ryan | 1214 |
| 281 | Nick Basca | 1215 |
| 282 | Vitamin Smith | 1218 |
| 283 | Fran Murray | 1226 |
| 284 | Jack Myers | 1228 |
| 285 | Jack Stackpool | 1229 |
| 286 | Mike Klotovich | 1232 |
| 287 | Les Horvath | 1238 |
| 288 | Mickey Sanzotta | 1243 |
| 289 | John Noppenberg | 1245 |
| 290 | Chick Jagade | 1247 |
| 291 | Don Lieberum | 1251 |
| 292 | Leon Pense | 1252 |
| 293 | Lowell Tew | 1253 |
| 294 | Marty Christiansen | 1254 |
| 295 | Fred Vanzo | 1255 |
| 296 | Dick Weisgerber | 1257 |
| 297 | Bob Perina | 1259 |
| 298 | Art Macioszczyk | 1261 |
| 299 | Bill Petrilas | 1264 |
| 300 | Bob J. Kelly | 1276 |
| 301 | John Popovich | 1279 |
| 302 | Mort Landsberg | 1281 |
| 303 | Skippy Minisi | 1283 |
| 304 | Tommy Kalmanir | 1284 |
| 305 | George Cheverko | 1288 |
| 306 | George Paskvan | 1294 |
| 307 | John Rogalla | 1306 |
| 308 | Larry Buhler | 1307 |
| 309 | Tank Younger | 1308 |
| 310 | Bill L. Brown | 1313 |
| 311 | Harry Seltzer | 1317 |
| 312 | Leon Cochran | 1323 |
| 313 | Lowell Wagner | 1330 |
| 314 | Jackie Lowther | 1337 |
| 315 | Swede Johnston | 1338 |
| 316 | Vinnie Yablonski | 1340 |
| 317 | Vic Schwall | 1341 |
| 318 | Jack Itzel | 1344 |
| 319 | John Binotto | 1346 |
| 320 | Paul Moore | 1348 |
| 321 | Wally Dreyer | 1352 |
| 322 | Wes McAfee | 1353 |
| 323 | John Cole | 1356 |
| 324 | Rip Collins | 1358 |
| 325 | Frank Muehlheuser | 1361 |
| 326 | Walt V. McDonald | 1363 |
| 327 | Earl Elsey | 1366 |
| 328 | Jim Blumenstock | 1370 |
| 329 | Paul Sanders | 1373 |
| 330 | Paul Shoults | 1374 |
| 331 | Joe Glamp | 1380 |
| 332 | Al Owen | 1382 |
| 333 | Bill Reynolds | 1383 |
| 334 | Bob Masters | 1384 |
| 335 | Earl Howell | 1385 |
| 336 | Wendell Butcher | 1391 |
| 337 | Bernie Nygren | 1392 |
| 338 | Dave Bernard | 1393 |
| 339 | Don Garlin | 1394 |
| 340 | Sam Bartholomew | 1403 |
| 341 | Fred Gloden | 1407 |
| 342 | Walt Fedora | 1409 |
| 343 | Nello Falaschi | 1410 |
| 344 | Terry Fox | 1412 |
| 345 | Jack Jenkins | 1413 |
| 346 | Dan Sandifer | 1418 |
| 347 | John Karrs | 1422 |
| 348 | Pete Kmetovic | 1425 |
| 349 | Sid Tinsley | 1426 |
| 350 | Ken Strong | 1430 |
| 351 | Lee Presley | 1431 |
| 352 | Rudy Mobley | 1432 |
| 353 | Hank Bruder | 1444 |
| 354 | Irv Hall | 1446 |
| 355 | John Naioti | 1448 |
| 356 | Dave A. Brown | 1454 |
| 357 | Frank Reagan | 1455 |
| 358 | Bob Greenhalgh | 1456 |
| 359 | Fred O. Evans | 1457 |
| 360 | Gerry Cowhig | 1463 |
| 361 | Bob Smith | 1467 |
| 362 | Doyle Tackett | 1470 |
| 363 | Elmer Kolberg | 1471 |
| 364 | Frank Morris | 1472 |
| 365 | Milt Piepul | 1474 |
| 366 | Bob Kahler | 1479 |
| 367 | Jimmy Nelson | 1480 |
| 368 | Jake Leicht | 1481 |
| 369 | Al Donelli | 1486 |
| 370 | Ed Sustersic | 1499 |
| 371 | Floyd Simmons | 1500 |
| 372 | Ralph Kercheval | 1503 |
| 373 | Ernie Lewis | 1505 |
| 374 | Bob Sneddon | 1509 |
| 375 | Johnny Vardian | 1510 |
| 376 | Beryl Clark | 1511 |
| 377 | Clete Fischer | 1513 |
| 378 | Andy Dudish | 1517 |
| 379 | Ed Smith Jr. | 1519 |
| 380 | Jim Mello | 1520 |
| 381 | Ernie Pinckert | 1521 |
| 382 | Warren Plunkett | 1526 |
| 383 | Ara Parseghian | 1527 |
| 384 | Max Krause | 1534 |
| 385 | Ralph Ruthstrom | 1536 |
| 386 | Gordon Paschka | 1539 |
