|
The Top Ranked
Running Backs of the 1970s
Notes:
Ranking Explanation
|
Rnk |
Athlete |
Overall Decade Rank |
|
1 |
Walter Payton |
3 |
|
2 |
Chuck Foreman |
12 |
|
3 |
O.J. Simpson |
21 |
|
4 |
Lydell Mitchell |
27 |
|
5 |
Larry Brown Jr. |
33 |
|
6 |
Franco Harris |
48 |
|
7 |
Floyd Little |
52 |
|
8 |
Lawrence McCutcheon |
54 |
|
9 |
Calvin Hill |
101 |
|
10 |
Ron A. Johnson |
108 |
|
11 |
Delvin Williams |
113 |
|
12 |
John Brockington |
114 |
|
13 |
John Riggins |
123 |
|
14 |
Greg Pruitt |
124 |
|
15 |
Mark van Eeghen |
129 |
|
16 |
Larry Csonka |
136 |
|
17 |
Terry Metcalf |
137 |
|
18 |
Sam Cunningham |
143 |
|
19 |
Donny Anderson |
144 |
|
20 |
Ed Podolak |
161 |
|
21 |
Sherman Smith |
165 |
|
22 |
MacArthur Lane |
168 |
|
23 |
Mike Thomas |
171 |
|
24 |
Marv Hubbard |
179 |
|
25 |
Tony Galbreath |
198 |
|
26 |
Rickey Young |
205 |
|
27 |
Altie Taylor |
210 |
|
28 |
Leroy Kelly |
216 |
|
29 |
Boobie Clark |
218 |
|
30 |
Emerson Boozer |
221 |
|
31 |
Chuck Muncie |
223 |
|
32 |
Dave Hampton |
225 |
|
33 |
Walt Garrison |
239 |
|
34 |
Mercury Morris |
253 |
|
35 |
Essex Johnson |
261 |
|
36 |
Norm Bulaich |
266 |
|
37 |
Otis Armstrong |
276 |
|
38 |
Jim Braxton |
277 |
|
39 |
Carl Garrett |
285 |
|
40 |
Frenchy Fuqua |
286 |
|
41 |
Don McCauley |
287 |
|
42 |
Tony Dorsett |
289 |
|
43 |
Wilbur Jackson |
297 |
|
44 |
Tom Sullivan |
300 |
|
45 |
Dexter Bussey |
308 |
|
46 |
Jim Otis |
312 |
|
47 |
Robert Newhouse |
317 |
|
48 |
Preston Pearson |
341 |
|
49 |
Rocky Bleier |
345 |
|
50 |
Fred Willis |
348 |
|
51 |
Art Malone |
353 |
|
52 |
Ken Willard |
354 |
|
53 |
Vic Washington |
364 |
|
54 |
Clarence Davis |
372 |
|
55 |
Jim Kiick |
378 |
|
56 |
Jim Bertelsen |
382 |
|
57 |
Charlie H. Smith |
396 |
|
58 |
Willie Ellison |
397 |
|
59 |
Charlie Harraway |
400 |
|
60 |
Steve Owens |
401 |
|
61 |
Joe Dawkins |
407 |
|
62 |
Dave Osborn |
418 |
|
63 |
Don Woods |
421 |
|
64 |
Don Nottingham |
422 |
|
65 |
Jon Keyworth |
432 |
|
66 |
Pete Banaszak |
437 |
|
67 |
Mike Garrett |
445 |
|
68 |
Cid Edwards |
453 |
|
69 |
Ronnie Coleman |
459 |
|
70 |
Wayne Morris |
463 |
|
71 |
John Cappelletti |
465 |
|
72 |
Roland Harper |
479 |
|
73 |
Haskel Stanback |
491 |
|
74 |
Doug Kotar |
492 |
|
75 |
Duane Thomas |
499 |
|
76 |
Archie Griffin |
508 |
|
77 |
Benny Malone |
509 |
|
78 |
Jess Phillips |
511 |
|
79 |
Clark Gaines |
517 |
