This is a list of National Football League running backs by total career rushing yards, and includes the 32 running backs who have rushed for at least 10,000 yards, for which sixteen of them have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Emmitt Smith leads with 18,355 yards and is also the postseason leader with 1,586. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002 and is the only player with over 17,000 regular season rushing yards.
Players with at least 10,000 rushing yards
+ Key^ Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame* Denotes player who is still active
Through Week 4 of the season. RankPlayerTeam(s) by season1Emmitt Smith^Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002)Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004)4,40918,3554.22Walter Payton^Chicago Bears (1975–1987)3,83816,7264.43San Francisco 49ers (–)Indianapolis Colts (–)Miami Dolphins ()Buffalo Bills ()New York Jets () 3,73516,0004.34Barry Sanders^Detroit Lions (1989–1998)3,06315,2695.05Minnesota Vikings (–)New Orleans Saints ()Arizona Cardinals ()Washington Redskins (–)Detroit Lions ()Tennessee Titans ()Seattle Seahawks ()3,23014,9184.66Curtis Martin^New England Patriots (1995–1997)New York Jets (1998–2005)3,51814,1014.07LaDainian Tomlinson^San Diego Chargers (–)New York Jets (–)3,17413,6844.38Jerome Bettis^Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1993–1995)Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005)3,47913,6623.99*Tennessee Titans (2016–2023)Baltimore Ravens (2024–present)2,75113,3924.910Eric Dickerson^Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987)Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991)Los Angeles Raiders (1992)Atlanta Falcons (1993)2,99613,2594.411Tony Dorsett^Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987)Denver Broncos (1988)2,93612,7394.312Jim Brown^Cleveland Browns (1957–1965)2,35912,3125.213Marshall Faulk^Indianapolis Colts (1994–1998)St. Louis Rams (1999–2005)2,83612,2794.314Edgerrin James^Indianapolis Colts (1999–2005)Arizona Cardinals (2006–2008)Seattle Seahawks (2009)3,02812,2464.015Marcus Allen^Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1992)Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997)3,02212,2434.116Franco Harris^Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1983)Seattle Seahawks (1984)2,94912,1204.117Thurman Thomas^Buffalo Bills (1988–1999)Miami Dolphins (2000)2,87712,0744.218Fred TaylorJacksonville Jaguars (1998–2008) New England Patriots (2009–2010)2,53411,6954.619Steven JacksonSt. Louis Rams (2004–2012)Atlanta Falcons (2013–2014)New England Patriots (2015)2,76411,4384.120John Riggins^New York Jets (1971–1975)Washington Redskins (1976–1985)2,91611,3523.921Corey DillonCincinnati Bengals (1997–2003)New England Patriots (2004–2006)2,61811,2414.322O. J. Simpson^Buffalo Bills (1969–1977)San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979)2,40411,2364.723LeSean McCoyPhiladelphia Eagles (–)Buffalo Bills (–)Kansas City Chiefs ()Tampa Bay Buccaneers ()2,45711,1024.524Warrick DunnTampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–2001, 2008)Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007)2,28410,9674.125Ricky WattersSan Francisco 49ers (1992–1994)Philadelphia Eagles (1995–1997)Seattle Seahawks (1998–2001)2,62210,6434.126Jamal LewisBaltimore Ravens (2000–2006)Cleveland Browns (2007–2009)2,54210,6074.227Thomas JonesArizona Cardinals (2000–2002)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003)Chicago Bears (2004–2006)New York Jets (2007–2009) Kansas City Chiefs (2010–2011)2,67810,5914.028Tiki BarberNew York Giants (1997–2006)2,21710,4494.729Eddie GeorgeHouston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1996–2003)Dallas Cowboys (2004)2,86510,4413.630Buffalo Bills (–)Seattle Seahawks (–, )Oakland Raiders (–)2,45310,4134.231St. Louis Cardinals (1979–1986)New York Giants (1986–1992)2,56210,2734.032Ricky WilliamsNew Orleans Saints (1999–2001)Miami Dolphins (2002–2003, 2005–2010)Baltimore Ravens (2011)2,43110,0094.1
Players with at least 1,000 postseason rushing yards
Through end of playoffs RankPlayerTeam(s) by season1Emmitt Smith^Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002)Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004)3491,5864.52Franco Harris^Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1983)Seattle Seahawks (1984)4001,5563.93Thurman Thomas^Buffalo Bills (1988–1999)Miami Dolphins (2000)3391,4424.34Tony Dorsett^Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987)Denver Broncos (1988)3021,3834.65Marcus Allen^Los Angeles Raiders (–)Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997)2671,3475.06Terrell Davis^Denver Broncos (–)2041,1405.67*Tennessee Titans (2016–2023)Baltimore Ravens (2024–present)1981,0025.1
Historical rushing yards leaders Seven players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL. Since reliable yardage statistics were not recorded prior to 1932, the first NFL player recognized as the career leader in rushing yards was Cliff Battles, who played from 1932 to 1937 for the Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins. He led the NFL with 576 yards in 1932 and held on to the record throughout his career. Emmitt Smith has held the record since surpassing Walter Payton's long-standing total in 2002.
Player Team(s) by season –(9 years) Cliff Battles^ Washington Redskins (–) 839 3,511 4.2 –(9 years) Clarke Hinkle^ Green Bay Packers (–) 1,171 3,860 3.3 –(9 years) Steve Van Buren^ Philadelphia Eagles (–) 1,320 5,860 4.4 –(5 years) Joe Perry^ San Francisco 49ers (–, )Baltimore Colts (–) 1,737 8,378 4.8 –(21 years) Jim Brown^ Cleveland Browns (–) 2,359 12,312 5.2 –(18 years) Walter Payton^ Chicago Bears (–) 3,838 16,726 4.4 Since ( years) ^ Dallas Cowboys (–)Arizona Cardinals (–) 4,409 18,355 4.2
See also List of National Football League records (individual) List of National Football League rushing champions List of National Football League career rushing touchdowns leaders List of National Football League annual rushing touchdowns leaders
Notes
References General
Footnotes