5 players with the most rushing yards in NFL history
Take a look at the 5 players with the most rushing yards in NFL history.
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Emmitt Smith (image via Dallas Cowboys)
The NFL is one of the most interesting sports in the world. It’s a game where passing and rushing both have equal importance and each has the importance of turning the game in an instance. Rushing is basically when a player runs with the ball to get the down or just rush to score a touchdown.
All the players in the offense can rush. However, the most rushing usually done by the RB who has the physicality and the swiftness of running past the defenders. One of the key elements of the NFL is it’s rushing game and also has the potential to win you the game. The best example of this can be the Eagles who were exceptional in their rushing game last season and many teams had to adapt to challenge their tactics.
Today we are going to take a look at some of the great players who have dominated the rushing game and amassed the most yards in NFL history. Here are the 5 players with the most rushing yards in NFL history.
1. Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith is a retired football player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. Over the course of his career, Smith rushed for 18,355 yards, which is the most in NFL history. He also scored 175 touchdowns and was named the league’s MVP in 1993.
Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft, and he played for the team for 13 seasons from 1990 to 2002. During his time with the Cowboys, Smith established himself as one of the premier running backs in the league, winning three Super Bowls and earning eight Pro Bowl selections.
Smith was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, and he currently works as a football analyst for various media outlets.
2. Walter Payton
Walter Payton was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft, and he played for the team for 13 seasons from 1975 to 1987. During his career, he established himself as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, rushing for 16,726 yards, which was a league record at the time of his retirement.
However, he slipped down to the second spot after the great legacy left by Emmitt Smith. Payton was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and won the NFL MVP award in 1977. He also helped lead the Bears to a victory in Super Bowl XX in 1986. Payton was known for his hard work, dedication, and humility, both on and off the field.
Unfortunately, Payton was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in 1999, and he passed away on November 1, 1999, at the age of 45.
3. Frank Gore
Frank Gore is a more recent addition to the list of players with the most rushing yards in NFL history. He has played for several teams during his career, including the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets.
He has rushed for 16,000 yards and counting, which puts him third on the all-time list. Gore was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and he played for the team for 10 seasons from 2005 to 2014.
During his time with the 49ers, Gore established himself as one of the most consistent and productive running backs in the league, rushing for over 1,000 yards in eight of his 10 seasons with the team. Gore retired from the NFL after the 2020 season and is considered one of the greatest running backs of his generation.
4. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is another running back who is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He played for the Detroit Lions for 10 seasons and rushed for 15,269 yards. Sanders was a 10-time Pro Bowler and won the NFL MVP award in 1997.
During his time with the Lions, Sanders established himself as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, rushing for 15,269 yards, which was a league record at the time of his retirement. The Lions RB was known for his electrifying moves on the field, and his ability to make defenders miss was legendary.
5. Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson is a RB who is currently a free agent in the NFL. He has rushed for over 14,000 yards and has scored over 120 touchdowns in his career, and he is considered one of the greatest running backs of his generation.
Peterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he played for the team for ten seasons from 2007 to 2016. During his time with the Vikings, Peterson established himself as one of the best running backs in the league.
He won the NFL MVP award in 2012 seven Pro Bowl selections. Off the field, Peterson has been involved in various charitable causes, including his foundation, which focuses on promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles for children.
He is also a strong advocate for education and has supported initiatives to improve access to education for children in undeserved communities.
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Aamir Jethwa
(1484 Articles Published)