|
80 |
Earl Campbell |
520 |
|
81 |
Bo Scott |
534 |
|
82 |
Wendell Hayes |
554 |
|
83 |
Larry Schreiber |
571 |
|
84 |
Pete Johnson |
574 |
|
85 |
Barty Smith |
584 |
|
86 |
Andy Johnson |
594 |
|
87 |
Les Josephson |
659 |
|
88 |
Don Calhoun |
662 |
|
89 |
Bobby Anderson |
668 |
|
90 |
Mel Farr |
692 |
|
91 |
Cleo Miller |
705 |
|
92 |
Wilbert Montgomery |
725 |
|
93 |
Ed Marinaro |
727 |
|
94 |
Tony Reed |
729 |
|
95 |
Cullen Bryant |
741 |
|
96 |
Ricky Bell |
746 |
|
97 |
Paul Robinson |
759 |
|
98 |
Bill D. Brown |
761 |
|
99 |
Joe Washington |
770 |
|
100 |
Lenvil Elliott |
797 |
|
101 |
Bob Gresham |
801 |
|
102 |
Steve Jones |
826 |
|
103 |
Horace King |
832 |
|
104 |
Tony Baker |
834 |
|
105 |
David B. Sims |
835 |
|
106 |
Po James |
859 |
|
107 |
Clint Jones |
860 |
|
108 |
Oscar Reed |
863 |
|
109 |
Mike Strachan |
871 |
|
110 |
Robert Holmes |
885 |
|
111 |
Jimmy Thomas |
886 |
|
112 |
Doug Dressler |
888 |
|
113 |
Ottis Anderson |
892 |
|
114 |
Brent McClanahan |
910 |
|
115 |
Mike Montgomery |
920 |
|
116 |
Don Shy |
922 |
|
117 |
Ken Brown |
927 |
|
118 |
Hugh McKinnis |
931 |
|
119 |
Mike Pruitt |
944 |
|
120 |
Gary Davis |
954 |
|
121 |
Steve Davis |
956 |
|
122 |
Roland Hooks |
958 |
|
123 |
Johnny Roland |
970 |
|
124 |
Roosevelt Leaks |
981 |
|
125 |
Jeff Kinney |
985 |
|
126 |
Bill Olds |
990 |
|
127 |
Eric Torkelson |
993 |
|
128 |
Mike Hogan |
996 |
|
129 |
Mack Herron |
1003 |
|
130 |
Larry Watkins |
1007 |
|
131 |
Paul Hofer |
1009 |
|
132 |
Don Hardeman |
1015 |
|
133 |
Rob Carpenter |
1017 |
|
134 |
Scott Dierking |
1028 |
|
135 |
Cyril Pinder |
1033 |
|
136 |
Bubba Bean |
1037 |
|
137 |
Doug Dennison |
1038 |
|
138 |
Kevin Long |
1058 |
|
139 |
Scott Laidlaw |
1067 |
|
140 |
Willard Harrell |
1077 |
|
141 |
Bo Matthews |
1083 |
|
142 |
Mike Adamle |
1084 |
|
143 |
Leroy Harris |
1101 |
|
144 |
Terdell Middleton |
1117 |
|
145 |
Hewritt Dixon |
1125 |
|
146 |
Ed L. Williams |
1130 |
|
147 |
Sammy Johnson |
1149 |
|
148 |
Terry Miller (1956) |
1150 |
|
149 |
Lee Bouggess |
1151 |
|
150 |
Fran Lynch |
1153 |
|
151 |
Wendell Tyler |
1159 |
|
152 |
Jeff Queen |
1165 |
|
153 |
Robert Miller |
1171 |
|
154 |
Rick Kane |
1173 |
|
155 |
William Andrews |
1178 |
|
156 |
Ted McKnight |
1179 |
|
157 |
Doug Cunningham |
1181 |
|
158 |
Alvin Maxson |
1194 |
|
159 |
Wayne Patrick |
1205 |
|
160 |
Lonnie Perrin |
