Bow before your gods of football.

Behold the Pyramid of Running Backs – the greatest who ever played the game.

The rules of the pyramid are simple. There is one spot at the very top, four spots on the second level, and five spots on the third. If you are on the second level, you are tied for second place; same goes for the third.

Players on each level are ordered chronologically.

THE RUNNING BACKS

#1

Barry Sanders (1989-1998)

(“B”)
Oklahoma State University
1989 Draft Pick #3 (Round 1)
Detroit Lions
10x Pro Bowl
6x All Pro #1
4x All Pro #2
1x MVP
2x Offensive Player of the Year
4x Rushing Yards Leader
1x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1990s All Decade Team
153 Career Reg. Games
3,414 Career Reg. Touches
18,190 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
109 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns

#2

Jim Brown | O.J. Simpson | Walter Payton | Emmitt Smith

Jim Brown (1955-64)
(“First Down Brown”)
Syracuse University
1957 Draft Pick #6 (Round 1)
Cleveland Browns
NFL Champion
9x Pro Bowl
8x All Pro #1
1x All Pro #2
3x MVP
8x Rushing Yards Leader
5x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1x Scoring Leader
1960s All Decade Team
118 Career Reg. Games
2,621 Career Reg. Touches
14,811 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
126 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

O.J. Simpson (1969-79)
(“Juice”)
U.S.C.
1969 Draft Pick #1
Buffalo Bills (1969-77)
San Francisco 49ers (1978-79)
1x MVP
5x Pro Bowl
5x All Pro
4x Rushing Yards Leader
2x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1x Scoring Leader
1970s All Decade Team
135 Career Reg. Games
2,607 Career Reg. Touches
13,378 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
75 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

Walter Payton (1975-87)
(“Sweetness”)
Jackson State University
1975 Draft Pick #4 (Round 1)
Chicago Bears
Super Bowl Champion
9x Pro Bowl
5x All Pro #1
3x All Pro #2
1x MVP
1x Offensive Player of the Year
1x Rushing Yards Leader
1x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1970s All Decade Team
1980s All Decade Team
190 Career Reg. Games
4,330 Career Reg. Touches
21,264 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
125 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

Emmitt Smith (1990-2004)
(“Catch 22”)
University of Florida
1990 Draft Pick #17 (Round 1)
Dallas Cowboys (1990-2002)
Arizona Cardinals (2003-04)
3x Super Bowl Champion
1x Super Bowl MVP
8x Pro Bowl
4x All Pro #1
2x All Pro #2
1x MVP
4x Rushing Yards Leader
3x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1x Scoring Leader
1990s All Decade Team
226 Career Reg. Games
4,924 Career Reg. Touches
21,579 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
175 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns

#3

Steve Van Buren | Earl Campbell | Marcus Allen | Eric Dickerson | LaDainian Tomlinson

Steve Van Buren (1944-51)
(“Wham Bam”)
LSU
1944 Draft Pick #5 (Round 1)
Philadelphia Eagles
2x NFL Champion
5x All Pro #1
2x All Pro #2
4x Rushing Yards Leader
4x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1x Scoring Leader
1940s All Decade Team
83 Career Reg. Games
1,365 Career Reg. Touches
6,383 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
72 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

Earl Campbell (1978-85)
(“The Tyler Rose”)
University of Texas
1978 Draft Pick #1 (Round 1)
Houston Oilers (1978-84)
New Orleans Saints (1984-85)
1x MVP
5x Pro Bowl
3x All Pro
3x Offensive Player of the Year
3x Rushing Yards Leader
2x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1970s All Decade Team
115 Career Reg. Games
2,308 Career Reg. Touches
10,213 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
74 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

Marcus Allen (1982-97)
(“Chico”)
U.S.C.
1982 Draft Pick #10 (Round 1)
Los Angeles Raiders (1982-92)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993-97)
Super Bowl Champion
Super Bowl MVP
1x MVP
6x Pro Bowl
2x All Pro #1
1x All Pro #2
1x Offensive Player of the Year
1x Rushing Yards Leader
2x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1x Scoring Leader
Comeback Player of the Year
222 Career Reg. Games
3,609 Career Reg. Touches
17,654 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
144 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

Eric Dickerson (1983-93)
(“Mr. Benny”)
Southern Methodist University
1983 Draft Pick # 2 (Round 1)
Los Angeles Rams (1983-1987)
Indianapolis Colts (1987-91)
Los Angeles Raiders (1992)
Atlanta Falcons (1993)
6x Pro Bowl
5x All Pro
2x Offensive Player of the Year
4x Rushing Yards Leader
1x Rushing Touchdown Co-leader
1980s All Decade Team
146 Career Reg. Games
3,277 Career Reg. Touches
15,396 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
96 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns
—

LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-11)
(“L.T.”)
TCU
2011 Draft Pick #5 (Round 1)
San Diego Chargers (2001-09)
New York Jets (2010-11)
5x Pro Bowl
3x All Pro #1
3x All Pro #2
1x MVP
2x Rushing Yards Leader
3x Rushing Touchdowns Leader
1x Scoring Leader
2000s All Decade Team
170 Career Reg. Games
3,798 Career Reg. Touches
18,456 Career Reg. Scrimmage Yards
162 Career Reg. Rushing & Receiving Touchdowns