My top 10 running backs list continues. Last week we revealed our top 10 honorable mentions. This week we will be lifting the curtain to running backs ten through six. Let us begin with these legends.
No. 10 - LaDainian Tomlinson
Tomlinson lands in the tenth spot on my all-time running back list. Playing in 170 career games, nine of his eleven seasons with the San Diego Chargers (two with the NY Jets). Tomlinson rushed 3,174 times for a total of 13,684 yards in his career.
This Hall of Fame running back also rushed for 145 touchdowns in his career. He earned 5 trips to the Pro Bowl, he was a 3-time All-Pro, the 2006 AP offensive Player of the Year, the 2006 Bert Bell Award winner, 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year, and an NFL MVP.
In addition, he has over 600 receptions for 4772 yards and hauled in 17 touchdowns, bringing his Touchdown total to 162. Tomlinson sits at seventh all-time rushing and third for NFL career touchdowns.
No. 9 - Franco Harris
This Hall of Fame running back sits at 15th on the all-time rushing list. Harris finds himself at No. 9 on this list because of his downfield and tough impact running style which helped his team win four Super Bowls in the '70's.
This Pittsburgh Steeler running back captured the hearts of his blue collar fans as he went on to earn nine Pro Bowl appearances, a one time all-pro, the 1972 AP offensive Rookie of the Year, and earned the 1976 Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Plus, in 1974, Harris became the Super Bowl MVP with his 34 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers 16 to 6 Super Bowl IX victory.
Harris played in 173 games carrying the ball a total of 2,949 times for 12,120 yards. He ended his career with 91 rushing touchdowns, nine receiving touchdowns, landing him tied at 23rd all-time among running backs and receivers in NFL history.
Harris is probably most famous for the Immaculate Reception which occurred in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Steelers and Oakland Raiders in 1972. Chuck Noll's Steelers were down 7-6 with 22 seconds remaining and no time outs left when they snapped the ball from their own 40-yard line.
After the ball was knocked away from the intended receiver, Harris managed to get his hands under the football before it touched the ground and he ran to the end zone for the game winning touchdown to advance in the playoffs, leaving Steelers fans with one of the most memorable moments in Steelers franchise history.
No. 8 - Tony Dorsett
Dorsett played in 173 games in his career, 11 of his 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He ran the ball 2,936 times in his career, stacking up 12,739 career yards (10th All-Time). Dorsett Averaged 4.3 yards per carry, while he racked up 77 rushing touchdowns in his career, in addition to the 13 receiving touchdowns he hauled in.
This Hall of Fame running back tallied nine seasons with over a thousand yards from the line of scrimmage and eight seasons rushing for over a thousand yards.
This four time Pro Bowler earned the nod for the 1977 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also earned All-Pro status once and won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.
No. 7 - Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk was a brilliant running back to watch run while growing up in the '90's. A part of the St. Louis Rams 2000 Super Bowl championship team, known as "The Greatest Show on Turf", Faulk began his career with the Colts.
In his '94 rookie season with the Colts, Faulk rushed for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns on his way to earning the 1994 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Faulk ended his 12 season career with 12,279 rushing yards, 767 receptions, 6,874 receiving yards and 136 total touchdowns.
The seven time Pro Bowler also earned All-Pro three times. He was the 1994 AP offensive Rookie of the Year, 1999 AP offensive Player of the Year, 2000 AP offensive Player of the Year, the 2001 AP offensive Player of the Year, the 2001 Bert Bell Award winner, and an NFL MVP.
Faulk is 12th all-time on the rushing list and seventh on the all-time touchdown list among all NFL Players. He has 11 seasons with over 1000 yards from scrimmage, including two seasons with over 2000 yards from the line of scrimmage.
No. 6 Adrian Peterson
While Adrian Peterson is still currently active in the NFL, he's a lock to be enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. In his 14 year career, Peterson has played in 164 games and counting. He's rushed the ball 3,036 times for 14,216 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has scored 111 touchdowns on the ground.
Peterson, Fifth on the All-Time rushing list, has earned seven Pro Bowl appearances, is a 4-time All-Pro, he has won the Bert Bell Award Twice (2008, 2012), the Rookie of the Year in 2007, and Player of the Year in 2012. Plus, he won the 2012 Comeback Player of the Year award.
There is no doubt Peterson will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but the question is, when will he retire. As part of the single season 2000 yard rushing club (2012), Peterson has rushed for over a 1000 yards 8 seasons in his career and three of them he was the rushing leader.
Stay Tuned for the final part of All-Time Great running backs 5 through 1.