1215 |
|
161 |
Woody Green |
1221 |
|
162 |
Jim Harrison |
1228 |
|
163 |
Jim Nance |
1247 |
|
164 |
Rob Lytle |
1250 |
|
165 |
Tim Wilson |
1251 |
|
166 |
Don Testerman |
1262 |
|
167 |
Tucker Frederickson |
1289 |
|
168 |
John Tarver |
1295 |
|
169 |
Bruce Harper |
1302 |
|
170 |
Cannonball Butler |
1313 |
|
171 |
Clarence Harmon |
1327 |
|
172 |
Warren Bankston |
1342 |
|
173 |
Louis Carter |
1349 |
|
174 |
Perry A. Williams |
1357 |
|
175 |
Sidney Thornton |
1373 |
|
176 |
Willie Rodgers |
1374 |
|
177 |
Harmon Wages |
1405 |
|
178 |
Horace Ivory |
1409 |
|
179 |
Josh Ashton |
1410 |
|
180 |
Cliff McClain |
1414 |
|
181 |
George Nock |
1434 |
|
182 |
Stan Fritts |
1435 |
|
183 |
Dan Doornink |
1442 |
|
184 |
Jerry Eckwood |
1446 |
|
185 |
Eddie Ray |
1455 |
|
186 |
Curtis Brown |
1466 |
|
187 |
Clarence Williams |
1472 |
|
188 |
Bill E. Butler |
1492 |
|
189 |
Ron Lee |
1494 |
|
190 |
Charley Young |
1514 |
|
191 |
Billy Taylor |
1530 |
|
192 |
Ken Grandberry |
1534 |
|
193 |
Hubert Ginn |
1541 |
|
194 |
Jerry Latin |
1600 |
|
195 |
Theotis Brown |
1614 |
|
196 |
Arnold Morgado |
1625 |
|
197 |
Tom Bailey |
1630 |
|
198 |
Bobby Hammond |
1631 |
|
199 |
Joe Morrison |
1640 |
|
200 |
Don Highsmith |
1655 |
|
201 |
Rob Scribner |
1670 |
|
202 |
Willis Crenshaw |
1713 |
|
203 |
Jim Strong |
1714 |
|
204 |
Hank Bauer |
1715 |
|
205 |
James McAlister |
1740 |
|
206 |
Tom Matte |
1747 |
|
207 |
Bob Ferrell |
1750 |
|
208 |
Ike Forte |
1768 |
|
209 |
Al Hunter |
1771 |
|
210 |
Lawrence Gaines |
1775 |
|
211 |
Ted Brown |
1783 |
|
212 |
Bob L. Thomas |
1784 |
|
213 |
Rod Phillips |
1792 |
|
214 |
Reggie Harrison |
1799 |
|
215 |
Ronnie Bull |
1805 |
|
216 |
Charlie Leigh |
1811 |
|
217 |
Bobby Duhon |
1820 |
|
218 |
Tommy Reamon |
1830 |
|
219 |
Charlie Evans |
1835 |
|
220 |
Rod McNeill |
1838 |
|
221 |
Jack Maitland |
1839 |
|
222 |
Larry Poole |
1841 |
|
223 |
Moses Denson |
1855 |
|
224 |
Bob Brunet |
1871 |
|
225 |
Warren McVea |
1872 |
|
226 |
Roy Hopkins |
1888 |
|
227 |
Howard Stevens |
1897 |
|
228 |
Bill Enyart |
1900 |
|
229 |
Dickie Post |
1913 |
|
230 |
Joe Orduna |
1916 |
|
231 |
Tom Nowatzke |
1922 |
|
232 |
Bob Gladieux |
1926 |
|
233 |
Woody Thompson |
1942 |
|
234 |
Lee White |
1943 |
|
235 |
Jim Lindsey |
1946 |
|
236 |
Mark Bailey |
1953 |
|
237 |
Tom Barrington |
1962 |
|
238 |
Joe Profit |
1965 |
|
239 |