| 387 | Jack Manders | 1540 |
| 388 | Herm Rohrig | 1547 |
| 389 | Noble Doss | 1548 |
| 390 | Joe Watt | 1555 |
| 391 | Bert Piggott | 1557 |
| 392 | Bill Gompers | 1558 |
| 393 | Ivan Schottel | 1561 |
| 394 | Rufus Deal | 1562 |
| 395 | Paul Page | 1568 |
| 396 | Lou Kusserow | 1576 |
| 397 | Bob Summerhays | 1581 |
| 398 | Curt Mecham | 1582 |
| 399 | Jack Wilson | 1585 |
| 400 | Dewey Proctor | 1591 |
| 401 | Rudy Romboli | 1592 |
| 402 | John Atwood | 1594 |
| 403 | Ed Danowski | 1603 |
| 404 | Jack Salscheider | 1605 |
| 405 | Jim Callahan | 1606 |
| 406 | John McLaughry | 1607 |
| 407 | Bob Sullivan | 1610 |
| 408 | Don Reece | 1613 |
| 409 | John Patrick | 1615 |
| 410 | Duke Iverson | 1619 |
| 411 | Lloyd Parsons | 1624 |
| 412 | John Hollar | 1632 |
| 413 | Don Durdan | 1634 |
| 414 | Len Masini | 1642 |
| 415 | Jim Wade | 1646 |
| 416 | Paul Crowe | 1648 |
| 417 | Bob Paffrath | 1650 |
| 418 | John Poto | 1655 |
| 419 | John Polanski | 1659 |
| 420 | Larry Peace | 1660 |
| 421 | Paul White | 1663 |
| 422 | Al Akins | 1665 |
| 423 | Lou Ghecas | 1669 |
| 424 | Wilbur Volz | 1671 |
| 425 | Ted Scalissi | 1677 |
| 426 | Elmer Madarik | 1678 |
| 427 | George Koch | 1681 |
| 428 | Cliff Aberson | 1687 |
| 429 | Bob Mitchell | 1692 |
| 430 | Frank Trigilio | 1698 |
| 431 | Jim Spavital | 1704 |
| 432 | Russ Craft | 1707 |
| 433 | Ray Terrell | 1709 |
| 434 | Walt Slater | 1713 |
| 435 | Bob Agler | 1714 |
| 436 | Bill H. Schroeder | 1720 |
| 437 | Spiro Dellerba | 1723 |
| 438 | Bill Bass | 1726 |
| 439 | Bob Hanlon | 1729 |
| 440 | Phil Slosburg | 1736 |
| 441 | Bill Reinhard | 1739 |
| 442 | Tony Adamle | 1740 |
| 443 | Gonzalo Morales | 1742 |
| 444 | George Murphy | 1747 |
| 445 | Mike Graham | 1748 |
| 446 | Pete Franceschi | 1750 |
| 447 | Howard Hartley | 1754 |
| 448 | Joe Hollingsworth | 1760 |
| 449 | Bob Wiese | 1762 |
| 450 | Dean Sensanbaugher | 1767 |
| 451 | Walt Heap | 1771 |
| 452 | Cal Purdin | 1772 |
| 453 | Jim Dewar | 1775 |
| 454 | Jim Still | 1778 |
| 455 | Al Lawler | 1779 |
| 456 | George Wilde | 1781 |
| 457 | Fred Provo | 1792 |
| 458 | Wally Yonamine | 1793 |
| 459 | Frank Nelson | 1794 |
| 460 | John Wright (RB) | 1799 |
| 461 | Wayne Kingery | 1801 |
| 462 | Jeff Durkota | 1803 |
| 463 | Tom Casey | 1807 |
| 464 | Charlie Armstrong | 1809 |
| 465 | Paul Vinnola | 1814 |
| 466 | Charlie Timmons | 1817 |
| 467 | Lee Tevis | 1818 |
| 468 | Ken Roskie | 1819 |
| 469 | Hugo Marcolini | 1821 |
| 470 | Corwin Clatt | 1822 |
| 471 | Lin Sexton | 1824 |
| 472 | Bob DeFruiter | 1825 |
| 473 | Don D. Griffin | 1827 |
| 474 | Joe Corn | 1828 |
| 475 | Ken Keuper | 1829 |
| 476 | Aubrey Fowler | 1831 |
| 477 | Robert Hazelhurst | 1835 |
| 478 | Gene Malinowski | 1837 |
| 479 | Steve Sucic | 1838 |
| 480 | Dick Ottele | 1840 |
| 481 | Carl B. Allen | 1843 |
| 482 | Charles Smith | 1844 |
| 483 | Eddie Allen | 1845 |
| 484 | Frank Williams | 1846 |
| 485 | Joe Gasparella | 1848 |
| 486 | Nick Forkovitch | 1849 |
| 487 | Walt Gorinski | 1850 |
| 488 | Gene Spangler | 1851 |
| 489 | Johnny Naumu | 1852 |
| 490 | Bill O'Brien | 1854 |
| 491 | Elmore Harris | 1855 |
| 492 | Joel McCoy | 1856 |
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