Herb Lusk |
1966 |
|
240 |
Dan Reeves |
1967 |
|
241 |
Hoyle Granger |
1973 |
|
242 |
Billy Lefear |
1976 |
|
243 |
Lynn Cain |
1987 |
|
244 |
Jim Grabowski |
1995 |
|
245 |
Clem Turner |
2003 |
|
246 |
Mike W. Richardson |
2004 |
|
247 |
Roy Shivers |
2005 |
|
248 |
Dave Williams |
2007 |
|
249 |
George Amundson |
2017 |
|
250 |
Dave Preston |
2049 |
|
251 |
Jim D. Jensen |
2093 |
|
252 |
Tony Davis |
2095 |
|
253 |
Tom Newton |
2097 |
|
254 |
Ron Springs |
2105 |
|
255 |
Harold Hart |
2108 |
|
256 |
Leon Burns |
2111 |
|
257 |
Bill Tucker |
2141 |
|
258 |
Johnny Davis |
2161 |
|
259 |
Gary Kosins |
2165 |
|
260 |
Roger Lawson |
2166 |
|
261 |
Russ C. Smith |
2177 |
|
262 |
Paul Gipson |
2190 |
|
263 |
Sam Scarber |
2208 |
|
264 |
Greg M. Jones |
2209 |
|
265 |
Mike Esposito |
2216 |
|
266 |
Glen Bonner |
2221 |
|
267 |
Sonny Campbell |
2231 |
|
268 |
Johnny Musso |
2233 |
|
269 |
Bill Triplett |
2235 |
|
270 |
Reece Morrison |
2238 |
|
271 |
Vince Clements |
2255 |
|
272 |
Billy Campfield |
2260 |
|
273 |
Arthur Whittington |
2267 |
|
274 |
Jim Hooks |
2287 |
|
275 |
Nate Simpson |
2309 |
|
276 |
Gordon Bell |
2314 |
|
277 |
James Ford |
2318 |
|
278 |
Mike An. Williams |
2329 |
|
279 |
Rocky Thompson |
2334 |
|
280 |
Mike Hull |
2339 |
|
281 |
Joe H. Williams |
2340 |
|
282 |
Jack Deloplaine |
2344 |
|
283 |
Woody Campbell |
2348 |
|
284 |
Bo Robinson |
2351 |
|
285 |
Lloyd Pate |
2358 |
|
286 |
Ralph Nelson |
2369 |
|
287 |
Willie Belton |
2378 |
|
288 |
Mike Collier |
2381 |
|
289 |
Larry Smith |
2396 |
|
290 |
Ross Montgomery |
2409 |
|
291 |
Larry Canada |
2415 |
|
292 |
Hank Bjorklund |
2419 |
|
293 |
Anthony Davis (RB) |
2425 |
|
294 |
Joe Moore |
2436 |
|
295 |
Steve Harkey |
2443 |
|
296 |
Jerry Hill |
2454 |
|
297 |
Larry Krause |
2460 |
|
298 |
Bobby Thompson |
2465 |
|
299 |
Willie Spencer |
2475 |
|
300 |
Jimmy DuBose |
2476 |
|
301 |
Bob D. Hudson |
2480 |
|
302 |
Leon McQuay |
2484 |
|
303 |
Brad Hubbert |
2488 |
|
304 |
Marsh White |
2499 |
|
305 |
Larry Brinson |
2505 |
|
306 |
Ron Lamb |
2516 |
|
307 |
Odell Lawson |
2518 |
|
308 |
Elvis Peacock |
2536 |
|
309 |
George Ragsdale |
2545 |
|
310 |
Manfred Moore |
2546 |
|
311 |
Ricky Patton |
2548 |
|
312 |
Booker Russell |
2555 |
|
313 |
Sonny Davis |
2563 |
|
314 |
Tom Woodeshick |
2569 |
|
315 |
Dave Kopay |
2571 |
|
316 |
Charlie Davis |
2574 |
|
317 |
Virgil Robinson |
2583 |
|
318 |
Deacon Turner |
2586 |
|
319 |
Billy Pritchett |
2593 |
|
320 |
Jazz Jackson |
2594 |
|
321 |
Greg Boykin |
2604 |
|
322 |
Claxton Welch |
2606 |
|
323 |
Robert Burns |
2616 |
|
324 |
Louie Giammona |
2617 |
|
325 |
Mickey Zofko |
2621 |
|
326 |
Charles Alexander |
2634 |
|
327 |
Les Strayhorn |
2646 |
|
328 |
Dennis D. Johnson |
2648 |
|
329 |
Sonny Collins |
2654 |
|
330 |
Ward Walsh |
2656 |
|
331 |
Oliver Ross (RB) |
2660 |
|
332 |
Stan Winfrey |
2663 |
|
333 |
Dick Hoak |
2674 |
|
334 |
Jeff Moore |
2676 |
|
335 |
Eddie Moss |
2680 |
|
336 |
Tony Nathan |
2700 |
|
337 |
Travis Williams |
2704 |
|
338 |
Tommy Mason |
2712 |
|
339 |
Joe Wilson |
2714 |
|
340 |
Larry Barnes |
2715 |
|
341 |
Kim Jones |
2716 |
|
342 |
Brian Duncan |
2718 |
|
343 |
Horace Belton |
2720 |
|
344 |
Buddy Hardeman |
2725 |
|
345 |
Jimmie Jones (RB) |
2728 |
|
346 |
Stan Mitchell |
2732 |
|
347 |
Jim Jodat |
2736 |
|
348 |
Elijah Pitts |
2744 |
|
349 |
Phil Francis |
2747 |
|
350 |
Mike Franckowiak |
2753 |
|
351 |
Earl Gant |
2779 |
|
352 |
Vince Kendrick |
2783 |
|
353 |
Les Goodman |
2801 |
|
354 |
Leon Crosswhite |
2803 |
|
355 |
Andrew Jones |
2810 |
|
356 |
Henry Dyer |
2812 |
|
357 |
Chuck Mercein |
2818 |
|
358 |
Derrick Jensen |
2819 |
|
359 |
Andy Bolton |
2832 |
|
360 |
Nick Eddy |
2841 |
|
361 |
Charlie Pittman |
2843 |
|
362 |
James Betterson |
2846 |
|
363 |
Kermit Johnson |
2847 |
|
364 |
James Mayberry |
2852 |
|
365 |
Randy Minniear |
2855 |
|
366 |
Rick Moser |
2858 |
|
367 |
Jim Culbreath |
2864 |
|
368 |
Jesse Taylor |
2867 |
|
369 |
Sid Blanks |
2871 |
|
370 |
Larry Todd |
2878 |
|
371 |
Charlie White |
2886 |
|
372 |
Greg Oliver |
2896 |
|
373 |
Eddie Hill |
2905 |
|
374 |
Tony Green |
2915 |
|
375 |
Darnell Powell |
2917 |
|
376 |
Cleveland Franklin |
2920 |
|
377 |
Jack DeGrenier |
2923 |
|
378 |
Lewis Jolley |
2924 |
|
379 |
Allen Carter |
2934 |
|
380 |
Willie McClendon |
2947 |
|
381 |
Randy Jackson |
2949 |
|
382 |
Cliff Taylor |
2954 |
|
383 |
Allan Clark |
2958 |
|
384 |
Jeff Jordan |
2959 |
|
385 |
Craig Baynham |
2966 |
|
386 |
Tony Benjamin |
2967 |
|
387 |
Oscar Dragon |
2974 |
|
388 |
Terry Cole |
2975 |
|
389 |
Terry Robiskie |
2976 |
|
390 |
Terry Wells |
2980 |
|
391 |
Greg Hawthorne |
2984 |
|
392 |
Joe W. Washington |
2986 |
|
393 |
Bob McCall |
2998 |
|
394 |
Dino Hall |
3003 |
|
395 |
Ray Strong |
3014 |
|
396 |
Pete Van Valkenberg |
3026 |
|
397 |
Ralph Kurek |
3027 |
|
398 |
Steve Crosby |
3028 |
|
399 |
Les Shy |
3037 |
|
400 |
Herb Mul-Key |
3044 |
|
401 |
Jack Holmes |
3048 |
|
402 |
Ernie Koy |
3055 |
|
403 |
John Isenbarger |
3057 |
|
404 |
Mosi Tatupu |
3062 |
|
405 |
Anthony Anderson |
3066 |
|
406 |
Morris LaGrand |
3069 |
|
407 |
Art Best |
3076 |
|
408 |
Mark Kellar |
3077 |
|
409 |
Bruce Maxwell |
3080 |
|
410 |
Lincoln Minor |
3081 |
|
411 |
Mike Brunson |
3088 |
|
412 |
Bill Thomas |
3095 |
|
413 |
Bill Dusenbery |
3113 |
|
414 |
Pat Moriarty |
3119 |
|
415 |
Rick Berns |
3127 |
|
416 |
Larry Collins |
3142 |
|
417 |
Arthur Green |
3151 |
|
418 |
Henry Hynoski Sr. |
3153 |
|
419 |
Monroe Eley |
3169 |
|
420 |
Leroy Sledge |
3178 |
|
421 |
Steve Rogers |
3179 |
|
422 |
Junior Coffey |
3185 |
|
423 |
Dave Gagnon |
3203 |
|
424 |
Gary Hayman |
3204 |
|
425 |
Pat McNeil |
3206 |
|
426 |
Woody Bennett |
3218 |
|
427 |
Gene Foster |
3223 |
|
428 |
Glynn Harrison |
3224 |
|
429 |
Larry Stegent |
3226 |
|
430 |
Molly McGee |
3227 |
|
431 |
Thomas Lott |
3229 |
|
432 |
Rufus Crawford |
3238 |
|
433 |
Ben Garry |
3244 |
|
434 |
Dave Atkins |
3245 |
|
435 |
Eddie Payton |
3246 |
|
436 |
Paul N. White |
3249 |
|
437 |
Alois Blackwell |
3257 |
|
438 |
Dave Smith (1947) |
3258 |
|
439 |
Gale Sayers |
3260 |
|
440 |
Mike Voight |
3273 |
|
441 |
Rick Jennings |
3274 |
|
442 |
Henry Matthews |
3282 |
|
443 |
Tommie Smiley |
3298 |
|
444 |
George Franklin |
3302 |
|
445 |
Jack Rizzo |
3303 |
|
446 |
Willie Shelby |
3306 |
|
447 |
Steve Howell |
3315 |
|
448 |
Tom Thompson |
3317 |
|
449 |
Champ Henson |
3324 |
|
450 |
Rickey Anderson |
3338 |
|
451 |
Steve Powell |
3339 |
|
452 |
Wayne Wilson |
3350 |
|
453 |
Ken Callicutt |
3354 |
|
454 |
Earl Carr |
3368 |
|
455 |
Rich Ellender |
3369 |
|
456 |
Kenny King |
3375 |
|
457 |
Ira Matthews |
3386 |
|
458 |
Nathan Poole |
3402 |
|
459 |
Secdrick McIntyre |
3403 |
|
460 |
Terry Kunz |
3404 |
|
461 |
Clayton Heath |
3419 |
|
462 |
Steve Atkins |
3432 |
|
463 |
Ken Johnson (RB) |
3442 |
|
464 |
Laverne Smith |
3456 |
|
465 |
Walter Landers |
3478 |
|
466 |
Clarence Hawkins |
3481 |
|
467 |
Jim Van Wagner |
3483 |
|
468 |
Bob Torrey |
3490 |
|
469 |
Zachary Dixon |
3520 |
|
470 |
Wilbert Haslip |
3534 |
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